[BlindMath] Typing Math and Science Quickly and Understandably

Thu May 3 21:11:52 UTC 2018

Hello,

You are correct that use of LaTeX within a markdown document leads to the same outcome as the workflow you have used in MS Word with MathType. I don't think you should suddenly change workflow for improved access to the mathematical content. There are other reasons why you should get use of pandoc into your toolbox though.

I do think Brandon's example is more cumbersome than it needed to be. I use markdown almost daily, and I only ever put a \ to get mathematical content. Forever listening to backslash from any screen reader is annoying, slows me down, and often presents a distraction. This was a leading reason for reducing my use of full-blown LaTeX. 

I would urge you to make use of the LEAN editor mentioned in this thread to enhance your workflow. The feature of LEAN I use most is the addition of tags to the math content so that you do not need to go backwards and forwards into LaTeX mode to read the content, and you don't have to use the specific combination of tools (screen reader + math player). LEAN offers an alternative and I am not suggesting it as a replacement. Having options is power, because it puts you in control. 

I do think you need to enhance what you do a little to get the best of what you have now before you embark on all manner of options. I would also suggest to you that the accuracy aspect of your criticism of LaTeX (while true) is also true for practically every tool you will use, and is also true for the scientific content you will be working with. I think your initial message to this thread said you were considering a computer science major; the programming languages you use will have limited flexibility to deal with the human inaccuracies that even the best among us is prone to create. For me, it is the ability to find and correct these inaccuracies that tells me how truly accessible a solution is for me. Markdown is the solution that works best for me today; it is not the only solution I use.

My final point is about use of a personal system. I know plenty of blind people who have little shorthand things we write. The problem is that they are individual and can't be shared. The most likely person you will want to share your work with is your future-self. Will you recall the shorthand you use today in ten years' time?

Cheers,
Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bhavya shah via BlindMath
Sent: Friday, 4 May 2018 8:05 a.m.
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bhavya shah <bhavya.shah125 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindMath] Typing Math and Science Quickly and Understandably

Hi Brandon,

In essence, this method is very similar to how I used to use LaTeX of MathType to generate Math ML content that was visually readible and screen reader firnedly with the help of NVDA and Math Player. However, my only two concerns are that using LaTeX or any other standardized Math code to type would almost invariably mean (1) slightly longer and stricter syntax that would need to be mandatorily followed, and (2) there are several reasons, some of which include lack of customization in pronunciation and excessive pausing, why I found reading Math ML with the help of Math Player and NVDA somewhat cumbersome in my past experiences. If I come to think of it, it is quite certain that at some point in time, either for typing my own Math&Science or for reading my transcribed course material, I will need to deal with Math ML using Math Player and NVDA, so in a day at most, I will be retrying Math ML and sharing some of the more significant concerns and issues I have with interacting with Math ML.

Kindly let me know if my present understanding of the method you described that this is just Pandoc instead of MathType and commandline instead of Word for using LaTeX to generate Math ML content is fundamentally incorrect.

Thanks.

