[Athen] Refreshable Braille and Nemeth code

[Ron Stewart]

This is true and you can also produce decent NEMETH with several products,
including Dux though I understand MegaDots is a better solution.  I would be
wary of the NLS recommendations and actually go for customer references.  As
many of you know NEMETH outsourcing is very expensive and I have seen many
examples of so called "certified" production that did not get complex math
right.  It is just not the issue of being able to create the proper NEMETH
representation but also be able to linerize the complex equation structure
that is encountered.

Ron Stewart

-----Original Message-----
From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of Mary Stores
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:38 PM
To: athen at athenpro.org
Subject: Re: [Athen] Refreshable Braille and Nemeth code

Duxbury does do Nemeth Code Braille translations, and they can be saved 
as .brf files. .brf files can be read by Braille displays, and it is 
the one format you can convert to regardless of what Braille 
translation system is used.

If you need to outsource Braille, I would suggest contacting the 
Library of Congress, because they have lists of Braille certified 
people who can do the translations in Braille. They can save those 
files in .brf format and send them as e-mail attachments to you or the 
student so that the student can either read it on a Braille display or 
it can be embossed using Braille translation software.

Quoting "Burke, Dan (DSS)" <burke at mso.umt.edu>:


> I'll take a crack at this, and others with more knowledge can jump in

> and set the conversation back on the right path if I stray.

>

> I think that you're going to have to create Nemeth for the student,

> regardless of JAWS or refreshable Braille display.  The problem is not

> in getting hard copy Nemeth, but in the translation of complex

> mathematics to Nemeth.  Once done, either a note taker or a Braille

> display (I am not conversant on what needs to happen to make this one

> work, but probably Duxbury?) or hard copy follow.  So, you are right

> that JAWS cannot read the PDF or other doc with math or scientific

> notation and convert that to Nemeth for a Braille display.

>

> This is if the student wants to use Nemeth.

>

> I recommend the NFB listserv, Blind Math.  There are a lot of folks

> doing math, chemistry, engineering, etc., using a variety of tools and

> means of access.  The student in particular would benefit from

> interacting with folks on this list.

>

> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org

>

>

> Daniel J. Burke

> Assistant Director/Coordinator

> Disability Services for Students

> Emma B. Lommasson 154

> The University of Montana

> Missoula, MT 59812

>

> www.umt.edu/dss/

>

> 406.243.2243 voice/text

> 406.243.4424 direct line

> 406.243.5330 fax

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

> Behalf Of Kathy Cahill

> Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:40 PM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: [Athen] Refreshable Braille and Nemeth code

>

> Dear Colleagues;

>

> We have an incoming freshman who is blind and will be using lots of

> technology.  Given his courseload (Calculus, Chemistry, Physics and a

> humanities class), he is going to be needing detailed access to

> mathematical and scientific information.  He is a JAWS user already and

> knows Nemeth.  So, that's good.

>

> The student has indicated he would prefer to access the math and science

> in Braille.  So, I have some questions for you:

>

> 1.  We are considering recommending a refreshable Braille display for

> him.  Can refreshable Braille displays do Nemeth?  My understanding is

> that the screen reader software is the intermediary between the

> information on the screen and the Braille display.  So, if JAWS can't do

> math, how does the Nemeth code get to the refreshable Braille display?

>

> 2.  Can Braille notetakers function as refreshable Braille devices?  Is

> it recommended?

>

> 3.  If our student prefers hardcopies of any of his textbooks in

> Braille, we will need to outsource it.  Do you have any recommendations

> of places that do Nemeth translation and embossing?

>

> Thanks for any sage advice!

>

> Kathy

>

> --

> *************************

> Kathleen Cahill

> Adaptive Technology Specialist

> MIT ATIC (Adaptive Technology) Lab

> 77 Mass. Ave. 7-143

> Cambridge MA 02139

> (617) 253-5111

> kcahill at mit.edu

>

>

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