[Blindmath] Math Computer Program

Mon Mar 3 16:19:28 UTC 2014

John,

In terms of desirability from my point of view rests on the nation and its math code.  Currently Nemeth and Unicode or ascii equivalent characters differ reasonably.  It's not anything a skilled math student can't overcome, but the problem develops when your decision influences how math is written and developed by all kids in school who may use the program.  

I too feel like others that when you live in the world of dots (or more accurately cells) It's easier to think in terms of cells.  Even as a sighted teacher I struggle with students with QWERTY keyboards on their devices when I'm supporting their learning of nemeth and math in general.  Nemeth is the language of Math here in the US, of course other countries have other codes too.  Enjoy the challenge!

Sean Tikkun
Apple Distinguished Educator
class of 2007

On Mar 03, 2014, at 09:50 AM, John Gardner <gardnerj at onid.orst.edu> wrote:

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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