On 5/3/18, Brandon Keith Biggs via BlindMath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello,
> Markdown with LaTeX is perfect for you. Here is an example that Lukasz 
> (from this list wrote):
>
> ## Parametric Forms
>
> *transcriber: system of two equations, each one has an extra 
> information after comma* \ $x = t^2 -2t$, $dx = 2t-2$ \ $y= t+1$, 
> minimum at $t=1$ \
> *transcriber: end of the system*
>
> For window:
> \
> $t$ from $[-2,4]$, $t$ step $= 0.1$
> \
> $x$ from $[-1,10]$
> \
> $y$ from $[-1,5]$
>
> # something easier
>
> $3x + y = 10$
> \
> $9 * 5 = 45$
> \
> Fractions
> \
> $\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 1$
>
>
> This converts perfectly to MathML using pandoc:
> https://pandoc.org/
>
> You install pandoc, open a command line where you have the math 
> content and
> type:
>
> pandoc my_math_file.md --mathml -s -o my_html_output_file.html
>
> You can give your professor the html file and they can read it in 
> print just fine. If you have a Braille display, the MathML shows up 
> just fine and it is also read by the screen reader. NVDA requires Math 
> player (see the user guide under reading math content for more info).
> Thanks,
>
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>
>
> On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 11:00 AM, Sean Tikkun via BlindMath < 
> blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Bhavya Shah,
>>
>>    I am assembling a team to generate 3D models to assist in 
>> learning. The team leaders are a former math teacher fluent in 
>> Braille (me) and a Fabrication lab director that teaches Biological 
>> and Chemical Sciences at the University level. If you have access to 
>> 3D printing I would love to know what you may need. Files are easy to 
>> send. If not, perhaps there is a fabrication lab at a university in 
>> Mumbai that would be interested in some collaboration?
>>    Feel free to reach out. stikkun at nccu.edu.
>>
>>
>> Sean Tikkun
>> Apple Distinguished Educator
>> class of 2007
>>
>> On May 01, 2018, at 08:51 PM, Sabra Ewing via BlindMath < 
>> blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I typed most of my math using the first method. You might be able to 
>> type more quickly if you had a braille keyboard. Also note that you 
>> can use parentheses and brackets. The Pearce in equation editor can 
>> produce math in a visual format. It is free. The braille note touch 
>> can do this as well although it is very expensive. I would definitely 
>> say to use a keyboard.
>> Do
>> not type on your phone as I am doing now because it is much slower.
>> Another
>> thing you can do is use copy and paste. You do not have to type 
>> everything from scratch. You can copy previous steps to your 
>> clipboard, paste them, and then modify them to create your future 
>> steps. Like for example, you might write a chemical equation that is 
>> not balanced. Paste this equation underneath it so you have two 
>> copies of the same equation. Then, take the first step toward 
>> balancing that equation and make those changes to your second copy. 
>> Now you have your equation and underneath it, you have the modified 
>> version with step one completed, so copied the version with step one 
>> completed to your clipboard and paste it underneath. Now you have the 
>> original equation, and you have two copies of step one. Modified the 
>> second copy of step one based on what you plan to do in step two. 
>> Continue this method until you have finished the problem. With a 
>> braille keyboard, you should be able to type as fast as someone can 
>> speak and even faster. If you cannot or a braille keyboard is not an 
>> option, you can record what is being said with a phone or other 
>> recording device and you can then go back over it. Another thing you 
>> can do is request things in electronic format. Mini American 
>> professors do not know how to create accessible math when it is 
>> really very easy as you described. You do not have to know any markup 
>> languages. You can create accessible math just by using your computer 
>> keyboard, and in many cases, if you are a computer science student, 
>> your math is in the perfect format to just paste right over into your ide.
>> Maybe
>> Indian professors would be better at creating accessible. If not, you 
>> might be able to find someone who can do it. This will be especially 
>> easy if you can find some funding. I was not lucky in this regard 
>> because other than professors, I never found a dedicated person who 
>> knew how to produce accessible math. I finally got to a position 
>> where I could no longer receive accessible math because I moved on to 
>> a four-year university where the professors did not know how to 
>> produce it. It is very ironic that when I started out at a two year 
>> university, the professors did know how to produce it. I approach 
>> programmers, professors, deans, and department head.
>> No one actually knew how including the programmers who produce 
>> accessible math every day. I finally had to end up listening to my 
>> math on recordings and writing everything down. It was very 
>> difficult. If you want to get math in braille, there is software that 
>> can do it called Duxberry. Ironically, my university actually had 
>> this software, but no one knew how to use it including the people who 
>> worked at disability services. Getting it for yourself will not be 
>> helpful. If you get this software, you will need someone who can 
>> modify the equations for you. If your professor has files that were 
>> generated from a markup language, you could try asking for those 
>> source files. Even if you do not know the markup language, math is 
>> written very similarly when you are programming computers, so you 
>> could probably pick up how to read it. Unfortunately, my professors 
>> used PDFs that they got from other sources or pictures of hand 
>> written documents so I could not do this. People will try to tell you 
>> that Matt cannot be produced excessively on the computer. This simply 
>> is not true. Every mathematical formula, function, and number known 
>> to humankind can be programmed into a computer using a text based 
>> programming language. Also, many of these functions and formulas can 
>> be put into XL. If you can put these formulas into XL, then you can 
>> produce them accessibly in a word document. If someone is trying to 
>> tell you that they can't, then just tell them to put it in a 
>> spreadsheet, press F2 on the cells, and read the formulas that way.
>> XL is very good because you can use it to organize data, you can use 
>> it as a calculator, and you can use it to create tables and graphs. 
>> You can put these documents in your dropbox and you can get the 
>> pictures of the graphs.
>> You can then import these pictures into the voice app on your phone 
>> and you can listen to them. If you are going to listen to pie charts, 
