[Blindmath] Accessible Physics Concepts for Blind Students

Christine Szostak szostak.1 at osu.edu
Wed Jun 15 15:50:22 UTC 2011 

Agree completely. The redundancy actually starts to get a bit annoying to 
read after a while though the descriptions are excellent.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics" 
<blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Accessible Physics Concepts for Blind Students


> Hello Richard and everyone,
>
>    The link worked. However I find the section titles rather repetitious.
> We're told at the outset that this is an E-Book dealing with "Accessible
> Physics Concepts for Blind Students." The titles of the links could be
> shortened a bit by removing the phrase "For Blind Students" from each one.
> Instead of reading,
>
> "Energy -- Power for Blind Students" simply saying "Energy Power" is
> sufficient in my book. It's not that we want blindness to be hidden. 
> Rather
> it's a matter of link names being no longer than they need to be to get
> their point across.   Otherwise this is a great project that will benefit
> many. All the best.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Baldwin" <baldwin at dickbaldwin.com>
> To: "Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics"
> <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 1:01 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Accessible Physics Concepts for Blind Students
>
>
> Someone earlier made the following comment:
>
> 2. You need to locate the Navigation heading to reach the table
> of  content for the course
>
> I went back and talked to the lady in website support and she told me that
> the following unpublished URL will cause you to land on the Table of
> Contents for the Collection.
>
> http://cnx.org/content/col11294/latest/#cnx_sidebar_column
>
> Since I don't use a screen reader and I am addicted to the use of a mouse
> instead of keyboard navigation, I don't know how to test it. Give it a try
> and let me know if this is what you meant.
>
> Dick Baldwin
>
> On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 10:14 PM, Birkir R. Gunnarsson <
> birkir.gunnarsson at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi John
>>
>> I certainly would've mentioned BrailleBlaster as well, only it had
>> already been mentioned elsewhere.
>> It's a small world and a handful of guys that are making things happen
>> for accessible math.
>> The Japanese Infty project has the best accessible math editor with
>> Chatty Infty (if you know TeX you can use Word with MathType installed
>> successfully as well), or expoert ChattyInfty document to that medium
>> for embossing.
>> They also have InftyReader, an application for scanning hardcopy or
>> electronic format math (PDF images for instance), pretty much the only
>> scanning solution for math.
>> But this is probably not overly helpful to someone wanting to make
>> math accessible on his web site.
>>
>>
>> On 6/15/11, John J. Boyer <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com> wrote:
>> > Birkir,
>> >
>> > Thanks for the information and the links. I notice that you mention TSS
>> > from ViewPlus Technologies. The company is one of the sponsors of
>> > BrailleBlaster. It will go beyond TSS and be cross-platform.
>> >
>> > John
>> >
>> > On Wed, Jun 15, 2011 at 02:32:08AM +0000, Birkir Gunarsson wrote:
>> >> Some helpful links:
>> >> WAI-ARIA draft/document
>> >> http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/aria.php
>> >>
>> >> Note that ARIA support still differs across both browsers and screen
>> >> readers, and I believe the specification is a final draft,not official
>> >> W3C standard yet.
>> >> This is the right solution for the future certainly, but just keep in
>> >> mind that you may still get complaints for some time (months
>> >> probably).
>> >> But if everyone shies away from implementing new things because they
>> >> have not become a standard, they will never become a standard.
>> >> I can't comment on the site in question, but I would've thought using
>> >> headings of different levels might help clarify and keep the site
>> >> organizied, as well as making site navigation easier.
>> >> see the WebAIM article:
>> >> http://webaim.org/techniques/semanticstructure/
>> >>
>> >> For math using MathJax (http://www.mathjax.org) or embed MathML for
>> >> mathematics will allow users to play math in smost screen readers
>> >> using MathPlayer from Design Science (www.dessci.com). MP is IE8
>> >> compatible and there's work in IE9 and Firefox compatibility I believe
>> >> (Neil Soiffer will comment on that soon I am sure, he is the developer
>> >> for MathPlayer).
