Re: several messages relating to the alt="" attribute

The Rorschach inkblot test example is covered in WCAG 2.0 [1] by the following:

"Sometimes content is primarily intended to create a specific sensory
experience that words cannot fully capture. Examples include a
symphony performance, works of visual art etc. For such content, text
alternatives at least identify the non-text content with a descriptive
label and where possible, some descriptive text. If the reason for
including the content in the page is known and can be described it is
helpful to include that information."


so for example

this is not acceptable:

<figure>
   <img src="r14.jpeg">
   <legend>Rorschach inkblot test #14</legend>
  <figure>


while this is:

<figure>
   <img src="r14.jpeg" alt="An abstract, ambiguous shape">
   <legend>Rorschach inkblot test #14</legend>
  <figure>


[1] http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20-20071211/text-equiv-all.html


On 11/04/2008, Ian Hickson <ian@hixie.ch> wrote:
>
>  On Fri, 11 Apr 2008, Dr. Olaf Hoffmann wrote:
>  >
>  > Ian Hickson:
>  > >The current text in the spec requires alt="" in all cases
>  > >except when the page is generated in a manner where alternative text is
>  > >not available, or when there is no possible way to provide text that is
>  > >in any way a replacement for the image.
>  >
>  > Ian Hickson:
>  > > Things that are impossible just take longer.
>  >
>  > If authors know what the purpose of the image is, it should be never a
>  > problem to add it. If not, there is no need to put the image on the web
>  > page.
>
>
> How about when the page is generated by someone who doesn't know what the
>  image is, e.g. on Flickr?
>
>
>
>  > >Rorschach inkblot test.
>  >
>  > could be the value of the alt attribute and anyone can look
>  > on the web, what kind of test this is.
>
>
>    <figure>
>     <img src="r14.jpeg" alt="Rorschach inkblot test">
>     <legend>Rorschach inkblot test #14</legend>
>    <figure>
>
>  ...is not any more accessible, and is arguably less accessible, than what
>  the spec suggests now:
>
>    <figure>
>     <img src="r14.jpeg">
>     <legend>Rorschach inkblot test #14</legend>
>    <figure>
>
>
>  --
>  Ian Hickson               U+1047E                )\._.,--....,'``.    fL
>  http://ln.hixie.ch/       U+263A                /,   _.. \   _\  ;`._ ,.
>
> Things that are impossible just take longer.   `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'
>
>


-- 
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 Friday, 11 April 2008 17:58:23 UTC