technical diagram description system query

[Janina Sajka]

Hello, Kirk:

Reading the below makes me wonder whether you're aware of the MathML
specification from the W3C:

http://www.w3.org/Math/

Certainly, it is intended that this specification would support
alternative representations of mathematical constructs, including
semantic relationships among the elements of those constructs.

A set of applications aimed at screen reader users is available from
Design Science:

http://www.dessci.com

hth

Janina

Kirk Reiser writes:
> Hello everybody: I am slowly over time posting this request to all the
> mailing lists I know and think might be related to the topic.  I am
> hoping to gather enough interest that we can develop standardize
> systems and get some implementation.
> 
> 
> One of the irritations I have whenever I'm reading something technical
> in text is the lack of useful representation of scientific or
> technical notation.  It happens in every book and document in every
> format from ASCII text to HTML and even in documents such as MS Word.
> To a small extent we have some rough accessibility with basic
> mathematical texts because most character sets offer some amount of
> arithmetic related symbols and they are often necessary for
> programming and/or scientific calculations.  Even then representing
> calculus or other higher mathematical concepts are not well worked out
> and certainly not standardized in any way.  What there is currently is
> a mixed bag of .tex mark-up or text representation of Nemith code
> symbols.
> 
> I would like to attempt to find standardized or common textual systems
> and pull them together in one place as a resource for other people
> writing new materials or editing previously available documents to
> easily use.  if there are no predefined systems, I would like to try
> to build systems for each of the technical and scientific disciplines
> for future writers and editors to use.  I would also like to put
> together a group of volunteers to edit at least one text in each
> discipline so visually impaired students and readers can get past this
> frustrating situation.  We would make the books and papers available
> through the bookserve project or other facilities if any are
> interested in participating.
> 
> Some of the disciplines which I believe need systems found or
> developed include: physics, chemistry, electronics, mathematics and
> any others people feel should be considered.
> 
> If any of you know of any representational systems for any technical
> or scientific disciplines please write or contact me in someway to let
> me know about them.
> 
> If anyone is interested in being involved in gathering and developing
> symbolic systems or discussing them also please contact me.
> 
> If you or someone you know might be interested in helping edit books
> and papers using these symbolic systems, once again please contact me.
> 
> Depending on how much response I receive will determine what type of
> on going communication I put together.  If you have suggestions for
> that I'd like to hear them as well.
> 
> I can be contacted at kirk at reisers.ca or on the #speakup channel on
> freenode.net.
> 
>   Kirk Reiser
> 
> --
> Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
> e-mail: kirk at braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
> phone: (519) 661-3061
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 

Janina Sajka,	Phone:	+1.443.300.2200
			sip:janina at asterisk.rednote.net
		Email:	janina at rednote.net

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