Nemeth Tutorial User's Guide

Nemeth Tutorial Considerations

For sighted users:

The most updated browser you can use offers the best experience. Ideally, the browser supports the display of MathML content, and if it does, you can check the MathML button to show the expressions automatically rendered. Otherwise, expressions show on the screen as literary descriptions of the expression in regular print followed by the braille Nemeth code representation.

The Nemeth code representation is shown in a braille font as it would be seen as if embossed.

In the exercises for each lesson, you braille the answers to some questions. Instead of using a braille writer for this task, use six key input with your keyboard to type the braille for the exercise. Note that you must check the Six Key Input button on the home screen to activate this capability.

For blind users:

The newer version of browser and screen reader you can use, the better. This site uses modern web techniques that neither older browsers nor screen readers were designed to interpret.
If you cannot avoid using an obsolete operating system, like Windows XP, use a browser like Firefox that continues to get updated. If using Internet Explorer, use the latest version.
If you cannot avoid using an outdated screen reader, try the free NVDA screen reader while working with this tutorial.
As the screen readers begin interpreting MathML, like VoiceOver (VO) on iOS and the Mac already does and like JAWS is starting to do, you may shift your use to that screen reader with the MathML button checked on the Nemeth home page. Note that when you use the screen reader to render Nemeth, the translation may contain errors. Use the Unicode braille symbols for exact rules.
In addition to checking the Use MathML button on the Nemeth Tutorial Home page, you may need to turn on this capability in your screen reader settings screen. In VO, for example, you must turn on the setting Equations use Nemeth Code.
If your screen reader or browser does not support MathML, leave the Use MathML button unchecked and use the Unicode representation of the correct braille symbols.
Note that not all screen readers verbally interpret the braille Unicode, and each screen reader announces the characters differently. In VO, they are not pronounced at all, but the representation shown on the refreshable braille display is correct as long as you select 8-Dot braille in the VO settings. Unfortunately, selecting 8-Dot braille turns off contractions, too, but if you do not turn on 8-Dot braille, the Unicode braille representation does not display correctly.
Other screen readers show correct Unicode braille no matter what the other settings.

To set up Braille for use with iOS, enter the Braille settings menu under General->Accessibility->Voice Over->Braille. Turning on "Equations use Nemeth Code" lets MathML be converted to Nemeth Braille. To let Unicode Braille display correctly turn on "Eight-dot Braille". Turning on "Eight-dot Braille" turns off "Contracted Braille". You can view the lessons with "Contracted Braille" turned on, but Unicode Braille will show up on the Braille display as dots four five six followd by dots two five six.
If you use a refreshable braille display with no input keys, use the Six key entry mode with your QWERTY keyboard by checking the Six Key Input button on the home screen.
Most of the text in the tutorial spells out the numbers under discussion. This prevents confusion from screen reader automatic translation.

More Information

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