[Blindmath] Math Computer Program
John Gardner
gardnerj at onid.orst.edu
Mon Mar 3 15:50:48 UTC 2014
Thanks. Big question. The very simplest and most universal way to input
braille would be if the input to the keyboard buffer were Unicode braille
characters. Is this easy to do? Hard to do? Undesireable? It would be
quite easy for me then to accept braille input.
Question for Michael, will we need to change the LEAN input to accept such
input?
John
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of M Lakhani
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2014 6:52 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Cc: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math Computer Program
Count me in too! I can perhaps work with you on the UX with a multitude of
access tech.
I use a focus40 for 8dot input so could test some ideas out for you.
ATB
Muzz
Sent from my iPhone
> On 3 Mar 2014, at 01:53, "John Gardner" <gardnerj at onid.orst.edu> wrote:
>
> Hi Tami, if we can find a good way that works for users who need
> totype in braille, I'll do it.
>
> John
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Tami Jarvis
> Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2014 12:16 PM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math Computer Program
>
> John,
>
> I think I would make some use of braille input of the notation. I'm
> projecting as to how I plan to use tools I don't have yet, but being
> able to use the onboard keyboard of the display is something I would like
to have.
>
> Watching others tackle the complexities of context-dependency, I'm
> realizing typing braille input in various flavors won't be as simple
> as I used to imagine it would be. Maybe a psychic display would help?
> /lol/ Still, a lot more is possible in math and science accessibility
> than there used to be, and it is exciting to see new tools coming in to
play.
>
> Tami
>
>> On 03/02/2014 11:21 AM, John Gardner wrote:
>> Hi Tami, yes it is easy to put in braille input for LEAN Braille,
>> which is more or less a braille equivalent of the LEAN notation. If
>> there are people who will use it, I could do that easily.
>>
>> Composing in Nemeth or other official braille language is infinitely
>> more difficult, partly because all math braille languages have
>> ambiguities (which could be accounted for in various ways - in fact
>> easily for Nemeth), but more particularly, all are context-dependent,
>> and
> that is a real killer.
>> Truthfully I don't know how to incorporate Nemeth equation
>> composition, and other braille math languages are even more difficult.
>> It is something I'm trying to understand better and might someday be
>> able to do. But not imminently unfortunately.
>>
>> Be well all.
>> John
>>
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Tami Jarvis
>> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2014 2:45 PM
>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Math Computer Program
>>
>> John,
>>
>> Great work, and congratulations on your progress!
>>
>> You say presently one can't compose the equation using braille. Is
>> this a feature that will be added in the future? I'm asking more out
>> of curiosity than anything. By the time I do get back to taking math
>> classes, LEAN Math will be one of the exciting new programs I plan to
>> explore! Even if I have to use nasty old MS Word. /grin/
>>
>> I like the idea of being able to type in braille while I'm working in
>> braille, especially on complex tasks. It's not as big a deal for me
>> to switch back and forth as it was at first, but I still like to
>> think in dots when I'm using dots, if that makes sense.
>>
>> Keep up the good work!
>>
>> Tami
>>
>>> On 03/01/2014 08:56 AM, John Gardner wrote:
>>> Hi, I will soon be releasing the final beta version of LEAN Math.
>>> If you'd like to join the beta list, you are welcome to do so. Just
>>> send me an e-mail requesting it.
>>>
>>> LEAN Math will soon become a commercial product from ViewPlus, but
>>> it will basically be free. ViewPlus will sell it to companies and
>>> agencies along with a support and training package, but blind
>>> individuals can get it free without support. I hope that this list
>>> will become a LEAN support center for blind people. I'll be doing
>>> what I can personally to answer questions and provide guidance.
>>>
>>> LEAN Math is an editor and interface to applications that accept MathML.
>>> The first edition is as an interface to MathType in MS Word. So if
>>> you have MS Office and MathType, for you it is free. And you will
>>> have a nice way to read and write standard scientific documents in
>>> MS
>> Word.
>>>
>>> I have designed LEAN Math to work as efficiently as possible with
>>> audio feedback, and it works with any screen reader. It also shows
>>> several kinds of braille (including Nemeth), though presently you
>>> cannot compose the equation by typing braille. There are also lots
>>> of functions supporting equation manipulation permitting one to
>>> solve algebraic equations almost as easily as sighted people can do
>>> with a
>> pencil.
>>>
>>> LEAN Math comes with two apps that install short cuts on your desktop.
>>> One is the LEAN Editor. You must have a Word file open. If the
>>> cursor is on a MathType equation when LEAN_Edit is opened, it opens
>>> in
>> that editor.
>>> Otherwise the editor opens with a blank equation. It takes an hour
>>> or so to read through the documentation that is within the editor to
>>> learn how to read and write equations, then you just do it. When
>>> you've finished composing an equation, press CTRL+s to save it, and
>>> presto you have a MathType equation with alt text, something
>>> readable by sighted or blind people.
>>>
>>> The other app is LEAN_In, an app that will insert alt text in
>>> MathType equations that can be read by any screen reader. Alt text
>>> can be words or braille.
>>>
>>> John Gardner
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> Elise Berkley
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2014 4:01 AM
>>> To: BlindMath
>>> Subject: [Blindmath] Math Computer Program
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello, everyone. I am a new subscriber and I love this list already.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am a new math student in college (even though I am 49 years old).
>>> I have been totally blind for 19 years so I still have visuals of
>>> numbers, etc. I have Jaws on my laptop and we all know it does not
>>> work that well with numbers. I am looking for a software that will
>>> work to speak math better to me because I am a math major and have a
>>> long way to go. I can't afford anything too expensive. Thanks for
>>> your help and, again, I have learned new things from all of you
>>> already. Elise Berkley
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Elise Berkley
>>>
>>> "The joy of the Lord is my strength."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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