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> Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:06:40 +0100 > From: Michael Whapples <mwhapples aim com> > Subject: Re: [orca-list] Math on Orca > To: Orca-list gnome org > Message-ID: <4A476AE0 2090409 aim com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Hello, > Firstly good to hear that some one else who uses maths is contacting > developers of their screen reader about gaining access to maths. There's > a few points to cover here: > > Orca isn't great with maths. One feature it could do with is mathml > support for maths in webpages as those on windows can gain some access > to mathml in internet explorer. However this needs more than orca fixes, > firefox I believe doesn't reveal the information orca needs. Side note: > have you considered using the firevox plugin to make firefox self > voicing, it seems to have some mathml support (although I found it > wasn't as good as mathplayer and internet explorer on windows). > > You specifically mentioned PDF containing maths, these are particularly > bad for any screen reader. For PDF to work alot of work needs to be done > and when maths is involved you are best advised to try and contact the > author for an alternative format. Should you have no success, then there > are some commercial offerings on windows which may be able to help (I > won't go into detail on list here as windows stuff is off topic, either > contact me off list or look at some of the links I will provide below). > > If your used to using linux this suggestion for writing maths may suit > you well, have you considered the LaTeX typesetting language? Most linux > distributions either come with LaTeX installed or have it available in > their package manager system, so getting a working LaTeX environment > should be easy. Why is LaTeX so good? Its plain text based, so use > whatever editor you like and so you can gain perfect access to the > source document. You use commands in the text to insert more complicated > notation/structures and there are many packages for many different types > of documents. When you want to print your document, you use the LaTeX > software to compile it into a format like PDF, and providing you used > the LaTeX correctly you will have a professional looking document. The > only problem with the last bit is, if you are really concerned about > perfection, it can be hard to confirm the precise output being produced, > but when you are familiar with LaTeX and read errors and warnings when > compiling these situations should be few and far between. > I personally like the latex + tex4ht + liblouisxml combination. After I weedled out all the errors with latex itself and get a compilable document, I use mzlatex (provided with tex4ht) to produce an html/xhtml doccument with embedded mathml. Then I run the html doc through xml2brl (obtained with the liblouisxml package) to make a .brl file that I can read withmy braillenote. Being able to proofread the final doccument in G2 + nemith, UEB or NUBS, in my opinion, is a valueable experience before handing in a final submission--for those who are profissiant with braille anyhow. It can be a lengthy process at times, but it works for me. It won't work for everyone. You can try it if you want. Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. See how. |