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

Fri Jan 23 06:14:42 UTC 2015

Dear Ramana,

The R package that generates these outputs is called BrailleR, of which Jonathan is the author.

Best,
t

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ramana Polavarapu via Blindmath
Sent: 22 January 2015 07:34 AM
To: Godfrey, Jonathan; Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Interpretation of graphs (was Mathematics using handwriting)

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 D niel 
>>> <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 D niel 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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>>>>> m
>
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>
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