Tools for Creating Accessible Math

Tools for Creating Accessible Math Presented by the DIAGRAM Center Bryan Gould, Geoff Freed WGBH National Center for Accessible Media Steve Noble University of Louisville Introduction Overview of Math Access and MathML Speaking Math Displaying and Reading Accessible Math Tools for Creating MathML Q&A Digital Image And Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials • 5-year Research & Development Center • Funded by Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) • Awarded to Benetech along with partners: • NCAM • U.S Fund for DAISY • • • • • • • • • (some of) DIAGRAM Activities Description guidelines training Product evaluation matrices User survey on reading technologies Report on metadata images SVG and 3D printing evaluation Audio-Tactile usability study Poet Standard development: content model Collaboration with Mathematics eText Research Center (MeTRC, U of Oregon) diagramcenter.org Accessible Digital Math DOED OSEP Recommendation June 22, 2012 NIMAS recommends MathML be used to improve the accessibility of mathematical and scientific content in core instructional materials as the most effective method of providing accessible print instructional materials involving mathematical and scientific content to students who are blind or who have print disabilities Pearson Higher Ed In 2014, every Pearson college math and stats text will have an HTML eBook version • • • • Formatted in HTML MathML Alt Text (image descriptions) Readable by JAWS, Window-Eyes, NVDA and other screen readers Overview of Math Access and MathML universally recognized as one of greatest achievements of the human mind and it can be represented in the following equation: a + b) ( z=2 c universally recognized as one of greatest achievements of the human mind and it can be represented in the following equation: IMAGE! Accessible math: MathML • MathML can also be displayed in any browser using MathJax • zooming • Equations will look the same in any browser Accessible math: MathML and screen readers • While MathML can be displayed in many browsers, not all screen readers will read it: • YES, with MathPlayer: • JAWS + IE9 • NVDA + IE9 • Window-Eyes + IE9 • these same screen-reader/browser combinations will also read MathML displayed using MathJax Accessible math: MathML and screen readers • YES: ChromeVox + Chrome (Mac and Windows) • with MathJax • native MathML • note that while ChromeVox will read native MathML, Chrome will not display native MathML properly at this time Accessible math: MathML and screen readers • NO: • JAWS/Window-Eyes/NVDA with Firefox or Chrome, or IE when MathPlayer is not installed • VoiceOver with any browser Accessible math: MathML and iBooks Textbooks • MathML can be added to iBooks Textbooks using iBooks Author • iBooks Textbooks can be read only on an iPad • VoiceOver will read the MathML Accessible math: DTBs • Digital Talking Books (DTBs) can also display math: • as images: • made accessible using @alt or long descriptions • as MathML • Dolphin EasyReader • ReadHear Tools for Creating MathML MathML authoring • MathML can be authored in a variety of ways: • by hand using a text/HTML editor • using special applications or plug-ins: • MathType (plug-in for numerous applications including Word, InDesign and IBA) • Firemath (Firefox add-on) MathML authoring • Authors can copy MathML from MathType and Firemath and paste into other documents • HTML • EPUB • DTB • iBooks Textbooks • others MathML authoring • WAVES Toolbar (gh) • create, edit, import, export MathML • full operation from keyboard; MathML generated as equation is written • equations are spoken as they are created MathML authoring: DTBs • MathML can be included in DTBs using tools such as MathDaisy • plug-in for Word (Windows only) • works in conjunction with Save As Daisy and MathType • exports DTBs with MathML MathML authoring: DTBs • MathML can be included in DTBs using Poet • Web-based image-description tool for DTBs • includes Math Helper, a function that converts ASCII-math into MathML Resources • • • • • • • • • Math activity at the W3C • MathML 3.0 Design Science (MathType, MathPlayer, MathDaisy) DAISY Consortium Firemath MathSpeak Initiative at gh Assistive Technology and Math Support Creating Accessible iBooks Textbooks with iBooks Author 2.0 (info about including math in iBooks) DIAGRAM Center What are the Technology Issues Involved in Making Math Accessible? Q&A Contact Information Bryan Gould & Geoff Freed WGBH National Center for Accessible Media bryan_gould@wgbh.org, geoff_freed @wgbh.org Steve Noble University of Louisville steve.noble@louisville.edu DIAGRAM Center – Funded by Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) ... Introduction Overview of Math Access and MathML Speaking Math Displaying and Reading Accessible Math Tools for Creating MathML Q&A Digital Image And Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials •... the next • some features of MathML may not be supported • no MathML in Chrome for the moment Accessible math: MathML • MathML can be displayed in IE (not IE 10) using MathPlayer • zooming • speaking... name • e.g., PDF and HTML Accessible math: images • @alt on images is read aloud by screen readers • e.g., PDF and HTML Accessible math: MathML • MathML can be transformed and rendered in a number