[BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data science?

Tue Jun 27 16:51:43 UTC 2017

Hello John,
This is wonderful news, and I would like to offer my thanks to you and 
ViewPlus for this effort. I can't attend in person, but I'm looking forward 
to viewing the recordings.
Regards,
Dennis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Gardner via BlindMath" <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'" 
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "John Gardner" <gardnerj at oregonstate.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 9:29 AM
Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data 
science?

> ViewPlus will sponsor video recording the NFB STEM Tutorial presentations 
> on
> Monday, July 10. A few of the individual tutorials will be recorded as 
> well.
> All will be made available later on YouTube or as downloadable podcasts.
> They will be announced on this and several other lists.
> If you want to keep up with what is going on, materials being prepared for
> participants are being posted at:
> http://access2science.com/indexAccessibility.html
> This archive will grow as more and more materials are finished by tutorial
> leaders.
> John Gardner
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dickson
> Tan via BlindMath
> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2017 8:53 AM
> To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Dickson Tan <dickson.tan.2013 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data
> science?
>
> Hi All,
>
> Thanks for all the useful information - I'll take a look at the tools
> mentioned.
>
> @Jonathan: I'll not be able to attend unfortunately (NFB's at the other 
> end
> of the globe for me), but am hoping that recordings of the sessions will 
> be
> made available.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Godfrey,
> Jonathan via BlindMath
> Sent: Monday, June 26, 2017 5:58 AM
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Godfrey, Jonathan <A.J.Godfrey at massey.ac.nz>
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data
> science?
>
> Hello Dickson et al.,
>
> I agree with Vincent. I would note that the vast majority of data science 
> is
> not actually a visual exercise. Experts put the proportion of work being
> done to collect and clean data at anywhere from half to 90%. Yes, some of
> the cleaning is done by investigating unusual observations in graphs, but
> there are so many non-visual ways of gaining such information.
>
> I would observe that statisticians were doing work well before graphs were
> being created and that there are plenty of somewhat forgotten ideas that
> might prove useful for a blind person to substitute for creating a graph.
> For example, I have two variables and want to know if they are linearly
> related. A sighted person jumps straight for a scatter plot and eyeballs 
> the
> results to help them decide if the relationship can be explained by a
> straight line. While they are dithering, I've fitted the straight line 
> model
> and I'm checking the residuals because that's what is going to happen 
> anyway
> if the sighted person decides the relationship is linear. If the
> relationship wasn't linear, I've found that out by investigating the
> residuals; OK, I'm doing that with another scatter plot, but at least my
> scatter plot is going to exaggerate any nonlinearity that existed in the
> original relationship. I've also see the R squared of the model to decide 
> if
> there is any relationship to want to question he linearity of as well. 
> Then,
> if there is something to get excited about, I make the graph for the poor
> sighted audiences I must work with.
>
> The problem I have is that the use of the all too readily available 
> software
> that creates awesome data visualisations gets used in introductory 
> teaching
> to the detriment of the old-fashioned stuff that generally gets pushed 
> into
> the higher level courses. I was once asked if there was room to create an
> accessible intro stats course for blind people. I didn't think so at the
> time, but I've toyed with the issue on and off for the last few years. The
> trend I've observed is to emphasise what you can see from the current
> display of data, as against what a graph can show in a theoretical sense.
> The same ideas get taught, but sort of in the wrong order for a blind
> person.
>
> Compare the two quotes:
> "Let's look at this data, and hey, what's that funny point over there? 
> Well
> it's called an outlier and this (insert name of graph here) can identify 
> the
> existence of outliers for you."
> Versus:
> "A (insert name of graph here) can highlight the existence of outliers.
> Let's look at some examples, one with an outlier and  one without."
>
> The first is disabling to anyone not able to see the graph in question,
> while the second is less disabling. Unfortunately, the second (older) 
> style
> is considerably less stimulating for a sighted audience. The former goes
> well with someone actually creating the graphs in a live demonstration 
> while
> the second suits the pre-prepared (I call it the cooking show approach)
> style of lecturing. Actually most live demonstration style lectures 
> require
> some preparation too, but it's obvious that the actions are being 
> completed
> on the spot. Most smart lecturers now do the former and have the latter
> (pre-prepared back up plan) waiting just in case.
>
> Your choice of nonvisual technique will depend on the scenario in 
> question,
> and on your personal ability to comprehend what that nonvisual technique 
> has
> to offer.
>
> I realise that some people swear by sonification as a substitute for 
> visual
> inspection of data.  I've also heard data sonification described as an
> alternative to visual inspection of data with its use having an additive
> impact to visual inspection. For others, sonification just makes a lot of
> noise. Rather unfortunately, I find myself in this last category. I do 
> like
> that it can be done and I'll help anyone trying to create a useful tool 
> for
> sonifying data (in R only though) but that's because I'm interested in
> getting a wide range of options for blind end users as against just 
> working
> towards tools that I personally will find useful.
>
> I hope that you (Dickson) are considering coming to Orlando for the NFB
> Convention where we will almost certainly have discussions on the problems
> you face.
>
> Cheers,
> Jonathan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Martin,
> Vincent F via BlindMath
> Sent: Monday, 26 June 2017 5:15 a.m.
> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
> Cc: Martin, Vincent F
> Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data
> science?
>
> It can be done using a number of methodologies.  I have done it with and
> without sighted assistance.  Using a combination of tactile graphs and
> sighted assistance is how I did forecasting work.  I also am using
> sonification of data to interpret graphical output as well.  Work is being
> done for sonifying graphs using "R", SAS has intergrated what we called 
> the
> "sonification sandbox" in Dr. Bruce Walker's sonification lab at Georgia
> Tech and it is readily available right now.  It was unveiled at CSUN this
> Spring and I use it with SAS right now.  I am also using sonified graphs
> with the graphical output of SPSS in my current research as well.  I am up
> to dissertation proposal on what type of experiment I want to do, but I am
> sure it is similar to what most data analysts also use to make inferences
> with their visual graphs as well.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindMath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dickson
> Tan via BlindMath
> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 12:40 PM
> To: blindmath at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Dickson Tan <dickson.tan.2013 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [BlindMath] Is it possible for screen reader users to do data
> science?
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> Given that visualization is used often in data science to see patterns, is
> it possible for a screen reader user to do data science? I've heard of 
> some
> tools for doing basic bar/line graphing, but as far as I know, they are
> immature, and can't handle other types of graphs.
>
>
>
> If not, how far would I get without being able to access visualizations?
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dickson
>
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