>> to make it easier on yourself to read, use the 3-D exploding pie 
>> charts. This may sound counterintuitive, but when you listen to them, 
>> there is a bit more separation between each piece. I don't know how 
>> you would get training to listen to grass. I just automatically was 
>> born knowing how to do it. No one ever taught me. I could always 
>> listen to graphs very easily and I could never read tactile graphics. 
>> There is also a program called math tracks where you can create audio 
>> graphs by entering in equations.However, it is really best to have 
>> both the equation and the data because what if you created a graph 
>> using any equation, and you need to make some changes to the data? 
>> Well, you don't have the data, so what are you going to do? You could 
>> probably generate the data from the equation in some cases, but that 
>> will take forever. I like to listen to a graph and have the 
>> spreadsheet in front of me at the same time. There is also a blind chemist named Dr.
>> sapalo. I'm not sure how to spell his name. I have his card somewhere 
>> but I just have to find it. I really wish people would start using 
>> those barcode Cards where I can scan the contact information into my 
>> phone, but I only know one person who uses those. Anyways, You may 
>> want to get in touch with him. He has all of these probes. They do 
>> all different things. They connect to a computer and they can measure 
>> chemical reactions and make graphs and do all this stuff depending on 
>> what probe you use. For example, you could use one probe to graph the 
>> color changes that occur during an experiment.
>> You could use another probe to track temperature changes like ice melting.
>> I don't really do chemistry, but if I did, I imagine I would want 
>> this thing, but I can't remember what it is called. But he is 
>> actually a chemistry professor at a university. He is totally blind 
>> and he teaches classes and runs labs and does all sorts of things. 
>> There are plenty of blind computer scientists, but he struck my 
>> interest in particular because I have not heard of mini blind 
>> chemists. He also had some good advice for 3-D printing that would 
>> work in the United States, but I am not sure if it would work in 
>> India. If possible though, you may want to get some 3-D models 
>> printed. Another thing is that you want to stay consistent. You want 
>> to make sure that you are doing things in the classroom the same way 
>> you will do them during testing. In my chemistry class, I did not 
>> have access to a lot of 3-D models, but for testing purposes, they 
>> made me a 3-D model.
>> This really was not fair because it was made out of a lot of cups and 
>> straws. I did not know what it was, and it is not fair to use models 
>> for testing purposes that you did not use in the classroom or to use 
>> a different method for testing purposes that you did not use in the 
>> classroom because this will skew the results. If you use certain 
>> accommodations in the classroom, insist on the same accommodations 
>> for testing.
>>
>> Sabra Ewing
>>
>> On May 1, 2018, at 5:22 PM, Bhavya shah via BlindMath < 
>> blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I am Bhavya Shah, a totally blind 16-year-old student from Mumbai, 
>> India. Having just completed my tenth grade with the same Mathematics 
>> and Science syllabus as my sighted peers in a mainstream school, I 
>> intend to take up the Science stream according to the Indian 
>> education system for Classes 11 and 12 with the subject combination 
>> of
>> Physics+Chemistry+Mathematics, and probably take up something along
>> the lines of Computer Science for my undergraduate studies after that 
>> (although I shouldn’t overly worry about about finalizing that for 
>> now, I suppose). Additionally, I shall be enrolling into coaching for 
>> a very competitive pan-India engineering entrance examination over 
>> the next two years where I will be delving into particularly advanced 
>> topics in to the three afore-mentioned subjects.
>>
>> Till Class 10, I managed an overwhelming chunk of Math either orally 
>> or mentally, and from what I have been informed, have dealt with 
>> relatively very simple organic structures, general numericals and 
>> chemical equations which I have been handling mostly via plain text.
>> It has become increasingly clear to me that this makeshift method 
>> will be extremely inefficient and consequently infeasible for the 
>> kind of syllabus I am transitioning to. Hence, I am looking for 
>> different techniques, tools or methods of typing Math and Science 
>> that will allow me to be as rapid a Math&Science typist as I am of 
>> the English language (at its peak, my fingers have achieved about 100 
>> WPM) so that I can cope with the daily rigor this coaching demands. I 
>> need to be able to type mathematical and scientific content 
>> accurately and swiftly not necessarily such that it is visually 
>> readable by a sighted professor but more so for my own reference, 
>> understanding and purposes of review and revision.
>>
>> So far, I am versed only with two options – ASCII Math, where I would 
>> just type Math and Science using standard symbols present on any 
>> keyboard such as /, *, ^ and so on to denote different things 
>> (perhaps
>> (x+2)/x-1)) in chiefly plain text, or type things in LaTeX using 
>> MathType ($\frac{x+2}{x-1}$) and employ Math Player and NVDA to read 
>> it. From my basic understanding of this and limited past experience 
>> with each of these methods, the former sounds much faster and more 
>> efficient to me, but I am open to evidence and experiences suggesting 
>> otherwise. There are various other Math typing tools I have heard 
>> about over the years such as Infty Reader and Lean Math, but have 
>> never adequately researched them let alone used them to any extent.
>> Any information or instructional material on these and other 
>> potential alternatives you would recommend would be of great help too.
>>
>> I would truly appreciate any assistance on different strategies you 
>> may have used to math your sighted counterparts’ speed in terms of 
>> writing and solving mathematical and scientific material, questions 
>> and problem sets.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --
>> Best Regards
>> Bhavya Shah
>>
>> Blogger at Hiking Across Horizons: 
>> https://bhavyashah125.wordpress.com/
>>
>> Contacting Me
>> E-mail Address: bhavya.shah125 at gmail.com
>> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyashah125/
>> Twitter: @BhavyaShah125
>> Skype: bhavya.09
>>
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--
Best Regards
Bhavya Shah

Blogger at Hiking Across Horizons: https://bhavyashah125.wordpress.com/

Contacting Me
E-mail Address: bhavya.shah125 at gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyashah125/
Twitter: @BhavyaShah125
Skype: bhavya.09

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