I have taken the liberty of re-posting some of the replies to a similar query on the Web Accessibility-In-Mind (WebAIM) list.
On 31-Aug-08, at 8:37 AM, Sathiyaprakash Ramdoss wrote: > Will we be able to read Mathematical symbols / formula using > Kurzweil and JAWS? Do we need to bring any changes in settings? Quoting M. Cooper: > I am afraid there is not a simple answer to your question. Apart > from the technical screen-reader access issue it depends in part how > the > MathML is authored - whether content or presentation mark-up is > used. The complexity of the Math will impact on the degree to which > these > issues fundamentally affect access to the Math. Also of great > significance is what has been the past background of the people > seeking > screen-reader access. I.E what are there skills in interpreting > maths rendered in different ways? > > For a recent paper discussing these issues see: > > Cooper, M., Lowe, T., Taylor, M., Access to mathematics in web > resources for people with a visual impairment: considerations and > developments in an open and distance learning context, Proc. > International Conference on Computers Helping People, K. > Miesenberger et al. (Eds.): ICCHP 2008, LNCS 5105, pp. 926-933, > Linz, Austria, 2008 Quoting Stephen L Noble: > I have written extensively on this topic. Let me say flatly that > using math images along with alt tags is a very poor substitute for > true accessible math like MathML. Here are a couple of articles that > help explain the difference between providing images and alt tags > and providing truly accessible math: > http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/mathaccess.htm > > http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/techissues.htm#The_problem_of_math_images > > For a list of screen readers that can handle MathML just fine, see > "Which Assistive Technology Products Have Math Support?" > http://www.dessci.com/en/solutions/access/atsupport.htm > Any of the reading tools that are listed as having "Basic Math > Speech" can handle MathML. All the user needs to do is simply > install the free MathPlayer plugin: > http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/default.htm"; Quoting Cristophe Strobbe: > According to Design Science, their MathPlayer (plugin for IE) works > with JAWS, Window-Eyes, HAL, Read & Write, and BrowseAloud. > MathPlayer also has a zoom feature. > See <http://www.dessci.com/en/company/press/releases/040722.htm> > and <http://www.dessci.com/en/company/press/releases/070917.htm>. > > > There is some interesting information on Dominique Archambault's > blog "chez dom" at <http://chezdom.net/blog/>, for example > "How to set up MS Internet Explorer for displaying MathML contents" > at <http://chezdom.net/blog/?p=35>. > > The @Science network has been collecting experiences and (best) > practices regarding access to mathematics and science, and its > deliverables are publicly available at: > > <http://www.ascience.eu/?q=en/pub_deliverables>. > > A related network, JEM - Joining Educational Mathematics, has also > published some accessibility-related items on one of their blogs; > see Olga Caprotti's blog at: > > <http://www.jem-thematic.net/en/blog/5> Hope this helps, - Rahul. ----------------------------------------- Rahul Gonsalves Web Designer and Accessibility Consultant e: [EMAIL PROTECTED] w: www.rahulgonsalves.com m: +91 98866 19365 ----------------------------------------- Join Access India convention: For updates on it visit: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm Registration is now open! To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
