[BlindMath] UEB Math History/Methodology

Sat Jul 8 19:12:33 UTC 2017

Apologies for a diversion from the original question. However, the following may help to characterize more aspects of the issues involved in braille maths codes. 

In the USA, each state has the ability to set the math code to be used in schools in that state. Schools are then required to acquire transcriptions in that code.

Many, but not all, states have officially adopted UEB maths. Other states have not officially declared UEB maths, which effectively means Nemeth is treated as the standard in those states.

The latter is the case in Idaho (where I live). The state school for blind and visually impaired requires that transcribers (literary and maths) have earned certification in the required code. 

Students in Idaho are taught to use UEB for literary material, and Nemeth for maths. However, as an example, Massachusetts has adopted UEB for both literary and maths. This means that students moving between states may have to learn a different maths code to continue their studies — students who attended Idaho public schools will have to learn UEB maths if they attend school in Massachusetts, and vice versa. 

This also adds complexity and cost to materials prepared by commercial producers of braille because they have to hire certified transcribers for each code, and produce two different versions for every title used in multiple states. 

Few other countries use Nemeth, and in fact nearly every spoken language with a parallel braille code has its own variant braille code for some elements of maths. This leads to the very unfortunate fact that `the universal language` of maths is not universal for braille readers. 

Most national organizations in the US have recommended staying with Nemeth for maths, but have no strong means to ensure uniformity. 

Regarding empirical research to inform a decision for UEB maths or Nemeth, I know of only anecdotal arguments and no set of studies that affords conclusive, peer reviewed data. 

We live in interesting times!

_don

> On Jul 8, 2017, at 12:23 PM, Neal K via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> And just to make even more interesting:
> UEB was an international undertaking in order to have a single English
> braille code.
> In the past the UK and North America had separate literary braille codes and
> very different math braille codes.
> 
> To read more go to the source so to speak:
> http://Iceb.org/ueb.html
> 
> For some of the UEBC Research Project Information go to:
> http://www.iceb.org/ubc.html
> 
> Sincerely, Neal
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
> Jacobson via BlindMath
> Sent: Saturday, July 8, 2017 11:41 AM
> To: sarah.jevnikar at gmail.com; 'Blind Math list for those interested in
> mathematics'
> Cc: Steve Jacobson
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] UEB Math History/Methodology
> 
> Sarah,
> 
> There isn't a real simple answer to your question.  UEB math is an attempt
> to make literary braille and mathematical braille fit together better.  The
> period and the decimal point use the same symbol in braille as they are in
> print, to pick a very simple example.  We see more math in literary braille
> now, so it also means that other symbols that you might see in a novel or in
> a magazine article are the same in UEB math such as the plus sign.  It also
> means that internet addresses can be written using the same symbols with
> less of a need to use a separate computer braille code.  I think it is fair
> to say that there were mathematicians involved in the development of UEB
> math.
> 
> However, UEB math is very different than the Nemeth Code which has been used
> for math in the United States for many years.  It is, in my opinion, much
> more difficult to move from Nemeth Code to UEB math than it is to switch to
> reading UEB for text.  Therefore, Nemeth Code is still in use here in the
> United States.  Having transcribers already familiar with Nemeth Code also
> plays a role.  There has been a good deal written showing that Nemeth Code
> is more compact than UEB math, but there are legitimate questions about some
> of the extreme comparisons.  This has been an emotional discussion here in
> the United States.
> 
> I am a Nemeth Code user but have tried to portray the two codes in as
> unbiased way as I can.  What probably determines which code you should learn
> is where you hope to get most of your braille texts.  It is going to be
> worth learning Nemeth Code if you will be getting math texts from the United
> States.  If you will be getting texts from Canada, then learning UEB math is
> probably what makes sense.
> 
> Finally, I think learning either code is sometimes made to sound harder than
> it needs to be.  There are a lot of math symbols that sighted people don't
> learn at the outset.  If one learns what one needs to perform the math at a
> given level, the job isn't that tough.  One can then build upon what one
> learns as one gets into more complex math.  It is, for example, hard to
> remember the integral sign if one does not know what an integral is.
> 
> Perhaps others who have used UEB math more than I will correct anything here
> that is wrong.  I hope, though, that we can avoid a long discussion of which
> is best.  I personally believe using the Nemeth Code in the United States
> makes sense for us, but I do not believe that means that UEB math is not a
> valid and useful code.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Steve Jacobson
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sarah
> Jevnikar via BlindMath
> Sent: Friday, July 07, 2017 12:39 PM
> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Sarah Jevnikar <sarah.jevnikar at gmail.com>
> Subject: [BlindMath] UEB Math History/Methodology
> 
> 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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