Improving Access to Math on the Web using MathType

Sean Keegan

Web Accessibility Instructor
High Tech Center Training Unit for the California Community Colleges

Overview

Challenges between math and access technology
Creating accessible math for the Web
MathPlayer and Internet Explorer
Math access and alternate formats
Resources

Math and Access Challenges

Mathematical equations contain symbols and notation different from text
Equations contain symbols and formatting that communicates specific information about the order of operation
Mainstream assistive computer technologies have struggled with reading and communicating mathematical information to user

Notes:
WinTriangle is a software application that is designed to be a "rich-text editor" for math and scientific notation and allows a user to enter and read mathematical equations. It is still in early development, but may be usable for visually-impaired/blind students who do not read Nemeth or Dots Plus braille.

MathType

MathType is an equation editor for MS Office
Allows equations to be entered into MS Word documents much like the Equation Editor
Equations can be exported as MathML, images (.GIF), or TeX/LaTeX

MathPlayer

Mathplayer "plays" math equations in Internet Explorer
It is a free download from Design Science and automatically starts when MathML code is on the page
Provides bi-modal feedback - can speak and synchronously highlight the parts of the equation

Creating Web Pages

MathType provides export option to create Web pages from MS Word
Exported Web pages may contain equations presented as images OR MathML
Web pages and equations can be viewed in either Mozilla/Netscape or Internet Explorer
- Internet Explorer requires MathPlayer
- Mozilla/Netscape require MathML fonts
Assistive Technologies tested include Supernova, Window-Eyes, JAWS, and Read & Write Gold v. 8
Sample Web page with math equations

Sample Workflow

Create your equations in MS Word using MathType
Export to Web using the MathPage function
- Choose MathML export
- Select XHTML+MathML when uploading to a webserver
- Select MathPlayer (IE Only) for off-line use
View the web page in the appropriate Web browser

Notes:
The web page will be exported with a .xht extension. This extension may not be recognized on your local computer by Internet Explorer and may only open with a Mozilla/Netscape browser provided you have the appropriate math fonts installed. However, if you upload the file to the server, then it should render correctly in Internet Explorer provided the .xht extension is a recognized MIME-type for your web server. For information on configuring the server check out: http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/author/creatingpages.htm. This generally requires adding the .xht extension to the recognized MIME-types for the server.

If you will be serving up a number of websites with math content, you may wish to review Design Science's information about setting up Web servers, gateway pages, etc. at: http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/author/creatingsites.htm

Considerations

When using MathPage to export from MS Word
- Choose XHTML+MathML for the equations to work with IE and Mozilla/Netscape
- May need to add MIME-type to Web server
  (check with your server administrator)
Creating your own MathML Web pages
- Design Science provides a sample template for creating Web pages with MathML
- The template source code is necessary for the operation of MathPlayer with MathML content

Notes:
The sample template is available at: http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/author/creatingpages.htm .

Using Scientific Notebook

Scientific Notebook is a math authoring application
Can also export MathML and MathPlayer compatible Web pages
Under Tools > Export Settings, set the option to Export math as MathML to obtain MathPlayer compatible Web pages

Notes:
Similar to exporting from MS Word with MathType, the web page that will be exported will contain a .xht extension. This extension may not be recognized on your local computer by Internet Explorer and may only open with a Mozilla/Netscape browser provided you have the appropriate math fonts installed. However, if you upload the file to the server, then it should render correctly in Internet Explorer provided the .xht extension is a recognized MIME-type for your web server. For information on configuring the server check out: http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/author/creatingpages.htm. This generally requires adding the .xht extension to the recognized MIME-types for the server.

Converting to Nemeth

MathType equations can be converted to Nemeth Braille using Scientific Notebook and Duxbury

Copy equations from MS Word file as TeX/LaTeX
Paste equations into Scientific Notebook using "Paste Special"
Using Duxbury, open the Scientific Notebook file to finish the conversion to Nemeth Braille

Advantage: If provided the MS Word file, you do not need to reenter the equation
Alternative is to just use Scientific Notebook when authoring math equations

Resources

High Tech Center Training Unit
http://www.htctu.net
HTCTU MathType Manual
http://www.htctu.net/trainings/manuals/tutmain.htm
MathType/MathPlayer
http://www.dessci.com
Scientific Notebook
http://www.mackichan.com/
MathML Fonts for Mozilla/Netscape
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/mathml/fonts/

Notes:
For the MathML fonts, the hyperlink to install the fonts is called "font installer" and is located in the right sidebar of the page.

Thank You

Sean Keegan
Web Accessibility Instructor
High Tech Center Training Unit for the California Community Colleges
http://www.htctu.net

AHEAD Conference 2007