Orbital Mechanics Textbook - LaTeX and Style Editing
Role: Technical Editor (Student Team) | Team Size: 5 | Duration: Nov 2023 - Dec 2023
Primary Competencies: Technical Editing, LaTeX Formatting, Accessibility Implementation, Style Guide Adherence, Collaboration
Project Overview
I had the valuable opportunity to work as part of a student team supporting Dr. Lynnane George, an Associate Professor in UCCS's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Our task was to edit and format her textbook, "Introduction to Orbital Mechanics," transforming the complex academic content into a digitally accessible format using Pressbook, suitable for undergraduate and graduate students.
Technical Formatting & Editing
A significant part of my role involved addressing the presentation of complex physics equations throughout the textbook. Originally, many were low-resolution images, which posed significant accessibility barriers for visually impaired students using screen readers and often scaled poorly on different devices. To resolve this, I carefully transcribed these intricate equations into LaTeX code.
Using LaTeX was crucial because, when properly formatted, it renders into accessible formats like MathML that screen readers can interpret. Furthermore, LaTeX equations are vector-based, ensuring they scale perfectly without pixelation, are text-searchable, and maintain consistent formatting. I utilized an online LaTeX editor to assist with code generation and ensure accuracy before implementing the equations correctly within the Pressbook platform, confirming they displayed clearly and correctly.
Beyond the equations, my work also involved detailed copyediting and applying formatting adjustments across the text to align it with the overall style guide and structure required for digital publication.
Ensuring Accessibility
Accessibility, the practice of designing content to be usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities, was a key focus. Beyond the inherent accessibility improvements gained from using LaTeX for equations, I took responsibility for reviewing the images within the textbook. I wrote descriptive alt-text for each one, ensuring that visually impaired readers using screen readers could fully understand the visual content, such as diagrams of orbital trajectories. We adhered to APA formatting guidelines for consistency in these descriptions.
Maintaining Consistency
Working within a team of five editors required a unified approach to maintain consistency across the lengthy textbook. While my teammates handled the bulk of the initial creation, I actively assisted in building and maintaining our project-specific style guide.
This guide served as our central reference for formatting rules (fonts, headings, equations), terminology, citation style (APA 7th), spelling (Merriam-Webster), and accessibility conventions (like alt-text format), ensuring a cohesive final product despite multiple editors working concurrently.
Outcome & Reflection
Through our collaborative efforts, we successfully formatted and edited the textbook, incorporating accurately rendered equations and essential accessibility features. This project significantly enhanced my skills in technical editing, my proficiency with LaTeX for complex notation, and my practical understanding of implementing accessibility standards. It deepened my appreciation for accessibility as a core component of effective technical communication and the importance of clear standards when working in a team. Moving forward, I aim to apply these principles diligently in future projects.