Re: advice on alt text for image maps

2014-01-07 22:42, Patrick H. Lauke wrote:
> On 07/01/2014 18:18, Jukka K. Korpela wrote:
>> Specifically, in the case being discussed, if you hear (or see) text
>> that tells you to select between North Katoomba and South Katoomba, how
>> would the text ”Map of Katoomba” help you (when you do not see the map)?
>
> It would help to understand the context of those links, i.e. that 
> there is a map and that the user can select different regions of that 
> map to get to the content?
>

In the example, the context had been specified in the text, and the map 
does not add to it.

How would it help to know that there is a map when you cannot see that 
map? You seem to be assuming that using the map is an option, but that's 
not a situation for which the alt attributes should primarily be written 
for. Besides, after hearing an instruction to select between North 
Katoomba and South Katoomba, why would you look for a map even if you could?

OK, let's assume that the border between North and South Katoomba can be 
drawn in different ways. Then you might wish to look at the map. But 
this must be a rather marginal case of a marginal case. Besides, if the 
graphic information in the map is really needed for the choice, then the 
alt attributes (for the <area> elements) are not adequate: they do not 
specify adequate alternatives, just vague titles.

-- 
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/

Received on Tuesday, 7 January 2014 22:49:37 UTC