I'm not sure about turning mathML into Braille, but if you decide to
go down the route of having mathML read aloud using Mathplayer and
Jaws (for example) please bear the following in mind. Unless you type
it by hand (which is as time consuming as typing LaTeX really), rather
than using an authoring tool such as MathType, you only get
presentation mathML, when want you really need is content mathML.
Content mathML contains semantic data about what is meant by the
mathmatical signs and this is needed for it to be read correctly
aloud.
This is probably irrelevant but I thought I'd poitn it out.
Also, I'm involved with MSOR one a project entitled "Accessibility in
MSOR: LaTeX to Braille" where we hope to create software to
successfully turn LaTeX code into Braille. Michael Whapples who wrote
for MSOR is the guy writing the software and my husband and I are
doing auxillary research. It will be open source software so anyone
can use it, but we've literally started this week so it will be about
a year before we are able to report basck I'm afraid.
Emma
On 07/11/2007, Morgan Lara <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> Debbie
>
> At Nottingham the Physics department transcribed equations into LaTeX which
> could then be translated into braille. It was very time consuming and the
> duxbury software didn't fully understand the code so a modified code had to
> be used.
> Steve Maddox has written up this process in an article on
> http://ltsn.mathstore.gla.ac.uk/headocs/Maddox_S.pdf . As
> you can see from the article it was a time consuming process, perhaps with
> MathML being a better solution.
>
> He had assistance from the Alternative Format Service at Nottingham
> http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/is/services/alternative-formats/
> who may be useful to talk to.
>
> It is definitely worth considering Ian's suggestion to employ someone to
> work on this as there is definitely work to be done in solving the
> difficulties.
>
> Lara
>
> ________________________________
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Debbie Louise Gloster
> Sent: 06 November 2007 15:40
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Blind student studying Computer Science with Cybernetics
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> Does anyone have experience of supporting a Blind/Braille user student
> through a Computer Science and Cybernetics course? Or on a maths program?
>
>
>
> We have a student in her 1st year. She needs a maths text book translated
> into Braille as she is unable to do her maths in any other format. On top
> of her DSA (which she has exceeded with Jaws software, opticbook
> scanner+kuzweill, Plextalk daisy recorder etc) we have purchased a Braille
> notetaker and a scannar for the library which has already totalled approx
> £6,000.
>
>
>
> I have been in discussions with a Braille transcription company about
> getting the Maths course text book transcribed on a rolling week by week
> basis for her lectures (as there is clear list about what specific reading
> sections are required for each maths session) They have quoted that the cost
> of creating this is likely to be in excess of £10,000 for this book alone.
>
>
>
>
> On top of this there is a need for many lecture notes with complex equations
> and diagrams to be created into a tactile form on a regular basis. The
> Braille translation company have advised me that the material is too complex
> for their software so it would need to be hand keyed and proofread. This
> would suggest that therefore that having Braille translation software such
> as Duxbury wouldn't be sufficient for the student to create her own Braille
> – and it obviously wouldn't solve the ongoing diagram accessibility issue.
>
>
>
> I would really appreciate anyone's advice on this. What would your
> institution's idea of 'reasonable' adjustments be in a situation like this?
>
>
>
> Kind regards
>
>
>
> Debbie
>
>
>
> Debbie Gloster, Disability Adviser
>
> Disability Advisory Service, Student Services, Whiteknights, University of
> Reading, RG6 6AH| ( 0118 378 8921| ( (fax) 0118 378 7393
>
>
>
>
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--
Emma Jane Rowlett (née Wright)
School of Sociology and Social Policy
University of Nottingham
[log in to unmask]
www.accessingmaterials.org.uk
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