[BlindMath] UEB Math History/Methodology

[Bill Dengler]

As someone who may need to learn math Braille at some point, I’m also very interested in this topic, particularly for deciding which math code to use. I tend to use LaTeX for most things (I’m a synthesized speech user) because it’s unambiguous and easy to convert to pretty-looking documents for sighted people. However, Braille math has its advantages (as people on this list have told me) and knowing whether to use Nemeth, UEB, or some combination of the two for my personal notes would be useful (interoperating with others isn’t that important to me; that’s what LaTeX is for). Seeing pros and cons from those more experienced with *both* systems of math Braille would be great.

Bill

> On Jul 7, 2017, at 5:39 PM, Sarah Jevnikar via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> I'd like to better understand the thinking behind UEB math. While Nemeth
> isn't perfect, UEB math seems more cumbersome and convoluted. Please correct
> me if I'm out of line here.
> 
> Canada has done a full change to UEB, including mathematics. Therefore I'll
> have to work with it at some point. I'm concerned though that it's a step
> backwards towards the inclusion of blind students and professionals in STEM.
> Again, I am willing to be wrong here.
> 
> My question is this: what are the benefits of UEB math? Who created it? Were
> they mathematicians/familiar with math? Is the move away from Nemeth
> something to be celebrated? Where does it leave Braille-to-print
> translation, which was imperfect for Nemeth as it was, but at least it
> existed? Does such Braille-to-print and print-to-Braille translation have a
> technological solution for UEB math? I know that LaTeX is really the only
> universally usable option for blind creators of STEM stuff, but having a
> Braille option would also be ideal.
> 
> Thank you very much for your insight. All the best to everyone attending
> Convention this year. I was hoping this would be my first, but summer school
> got in the way...
> 
> Thanks again,
> Sarah
> 
> 
> I hope this makes 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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