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Re: Converting simple math to Mathtype: Scope

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From: Mallory
Date: Apr 24, 2017 2:50AM

Hi,
unfortunately screen readers, even when the users set punctuation to
verbose, don't always necessarily read out even simple or basic math
symbols correctly. Even with the ohm/omega symbol (I once ran across
a document that meant ohms but used omega), per screen reader you
*might* get a unicode name (uppercase greek omega), or you'll get a
complete blank (as if the character isn't even there).

https://www.deque.com/blog/dont-screen-readers-read-whats-screen-part-1-punctuation-typographic-symbols/

At work, for Powerpoints specifically, we have a list of which
characters
must by typed in via MathType, or via the MathType toolbar, because
of this issue of diverse reading:

"Keyboard characters that should be used only from within MathType to
create a MathType equation:
Letters
Numbers
Minus sign
Plus sign
Equal sign
Comma
Exclamation point
Dollar
Percent
Less than
Greater than"
and
"These characters must be applied from the MathType toolbar:
Tilde
Similar to
Prime
Caret
Asterisk
Parentheses
Brackets
Angle brackets
Braces
Less than or equal to
Greater than or equal to
Multiplication dot (called the "dot operator", use the smallest of the
MathType pull-down choices; using this symbol will also include space on
either side of the operator automatically)"

Again, this is for PowerPoints specifically although I'm pretty sure our
rules are similar for things like Word. For HTML pages, it's MathML.

That said, I've seen the accompanying alt text vary. The safer
characters
listed in the deque link above I see people type directly ("=" rather
than
"equals"), but most of the time people seem to spell out the words
entirely for safety. Some users like the "ascii math" often put in alt
text (straight symbols from keyboard) but I feel if I'll support a broad
range
of screen readers then I can't really do that.

I heard at CSUN that, as far as Windows 10 and the equation editor that
comes
with PowerPoint, that Narrator reads those out pretty well (we avoid the
equation editor in favour of MathType for the screen reader issues
mentioned
above).

NVDA seems to be the popular screen reader with the most symbol reading
issues when it comes to math.

cheers,
Mallory

On Mon, Apr 24, 2017, at 05:41 AM, Vyas, Nilima wrote:
> Hello All,
> This may appear as a rookie question, and your knowledge sharing is much
> appreciated.
>
> I have been asked to key in all in-text equations, variables, any Math
> operators into MathType and provide a corresponding alt-text. Now I
> presume that new-gen screen readers are capable of reading simple Math
> such as n = 20; p < 0.05, <6, and so on in text and to some extent Greek
> characters as well.
> My question is: Is this a necessary accessibility requirement for simple
> math like n = 20; p < 0.05, <6, and so on. If it isn't, then the stakes
> (in terms of data integrity) of going about MathTyping and alt-texting
> are pretty high.
>
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
> Vyas.
>
> ****
> > > >