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This project aims to improve text-to-speech support for math expressions, addressing its limitations, and allowing for classroom-like synthesized speech, customization, and interactive navigation. Preliminary results of feedback studies show promising progress.
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Expanding Audio Access to Mathematics Expressions by Students with Visual Impairments via MathML Lois Frankel Educational Testing Service June 29, 2012
The Problem Text-to-speech support for math expressions is in its infancy • Limited choice of syntax/semantics • Limited screen-reader support • Limited or no within-expression navigation • Difficult to author • Works in limited environments
Project Goals • Add classroom-like synthesized speech “style” • Add author- and user-customization features • Add interactive navigation • Allow math to be created and listened to with screen readers within Microsoft Word (and elsewhere)
A Brief Demonstration • Authoring • Playback
First Feedback Study • Evaluated first version of the new “ClearSpeak” against the existing MathPlayer styles Simple Speech and MathSpeak • 15 high school students with blindness or low vision, currently enrolled in Algebra 1 or above
Preliminary Results of First Feedback Study • Quantitative evaluation in progress • Understanding of and some preferences for terminology vary
First Study: Preliminary Results (2) Discussion points: Speak "times" vs. parentheses (open/close vs. left/right).
First Study: Preliminary Results (3) Discussion Points: • Squared/Cubed vs exponent or power language • Exponent/power/superscript/baseline
Thoughts for Moving Ahead • Navigation • Word / better screen reader integration • Importance of preferences and flexibility • Voice Quality • Contact me if you know teachers, schools, students that might wish to participate in upcoming studies.
Contact Information • Lois Frankel: lfrankel@ets.org • Beth Brownstein: bbrownstein@ets.org • Neil Soiffer: neils@dessci.com • MathPlayer: http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer/ The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R324A110355 to the Educational Testing Service. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education