<input name="readers_response" type="mathml">
Robert Miner
Design Science, Inc.
Abstract
While a number of tools and technologies for authoring and displaying MathML documents are becoming more mature and accessible, two-way communication with web readers remains difficult. This talks surveys current tools and techniques for getting MathML input from readers over the web and takes a look at some application areas in need of math-capable collaboration tools.
The most basic approach to getting reader responses is to transmit text data containing math markup from users through traditional web forms. This method is often supported by a preview function where markup is processed and displayed to the reader. The obvious disadvantage is that readers must be able to easily write the math markup by hand.
A more sophisticated approach is to embed an equation editor applet or plug-in in a web page. This approach provides intuitive math authoring but presents difficulties in integrating math and text. DHTML can help with mixing math and text.
Two-way communication with web readers is important in a number of contexts. Online student-help and classroom-collaboration sites need math-capable message boards. Online testing is another area within education where methods are needed for submitting answers to math questions. Corporate collaboration software is increasingly important in managing geographically diverse groups; and technical message boards, whiteboards, and other collaboration tools are in high demand from ASP providers of technical software.