MathML Cloud is a Free Online Tool for Creating Accessible Math

Author:
Paul Bohman
Director of Training
Twitter: @paulbohman

The non-profit Benetech has created a free online utility called MathML Cloud to create accessible math from ASCII text, LaTex, or MathML. MathML Cloud converts the original math statement into three formats:

descriptive text (which can be used as alt text in HTML, PDF, Word, etc.)
an image in PNG format, with descriptive alt text
an image in SVG format, with descriptive alt text
a MathML expression

The screenshot below shows the output in MathML Cloud after converting ASCII text into math:

Screenshot of MathML Cloud, showing output to alt text, SVG, PNG, and MathML

These multiple formats can be combined on a single web page or document to provide maximum math accessibility. The best format for screen reader accessibility is MathML, but math accessibility can get a little tricky, and support varies between versions of browsers and screen readers, which is why it can be useful to have fallback formats such as PNG and SVG.

Refer to a recent presentation on math accessibility by Sina Bahram, CB Averitt, and David MacDonald for more information.

Read Benetech's explanation of the benefits of MathML Cloud on the Benetech website.