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Re: alt - data and reason Re: One more thought...

From: Maciej Stachowiak <mjs@apple.com>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 13:27:11 -0700
Cc: Steven Faulkner <faulkner.steve@gmail.com>, Henri Sivonen <hsivonen@iki.fi>, "public-html@w3.org WG" <public-html@w3.org>, W3C WAI-XTECH <wai-xtech@w3.org>, wai-liaison@w3.org
Message-Id: <0E48B88B-0A5C-4C78-890E-283BC2EB0E64@apple.com>
To: Charles McCathieNevile <chaals@opera.com>


On May 19, 2008, at 9:40 AM, Charles McCathieNevile wrote:

>
> On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:23:03 +0800, Steven Faulkner <faulkner.steve@gmail.com 
> > wrote:
>
>> Henri said
>>> My point was that quantitative data about the magnitude of different
>> phenomena around alt and how they average out is something we don't
>> have.
>>
>> Agreed, and that is why I am remain unconvinced of the correctness of
>> the theory that "requiring alt = bad". there is simply no publically
>> available body of evidence that supports this theory.
>
> Actually, we don't even have any decent qualitative data on this -  
> and it is the crucial point in the entire debate. Since it really  
> does hinge on *motive*, I think the best way to proceed on this  
> question is to get some information from a group of tool developers,  
> who can explain whether they do or don't abuse alt="" or leave out  
> alt based on validity reqirements, thoughts about ugly tooltips,  
> believing that there is nothing appropriate that could be said, or  
> some other basis.

I hope this goes without saying but asking anyone whether they are  
"abusing" something is unlikely to get forthright answers.

  - Maciej

>
>
> Until we have some useful and moderately convincing data, there is  
> no clear reason to resolve ISSUE-31 one way or the other beyond  
> conviction and guesswork. And it is quite clear that the results of  
> those are not leading to consensus.
>
> cheers
>
> Chaals
>
> -- 
> Charles McCathieNevile  Opera Software, Standards Group
>    je parle français -- hablo español -- jeg lærer norsk
> http://my.opera.com/chaals   Try Opera 9.5: http://snapshot.opera.com
>
Received on Monday, 19 May 2008 20:28:03 UTC

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