>> >> MathML can also be embossed into braille by both Duxbury DBT and TSS
>> >> from ViewPlus (though the preferred source format is Word with
>> >> MathML).
>> >> In csae you are wondering about PDF, it is not very screen reader
>> >> friendly with math, though there have been some experiments with
>> >> making MathPlayer work with PDF, and those who can read pure TeX can
>> >> use it inside an accessible (tagged) PDF document.
>> >> For graphics use SVG for all graphs. This is another area still under
>> >> Assistive Technology development, but SVG is a key concept of UDL, U
>> >> of Washington has done embossing work as well as APH (as mentioned
>> >> above).
>> >> SVG and MathML are both core technologies of HTML5 and ePub3 so future
>> >> websites and eBooks can create a STEM accessibility world that
>> >> hitherto has been completely out of reach for most visually imapred
>> >> people.
>> >> Of course there has been a lot of the "chicken and egg" situation in
>> >> this field. Due to little interest of end users in STEM accessibility
>> >> it has been hard to encourage Assistive Technology development and
>> >> hard to persuade publishers to consider these formats, but the lack of
>> >> available material in accessible formats is the key to increasing
>> >> participation and interest from the print disabled community (for
>> >> discussion of ptint disabled see http://www.readingrights.org ..
>> >> people with visual and cognitive impairments stand to benefit hugely
>> >> from multi media interfacing with STEM material).
>> >> Getting content authors and professionals on-board with this movement
>> >> is key to revolutionizing the accessibility in the field, so welcome
>> >> on board.
>> >> Final pointer for you would be http://www.access2science.org
>> >> This is a relativelynew website but has a lot of information regarding
>> >> STEM accessibility, both producing and consuming.
>> >> hth
>> >> -B
>> >>
>> >> On 6/15/11, Ken Perry <kperry at blinksoft.com> wrote:
>> >> > I work for the American printing house for the blind.  Please write
>> >> > me
>> >> > an
>> >> > email at kperry at aph.org and I will get your tactile graphics request
>> to
>> >> > the
>> >> > right person tomorrow morning.  You can find more information about
>> APH
>> >> > at
>> >> > www.aph.org.
>> >> >
>> >> > Ken
>> >> >
>> >> > -----Original Message-----
>> >> > From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:
>> blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> >> > On
>> >> > Behalf Of Richard Baldwin
>> >> > Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 9:02 PM
>> >> > To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> >> > Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Accessible Physics Concepts for Blind
>> Students
>> >> >
>> >> > Hello Lucas,
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm new to this list and I'm not certain exactly how it works. I'm
>> going
>> >> > to
>> >> > hit reply and hope that does everything necessary for me to to reply
>> to
>> >> > the
>> >> > members of the list.
>> >> >
>> >> > I appreciate the compliment. As you read through the material, 
>> >> > please
>> >> > let me
>> >> > know if you have any suggestions for improvement.
>> >> >
>> >> > I am hard at work right now trying to find a way to incorporate
>> tactile
>> >> > graphics into the material. If you know of an organization that 
>> >> > would
>> be
>> >> > willing to use a ViewPlus embosser to emboss SVG files for students,
>> >> > preferably for free, or for a nominal fee, please let me know.
>> >> >
>> >> > Yes, you may use my material in your project.
>> >> >
>> >> > I am publishing this material under a Creative Commons license (see
>> >> > http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
>> >> >
>> >> > I am going to copy a couple of links from the Connexions website
>> >> > below
>> >> > to
>> >> > help you in that regard.
>> >> >
>> >> > How to reuse and attribute this content (see
>> >> >
>> http://cnx.org/content/col11294/1.32/content_info#cnx_attribution_header)
>> >> > How to cite  and attribute this content (
>> >> > http://cnx.org/content/col11294/1.32/content_info#cnx_cite_header)
>> >> >
>> >> > If you would like to republish the translation on the Connexions
>> >> > website,
>> >> > I'm sure they would be happy for you to publish it there.
