[#832] Clear link text - priority and acceptability of supplement al text

The requirement to make clear link text is currently a Level 3 success
criterion
[1]. In my opinion this should be a level 1. In discussion with the
techniques
task force, we thought it might be a level 3 because of the possibility to
use
supplemental text to clarify the link (e.g., the "title" attribute in HTML).
But
for that to work, we need to know that the supplemental text will be
presented
to the user when needed. But the UAAG [2] does not provide a single mandate
for
how this is to be accomplished, and further permits supplemental text to be
presented instead of the orginal text, not just alongside. We are unsure of
the
implications of this for the clear link text requirement and the use of the
"title" attribute to fulfill that requirement in HTML.

I propose that the requirement for clear link text be moved to level 1.
Specific
mechanisms for achieving that should be left to technology-specific
techniques,
though it would be useful if the guidelines would comment on the role of
features like the "title" attribute in HTML for meeting this requirement.
This
may require coordination with the User Agent group.

[1]
http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-20040602.html#consistent-behavior-
target-identified
[2] http://www.w3.org/TR/UAAG10/guidelines.html#tech-conditional-content

--- Signature ---

Michael Cooper
Accessibility Product Manager, Watchfire
1 Hines Rd Suite 200, Kanata, ON  K2K 3C7  Canada
Tel: +1 (613) 599-3888 x4019
Fax: +1 (613) 599-4661
Email: michaelc@watchfire.com
Web: http://www.watchfire.com/

Received on Monday, 21 June 2004 16:33:12 UTC