Can't scribe, want to do math

January 5, 2015 4:36 PM

Entering old age I want to revisit undergraduate mathematics from decades ago. In this plan (fantasy?) I will go through text books & web sources to replicate and extend what I once knew (or what I think I knew!). The problem: a slight finger tremor (nothing lethal or degenerate) makes writing difficult and borderline illegible, even to me.

I'm comfortable with technology and can type fast but, at least for me, a piece of paper and pen to write out calculations and proofs and doodle with diagrams etc is part and parcel of the process.

Does anyone know of a tablet app that might help? I'm thinking of a free form surface that would recognize math symbols & notation and render them legibly. Of course, if I can barely read it, I suppose the software would have a tough time too.

How do young mathematicians now do their work? Still with pen and paper, or somehow on a computer?

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.

posted by Kevin S to Education (14 answers total)

Could you get a chalkboard or whiteboard big enough to write from the elbow/shoulder more than the wrist/fingers? That's how a lot of math gets done regardless.
posted by Nomiconic at 4:41 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

I've been learning and re-learning a fair amount of higher mathematics recently, and using LaTeX to typeset my "homework". If you have to learn it from scratch, it may be too much work to be attractive, but you can write pretty much any math that you want, beautifully, with it. Diagrams are harder, though.
posted by dfan at 4:49 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

You *might* want to look at LaTeX; it's going to require being comfortable looking at something that's very code-like, but it's how I did all my math and physics as an undergrad. (I can write legibly, but only very briefly - finger weakness and pain make doing that sort of thing longhand pretty impossible. In high school I got away with by doing it all in my head and not bothering to show the work, but in college I couldn't manage that anymore.) This might be a useful tutorial, or at least a starting point for googling more: http://www.mathcamp.org/prospectiveapplicants/quiz/latex_tutorial.php
posted by spaceman_spiff at 4:51 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

AFAIK there isn't anything like you describe. However, you might want to learn LaTeX, which is how every mathematician types up their work. Most people prefer to handwrite things when they are just working through something, but typing in LaTeX for your first draft is totally doable.

It's worth trying to write with a tablet (maybe in a store); you might find that one of the apps digitizes input in such a way as to ignore your tremor. Most handwriting software also has a "zoom" mode, where you write really big and it shows up small and pretty-looking on the screen.
posted by vogon_poet at 4:53 PM on January 5, 2015

Mathematics undergrads are using Mathematica software these days. Have a look and see if it fits the bill.
posted by Coffeetyme at 5:33 PM on January 5, 2015

Rather than jumping straight into writing LaTeX code, perhaps you could look for a "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) LaTeX editor that would allow you to build equations by choosing the individual pieces from a menu and filling in the numbers. Here's one that's recommended by this thread on Stackexchange. This way you could start with the point and click version and gradually transition to typing out the code for the equations (which is a lot faster.)

That said, a big whiteboard and maybe a camera if you want to save your work is a good solution. Especially if it encourages you to get someone else involved, which always makes derivations more fun.
posted by fermion at 5:34 PM on January 5, 2015

Best answer:

I'm comfortable with technology and can type fast but, at least for me, a piece of paper and pen to write out calculations and proofs and doodle with diagrams etc is part and parcel of the process.

In light of the above, don't overlook simple things like weighted/shaped/oversized pens, ring pens, finger & hand splints, or similar aids - they can make a hell of a difference. No idea where you are so I can't make any specific recommendations, but a quick google will give you an idea of what's available (e.g.).

Do you have a doctor or occupational / physical therapist who might be able to recommend a source or suggest a particular type of device?

(An elderly friend has re-emergent tremors due to Parkinson's; in his case finger tremors are associated with the particular position of his hand and fingers when writing. Being the practical sort, he cut down a foam ball to fit in his palm & stuck teflon sheet to the flat bottom to allow it to slide. Resting his hand on that while writing pretty much stops his finger tremors altogether.)
posted by Pinback at 6:29 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

I'm back in school after 20 or so years and have taken several math classes online. I use a combination of handwritten notes/calculations to (re)learn the material and then in some classes, I used MathType to insert equations into a Word document to turn in homework. You can get a 30-day trial here. I haven't looked at LaTex but MathType was really quick to pick up and might be handy just to get your work down on paper.

I have bad handwriting (for no legit reason) and I do better when I'm writing larger (like on a whiteboard or chalkboard). I read up on one technique to improving handwriting that included using the whole arm and shoulder so the whiteboard/marker might be a good solution.

Good luck! (And if you haven't tried it yet, Kahn Academy is the greatest free educational resource online bar none.)
posted by Beti at 6:39 PM on January 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: This is great, several good ideas to evaluate in detail.

At some point I'd like to try mathematica and I see there is a relatively inexpensive home/enthusiast version, but I assume that it's for modeling and solving problems, not to assist in writing.

The issue is mainly in the fingers and a bit in the wrist, so the special pen &/or foam ball with slider sounds promising.

I'll try writing on a large piece of paper to simulate a tablet/blackboard. I fear that even with arm/shoulder doing the articulation that the tremor in the last couple of inches will negate the benefit - but worth a try.

I can see using a WYSIWYG varient of LaTeX such as LyX if I need to collaborate with someone.

Thanks very much everyone.
posted by Kevin S at 8:11 PM on January 5, 2015

A few writing products that might help with tremor: 1 2 3
posted by flug at 8:20 PM on January 5, 2015

Best answer: MyScript Calculator is available for Kindle on Amazon, for iPad and iPhone on the App Store, and for Android on Google play. MyScript MathPad - Handwriting LaTeX generator is available on the App Store.
posted by Ministry of Truth at 2:10 AM on January 6, 2015

Response by poster: flug - the "steady write pen" is a possibility.

Ministry - They myscript mathpad looks like what I had in mind. Definitely worth a closer look.

Thanks
posted by Kevin S at 7:57 AM on January 6, 2015

I have not had much success with the MyScript Calculator. However, what has worked for me is a 2 step process. 1) Writing a first draft on a whiteboard or writing a first draft with a Twist n Write Pencil on SCRATCH PAPER* 2) Rewriting my final draft in Lyx.

*scratch paper/ whiteboard is the key since I do not worry that I am wasting paper

Also if the resource is on your computer screen consider a judicious use of screen caps, copy the screen cap into word, and then print.
posted by oceano at 8:11 AM on January 7, 2015

Response by poster: oceano - The issue for me is writing it out so that I can solve problems and do proofs to my satisfaction etc, not presenting to others. But a whiteboard and/or twist n write are possibilities. Thanks.
posted by Kevin S at 1:28 PM on January 9, 2015