Abstract
We describe an approach for producing accessible mathematical content for blind learners, i.e., learners who primarily use screen readers and tactile materials to access information necessary for learning. Our main focus is on postsecondary education textbooks required for a course of study towards an undergraduate degree in mathematics. The basis for our approach is the PreTeXt authoring language, which combines a rigorous XML document structure with the strength of
typesetting for formulas and graphics. This not only facilitates the production of formats such as PDF and EPUB but, more importantly, fully accessible HTML and tactile braille output from a single source file. The braille version of the text includes mathematical formulas in Nemeth braille as well as embossable tactile diagrams automatically generated from the source. Similarly, formulas in the HTML version are screen reader accessible, and the graphics can be explored interactively using screen reading and sonification. We applied our software to two large open-source textbooks on abstract algebra and calculus. The quality of the braille transcription was checked by a certified transcriber and the overall readability was checked by a blind mathematician. We have since experimented with the automatic translation of other mathematical textbooks to provide to blind student learners and volunteers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali, Z., Austin, D., Sorge, V.: Accessible papers from source: the quest for the holy grail. In: 5th International Workshop on Digitization and E-Inclusion in Mathematics and Science (2024)
Archambault, D., Fitzpatrick, D., Gupta, G., Karshmer, A.I., Miesenberger, K., Pontelli, E.: Towards a universal maths conversion library. In: Miesenberger, K., Klaus, J., Zagler, W.L., Burger, D. (eds.) ICCHP 2004. LNCS, vol. 3118, pp. 664–669. Springer, Heidelberg (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-27817-7_99
Armano, T., Capietto, A., Coriasco, S., Murru, N., Ruighi, A., Taranto, E.: An automatized method based on LaTeX for the realization of accessible PDF documents containing formulae. In: Miesenberger, K., Kouroupetroglou, G. (eds.) ICCHP 2018. LNCS, vol. 10896, pp. 583–589. Springer, Cham (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94277-3_91
Austin, D., Sorge, V.: Authoring web-accessible mathematical diagrams. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Web for All Conference, pp. 148–152 (2023)
Batusic, M., Miesenberger, K., Stöger, B.: Labradoor: a contribution to making mathematics accessible for the blind (1998)
Beezer, R.: PreTeXt: an XML vocabulary for scholarly documents. In: Proceedings of Balisage: The Markup Conference 2018. Balisage Series on Markup Technologies, vol. 21 (2018)
Boelkins, M.: Active Prelude to Calculus (2020). http://activecalculus.org
Boelkins, M., Austin, D., Schlicker, S.: Active Calculus 2.1. Grand Valley State University Libraries, 2018
Egli, C.: Liblouis–a universal solution for braille transcription services. In: Proceedings of Daisy 2009 Conference (2009)
Fitzpatrick, D., Godfrey, A.J.R., Sorge, V.: Producing accessible statistics diagrams in R. In: Proceedings of the 14th Web for All Conference. ACM (2017)
Gilson, C.L., Dymond, S.K., Chadsey, J.G., Hsu, S.Y.F.: Gaining access to textbooks for postsecondary students with visual impairments. J. Postsecond. Educ. Disabil. 20(1), 28–39 (2007)
Judson, T.: Abstract algebra: theory and applications. Virginia Commonwealth University Mathematics, 2009
Maneki, A., Jeans, A.: Latex: What is it and why do we need it? Futur. Reflect. 31(2) (2012)
Murillo-Morales, T., Miesenberger, K., Ruemer, R.: A LaTeX to braille conversion tool for creating accessible schoolbooks in Austria. In: Miesenberger, K., Bühler, C., Penaz, P. (eds.) ICCHP 2016. LNCS, vol. 9758, pp. 397–400. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41264-1_54
Papasalouros, A., Tsolomitis, A.:
package: Latex2nemeth (2022). https://ctan.org/pkg/latex2nemethPark, W., Unruh, D.:
package: braille (2010). https://ctan.org/pkg/braillePolewczak, J.: Latex, mathml, and tex4ht: tools for creating accessible documents. Mathematics, CSUN, Northridge, p. 24 (2005)
JooYoung Seo, Sean McCurry, and Accessibility Team: Latex is not easy: creating accessible scientific documents with r markdown. J. Technol. Pers. Disabil. 7, 157–171 (2019)
Sorge, V.: Speech rule engine, v4, 2022. http://speechruleengine.org
Tantau, T.: The TikZ and PGF Packages, 2023. https://tikz.dev/
XML Schema Documentation for PreTeXt. https://pretextbook.org/doc/schema/. Accessed 10 Apr 2024
package: Latex2nemeth (2022). 
package: braille (2010). Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Austin, D., Beezer, R., Cantino, M., Kolesnikov, A., Maneki, A., Sorge, V. (2024). PreTeXt as Authoring Format for Accessible Alternative Media. In: Miesenberger, K., Peňáz, P., Kobayashi, M. (eds) Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14750. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62846-7_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-62846-7_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-62845-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-62846-7
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)