Re: [Filter Effects][css3-transforms] Using MathML for formulas

>
> Hi Steve,
>
> Do you know of any standards for the reading of math as a linear stream
> of words?  In the meantime, before Peter's MathJax extension is ready, I
> would like to just add some aria-label="" attributes manually to the
> MathML in the SVG spec.  I could take a guess at what is an appropriate
> reading for the formulae, but if there's a standard or guide for
> producing this I'd like to follow it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cameron
>
>
There isn't a standard way to speak math.  The way math is spoken varies
considerably by region, subject area, and expertise level. When speaking
math for people with disabilities, it varies depending on the vision
disability.  For example, for those who are blind (and aren't experts in
the subject matter), you need to be unambigous about what is spoken and
"mark" the beginning and end of fractions, scripts, etc.  E.g., "start
fraction a+1 over 2 end fraction".  But for someone with a vision-related
learning disability such as dyslexia, those extra words are verbal
"clutter" and make it harder to understand the math, not easier.

Generating the speech you want to hear is much better done at the time of
"rendering", not predetermined.  In addition to those benefits, you will
also be able to navigate the speech when it is generated from MathML as
opposed to when it is given as a string of text.  You should only use
aria-label as a fall back in case there is no "active" math reader.

My company makes MathPlayer, a free plug-in to IE that renders math
visually and can generate a string of text to be spoken.  It works with
most AT out there, but is currently limited to IE.  That limitation will be
gone before the end of the year (at least according to our plans...).  You
can try it out by downloading it from:
http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/download.htm

MathPlayer 3 PR1 version has most of the options I've mentioned except for
navigation (we're working on that).  It supports both the MathSpeak style
of speech (good for people who know the Nemeth braille math code) and
another more natural style.  We're working on yet a third style.

I hope this info helps,

Neil Soiffer
Senior Scientist
Design Science, Inc.
www.dessci.com
~ Makers of MathType, MathFlow, MathPlayer, MathDaisy, Equation Editor ~