RE: ACTION-2107: Precedence of aria-details over aria-describedby

Rich, 

 

I was out of the office during the recent discussion of aria-details. However, I did respond to the CFC regarding the normative changes with comments. Unfortunately, I was unexpectedly away again when the discussion of the CFC occurred and during which my comments led to action 2107.

 

I am not asking for a normative change in meaning because I don’t know the meaning of what is written. If you, or anyone else, can provide an explanation of how the precedence is created, enforced, or otherwise manifest, then I can complete the action of modifying the text to make it more understandable.

 

Is it possible that the group had discussed a precedence requirement but not actually made a decision of how it should be implemented? Could that be why there is not a normative statement placing a precedence requirement on either browsers or assistive technologies?

 

If there is not a normative implementation requirement, then removing the precedence statement is editorial. Birkir made an argument for not having a precedence requirement, and his rationale seems reasonable to me. But, again, I am making this judgment without having any understanding of the language stating there is a precedence. 

 

Matt

 

From: Rich Schwerdtfeger [mailto:richschwer@gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2016 7:49 AM
To: Matt King <a11ythinker@gmail.com>
Cc: ARIA Working Group <public-aria@w3.org>
Subject: Re: ACTION-2107: Precedence of aria-details over aria-describedby

 

Ok. Now, I am having a serious problem. This was supposed to have been reviewed by the group and that includes you. It also went out for 7 day CFC. Where were you?  

 

Stating precedence is a normative statement. Do you think it is a nice to have? 

 

One of the problems I am now having with your comments is that if neither has precedence we have an overload of mechanisms a user must deal with to get help information. 

 

We need to have authors make a choice. The preference should be for everyone to be able to access the information and not the 1% of the users with an AT.

 

Remember this was put in to help digital publishers which is targeting all users.

 

Rich

 

 

Rich

 

Rich


Sent from my iPhone


On Aug 13, 2016, at 8:23 PM, Matt King <a11ythinker@gmail.com <mailto:a11ythinker@gmail.com> > wrote:

Rich,

 

The statement about precedence does not include any normative language. And, I still do not understand what it means. 

 

If both aria-describedby and aria-details are specified on the same element, is either the user agent or assistive technology supposed to do something special? If either or both are supposed to do something, what is it that they do?

 

Matt

 

From: Rich Schwerdtfeger [mailto:richschwer@gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2016 9:22 AM
To: Matt King <a11ythinker@gmail.com <mailto:a11ythinker@gmail.com> >
Cc: ARIA Working Group <public-aria@w3.org <mailto:public-aria@w3.org> >
Subject: Re: ACTION-2107: Precedence of aria-details over aria-describedby

 

That is true. However, we did not see the need for multiple descriptions. Also, if you change that it would be a normative change. 

 

Since both define a description, the reason for the precedence is that authors can hide aria-details content where they are not allowed to with aria-details - meaning it is accessible to everyone and not just AT users.  aria-details is intended to be shown. 

 

Rich

 

Rich Schwerdtfeger

 

 

 

On Aug 12, 2016, at 4:56 PM, Matt King <a11ythinker@gmail.com <mailto:a11ythinker@gmail.com> > wrote:

 

WRT completing ACTION-2107, Make editorial changes to aria-details, I have one question.

 

What is the intended meaning of the following sentence from the aria-details specification?

"When both aria-describedby and aria-details are provided on an element aria-details takes precedence."

 

Since aria-details is not part of the name and description calculation, it clearly does not refer to precedence in that calculation. Does it refer to a user agent behavior? If not, whose is responsible for creating the precedence, and how is that precedence manifest?

 

Thanks,

matt