Re: Dropping <input usemap="">

• From: Jason White <jason@jasonjgw.net>
• Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:02:54 +1000
• To: public-html <public-html@w3.org>
• Message-ID: <20070815030254.GA4768@jpc.local>

There is a significant accessibility problem associated with the proposal to
drop USEMAP on INPUT, namely that if an author desires to use an image map as
a form input field, the only alternative would then be to apply @ismap (a
server-side image map).

Server-side image maps present an accessibility obstacle to those who are
unable to operate a pointing device. This is why client-side image maps are
preferred and ought to be encouraged, and why @alt is defined for <area>.

The proposal to omit @usemap on <input> would eliminate the accessible
solution, whilst leaving the inaccessible option of a server-side image map
intact.

I propose that either @usemap should not be dropped, or both it and @ismap
should be omitted.

Received on Wednesday, 15 August 2007 03:03:04 UTC