基於MathML之有聲數學電子書研究

Abstract

近年來平板電腦及智慧型手機等行動裝置相當盛行，而蘋果公司在iPad產品上推出了一套可以閱讀電子書的軟體：iBooks，透過iPad的iBooks可以閱讀電子書籍，降低製作一本實體書籍所需的材料花費，而且iBooks個人書庫可以儲存多本電子書籍。在iPad上內建的語音報讀軟體Voiceover，也適用於iBooks，讓視障人士可以透過聽覺閱讀iBooks書櫃中所有喜愛的書籍。W3C(World Wide web Consortium)組織在XML(eXtensible Markup Language)應用技術領域中，制定了MathML (Mathematical Markup Language)和SVG(Scalable Vector Graphics)，數學符號、公式和幾何圖形可以透過此套標準呈現出來。 本研究實作了國中數學第一冊數學電子有聲書，數學公式與幾何圖形部分使用MathML和SVG，其他圖片使用加上替代文字的方法，並使用HTML5做出問卷與評量的widget。本研究主要探討MathML應用於供視障人士使用的數學有聲電子教材的優缺點和適用程度，比較MathML搭配Voiceover的報讀模式與一般明眼學生或是視障教師認為適合視障學生的念法的理解程度。在實驗方面，找了視障國中生、高中生與大學生做測試，分為實驗組和對照組，實驗組操作iPad直接填答資料問卷與數學評量；對照組聆聽課文報讀內容，直接以紙筆作答。研究視障生對iPad的操作流暢度、MathML搭配Voiceover報讀模式理解程度。

In recent years, tablet Personal Computers, smart phones and other mobile devices are quite popular. Apple Inc. launch a series of software that can read e-books: iBooks. We can read e-books through iBooks on iPad. It is reducing the materials which is needed to spend for a physical book. iBooks bookshelf can be stored many e-books. With an iPad we just like taking a large bookcase filled with books, and we don’t need to spend a lot of effort. You can reorder your books on your bookshelf or browse them in a list sorted by title, author, or category. VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s OS X and iPad operating systems. Voiceover also be used for e-book reading software, iBooks. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind and low-vision users. MathML is the XML standard for encoding mathematics. MathML has grown to become a general format for the exchange and communication of mathematics. SVG is a language for describing two-dimensional graphics applications and images. iBooks support MathML code and SVG code, and it can be used to make mathematical textbooks. This study research on the advantages and disadvantages of MathML applied on mathematical talking e-books.