[Blindmath] braille code changes and nemeth

[David Andrews]

Why are you folks debating something that is a done deal.  The 
publishers in North America will start using UEB.  In Minnesota, 
where I live, transcribers are being trained in UEB as are teachers 
of the blind and visually impaired. We will require transcribers to 
use it, starting in 2016, actually, I think they will start using it this fall.

Dave\

At 01:34 PM 3/20/2015, you wrote:
>The last point, regarding the lack of authority for the Braille
>Authority is interesting--I didn't know that.
>I for one would be happy to disregard the new rules and just stick to
>the original ones, which is what I will continue to do.
>I wonder though how many publishers will really pay attention to the
>Braille Authority?
>I mean any change will take years and if it makes life more
>complicated for the transcribers, I can guarantee that most publishers
>will be happy enough to stick to the original system, no matter how
>much some individuals or organizations might insist that the UEB is
>better--which I don't think it is.
>
>
>
>
>On 3/20/15, Sean Tikkun via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > I think your friend brings up good point, but I have more concern with
> > representations of operation. Numbers as a raised or lowered dot 
> is not that
> > complex to adjust to. The different symbols in terms of operations however
> > are a much larger change.
> >
> > Sean
> >
> >> On Mar 20, 2015, at 9:31 AM, HPS via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi, I like to pick anyones brain on the proposed changes to the braille
> >> code. I do not read braille but my daughter does, so in her behalf I'm
> >> trying to get involved in finding out the pros and cons on this issue. I
> >> have an acquaintance that has some good points and I'm sharing her take on
> >> it below.
> >> Thanks
> >> Heidi
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Regarding the braille code changes
> >> and  math, I think that several things
> >> are going on that are causing people
> >> not to react much. For one thing, the
> >> Braille Authority of North America seems
> >> to be good and reassuring people
> >> that the Nemeth Code will be retained, and so
> >> they have nothing to worry
> >> about. What they are not saying in the same breath,
> >> though, is that the
> >> plan is for the Nemeth codeto be mixed in with Unified
> >> English Braille.
> >> Right now, when students encounter a math book, they will
> >> find that the
> >> entire book is transcribed using the Nemeth code, meaning that
> >> numbers,
> >> operation signs  such as the plus sign, and such look the same
> >> throughout
> >> the book, whether they appear in mathematical expressions or in the
> >> text
> >> surrounding those expressions. What is being proposed now is that the
> >>
> >> Nemeth code only be used for mathematical terms/expressions in those
> >> books,
> >> while Unified English Braille will be used for the rest of the
> >> material in the
> >> book. Since Nemeth and UEB have very different
> >> representations for
> >> mathematical symbols,  and even numbers are not the
> >> same in the two codes, it
> >> seems like this will create a much more
> >> complicated system for students to
> >> wait through or for transcribers to
> >> create. Furthermore, there will have to be
> >> an extra braille
> >> character or two every time there is a switch between UEB and
> >>
> >> Nemeth. Imagine, for example,
> >>
> >> Let x be the number of nuts in the bowl.
> >> After Jerry eats 1/4 of the
> >> nuts, there are 15 nuts left. How many nuts did
> >> Jerry eat?
> >>
> >>
> >> In this kind of work problem, the terms x, 1/4, and 15 BE
> >> considered
> >> mathematical and would appear in mathematical expressions that are
> >> used to
> >> solve the problem. According to the guidance asked
> >>
> >> http://www.brailleauthority.org/ueb/nemeth-provisional/guidance.pdf, the
> >>
> >> fraction 1/4 in this problem will need to be written in Nemeth code,,
> >>
> >> preceded and followed by the appropriate indicators, while the number 15
> >>
> >> will be written in UEB.
> >>
> >> Another issue is that people seem to think that
> >> braille code changes are
> >> inevitable, not knowing that the Braille Authority
> >> does not actually have
> >> legal authority. They simply represent the consensus of
> >> representatives
> >> from a number of consumer, transcriber, and braille production
> >>
> >> organizations or companies. So, they have power only as long as the
> >> masses
> >>
> >> agree to follow them.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> Blindmath at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
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> >> Blindmath:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/jaquis%40mac.com
> >> BlindMath Gems can be found at
> >> <http://www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Blindmath at nfbnet.org
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> > Blindmath:
> > 
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> > <http://www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home>
> >
>
>
>--
>Thank you.
>
>
>

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org