[Athen] Epub Format in Google Docs

[Wink Harner]

Hi ATHENITES,

 

Today, I am masquerading as the magic math fairy. Waving my magic wand, I'm
going to bonk on the Google Docs export to EPUB icon.**BING!** Whoops, Math
Type equations have to be cut and pasted into a Google Docs, at which point
they are converted to a GIF file, which all of us know "looks nice" but is
generally inaccessible. Well shoot, I had to put that darn "varela" away.
Bonking my math wand on Google docs just doesn't work, doggone it all. 

 

There are a couple of problems in converting to EPUB using Google Docs as
the formatting engine. First of all there are easier ways to create
accessible documents and convert to EPUB format - Caliber (free) is one
among many applications which does a fine job than using Google Docs as the
formatting engine. Google Docs is a shell program which makes you think you
are working in Microsoft Word when in fact you are not. Which is why
MathType doesn't work as efficiently or at all in this arena. 

 

What really confuses me is why any of us are even considering using EPUB for
math output, when there is such a simple, somewhat direct (simple does not
equal easy or fast!) route to take: if you want it to look nice, leave it
alone in the PDF file. If it needs to be in text-to-speech, run the PDF
through an OCR conversion using Infnty OCR software for the math & either
Abbyy Fine Reader or Omnipage for the text portions, save into a Microsoft
or a tagged PDF file, and for a student who has a reading disability, use
the free CAR reader from Central Washington University, which renders math
nicely in text-to-speech. Or for the student who is blind or visually
impaired, and needs to use a screen reader such as JAWS or NVDA, retype
using MathType. Or, you can convert to LaTex or Nemeth and export to
Braille. The CAR text-to-speech reader is not yet available in the iDevice
world, but it does nicely in the android and the PC World, providing a good
text-to-speech output while simultaneously highlighting the math. This is
good learning support for students who have reading disabilities.

 

I am really struggling over why we think that every platform ought to cover
every color, shade, and size of disability. Surely, we have learned enough
by now to know that you pick the right tool for the job, not the other way
around.

 

If you're looking at portability, then by all means make the math look nice
on a small screen. But portability is only applicable as an accommodation
under certain circumstances, for example, a student who cannot carry all of
the books without succumbing to a tipping factor. Or someone who cannot
physically turn the pages would benefit from an electronic book format.  

 

I have enclosed (below) , a selection from a Google how-to site specifically
regarding formatting math in Google Docs:

 


"There is no built-in equation capability in Google Docs Presentations, but
you can still use MathType to create equations for your presentations.


1.	In MathType, in the Size menu choose Define, and set the font size
equal to what you're using in Google Docs. Default font size in Google Docs
presentations is 32pt.
2.	In MathType's Preferences menu choose Web and GIF Preferences. Leave
everything at its default setting except in the center section, click to
place a checkmark in the box next to Smooth edges (anti-aliasing).
3.	Create your equation and save it to your computer as a GIF image.
Use the Save command in the File menu for this, being careful to note where
on your computer you saved it (Desktop is convenient). To save as GIF, when
the Save As dialog is open, check the Save as type section to make sure it
says Graphics Interchange Format.
4.	In Google Docs, click the Insert Image icon on the toolbar (or use
the menu command), then click Browse to find the image on your computer.
When you find it, click Open, then back in the Insert Image dialog, click
OK.
5.	Move the image into position. The size of the equation should be
about right, but if you do need to resize it, drag one of the corners while
holding down the Shift key, and it will retain the proper proportion of the
equation."

Here's the link:
https://sites.google.com/a/d219.org/pdc/productivity/mathtype

Note: this method is designed for presentations not necessarily EPUB export,
but it will not render accessible math in any format. It may render math
that will fit on an EPUB page, but that only means it's portable, not
accessible.

I encourage all of you to please go back to the drawing board and run down
1. Who is your student?; 2. What is the student's disability?; 3. What is
the student's preferred electronic text? (PDF, text-to-speech, tagged PDF,
LaTex, Nemeth code.; 4. How will they access the text? What equipment or
technology do they have? Once you've answered these questions, the route
your format takes will become evident. Each one is different, and sadly
there is no easy, quick solution for any of this. 

As always, I am open to input and flogging from the listserv (enlightenment)
if my information is not correct. I would love to be updated if there is in
fact a route to math accessibility in Google Docs to EPUB.

Respectfully,

Wink

Wink Harner

Adaptive Technology Consulting & Training

Alternative Text & Media Production

The Foreigntype

 

 <mailto:foreigntype at gmail.com> foreigntype at gmail.com

 <mailto:winkharner1113 at gmail.com> winkharner1113 at gmail.com

 

(Disclaimer: this email was dictated with Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Please
forgive any quirks, mis-recognitions, or omissions.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On
Behalf Of Lisa Brandt
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2016 1:00 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network; Samantha Johns
Subject: Re: [Athen] Epub Format in Google Docs

 

Darn, the math issues are indeed disappointing. I hope they'll make that a
priority.

 

 

On Tue, 08 Mar 2016 12:49:22 -0800, Samantha Johns < <mailto:samanj at pdx.edu>
samanj at pdx.edu> wrote:

 

Hello, 

 

Thank you Lisa for pointing that this could bring more attention to this
format. And thank you Emma, yes I agree this may not support math equations.

 

I did test that if you format the Doc in Google with Heading, and Alt text
for image, then export to Epub it does retain formatting and read the Alt
Text. So that's a plus!




 <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/329486/OAI_SigPic.png

Samantha Johns

Accessibility & Course Support Specialist 

Portland State University

1825 SW Broadway

Smith Memorial Student Union, Mezzanine 209
Portland OR 97201
(503) 725-2754

 

 

 

 

On Tue, Mar 8, 2016 at 12:35 PM, Emma Cliffe <
<mailto:E.H.Cliffe at bath.ac.uk> E.H.Cliffe at bath.ac.uk> wrote:


Hello,

Just a quick note since I was curious and had a look: I don't have full test
software here at home but from what I could see from unzipping the EPub and
looking at the source code the equations are stored as images (png) and are
included in the EPub without alternative text. This means that the images
won't scale well (may also align badly and will reflow badly) and there is
nothing to be read aloud. 

This is about as far away from good practice as they can get (MathML with
SVG and MathSpeak fallback in EPub3
<http://www.idpf.org/accessibility/guidelines/content/mathml/desc.php>
http://www.idpf.org/accessibility/guidelines/content/mathml/desc.php). I
didn't try anything beyond that... I would be wondering about other more
complex structural elements though. 

Best wishes,
Emma Cliffe

Mathematics Resource Centre Development Officer
University of Bath

 

On 08/03/16 17:04, Samantha Johns wrote:

Hello Athen Community,  

 

As of recently it looks like Google Docs now has the option to export to
Epub format. I am wondering what people think about the benefits of this and
recommendations? 

 

Have a great day!




 <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/329486/OAI_SigPic.png

Samantha Johns

Accessibility & Course Support Specialist 

Portland State University

1825 SW Broadway

Smith Memorial Student Union, Mezzanine 209
Portland OR 97201
 <tel:%28503%29%20725-2754> (503) 725-2754

 

 

 

 

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-- 

--
Lisa Brandt, PCC Disability Services
Accessibility Technician
Alternate Media Formats Technician
SE SCOMM 112 | SY CC 260

Assistive Technology Support and Appointments:
 <mailto:access-tech-group at pcc.edu> access-tech-group at pcc.edu
971-722-TECH (971-722-8324)

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