Re: Math Markup is too awkward.

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At 08:47 AM 24/07/97 -0400, Dave Raggett wrote:
>On Thu, 24 Jul 1997, Liam Quinn wrote:
>
>> If this is the case, why was it decided to go with a markup
>> approach to math?  Wouldn't it have been simpler to have browsers
>> interpret the easier- to-write format?  Is there any reason why
>> the notation of MINSE [1] was not used as a base on which to
>> build? 
>
>MathML was designed for simple processing by machine. You can think
>of it as a low level communications layer between applications that
>render or manipulate mathematical expressions. For further details
>see http://www.w3.org/Math/

I find your explanation acceptable, but the information at the URL you 
cited seems to indicate different goals:

>>>>Quote>>>>
HTML Math must be simple enough to enter elementary expressions by hand.
<<<<End Quote<<<<URL:http://www.w3.org/Math/Activity.html>

>>>>Quote>>>>
Overall goals of the group

To develop an open specification for math to be used with HTML that: 

    Is suitable for teaching, and scientific communication; Is easy to 
learn and to edit by hand for basic math notation, such as arithmetic, 
polynomials and rational functions, trigonometric expressions, univariate 
calculus, sequences and series, and simple matrices;
<<<<End Quote<<<<URL:http://www.w3.org/Math/charter.html>

The goals of MathML seem to emphasize the ability to easily edit documents 
by hand, but the results seem to leave this goal neglected.

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Liam Quinn
===============  http://www.htmlhelp.com/%7Eliam/  ===============
Web Design Group            Enhanced Designs, Web Site Development
http://www.htmlhelp.com/    http://enhanced-designs.com/
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Received on Thursday, 24 July 1997 18:41:20 UTC