Math Talk Supports Calculations for the Visually Impaired

I wrote a post this week on Math Talk, a program that uses Microsoft Speech to Text or Dragon Naturally Speaking to do speech-generated math calculations on the computer. I asked Ron Graham of the AccessAbility blog if he would do a review for us specifically around the supports it has for the visually impaired. He promptly did a post on it that you can read here. He also added some good comments on the end.
Because folks often skim blogs without reading all the comments, I wanted to give you an opportunity to read Ron's review from the link above and the added remarks below. His points on issues working through higher math as a blind student was fascinating and extremely helpful, so...enjoy.

"Speaking as a man who was totally blind when I took classes in macroeconomics, algebra, and two semesters of statistics as an undergrad, as well as another two semesters of graduate statistics, I personally know how important it is to have correct phrasing of algebraic and statistical expressions. For that reason, I also requested somebody who was knowledgeable in the language in these classes to proctor my exams as an accommodation.When using MathTalk to work through problems, that correct expression is one aspect of the program that I see as a strength and don’t believe they tout strong enough as a feature on their site.Because I am not a Braille user and used a Type ‘n Speak to take notes in class, when my professors would read out problems for me to write down, I would write them out in long hand. For example, 325 plus (x) squared, all over (T minus 1). If you’ve ever taken stats, you know that this is just part of some of the problems you need to solve. I did a good bit of my homework in longhand phrases in this same fashion that my professors accepted from me as well. When my end result showed the correct (or sometimes incorrect response) the professors were able to see whether I understood the procedures or not, and were able to guide me to the point where I had miscalculated.With all that said, I again emphasize my point about this program having a strong value with the blind population that doesn’t use Braille. It allows the user to perform correct writing of these mathematical expressions and also gives verbal feedback of your work in a form that is correcty enunciated.However, I think that value is traded off with needing to learn a voice input program in order to use MathTalk. If the user employs a screen reader, there is also the need to implement an integration tool like J-Say to do that. It’s a trade-off, for sure, but I firmly believe that MathTalk presents another option for some people, and it is one that is a better solution than anything else that is currently available."

Thanks Ron!

Reminder - today is tha last day to get a post submitted to the May Edition of the AT Blog Carnival. Send your post to me at: lonthornburg@nolimits2learning.com

Math Talk for Speech to Text Calculations

Math Talk is a software that interfaces with Dragon Naturally Speaking to give the user speech to text (or in this case, numbers) access to math calculations. The cost is $300. You also have to have Dragon which cost $99 for standard and $199 for preferred versions. The Math Talk site shows Dragon Preferred in a bundle, so I am assuming you need the preferred software to run Math Talk.

I have some high school students that could use this software. But because it hinges on using Dragon Naturally Speaking, there are some challenges you need to be aware of. One issue I have with speech to text software is the diction issue with students. Unless the student is speaking clearly, spelling errors will show up. Students have to learn how to use the basic commands to tell the software what to do when adding punctuation, deleting, using numbers, etc. The software will learn the speaker's voice and unique way of talking, but this often means training the software by selecting a mis-spelled word and spelling or choosing the correct word from a list and assigning it to use that choice next time. If you have a student that is fairly on the ball cognitively and has a clear speaking voice, Dragon Naturally Speaking might be the ticket.

With Math Talk, you can use Math Pad to build a problem in a problem list window by speaking and then the problem shows up on the screen to work through a worksheet. After you build a worksheet, students can see the problems, talk out the answer and then go to the next problem in the problem list automatically.

To see demo videos of sample problems in different levels of math, go to their video link here.

Math Talk is an exciting application for hands free calculation. For those with orthopedic impairments and disabilities this could be a great tool. It would be an important tool for students in the college arena as well.

Math Talk is working on a visually impaired application that will convert math problems and calculations into braille and open in a Duxbury file. It is not out yet, but you can view or listen to a sample video that gives you an idea of how it will work. I am not a vision specialist and JAWS, Duxbury, Braillenote, etc. are familiar to me only with some brief work with a handful of students. Someone like Ron Graham at AccessAbility, could give us a better review of how Math Talk's braille conversion could support folks with visual disabilities. I will have to ask him to give us some help on this from his perspective. Go to his site for great visual impairement tips and ideas.

I think it is helpful to have a knowledge of math technologies that can bring new accessibility support. Go to the Math Talk website, watch some of the video demos and see what you think.

All the best to you!

Lon