\documentclass{article} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0\oddsidemargin} \setlength{\evensidemargin}{0\evensidemargin} \setlength{\textwidth}{1.4\textwidth} \begin{document} % plus the \end{document} command at the end. \begin{titlepage} \begin{center} \bigskip \bigskip {\Huge Instructional Improvement Grant Proposal} \bigskip {\sffamily {\Large Scot Free Kennedy}\\{\em scotfree@cats.ucsc.edu}} \end{center} It is proposed to install software and support to facilitate the publication of \LaTeX documents as standard web pages, and to allow the creation of such documents via a simple graphical interface. This document itself is written in \LaTeX, and has been published on the web as an example. It may be found at:\\ \begin{center} http://www.asis.com/\symbol{'176}scotfree/latexlab/latex2html/lab/minigrant \bigskip \end{center} \tableofcontents \end{titlepage} \section{Abstract Statement of Intent} To provide means to adapt and integrate new media in scientific communication among and between undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, especially for classes and research utilizing scientific typesetting and notation. More specifically, to allow members of the UCSC community to view and create sophisticated, notationally rich documents using the World Wide Web; to enable this using standard tools and techniques already in place; and to do this with the gentlest possible ``learning-curve''. \section{Introduction} The World Wide Web (WWW) is an increasingly powerful and widely utilized medium, readily available to every member of the UCSC community. It is therefore clear that making any resource available via this medium is a desirable and potent project. HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the core technology for the Web, the ``greatest common denominator''. A document in ``flat'' HTML is guaranteed to be fully viewable on almost any computer connected to the Internet - true for no other technology yet extant. Certainly not true for \LaTeX. \LaTeX is a specialized language for the production of documents, especially technical and scientific, which often require mathematical symbols and unusual layout. While exceedingly well suited (and widely applied) to this task, \LaTeX is a specialized tool, and few publicly used computers are capable of displaying a \LaTeX document - fewer still are the members of the public able to make this happen. Thus one weak point of HTML (the inability to produce mathematical notation) is the strong point of \LaTeX, and similarly, \LaTeX's flaw (lack of universal interpretability) is precisely HTML's great strength. Clearly, it would be a powerful tool that would allow these languages to be used in conjunction. Not only could we come close to the ``best of both worlds'', but new possibilities emerge: for instance, scientific documents whose text, references, footnotes, and glossaries are ``hyperlinked''. Or which include interactive content, such as numerical simulations or graphical visualizations. The essence of my proposed project is this: to install software to translate from \LaTeX to HTML, and possibly to provide a ``front-end'' (or simple graphical interface) to make this translation process more ``user-friendly'' and widely-usable. Possible uses of this technology include: \begin{enumerate} \item Distribution of course materials in compact, universally viewable electronic format. \item Enhancement of class ``electronic discussion groups'' with scientific notation. \item Easy electronic publication of technical and research documents on the Web. \item Assistance in learning \LaTeX and HTML. \end{enumerate} \section{Specific Implementation} I propose to install and use a program called latex2html. It is a complex PERL program, and relies on several other programs to work properly. While most of these are already in place (being standard on any UNIX system), some may need to be installed. It should be noted that nothing at this stage is new: I intend to use entirely standard, ``off-the-shelf'' components, freely availible on the WWW. The next stage involves writing some original programs. The main such would be a point-and-click interface for creating \LaTeX and HTML documents. Implemented as a Web page, this would lie somewhere between the ``Equation Editor'' found on many word-processors and the ``visual web page editors'' often used to build HTML pages. This would allow professors and TA's unfamiliar with \LaTeX and/or HTML (or simply looking for a easy way to do simple tasks) to create documents requiring more than simple text. This could then be added to the interface for online discussion boards, allowing users to easily include needed scientific notation. Finally, I think that with any project like this, support, documentation and tutorials are as or more important than making the tools themselves availible. The best tools in the world are useless if they are not made accesible and understandable to those who might use them. So I include as an important aspect of the project time to make documentation availible, complete with examples, tutorials, and advanced options. I would also like to develop the materials for a brief seminar on the subject, which could then be taught along with existing CATS classes, for students and faculty alike. \section{Integration with Existing Resources} This project would be complementary to and easily integrated with many if not all current resources. Specific cases are discussed below, but the purpose is to make fuller use of existing technologies and options. For instance, Web Browsers are installed on essentially every computer on campus, so the tools needed to utilize the fruits of my project are already in place. Similarly, many teachers and students already use computers extensively in their normal activities, often using some of the very technologies utilized for this project. \LaTeX, for instance, is already widely used in (at least) the Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science Departments. Further, CATS {\em already} provides everything needed for a professor or student to have a class or personal web site - this project would merely make that process far easier, and more powerful. While it is beyond the scope of this project to show people how to create websites from scratch, CATS has a great deal of information for that purpose. The proposed tools would then facilitate the creattion of something to {\em put} on a website, without first learning all the vagaries of HTML. Brief mention should also be made of other approaches to this task (making scientific notation easily read and written on the Web). Several other programs attempt the same goal, with different approaches, and it should be explained why this approach has been chosen. Most other techniques require specialized software to be in place for the documents to be viewed, or Java ``applets'' to be downloaded. This has obvious problems in accesibility - many people simply do not know how to do this, or do not want to be bothered