- From: Joe Clark <joeclark@joeclark.org>
- Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 11:53:50 -0400
- To: w3c-wai-gl@W3.org
Checkpoint 3.4, as currently written, says:
>Illustrations must be designed to portray important concepts or
>relationships employed in the content.
The use of the passive voice is sinister here. Which of the following
do you actually mean?
1. If you use illustrations, they must be designed to portray
important concepts or relationships employed in the content.
2. You must use illustrations to portray important concepts or
relationships employed in the content.
In Case 1, authors may use illustrations; if they make that choice,
the illustrations must meet certain goals.
In Case 2, authors have no choice in the matter and must-- in every
case, without exception, and irrespective of appropriateness,
applicability, illustration skill, budget, or undue hardship--
provide illustrations.
Mathematicians have not yet identified a number large enough to
measure my opposition to Case 2, for reasons that have been generally
well-explained by others.
If WCAG really means Case 2, write the checkpoint so that it is
absolutely unambiguous. It is vaguely disconcerting that this unclear
phrasing has been allowed to stand until this point.
--
Joe Clark | joeclark@joeclark.org
Accessibility articles, resources, and critiques:
<http://joeclark.org/access/>
Received on Saturday, 28 July 2001 11:54:39 UTC