Nemeth Braille
The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics is a Braille code for encoding mathematical and scientific notation linearly using standard six-dot Braille cells for tactile reading by the visually impaired. The code was developed by Abraham Nemeth. The Nemeth Code was first written up in 1952. It was revised in 1956, 1965, and 1972,[1] and beginning in 1992 was integrated into Unified English Braille. It is an example of a compact human-readable markup language.
| Nemeth Braille | |
|---|---|
| Type | Alphabet Braille code for encoding mathematical and scientific notation linearly
|
| Languages | Several |
| Creator | Abraham Nemeth |
Time period | 1952 to the present |
Nemeth Braille is just one code used to write mathematics in braille. There are many systems in use around the world.[2]
Principles of the Nemeth Code
The Nemeth Code Book (1972) opens with the following words:
This Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation has been prepared to provide a system of symbols which will allow technical literature to be presented and read in braille. The Code is intended to convey as accurate an impression as is possible to the braille reader of the corresponding printed text, and this is one of its principal features. When the braille reader has a clear conception of the corresponding printed text, the area of communication between himself and his teacher, his colleagues, his associates, and the world at large is greatly broadened. A test of the accuracy with which the Code conveys information from the print to the braille text is to effect a transcription in the reverse direction. The amount of agreement between the original printed text and one transcribed from the braille is a measure of the Code's accuracy.
— [3]
One consequence is that the braille transcriber does not need to know the underlying mathematics. The braille transcriber needs to identify the inkprint symbols and know how to render them in Nemeth Code braille. For example, if the same math symbol might have two different meanings, this would not matter; both instances would be brailled the same. This is in contrast to the International Braille Music Code, where the braille depends on the meaning of the inkprint music. Thus a knowledge of music is required to produce braille music.
Table of Nemeth braille codes
Operators
| Symbol | + | - | × | · | ÷ | . (decimal) | √ | i√ (radical index) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |  |  |   | |   | |  |  |
| Symbol | inner √ (1st) | inner √ (2nd) | end 1st √ | end 2nd √ | long division | / | ! | |
| Braille | | |  | |  | |  |
Fractions
| Symbol | simple | complex | hypercomplex | fraction in mixed number | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open | line | close | open | line | close | open | line | close | open | line | close | |
| Braille |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | |
Braille indicators
| Symbol | Punctuation | Superscript | Subscript | Baseline | Omission | Cancel (close) | Cancel (open) | Run Over | Directly Over | Directly Under | Beginning | Termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | |  |  |  |  | |  | | |  | | |
Comparison Signs
| Symbol | > | < | ≥ | ≤ | ≧ | ≦ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | |  | |  | |
| Symbol | ⋝ | ⋜ | ⪚ | ⪙ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | | | |
| Symbol | >< | <> | >=< | <=> |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | | | |
| Symbol | = | ≠ | ≱ | ≰ | ∼ | ≈ | ≅ | ± | ∓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | | | | | | | | |
Geometry
| Symbol | Parallel | Perpendicular | Angle | Right angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |   |  | |  |
| Symbol | Arc down | Arc up | Trapezoid | Square | Rectangle | Parallelogram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |  |  |  |  | |  |
| Symbol | Rhombus | Isosceles trapezoid | Triangle | Right triangle | Circle | Ellipse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |  |  |  | |  |  |
Misc. signs
| Symbol | ⊕ | ⊗ | ⊡ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | | |
| Symbol | Intersecting lines | @ | Ditto | Tally mark | +- | -+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |  | | | | | |
| Symbol | | | ≃ | ≡ | ― | | | (modulus) | . dot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille |  | | | | | |
Other signs
| Symbol | Acute angle | Right angle | Obtuse angle | Hexagon star | ¶ | § | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | |
|  | | |
| Symbol | ref. indicator | <i> | <b> | letter sign | composite function | |det| matrix | ∫ | ∂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | | | | | | |  |  |
Greek letters and Latin letters
Greek and Latin letters are based on the assignments of International Greek Braille.
| Symbol | small Latin letters | capital Latin letters | small Greek letters | capital Greek letters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braille | (Braile of the letter) | | | |
See also
- Gardner Salinas braille
- WIMATS, application software to transcript mathematical and scientific text input into braille script.
References
- "The History of Nemeth Code". Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- "Braille Mathematical Notations". 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- "The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 1972 Revision" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- "Nemeth Braille (Mathematics Braille)". Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
External links
- An Introduction to the Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics
- PDF of the 1972 Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics
- latex2nemeth, application software that transcribes LaTeX to Nemeth Braille.
- Braille files for the Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics; and other resources about braille transcribing
- The History of Nemeth Code
- Braille Mathematical Notations: Different Braille Mathematical Codes from Around the World