- From: Anne Pemberton <apembert@erols.com>
- Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 13:20:13 -0400
- To: Joe Clark <joeclark@joeclark.org>, w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
Joe, I agree that 3.4 is badly worded. The intent of 3.4 is to state that illustrations are essential to some disabled users and they should be a part of the content any sites on the web that are intended to be used by ALL people. Case 2 is closer to what I want than Case 1, which says nothing that encourages the use of illustrations. Case 1 suggests that all illustrations to be used on the web have to be "designed" for such use. Poppy-cock! If it's a government services site, look thru the graphics files in the secretary's file, and find what will illustrate what you are selling. Company sites should be even easier! Photos or drawings of the products are easy to do .... Guideline 3.4 could be used to provide guidance for the inclusion of illustrations to a site mistakenly designed just for text, and as guidance to those who are using all or mostly all illustrations for content. It is my feeling that the bulk of web designers who use the guidelines will appreciate the type of information on illustrations that can be provided in this guideline, both in the choice of images and in the presentation of the image to be most useful to the user. (e.g. provide a full-sized version of detailed illustrations and photos that can be accessed by clicking on a small image on the page itself.) . Rather than creating a burden, it is going to lighten the burden for those who want their pages to be usable to everyone on the web. If folks choose to make page accessible only to text-users, they should be aware the page isn't accessible. Joe, all elements on a page need an equivalent, not just the non-text elements. Text is an element and it needs an equivalent, like all the other elements. 3.4 is the only place this is addressed, and it doesn't do the deed. Anne At 11:53 AM 7/28/01 -0400, Joe Clark wrote: >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/> Anne Pemberton apembert@erols.com http://www.erols.com/stevepem http://www.geocities.com/apembert45
Received on Saturday, 28 July 2001 13:24:58 UTC