[Athen] Epub Format in Google Docs

[Samantha Johns]

Hello,

Math is a complex area for me, but I do think that any authoring software
should be robust and include all accessibility conventions. This is
especially important for Universal Design as applies to Instructors,
Librarians, and many others authoring content digitally. Most people will
not take the time to do an unreasonable amount of steps while authoring
material, the more developers build and code for accessibility the better.

Have a great day,






* <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>*

*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 Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 4:11 AM, Emma Cliffe <E.H.Cliffe at bath.ac.uk> wrote:


>

> Hello,

>

> I am not sure what this has to do with MathType? I typed (and edited via

> keyboard) the equations directly in the Google Doc (document, not

> presentation) via the web interface and using the inbuilt equation editor.

> This uses a LaTeX type structured format - similar to typing equations

> directly into a Word document. Hence I know that the document contains the

> structure of the equation - it is rendered directly so there is almost

> certainly a mark up language involved somewhere.

>

> In fact we can confirm this as the export mechanism for docx format from

> Google Docs produces OMML and so the equations are preserved in docx. Since

> OMML can be transformed to MathML via stylesheets they do effectively have

> the MathML but have chosen not to insert this into the EPub. They also have

> the LaTeX like linear format I typed which they have chosen not to retain

> in the document to preserve the equation and which they have chosen not to

> insert as an alt tag where they are generating images. The images which are

> generated could have been SVG which would at least have scaled well.

>

> The reasons I care:

> * I think it is reasonable to expect that text content (equations are

> text!) I type into a document is not thrown away without warning when I

> export that document to another format (I would expect to see the linear

> format even in the .txt export - why not?). These types of lossy

> conversions are how we end up with incomplete, inaccessible, poor quality

> or unusable scientific or mathematical documents in the first place. Maths

> students and staff I work with certainly see equations as text,

> particularly if they typed the equation, and they expect tools,

> conversions, exports etc. to work with them as if they were text.

>

> * As Lisa said, if Google using EPub builds widespread buy in or helps to

> then I would like that buy in to include scientific and mathematical

> content and the tools to appropriately create and render it well for all.

> This sort of poor quality output is more likely to build the idea that EPub

> is not suitable for this content when in fact it is.

>

> * Students use Google docs to collaborate on documents including

> scientific and mathematical content. This may not be sensible but it tends

> to happen (I have done this myself and then wished I could get anything

> which wasn't docx out of it). They sometimes then ask how they might export

> that document for their own purposes afterwards. Since all the export

> formats except docx currently throw away equation content I had hoped that

> EPub would provide another option. Now I know I should advise them that

> they must store and use docx and then do any transforms they want/need from

> there. If they are aiming for an e-book format, for whatever reason, this

> adds extra levels of conversion and every conversion of mathematical

> content introduces the risk of error.

>

> I am fully aware of the methods mentioned below and I certainly wouldn't

> use Google docs as a formatting engine when creating accessible documents.

> However, when the document is already in that format and a student asks how

> to independently proceed from there it is helpful to be able to advise

> appropriately.

>

> Best wishes,

> Emma

>

> Mathematics Resource Centre Development Officer

> University of Bath

>

> On 08/03/16 22:40, Wink Harner wrote:

>

> 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>

> 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

>

>

>

> <foreigntype at gmail.com>foreigntype at gmail.com

>

> <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

> <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 < <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!

>

>

> *[image: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/329486/OAI_SigPic.png]*

> <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>

>

> *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 < <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). 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!

>

>

> *[image: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/329486/OAI_SigPic.png]*

> <http://www.pdx.edu/oai/>

>

> *Samantha Johns*

>

> *Accessibility & Course Support Specialist *

>

> Portland State University

>

> 1825 SW Broadway

>

> Smith Memorial Student Union, Mezzanine 209

> Portland OR 97201

> (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:

> access-tech-group at pcc.edu

> 971-722-TECH (971-722-8324)

>

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