Authoring Web-accessible Mathematical Diagrams
David E. Austin, Volker Sorge · 2023
Although mathematical literature forms the basis of many scientific and technical (STEM) subjects, they still pose a considerable hurdle for Visually impaired (VI) learners.While there has been emphasis on making formulas accessible [7,9] and communicating xy-graphs with techniques like sonification [3,5], other mathematical diagrams have received considerably less attention.Furthermore, there is even less attention on aiding independent authoring of diagrams that not only makes it easy for VI learners to generate their own material but also to inspect its correctness and communicate it to their sighted peers.Systems like Equatio [12] or Desmos [2] offer graphic calculator facilities that allow for easy generation of interactive graphics, offering a range of accessibility tools such as formula voicing and sonification.However, many of the input elements are still mainly designed for sighted users and the emphasis is mainly on xy-graphs.More traditional mathematical authoring methods include the production of graphics within the context of LaTeX typesetting using powerful graphing packages such as Pstricks [8] or Tikz [11].In particular, TikZ has become the prevalent tool for authoring diagrams in scientific literature, including advanced mathematics, computer science, and theoretical physics.While undeniably powerful, its use frequently requires several cycles of visually inspecting the output