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Making a Computer Speak Algebra However You Want. CEC 2013 Convention & Expo SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS April 5, 2013. Presented by Susan A. Osterhaus . Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach Programs 1100 West 45th Street Austin, TX 78756 susanosterhaus@tsbvi.edu
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Making a Computer Speak Algebra However You Want CEC 2013 Convention & Expo SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS April 5, 2013
Presented bySusan A. Osterhaus Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach Programs 1100 West 45th Street Austin, TX 78756 susanosterhaus@tsbvi.edu www.tsbvi.edu/math/
Presentation Overview • Project Motivation, Goals, and Background • Development to date: discussion and demonstration • Research Studies • Next Steps
Project Motivation • Text-to-speech (TTS) vs. Math-to-speech • Limited choice of syntax/semantics • Limited screen-reader support • Limited or no within-expression navigation • Difficult to author • Works in limited environments • ETS Experience
Project Goals • High school algebra • Classroom-like synthesized speech “style”: ClearSpeak • Speech is flexible so computer will speak the way the teacher wants • Can be used in any math document – including both instruction and assessment • Interactive navigation • Author in Word with easy playback
Not Part of Project • Braille • Support for other formats • Authoring by people with visual impairment • Solving math problems • Tutoring/Curriculum • Integration with standardized testing
What is MathML? • Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) is an application of XML for describing mathematical notations and capturing both its structure and content. It aims at integrating mathematical formulae into World Wide Web pages and other documents. It is a recommendation of the W3C math working group. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • MathML = Math Accessibility
Behind the Scene: MathML (What is MathML?) <math><mroot><mi>x</mi><mn>3</mn></mroot></math>
Project Software for Math • MathML Tools: • Authoring: MathType+Word • Audio rendering: MathPlayer • Screen reader • Window-Eyes (Word & IE)
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
Many ways to Speak Math • How do you say…
How Math Speech Works • Rules • Preferences • Exact Speech
ClearSpeak • Many ways to speak math • ClearSpeak design philosophy • Other design philosophies • MathSpeak • SimpleSpeech
Demonstration • Authoring • Using MathType in Word to enter math and use preferences • Entering exact speech in Word • Playback • Word with Window-Eyes
Project Goals Recap • ClearSpeak • Author in Word • Allow setting preference and exact speech • Playback in Word and IE • Interactive navigation
Creating Expressions and Questions for Studies • Level • Degree of complexity • Relevance of speech variations • Provide useful data • Test comprehension, not computation • Guide decisions about speech rules, preferences
Feedback Study #1 • Compared ClearSpeak, MathSpeak, SimpleSpeech • Fractions, exponents, parentheses • Focus: was expression understood? • Research/Statistical consultation • 16 HS students: blind or low vision
Results Summary • ClearSpeak more understandable than Simple Speech or MathSpeak • Students overall preferred ClearSpeak • Students got more answers correct with ClearSpeak than with Simple Speech or MathSpeak
Feedback Study #2 • Can Prosody help understanding? • Pauses • Pitch • Rate Changes • Volume Changes • Rejected pitch and volume changes • non-speech sounds not an option • Focus on pauses, rate-change vs. start/end
Feedback #2 Example vs. • With Pauses / rate change • Expression 1 • Expression 2 • With “end root” • Expression 1 • Expression 2
Feedback #2 Another Example Nested Parentheses: • Uniform Pauses • Non-uniform pauses • Non-uniform pauses and “First Paren”
Navigation • Simple char by char mode for beginners • Powerful navigation features for experts • Read • Describe • Multiple ways of moving • Tree • Character, Placemarker, Semantic • After tree move: read or describe • 10 Placemarkers, 2 Cursors, Where am I?
Participation Opportunities • Blind or Visually Impaired Students • Teachers
Contact Information • Lois Frankel: lfrankel@ets.org • Neil Soiffer: neils@dessci.com • Beth Brownstein: bbrownstein@ets.org • Susan Osterhaus: susanosterhaus@tsbvi.edu • 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.