Re: alt text in HTML5

On Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 3:31 AM, Steve Faulkner <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> chair hat off
>
>
> My take on current situation:
>
>
>
> In HTML5 we have a set of normative authoring requirements on what are
> appropriate text alternatives when an <img> is used is a range of contexts.
>
>    1. 4.8.1.1.1 General guidelines<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#general-guidelines>
>                2. 4.8.1.1.2 A link or button containing nothing but the
>                image<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-link-or-button-containing-nothing-but-the-image>
>                3. 4.8.1.1.3 A phrase or paragraph with an alternative
>                graphical representation: charts, diagrams, graphs, maps, illustrations<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-phrase-or-paragraph-with-an-alternative-graphical-representation:-charts,-diagrams,-graphs,-maps,-illustrations>
>                4. 4.8.1.1.4 A short phrase or label with an alternative
>                graphical representation: icons, logos<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-short-phrase-or-label-with-an-alternative-graphical-representation:-icons,-logos>
>                5. 4.8.1.1.5 Text that has been rendered to a graphic for
>                typographical effect<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#text-that-has-been-rendered-to-a-graphic-for-typographical-effect>
>                6. 4.8.1.1.6 A graphical representation of some of the
>                surrounding text<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-graphical-representation-of-some-of-the-surrounding-text>
>                7. 4.8.1.1.7 A purely decorative image that doesn't add
>                any information<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-purely-decorative-image-that-doesn't-add-any-information>
>                8. 4.8.1.1.8 A group of images that form a single larger
>                picture with no links<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-group-of-images-that-form-a-single-larger-picture-with-no-links>
>                9. 4.8.1.1.9 A group of images that form a single larger
>                picture with links<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-group-of-images-that-form-a-single-larger-picture-with-links>
>                10. 4.8.1.1.10 A key part of the content<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#a-key-part-of-the-content>
>                11. 4.8.1.1.11 An image not intended for the user<http://dev.w3.org/html5/spec/the-img-element.html#an-image-not-intended-for-the-user>
>
>
>
> *NOTE:* there was, but is no longer any disagreement on *machine checkable
> * alt requirements in HTML5, the issues in this regards have been
> resolved, so we are *ONLY* talking about the normative authoring
> requirements that involve human judgement to interpret conformance:
>
>
>
> Some of above set of requirements diverge from WCAG 2.0 advice and general
> agreement in the accessibility community [2].
>
>
>
> In the history of the working group there have been attempts to:
>
>
>
> ·         Get the individual requirements modified to agree with WCAG 2.0
>
> ·         Get the requirements be made informative instead of normative
>
> ·         Get the requirements moved out of the spec and instead point to
> WCAG advice and requirements
>
> ·         Get the requirements moved out of the spec and instead point to
> the HTML5: alt techniques document.
>
>
>
> None of the above have been successful to date.
>
>
>
>
>
> My personal take on what needs to occur before HTML5 becomes a
> recommendation:
>
>
>
> Options (from most preferred):
>
>
>
> 1.  Current normative non machine checkable requirements removed from
> HTML5 spec, replaced with pointer to HTML5 alt document. HTML5 alt document
> changed from normative to informative. Going forward document stays in HTML
> WG, but becomes the responsibility of the a11y taskforce.
>

Some questions of clarification: are you suggesting that all the texts
about @alt that you linked to in the above list of links to the spec are
removed from the HTML5 spec? Also, if normative text is removed from the
HTML5 spec and the HTML5 alt doc made informative, where does the normative
prescription reside going forward?

Thanks,
Silvia.



> 2.  If 1 cannot be achieved then normative requirements in spec change to
> informative and where they diverge from WCAG they are modified, and a
> pointer to HTML5 alt document is added as a reference to more detailed
> informative advice (alt doc changed to informative and is responsibility of
> taskforce)
>
> 3.  If neither 1 or 2 cannot be achieved then alt techniques doc stays as
> normative and stays where it is.
>
> 4.  If normative requirements stay in spec, but alt techniques doc is
> forced to informative, then objection raised on HTML5
>
>
>
>
>
> [1] http://www.w3.org/html/wg/wiki/IssueAltAttribute
>
>
> --
> with regards
>
> Steve Faulkner
> Technical Director - TPG
>
> www.paciellogroup.com | www.HTML5accessibility.com |
> www.twitter.com/stevefaulkner
> HTML5: Techniques for providing useful text alternatives -
> dev.w3.org/html5/alt-techniques/
> Web Accessibility Toolbar - www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat-ie-about.html
>
>
>