Re: ERT XHTML Module for the WAI

I think that a better approach, and the one we tend to try to use, is to make
the accessib ility features part of the language itseelf. That is what the
Protocols and Formats group does - and if you want to help we would
appreciate it.

The net result is more or less the same, except that instead of having to add
in a modle for accessibility it is there as one of the basic requirements of
the language.

Where this becomes interesting is that there are a number of features of a
language - event models, including binary content types, mechanism for
including alternatives - that are similar across different languages, and it
ould be helpful to have clearer specification of wht PF thinks is the way to
do this.

Some of what I think we are trying to accomplish with the XML guidelines -
http://www.w3.org/WAI/PF/xmlgl - is to provide this kind of information.

I have cc'ed Al Gilman, who is the chair of that group - these are just my
personal understandings, and he might be able to shed more official light on
the questions...

cheers

Charles McCN

On Sun, 19 Nov 2000, Sean B. Palmer wrote:

  I've been asked for a clarification on what m12n is, and what it means to
  the WAI.
  As you all know, XHTML (the W3Cs main document markup language), is only
  valid if it follows the XHTML DTD - or Document Type Definition. The DTD is
  the piece of code that tells you exactly what markup is allowed where.
  Everything that is allowed in XHTML is defined in the DTD.
  With XHTML m12n (modularization), the HTML WG have split up the DTD into
  "modules". Each module contains a fragment of the XHTML DTD, i.e. contains
  the specification/definition for a set of elements and/or attributes. For
  example, the Image module contains the <img> element and its attributes.
  What this allows us to do is create our own markup languages using the XHTML
  modules, creating an XHTML Family. In essence, this allows the general
  public (us included) to re-write XHTML as we would like it. One can
  therefore:-
       1. Add modules
       2. Delete modules
       3. Replace modules
       4. Modify modules
       5. Add elements
       6. Add attributes
       7. Add entities
       8. Change the content model
  What this means is that XHTML is no longer as inflexible as it used to be -
  if you don't like some aspect of it, simply re-write it! It gives the power
  back to the people: no longer do you have to lobby the HTML WG for changes
  to XHTML, we can simply write them ourselves.
  What I am suggesting is that we write a "new" module that can be added to
  XHTML. This module could change XHTML to make it more acessible. As stated
  before, we could remove presentational elements, add in new semantic ones,
  put in RDF, and at a stretch change the content model if need be.
  Why do I believe that this is the domain of the ERT group? Becuse of the
  name: WAI Evaluation and Repair Tools group. I see this module as being a
  repair for the inaccessible features of XHTML; it is an XHTML repair tool.
  It is one that we can write fully by ourselves, with little or no help from
  the HTML WG - that is why they made m12n in the first place, so people could
  change XHTML themselves: a sort of DIY XHTML!

  When the module is done, if people want to use our accessibility features,
  they can so so by using this bit of code as their DTD (what it does is mix
  our module with XHTML 1.1):-

       <!ENTITY % waiert10.mod
            PUBLIC "-//W3C//MODULE XHTML WAI ERT 1.0//EN"
                   "http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/waiert10.mod" >
       %waiert10.mod;
       <!ENTITY % xhtml11.dtd
            PUBLIC "-//W3C//XHTML 1.1//EN"
                   "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd" >
       %xhtml11.dtd;

  [Disclaimer: Please note that the FPI and system URI are only examples, and
  don't imply W3C support for the modules or the URIs given (i.e. only
  intended for discussion).]
  The example I have listed above is only one example of what we could do
  using m12n. For a fuller list, visit
  http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-modularization/dtd_developing.html

  Hopefully my original message will make a bit more sense now:-

  > Dear Colleagues,
  > I recently came up with the idea that the ERT Group could issue an XHTML
  > Module [1] to take away some of the elements causing accessibility
  problems
  > in XHTML 1.1 [2], and add some of our own to improve accessibility.
  > For example, it would be possible to write this module to do the following
  > tasks, amongst others:-
  > 1. Take out some of the presentational elements of HTML (<b> etc.)
  > 2. Add in some more semantic ones (<annotation>, <anchor>)
  > 3. Add in RDF etc. [3]
  > Plus anything else to do with markup changes that the WAI feel are
  > necessary, or useful, to make to XHTML 1.1, in order to improve
  > accessibility. I welcome suggestions on both this proposal, and what kind
  of
  > things you would like to see in the module if you feel it's a good idea.
  >
  > A short FAQ:
  >
  > 1. What is Modularization (m12n)? See
  >
  http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-modularization/introduction.html#s_intro_whatismo
  > d
  >
  > 2. Why Modularize XHTML (In particular, why should the ERT group create an
  > XHTML Module)?
  > [[[
  > The modularization of XHTML refers to the task of specifying well-defined
  > sets of XHTML elements that can be combined and extended by document
  > authors, document type architects, other XML standards specifications, and
  > application and product designers to make it economically feasible for
  > content developers to deliver content on a greater number and diversity of
  > platforms.
  > ]]] - http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-modularization/introduction.html#s_intro
  >
  >
  > References:-
  > [1]
  >
  http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml-modularization/dtd_module_rules.html#s_dtd_module
  > _rules
  >      "Modularization of XHTML; Building DTD Modules"
  >           Robert Adams, Murray Altheim, Shane P. McCarron, et al.
  > [2] http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/
  >      "XHTMLT 1.1 - Module-based XHTML"
  >           Murray Altheim, Shane P. McCarron
  > [3] http://xhtml.waptechinfo.com/modules/rdf/rdf.mod
  >      "An RDF Dublin Core module for XHTML"
  >           Sean B. Palmer

  Kindest Regards,
  Sean B. Palmer
  http://xhtml.waptechinfo.com/swr/
  http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/
  http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/
  "Perhaps, but let's not get bogged down in semantics."
     - Homer J. Simpson, BABF07.




-- 
Charles McCathieNevile    mailto:charles@w3.org    phone: +61 (0) 409 134 136
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative                      http://www.w3.org/WAI
Location: I-cubed, 110 Victoria Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
September - November 2000:
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Received on Monday, 20 November 2000 06:58:01 UTC