NSoiffer
Add a feature for navigating matrices, etc that only show the braille for the cell
Add in option for navigating tables.
On left or right (option) of the braille display: show location of current focus: r##c##
Only display the braille for the contents of that cell in the matrix
Perhaps there could be a setting in the "Braille" panel to follow the navigation node. That way, regardless of the type of expression (matrix, multi-line, etc.), one could simply navigate to the element of interest and have only its braille displayed. This would provide a braille-based navigation experience similar to the current speech experience, especially useful for those who primarily use braille for math. I believe such a setting would not only allow for the behavior proposed in this issue, but it would also be more widely applicable.
Since the current node can already be highlighted, hopefully implementing the ability to show only the braille of the node in focus would be straightforward.
Such a feature would likely make sense as an alternative to highlighting the current node in braille. The third option would be to have neither highlighting nor this type of braille focus (equivalent to turning off highlighting in MathCAT currently).
Early on in MathCAT's development, I asked some people if it made sense to change the braille as one navigated so that only the current focus is displayed. My memory is that the people I asked said they wanted to keep the context and not have the braille shifting around on them.
It sounds like you disagree and feel that a good option would be to display the focus without being "highlighted." Is that would your suggestion is?
If that is your suggestion, it makes sense for this to be an option in the current highlighting menu, but to rename the menu option and maybe the values so that it is still clear that dots 7&8 are used for all the values except for a 'show only the focus' value. I feel like the current values are simple and easily understood, so it would be great to leave them as is, but instead figure out a way for the menu option name/description to allow for this new option.
Note: In JAWS, you can use the braille display to control navigation. I think it involves the routing key, but I don't really know. Vispero/JAWS asked me to implement such a feature (given an index into the braille, highlight the smallest sub-expression that contains the index). Is that useful and something I should try to add to NVDA?
Early on in MathCAT's development, I asked some people if it made sense to change the braille as one navigated so that only the current focus is displayed. My memory is that the people I asked said they wanted to keep the context and not have the braille shifting around on them.
That makes sense. When highlighting is in use (or turned off), MathCAT currently causes the braille display to pan to the beginning of the expression whenever the navigation node is changed. I think that the two should move independently if highlighting is to be used (or if the feature is turned off) to allow for steadier braille. In addition, MathCAT, while it places a panning boundary at the end of an expression in navigation mode, does not do so for the beginning. I think having panning boundaries at both ends is helpful.
It sounds like you disagree and feel that a good option would be to display the focus without being "highlighted." Is that would your suggestion is?
Yes!
If that is your suggestion, it makes sense for this to be an option in the current highlighting menu, but to rename the menu option and maybe the values so that it is still clear that dots 7&8 are used for all the values except for a 'show only the focus' value. I feel like the current values are simple and easily understood, so it would be great to leave them as is, but instead figure out a way for the menu option name/description to allow for this new option.
One option is to call the menu "Indicate Navigation Node," with options
- "Highlight first character (dots 7-8)."
- "Highlight endpoints (dots 7-8)."
- "Highlight entire node (dots 7-8)."
- "Only display braille for current node."
Note: In JAWS, you can use the braille display to control navigation. I think it involves the routing key, but I don't really know. Vispero/JAWS asked me to implement such a feature (given an index into the braille, highlight the smallest sub-expression that contains the index). Is that useful and something I should try to add to NVDA?
Many braille displays have arrow keys that work like the arrow keys on the keyboard. Having an option to display only the braille of the current node should allow braille users to make use of interactive navigation in a way similar to speech. In addition, I seldom use markers within expressions to revisit terms, etc., though it seems that if one has configured MathCAT to display only the braille of the current node, then the only missing piece would be to map the routing keys to the MathCAT gestures to return to markers previously set within the expression. Perhaps holding some modifier on the braille display (like Space) could be used to distinguish between the gestures for setting and revisiting such markers. For instance, the third routing key could be used to refer to the third marked element/node, like the number 3 on a keyboard.
You mentioned returning the smallest sub-expression containing the marker. I do not know the current behavior, but it seems reasonable to return exactly what was marked (i.e., the node at which the mark was set itself). This would give users more options, as they could still zoom in all of the way before leaving a marker if desired.