Re: [HTML5 ALT] alt text is brief; example 6.1 should be modified or deleted

Hi gregory thanks for the feedback, can you submit as a bug so I can
track the issue?

file a bug:
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/enter_bug.cgi?product=HTML%20WG&component=alt%20techniques%20(editor:%20Steven%20Faulkner)


If it's too much hassle i can do so on your behalf.

best regards
Stevef

On 3 June 2010 08:17, Gregory J. Rosmaita <oedipus@hicom.net> wrote:
> aloha, steve!
>
> overall, i am really impressed with the work you've done on
> the HTML5 Techniques for providing useful text alternatives
> draft (congrats on getting a public draft approved) -- but in
> re-reading and discussing the draft i've run into the same reaction
> i first had when i reviewed an earlier draft of the document, and i
> believe it is an example that you inherited from a previous HTML5
> draft:
>
> QUOTE source="http://dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/#images-enhance"
>
> Example 6.1
> Here is an example of an image closely related to the subject matter of
> the page content but not directly discussed. An image of a painting
> inspired by a poem, on a page reciting that poem. The following snippet
> shows an example. The image is a painting titled the "Lady of Shallot",
> it is inspired by the poem and its subject matter is derived from the
> poem. Therefore it is strongly recommended that a text alternative is
> provided. The description of the content of the image would be redundant
> for users who can view the image, so the appropriate place to put it is
> in the alt attribute.
>
> Example code:
>
> <hgroup><h1>The Lady of Shalott</h1>
> <h2>A poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson</h2></hgroup>
> <figure><img src="shalott.jpeg" alt="A painting of a young women with
> long hair sitting in a wooden boat, she is wearing a flowing white
> dress. A large piece of intricately patterned fabric is draped over
> the side. In her right hand she holds the chain mooring the boat. Her
> expression is mournful. She stares at a crucifix lying in front of
> her. Beside it are three candles. Two have blown out."></figure>
> UNQUOTE
>
> example 6.1 is a poor example of alt text useage, and as such should
> be deleted or modified -- alt text is the brief "at a glance" or
> "congnative thumbnail", so the extremely long value defined for the
> example isn't appropriate as alt text, but as a concise long
> description; alt text needs to be terse for a number of reasons,
> including usability, extremely limited viewports, small amount of video
> "real estate" (iPad and smaller devices) etc.
>
> 358 characters isn't a terse descriptor or cognative thumbnail -- this
> seems to me a case where a picture may be worth at least 358 words, but
> only make me listen to all 365 if i want/need to if i ask for it,
> explicitly or via user preferences -- i also need a means of being
> alerted that a longer description is available, and, if need be, need
> to have side-by-side exposition of longdesc with image option available,
> for someone with an EXTREMELY limited viewport or a user with a cognative
> disability with or without AT, who is attempting to compile a
> comprehensive view of the image being described
>
> is this something that can be fixed?  do you think it advisable to
> state only "terse, short, cognitive thumbnails, such as those used
> in the examples below" be used for alt values, as i for one would not
> want to set a hard cap on the MaxValue of alt text, but do want
> developers/content creators to realize just what alt text actually
> is and what longer descriptors are, as well as the need for robust
> support for them
>
> apologies for not having commented upon this earlier -- it fell through
> the holes in the sieve i call my mind and slipped down on my ToDo list
> until it was off my radar until i was very recently reminded of it --
> thanks to all who helped "jog" my memory...
>
> gregory.
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------
>  "Kill the rattlesnake that gives no warning; spare the one that
>   does."                                    -- Lenni Lenape proverb
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------
>                Gregory J. Rosmaita <oedipus@hicom.net>
>  Camera Obscura:           http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/index.html
>  Oedipus' Online Complex:  http://my.opera.com/oedipus/
>  UBATS - United Blind Advocates for Talking Signs: http://ubats.org
>  ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>



-- 
with regards

Steve Faulkner
Technical Director - TPG Europe
Director - Web Accessibility Tools Consortium

www.paciellogroup.com | www.wat-c.org
Web Accessibility Toolbar -
http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html

Received on Thursday, 3 June 2010 13:48:14 UTC