A last missing link for interoperable representation

[Julian Bradfield via Unicode]

On 2019-01-12, James Kass via Unicode <unicode at unicode.org> wrote:
> This is a math formula:
> a + b = b + a
> ... where the estimable "mathematician" used Latin letters from ASCII as 
> though they were math alphanumerics variables.

Yup, and it's immediately understandable by anyone reading on any
computer that understands ASCII.  That's why mathematicians write like
that in plain text.

> This is an italicized word:
> ������������������������
> ... where the "geek" hacker used Latin italics letters from the math 
> alphanumeric range as though they were Latin italics letters.

It's a sequence of question marks unless you have an up to date
Unicode font set up (which, as it happens, I don't for the terminal in
which I read this mailing list). Since actual mathematicians don't use
the Unicode math alphabets, there's no strong incentive to get updated
fonts.

> Where's the harm?

You lose your audience for no reasons other than technogeekery. 


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