>> >> >
>> >> > Wishing you the best,
>> >> > Dick Baldwin
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 7:26 PM, Lucas Radaelli
>> >> > <lucasradaelli at gmail.com>wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Richard,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 1. The site has too many headings, and using ARIA landmarks would
>> have
>> >> > been
>> >> >> better.
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I took a look at the website, and it is amazing your work, I didn't
>> >> >> know it. The way it is, it is easy to navigate by headers.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I also would like to know if you let me use your material in my
>> >> >> project. I live in Brazil and probably a lot of blind students here
>> >> >> don't know English yet, so it would be interesting to translate 
>> >> >> your
>> >> >> book into my language...
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thank you!
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 2011/6/14, Richard Baldwin <baldwin at dickbaldwin.com>:
>> >> >> > I am the author of the eBook in the subject line.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I just learned of this list and subscribed to it.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I was happy to find several comments about my eBook and about the
>> >> >> > site
>> >> > in
>> >> >> > the recent archives. I have a couple of questions.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > The comments were:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > 1. The site has too many headings, and using ARIA landmarks would
>> >> >> > have
>> >> >> been
>> >> >> > better.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > 2. You need to locate the Navigation heading to reach the table 
>> >> >> > of
>> >> >> content
>> >> >> > for the course.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > 3. You might consider adding information on the BrailleBlaster
>> >> >> > project,
>> >> >> > which
>> >> >> > will target especially STEM. There is an article on me and the
>> >> >> > project
>> >> > on
>> >> >> > the April DAISY Planet. To find it, look for my name.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > My questions are:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Regarding item 1 above, does this refer to the navigational
>> material
>> >> > that
>> >> >> > belongs to the site, or to the format of the modules that I have
>> >> >> > written
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> > posted on the site?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > I'm not familiar with the term ARIA landmarks and my first look 
>> >> >> > at
>> >> >> > what
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> > W3C has to say about the topic wasn't very enlightening. Can
>> someone
>> >> >> point
>> >> >> > me to a beginner's tutorial on the topic? If that is a better
>> >> >> > approach,
>> >> > I
>> >> >> > will be happy to switch to it once I know what it is and how to 
>> >> >> > do
>> >> >> > it.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Regarding item 2 above, I am assuming that this has to do with 
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > organizational structure of the site itself and not with the
>> material
>> >> >> that I
>> >> >> > have posted there. Is that a correct assumption?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Regarding item 3 above, at this point I simply don't know enough
>> >> >> > about
>> >> >> > BrailleBlaster to talk about it. However, once I find a break in
>> >> >> > writing
>> >> >> > technical modules for the eBook, I plan to provide a page
>> containing
>> >> >> > a
>> >> >> > variety of resources, and I will certainly include a link to the
>> >> >> > BrailleBlaster site when I post those resources.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Thanks for the comments,
>> >> >> > Dick Baldwin
>> >> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> >> > Blindmath mailing list
>> >> >> > Blindmath at nfbnet.org
>> >> >> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
>> >> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for
>> >> >> > Blindmath:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/lucasradaelli%40g
>> >> > mail.com
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >> >> for
>> >> >> Blindmath:
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/baldwin%40dickbal
>> >> > dwin.com
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
>> >> > Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
>> >> > http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>> >> >
>> >> > Professor of Computer Information Technology
>> >> > Austin Community College
>> >> > (512) 223-4758
>> >> > mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
>> >> > http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
>> >> > _______________________________________________
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>> >> > for
>> >> > Blindmath:
>> >> >
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/kperry%40blinksof
>> >> > t.com
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Blindmath mailing list
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>> >> > for
>> >> > Blindmath:
>> >> >
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/birkir.gunnarsson%40gmail.com
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> > --
>> > John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
>> > Abilitiessoft, Inc.
>> > http://www.abilitiessoft.com
>> > Madison, Wisconsin USA
>> > Developing software for people with disabilities
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
> Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
> http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>
> Professor of Computer Information Technology
> Austin Community College
> (512) 223-4758
> mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
> http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
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