with doing it. The proposed approach has the advantage that the final product is in completely standard, ``flat'' HTML. Another approach which also outputs standard HTML is taken by HyperLatex, latex2html's closest competition. While HyperLatex does produce standard Web page output, it does {\em not} take standard \LaTeX as input. That is, it requires a specialized set of commands {\em similar} to those of \LaTeX, but not identical. This defeats much of the purpose: seperate versions of everything must be prepared, rather than processing a standard version; new commands must be learned; rather than being translated, documents must be entirely rewritten. \section{Undergraduate Application} At a minimum (simply installing the translation software) this project would make it very easy for teachers of science courses to make course materials (solutions, reviews, syllabi, homework problems, etc.) easily available on the Web. While the current Electronic Reserves system already does a laudable job at this, there would be distinct advantages to the proposed extension. The current E-Reserves are available in ``Adobe Acrobat PDF'' format. The software required to view this format is free, and relatively easy to install, but the fact remains that few people will actually have it installed on whatever computer they happen to be sitting at. An HTML document, by contrast, is viewable on essentially every computer connected to the internet - all that's needed is any Web Browser. In addition, this approach yields considerably more compact files. Thus, while this minimal project provides tools directly useful mostly to faculty and graduate students, it provides direct benifit to undergraduates. Course materials may be made available in format which is, in many cases, better and more widely usable. In addition, since many faculty already prepare their materials in \LaTeX, several steps are removed from the process of making them web-accesible. One would hope that this would encourage the electronic distribution of course information - a great convenience for students. For instance, these tools would be of great use in courses such as Pre-Calculus and Calculus; upper division mathematics; chemistry and physics, at all levels; and the more mathematically oriented computer science classes. If the full project is approved, students too will be able to use this technology. A simple, ``point-and-click'' interface will allow students to generate the scientific symbols they need to ask and answer questions online. While students can already ask questions of a TA or professor via email or existing online discussion boards, the discourse is limited by the fact that scientific communication requires (or at least is facilitated by) the use of specialized symbols and formatting. E-mail and HTML provide only rudimentary support for these needs. This project would provide full, simple support for this type of electronic discussion. In addition to the obvious benefits for students in general, this would be a tremendous aide to disabled students. Requests have already been made for software in thei vein, and this project would fill that role. And simultaneously, this project will provide a painless, gradual way for people to learn both \LaTeX and HTML. By using the interface to create documents, and then examining the code that is generated, these two very useful skills can be learned gradually, by example. \section{Graduate and Faculty Applications} Most of the advantages mentioned above in the undergraduate section apply here as well. There are other advantages, however. For instance, articles and papers available as HTML documents are far more widely accesible than those only available as \LaTeX files. Not everyone who might be interested in a particular document will have the ability to process it in \LaTeX format, for whatever reason. Therefore, implementing this project will allow \LaTeX documents to reach a far wider possible audience. Yet, since the proposed approach works with standard \LaTeX, the file may be available in that format with no additional work by the author. This point bears repeating: those who already work in \LaTeX may continue to do so, with {\em no} modification. No new commands must be learned, nor must existing \LaTeX documents be modified before translation. Essentially, one simply has an alternative while printing out a finished document: publish it on the Web. \section{Long Term Effects and Funding} Since the components of this project are almost entirely standard, it has a tremendous advantage in terms of maintenance and ongoing usage. While the world of the World Wide Web changes almost daily, by utilizing such basic technologies, our project is guaranteed stability and reliability. Once the software and reference materials are installed, there is really no ongoing cost. Perhaps classes could be offered periodically to introduce people to the technology - but this would be a nicety, not a neccessity. \pagebreak \section{Budget} Since the tools needed for this project are all freely availible at no cost, the only budget required is for the time needed to install and create the various components. I put a value on my time of \$10/hour, considerably less than I would expect for consulting or teaching in this area. In aknowledgement of the fact that not everything I consider worthwhile will be so deemed by those making this decision, I have broken my project up into smaller units, so that a range of possible funding is easily possible. \begin{itemize} \item Installation of LATEX2HTML 30 hrs \begin{itemize} \item Preparation 5-10 hrs \item Installation 15-25 hrs \item Documentation 5-10 hrs \end{itemize} \item Seminar (basic) 6 hrs \item Seminar (advanced) 6 hrs \item "Front-End" creation 35 hrs \begin{itemize} \item Discussion, Planning and Preparation 5-10 hrs \item Programming 20 hrs \item Testing and Documenting 10 hrs \end{itemize} \item Extension of discussion boards 15 hrs \item Coordination with E-Reserves, CATS, etc 5 hrs \end{itemize} These times include documentation, and discussion with relevant people. We then have three possible projects: \begin{enumerate} \item \textbf{\em Minimal Install} This is simply an installation of LATEX2HTML itself, with a bit of auxiliary documentation and possibly a single seminar to get people started. This will be of use mostly to people already versed in the mysteries of \LaTeX. \textbf{ 36 hrs - \$360} \item \textbf{\em Moderate Project} This adds creation of the "Front-End" to allow anyone with a Web Browser to create these documents. The project would also include extensive documentation, and possibly a second seminar, on usage of the Front-End and additional support for users. \textbf {77 hrs - \$770} \item \textbf{\em Full Project} Here we create \LaTeX-enabled discussion boards; integrate with the Electronic Reserves System, and provide a maximal level of support and reference for users. \textbf {97 hrs - \$970} \end{enumerate} \end{document} % The input file ends with this command.