RE: 4.2 WCAG 1.0 Checkpoint

Hi Gautier,
 
This is an interesting problem. 
 
Whilst some authors would not include an expansion for commonly-used
acronyms/abbreviations one might question their ability to decide what
is common and understood by all. It might be the case that a common
abbreviation whose meaning is understood by a web developer is not
understood by a user who suffers from, for example, a learning or
age-related impairment.
 
Further, I'm sure that I've recently read that, due to the problems some
web developers have in deciding whether something should be an acronym
or an abbreviation, the ACRONYM element is to be deprecated in favour of
the ABBR element. To illustrate the confusion whic exists, I'm sure that
my old English teacher - Scottish education! - would not have viewed DTA
as an acronym as the abbreviation did not form a pronounceable word.
Whereas some other education systems may view DTA as an acronym.
 
Finally, can I throw the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons and ask
whether or not you should use an ABBR element for all occurences of an
abbreviation in a web page. Users who suffer from a learning or
age-related impairment might benefit from such a strategy; as might
someone who, as a result of the website's navigation strategy, has been
allowed to link to the middle of a web page's content thus missing the
first expanded form of the abbreviation.
 
Cheers,
Dave
David Eadie
Lecturer
Innovation & Business Growth
Caledonian Business School
Glasgow Caledonian University
Tel: 0141-331-8775
Fax: 0141-331-3199
email: d.eadie@gcal.ac.uk

	-----Original Message-----
	From: w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org
[mailto:w3c-wai-ig-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Gautier Barrere
	Sent: 22 November 2005 10:50
	To: wai-ig
	Subject: 4.2 WCAG 1.0 Checkpoint
	
	
	Hi all !
	 
	I have a question concerning the 4.2 WCAG 1.0 checkpoint
"Specify the expansion of each abbreviation or acronym in a document
where it first occurs". 
	 
	What should I do if there is this sentence in my webpage :
	<body> Welcome to the Dallas tennis association (DTA) <body>
	 
	Should I indicate again the expansion like following :
	<body> Welcome to the Dallas tennis association <ACRONYM
title="Dallas tennis association">DTA</ACRONYM><body>
	 
	I think the first version is the better, the aim of the
guideline is not to provide redundant information.
	 
	Could you help me ?
	 
	Gautier.
	 


	 

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Received on Tuesday, 22 November 2005 16:17:22 UTC