The complex formulas in physics, math and engineering papers might be intimidatingly difficult reading matter for some, but there are many people who have trouble merely seeing them in the first place. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has created a tool that makes these papers easier on the eyes for those with visual disabilities, and it’s about to be adopted in a major way.
The tool, which converts one commonly used format for displaying math formulas into another, could help make the latest and greatest research papers accessible to all. Most new research papers are distributed as PDF files, which many people in the research community have difficulty reading.
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The arXiv repository will convert papers on a rolling basis, offering the first in December 2023. The move follows a broader trend of requiring accessible web and electronic information, according to Joe Zesski, assistant director of the Northeast ADA Center. Not only will the change help the scientific community adhere to the White House’s updated policy on making federally funded research freely available, but it will also make information accessible to young scientists, who have grown up using electronic resources.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
