MathGenie

User manual for MathGenie can be downloaded from here

Mathematics is a difficult subject for most students. Imagine how much more onerous the task of gaining proficiency in math for the visually impaired. Yet without that foundation in math, many engineering and science disciplines become unavailable for otherwise capable students.

The MathGenie converts a math statement in the form of a MathML document into a multilevel text statement navigable with the arrow keys. This parsing of the math statement into multiple levels organizes the statement in such a manner such that the user may aurally explore the equation.

Screen readers, commonly used by the blind, will verbally render math equations if those equations are encoded as text. However, verbally rendering a math statement without regard to the relational context of the elements of the statement can introduce semantic ambiguities.

The goal of the MathGenie Project is to build an assistive software application that enables blind users to navigate an unambiguous verbal rendering of nontrivial math statements. A prototype application, MathGenie, has been created that meets that goal by applying the following criteria. (1) Provide a verbal rendering that employs a non-ambiguous, standardized nomenclature. This was accomplished by adapting a variation of Nemeth MathSpeak; (2) Parse the equation into a hierarchy of levels and chunks incorporating the semantics of the math statement; (3) Give the user the ability to navigate and explore those divisions1.

It is the intention of this user’s guide and teacher’s manual that you be able to successfully download, install, and utilize the MathGenie program in your math classes to assist with teaching visually impaired students by allowing MathGenie to verbally render math statements and equations.