[Blindmath] Interpretation of graphs (was Mathematics using handwriting)

Thu Jan 22 05:34:16 UTC 2015

Hi Jonathan:

This sounds very good.  Do you have some package which I need to
install to generate this sort of text?  Thank you.  Keep up the good
work.

Best regards,

Ramana

On 1/22/15, Godfrey, Jonathan via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
>
>
> There have been a number of attempts to produce verbal descriptions of
> graphs created by software instead of humans. I'm doing some work in this
> area for simple statistical graphs using R. Other attempts include graphs
> produced by central statistics agencies (notably in Canada and the US),
> interpretation of schematic diagrams in computer science, directed graphs in
> discrete mathematics… etc.
>
>
>
> One major problem with assessment and the interpretation of graphics is that
> the human assistant must tip-toe around providing the information needed so
> that the blind examinee can do the interpretation themselves. In my view,
> this is possible with software. Have a look at the following content that is
> generated automatically, then see if you can decide what salient features
> might be questioned in an examination context. Can you judge the symmetry of
> the data? Any unusual observations? In the standard html page this text is
> extracted from, the graphs are placed between the headings and the text that
> follows. They aren’t’ here but I’ll send them to anyone who is desperate for
> them off list.
>
>
>
> <starts>
> Histogram
>
> This is a histogram, with the title: Histogram of Ozone
>  Ozone is marked on the x-axis.
> There are a total of 116 elements for this variable.
> It has 9 bins with equal widths, starting at 0 and ending at 180 .
> The mids and counts for the bins are:
> mid = 10  count = 37
> mid = 30  count = 34
> mid = 50  count = 14
> mid = 70  count = 15
> mid = 90  count = 9
> mid = 110  count = 4
> mid = 130  count = 2
> mid = 150  count = 0
> mid = 170  count = 1
>
>
> Boxplot
>
> This graph has a boxplot printed horizontally
> with the title: Boxplot of Ozone
> Nothing is marked on the x-axis.
> Nothing is marked on the y-axis.
> This variable has 116 values.
> An outlier is marked at: 135 168
> The whiskers extend to 1 and 122 from the ends of the box,
> which are at 18 and 63.5
> The median, 31.5 is 30 % from the lower end of the box to the upper end.
> The upper whisker is 3.44 times the length of the lower whisker.
>
>
>
> <ends>
>
>
>
> Note that this is an extract from a longer page of output that includes a
> number of numeric summaries as well. I’ve seen and used questions in exams
> where only the histogram or boxplot was provided though so that’s all that
> I’ve given here.
>
>
>
> Any feedback is welcome. I actually like criticism as long as it's delivered
> in a mature manner. I don't mind if feedback comes to me via the list or
> personally.
>
> Jonathan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of joe
> walker via Blindmath
> Sent: Thursday, 22 January 2015 9:43 a.m.
> To: Shannon Pruitt; Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Mathematics using handwriting
>
>
>
> I still wonder though how it is on a computer or mobile device, would it be
> possible to interpret graphical data without having to resort entirely to
> having to ask someone to attempt a visual description. I have determined
> from experience, that even asking a reader to describe what he or she sees
> on a graph, in order to answer a quiz or exam question, is very difficult
> since he or she may incorrectly describe the appearance of the visual aid.
> This has actually resulted in blind and visually impaired students giving
> incorrect answers based on unknowingly false information. Since such errors
> have been known to exist even in simple algebra, leads me to question
> whether we have a universally accepted system for allowing blind students to
> comprehend graphical information, such as wavefunctions, derivatives and
> integrals, and frequency data involving peaks and troths, just to name a few
> examples. Given that the vast majority of science and math test questions
> require the examination of a visual aid, I would love to hear your feedback
> on this issue.
>
>
>
> Joe
>
>
>
> On 1/21/15, Shannon Pruitt via Blindmath
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>
>> I apologize as I slightly misread the original email and you are
>
>> correct MathPad is not accessible. However that doesn't altogether
>
>> mean it wouldn't be useful.
>
>>
>
>> I think you have a couple of options. I would suggest talking to your
>
>> teacher as he/she probably knows either latex or MathML if not both.
>
>> They could pre or post type the notes for you and send them to you.
>
>> Also maybe the department has a TA that could do this.
>
>>
>
>> Another option would be to consult your disabilities office and get a
>
>> person to take notes for you. In this case I'm positive they won't
