- From: Tim Boland <frederick.boland@nist.gov>
- Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:27:28 -0500
- To: w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
- Message-Id: <5.1.1.5.2.20060123092831.02293350@mailserver.nist.gov>
The Device Independence Glossary [1] has definitions for the terms "perceivable unit" and "user agent". The wording of these definitions seems to me somewhat different than the wording of definitions for "perceivable unit" and "user agent" (same terms?) in the WCAG2.0 Glossary [2]. Definition of "perceivable unit", from [2]: "The result of a user agent rendering the contents of a delivery unit. User agents may or may not render all information in a delivery unit. In some cases, a single delivery unit may be rendered as multiple perceivable units. For example, a single html file that is rendered as a set of presentation slides. Most perceivable units contain presentation and the means for interaction. However, for some devices such as printers, a perceivable unit may only contain presentation." Definition of "perceivable unit", from [1]: "A set of material which, when rendered by a user agent, may be perceived by a user and with which interaction may be possible. User agents may choose to render some or all of the material they receive in a delivery unit as a single perceivable unit or as multiple perceivable units. Most perceivable units provide both presentation and the means for interaction. However, on some types of device, such as printers, perceivable units might contain only presentation." Is there a reason for the definition of "perceivable unit" to be different as mentioned previously? Definition of "user agent", from [2]: "Any software that retrieves and renders Web content for users. This may include Web browsers, media players, plug-ins, and other programs — including assistive technologies — that help in retrieving and rendering Web content." Definition of "user agent", from [1]: "A client within a device that performs rendering. Browsers are examples of user agents, as are web robots that automatically traverse the web collecting information." Is there a reason for the definition of "user agent" to be different as mentioned previously? I notice that the definitions of the terms "authored unit" and "delivery unit" in [2] seem to have been taken verbatim from [1]. Should there be consideration for taking the definitions of "perceivable unit" and "user agent" in [2] verbatim from [1] as well? If not, why not? Thanks and best wishes Tim Boland NIST [1]: http://www.w3.org/TR/di-gloss/ [2]: http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-20060117/appendixA.html
Received on Tuesday, 24 January 2006 20:27:49 UTC