RE: Request for guidance from AGWG re mathematical markup

One possibility would be to write the mathematical expressions in LaTeX (embedded in the HTML document), and then to convert them to MathML as part of the publication step. This would maintain the ease of editing while still generating standards-conformant MathML.

To use MathJax, if desired, one could simply include the appropriate script element in the HEAD of the document.

The MathML Refresh Community Group is contemplating optional enhancements to Presentation MathML that clarify the meaning of expressions for, among potentially other purposes, accessibility. This work also encompasses chemistry, thanks to the contributions of the Chemistry for the Web and Publishing Community Group. More details can be discussed at the meeting.

From: Noble, Stephen <steve.noble@pearson.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 3:16 PM
To: Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net>; George Kerscher <kerscher@montana.com>; tzviya.wai@rednote.net; White, Jason J <jjwhite@ets.org>
Cc: W3C WAI Accessible Platform Architectures <public-apa@w3.org>
Subject: Re: Request for guidance from AGWG re mathematical markup

Hi Janina,

Of course, Jason has been researching this a lot lately, so he may have some good observations to share. My usual response is that the MathML specification is *the* W3C recommendation for including math expressions in web content. However, since browser vendors have been slow to support MathML, MathJax has become the common way these days to support math display in a web page until browser support catches up. It also allows web page authors to use either MathML, LaTeX or ASCIIMath in the body of the page source code, which then gets processed by JavaScript to produce proper looking math expressions. MathJax also provides off-screen MathML to the browser, which enables screen readers to read the math. Of course, once Chromium has adopted MathML support, the need for MathJax will be greatly diminished. One could certainly use MathML in the page source and MathJax would take care of proving appropriate support for browsers that need it.

Hope that helps,

--Steve




Steve Noble
Instructional Designer, Accessibility
Psychometrics & Testing Services

Pearson
502 969 3088
steve.noble@pearson.com<mailto:steve.noble@pearson.com>
[Image removed by sender.]

________________________________
From: Janina Sajka <janina@rednote.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 2:42 PM
To: George Kerscher <kerscher@montana.com>; tzviya.wai@rednote.net <tzviya.wai@rednote.net>; White, Jason J <jjwhite@ets.org>
Cc: W3C WAI Accessible Platform Architectures <public-apa@w3.org>
Subject: Request for guidance from AGWG re mathematical markup

Colleagues:

The Silver Task Force of AGWG has mathematical equations destined for
WCAG 3.0. The source is currently maintained in latex, but that will not
suffice for document publication in html.

APA's help has been requested for determining the best markup
approach--perhaps even in time for the FPWD of WCAG 3.0, and certainly
by the time that specification becomes a W3C recommendation in a couple
years. Please see Jeanne Spellman's attached request.

So, I'm adding this item as a brief agendum at the top of the APA
teleconference call for this Wednesday 26 February. I don't expect we'll
arrive at the final answer for Silver, but we should be able to better understand the
need and identify who we need to pulled into the conversation.

It's also our (APA's) opportunity to ask about the status of
enhancements to MathML, and to markup for Chemistry that got such a
great start about a year ago. I'm hoping we'll learn that work is
proceeding apace, but I'm concerned it may have stalled.

If you're able to join the APA teleconference for this issue at 12:00
(Noon) Boston Time this Wednesday 26 February, you are most welcome. I
understand this is very little advance notice. If not, the topic will be
back. Updates via email on list (in response to this email) are, of
course, also most welcome.

Thanking you in advance,

Janina


--

Janina Sajka

Linux Foundation Fellow
Executive Chair, Accessibility Workgroup:       https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__a11y.org&d=DwIBAg&c=0YLnzTkWOdJlub_y7qAx8Q&r=e0Vlq1-H9s-GydHZ8dXqhyYdB-jv9NvThaezSlozh9I&m=ia-JwqhQycqf-vLIljA5FesDi6Qdb46j7HYIG1t8elY&s=ivsGSPeo5Cf81vWmqVCgSkJDtnXe-iRVmKbUHxgnDZE&e=<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__a11y.org%26d%3DDwIBAg%26c%3D0YLnzTkWOdJlub_y7qAx8Q%26r%3De0Vlq1-H9s-GydHZ8dXqhyYdB-jv9NvThaezSlozh9I%26m%3Dia-JwqhQycqf-vLIljA5FesDi6Qdb46j7HYIG1t8elY%26s%3DivsGSPeo5Cf81vWmqVCgSkJDtnXe-iRVmKbUHxgnDZE%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7Cjjwhite%40ets.org%7C20e2c85885a94a83e62e08d7ba2f87be%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C637182585611546551&sdata=vbwle7UcYWzeAVP%2Fg0uz8ttQ34BxPQY%2BJH2eKoTMHEw%3D&reserved=0>

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
Chair, Accessible Platform Architectures        https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.w3.org_wai_apa&d=DwIBAg&c=0YLnzTkWOdJlub_y7qAx8Q&r=e0Vlq1-H9s-GydHZ8dXqhyYdB-jv9NvThaezSlozh9I&m=ia-JwqhQycqf-vLIljA5FesDi6Qdb46j7HYIG1t8elY&s=r2QuGDsdJahzEj-Fk1rL9lM0R6IOlVUi__fXagH7Yy4&e=<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.proofpoint.com%2Fv2%2Furl%3Fu%3Dhttp-3A__www.w3.org_wai_apa%26d%3DDwIBAg%26c%3D0YLnzTkWOdJlub_y7qAx8Q%26r%3De0Vlq1-H9s-GydHZ8dXqhyYdB-jv9NvThaezSlozh9I%26m%3Dia-JwqhQycqf-vLIljA5FesDi6Qdb46j7HYIG1t8elY%26s%3Dr2QuGDsdJahzEj-Fk1rL9lM0R6IOlVUi__fXagH7Yy4%26e%3D&data=02%7C01%7Cjjwhite%40ets.org%7C20e2c85885a94a83e62e08d7ba2f87be%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C637182585611556548&sdata=PAfc0PaK1nS5ubMbeqx6scqNzeJqjX6tohX1JVNa210%3D&reserved=0>

________________________________

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged or confidential information. It is solely for use by the individual for whom it is intended, even if addressed incorrectly. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender; do not disclose, copy, distribute, or take any action in reliance on the contents of this information; and delete it from your system. Any other use of this e-mail is prohibited.


Thank you for your compliance.

________________________________