>
>> know latex or MathML but something like this app might help them
>
>> create it or get it to you in a pinch.
>
>>
>
>> Sorry about the confusion. Shannon
>
>>
>
>>> On Jan 21, 2015, at 11:57 AM, Hajas Dániel
>>> <d.hajas.lists at gmail.com<mailto:d.hajas.lists at gmail.com>>
>
>>> wrote:
>
>>>
>
>>> Hi,
>
>>>
>
>>> The MathType way of doing it seems a bit too much of procedure if you
>
>>> just want to play around with few line of equations and not even use
>
>>> it later on. Just a quick sketch of math to remind yourself.
>
>>>
>
>>> Shannon: The iOS app sounded nice and I downloaded but can't use it
>
>>> for anything. All the buttons are dimmed and Voice Over does not seem
>
>>> to recognise any edit field. Have you used it? How can I make it work
>
>>> with VoiceOver?
>
>>>
>
>>> The features sound nice and even the LaTeX output might come handy
>
>>> every now and then.
>
>>>
>
>>> Daniel
>
>>>
>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>
>>>
>
>>>> On 21 Jan 2015, at 16:38, Shannon Pruitt
>>>> <sdpruitt99 at yahoo.com<mailto:sdpruitt99 at yahoo.com>> wrote:
>
>>>>
>
>>>>
>
>>>> There's an iOS app called MathPad that will allow one to write math
>
>>>> symbols. It then digitizes it and you can get latex or MathML output
>
>>>> that could then be read by math player (I think).
>
>>>>
>
>>>> Shannon
>
>>>>
>
>>>>> On Jan 21, 2015, at 9:06 AM, Theodor Loots via Blindmath
>
>>>>> <blindmath at nfbnet.org<mailto:blindmath at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Hi,
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I know that MathType (from Design Science) supports input using the
>
>>>>> hand-written interface of Windows 7 and 8.  If your equations are
>
>>>>> recognised, you can easily use the Toggle TeX functionality of
>
>>>>> MathType to view the equation in LaTeX, or export the entire
>
>>>>> document as a webpage, where the formulae can be read using the
>
>>>>> MathPlayer plugin.
>
>>>>> Alternatively,
>
>>>>> the recognised formulae can be read using LEAN, or the entire
>
>>>>> document may be exported to some appropriate Braille translation
>
>>>>> software (which can handle MathType equations).
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Best,
>
>>>>> t
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>
>>>>> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>
>>>>> Hajas Dániel via Blindmath
>
>>>>> Sent: 21 January 2015 03:11 PM
>
>>>>> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
>
>>>>> Subject: [Blindmath] Mathematics using handwriting
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Hi all,
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Today our lecturer in quantum mechanics used a software that
>
>>>>> allowed her to use a pen and write on a screen, which then was
>
>>>>> projected on a board, so students can take notes at the lecture.
>
>>>>> This is like a digital blackboard except that people have to write
>
>>>>> on a computer screen.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I was wondering if something similar existed for applications with
>
>>>>> screen readers? A software for PC, an app for tablets or
>
>>>>> smartphones, or other alternative solution.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> The point would be to enable handwritten input of mainly
>
>>>>> mathematical symbols that can be read by a screen reader while
>
>>>>> writing character by character and afterward while browsing through
>>>>> lines.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I imagine something like the handwriting option in iOS. I often use
>
>>>>> that function for writing shorter texts even if it is not the
>
>>>>> fastest and most reliable way of writing, simply because I find
>
>>>>> handwriting a some form of art. Also when I get fed up with
>
>>>>> pressing the keyboard I use a notepad to write down my equations
>
>>>>> and derive what I need. Obviously there is no feedback, I can't
>
>>>>> read it back after, but it helps me in following a mental process.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> So I would be pleased to see a solution which enables me to use
>
>>>>> handwritten maths and I could even read back what I wrote. Editing
>
>>>>> wouldn't be esential at the beginning.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> I even guess the iOS feature could be turned into an app of what I
>
>>>>> just described above.
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Do you know of anything along these lines?
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Best wishes,
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>> Daniel
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
>>>>>
>
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>
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>
>>>>> 0gmail.co
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>>>>> m
>
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