Re: Length of line

#57 has been retired by the LVTF, Issue #58 will address the use case.

Cheers,
David MacDonald



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On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 2:02 PM, John Foliot <john.foliot@deque.com> wrote:

> @Jim - thanks for the tests. They further confirm what research I managed
> to do that CSS hyphenation *IS* pretty well supported today, and so claims
> to the contrary (which have surfaced on this thread) have been overcome by
> time (for the most part). This is good! (While still wishing that Chrome
> supported "auto")
>
> Alastair wrote:
> > The intent is that the author allows for that (primarily ordering and
> CSS methods used), not that they provide the mechanism.
>
> If that is the case, then a significant re-write is likely in order, as
> that is not at all clear from the current draft text
> ​, which states that (for the author) a mechanism be provided​
> (actually, "a mechanism is available")
> ​ - which suggests to me that it is the responsibility of the author to
> provide that mechanism. If that is not the case, who's responsibility is
> it? And if it is not the responsibility of the Web Content author, then is
> this really a WCAG requirement (as opposed to an Accessibility support
> requirement)?
>
> ​Cheers!
>
> JF
>
> On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 11:07 AM, Jim Allan <jimallan@tsbvi.edu> wrote:
>
>> John,
>> did a bit of research on css hyphens
>> see http://w3c.github.io/low-vision-a11y-tf/hyphenation-test.htm for
>> some results.
>> just declaring hyphens: auto - does a pretty good job (except for
>> chrome).
>> if you add &shy; and hypens: manual they work always. Tho adding soft
>> hypens is a bit of work for the author.
>>
>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 2:07 PM, John Foliot <john.foliot@deque.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Wayne,
>>>
>>> Thank you for weighing in here, as yes, there is a struggle to
>>> completely understand what you are asking for in the Success Criteria. I am
>>> looking forward to seeing your examples, while at the same time observing
>>> that your email's longest line is 72 characters in length.
>>>
>>> You wrote: "The point here is the user can choose" - which gets a 100%
>>> thumbs up from me, but what does that mean for the author (as opposed to
>>> the software/hardware tools being used by the user)?
>>>
>>> And when you speak of 25 characters as being "a little big" what do you
>>> mean by that (please)? 25 characters at 16 pt. is not very big; 25
>>> characters at 32pt. is big, and 25 characters at 32pt. X 400% magnification
>>> is enormous, so at a minimum I suspect we need to be also stating a unit
>>> measurement at a fixed magnification point for "testing" and compliance
>>> purposes. Do you have any thoughts there?
>>>
>>> One thing I want to address however is your claim "...because today
>>> hyphenation is not well supported." What is this assertion based upon? The
>>> research I've done shows that this is not the case, that currently support
>>> for CSS hyphenation, while not at 100%, is actually quite good today
>>> (source: http://caniuse.com/#search=hyphens)  I hate to sound like a
>>> broken record, but I've posted this source now 3 times - can you or
>>> somebody else either refute it or accept it as "true" today? If true, can
>>> we dispense with the "hyphenation is not well supported" claims on this
>>> list? Thanks!
>>>
>>> JF
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 1:33 PM, Wayne Dick <wayneedick@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi All,
>>>>
>>>> 50 characters is too much. 30 is too much. 25 is a little big but most
>>>> people with low vision can live with it. I know that you have a rough
>>>> time setting up examples right now, but they are not hard to do with
>>>> practice. I'll get to that tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>> The point here is the user can choose. Normal users probably won't
>>>> choose to shorten text because authors construct columns of text for
>>>> normal users. Users with dyslexia will probably choose moderate lines
>>>> 40-55. People who need enlargement and people who have medical field
>>>> loss will choose 25.
>>>>
>>>> >From the usability point of view character count is the item to
>>>> measure because it is based on lexical data (letters, digits,
>>>> punctuation, etc.). Word wrapping is a lexical operation and so is
>>>> reading. You don't write a 1-meter essay. You write 1000 words. if you
>>>> want to measure readable of language you must use linguistic measures.
>>>> EM like measures might do.
>>>>
>>>> The key her is user choice. Suppose a German has peripheral field
>>>> loss, a common enough occurrence. The overwhelming number of German
>>>> words are less than 15 characters. See
>>>> http://www.news-by-design.com/infographic/language-length/ .
>>>> 25-letter words occur, but not many. So you have a choice: You can
>>>> short lines and set your user style sheet to break words (because
>>>> today hyphenation is not well supported). Or, you can choose wider
>>>> lines. Your choice.
>>>>
>>>> it is not exact but 15em usually gives about 25 characters.
>>>>
>>>> To say authors aren't used to short columns is just silly. In four
>>>> column format 3 of four columns will be close to 25 characters or
>>>> less.
>>>>
>>>> This is not as hard as it seems. Also if you have normal vision your
>>>> conventional knowledge will not do you much good.
>>>>
>>>> i suggest finding a cardboard tube, like a toilet paper tube. Cut it
>>>> down to where you can only fit 25 characters inside and then try to
>>>> read one of these email string through the cardboard tube.
>>>>
>>>> if you have peripheral field loss or use a screen magnifier, lens or
>>>> CCTV that's what it's like. This problem can be solved, but not by
>>>> making lines too long.
>>>>
>>>> More to come.
>>>>
>>>> Wayne
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 10:21 AM, David MacDonald <
>>>> david100@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>>> > CSS hyphenation (when it is supported) offers the author control,
>>>> which is
>>>> > fine...
>>>> >
>>>> > Cheers,
>>>> > David MacDonald
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > CanAdapt Solutions Inc.
>>>> >
>>>> > Tel:  613.235.4902
>>>> >
>>>> > LinkedIn
>>>> >
>>>> > twitter.com/davidmacd
>>>> >
>>>> > GitHub
>>>> >
>>>> > www.Can-Adapt.com
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >   Adapting the web to all users
>>>> >
>>>> >             Including those with disabilities
>>>> >
>>>> > If you are not the intended recipient, please review our privacy
>>>> policy
>>>> >
>>>> > On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 12:28 PM, John Foliot <john.foliot@deque.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> > most (all) bowsers don't add hyphens
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Sorry David, I have to disagree: most browsers today support the CSS
>>>> >> hyphens attribute (https://www.w3.org/TR/css-text/#hyphens-property
>>>> ),
>>>> >> confirmed by CanIUse here: http://caniuse.com/#search=hyphens
>>>> >>
>>>> >> See also:
>>>> >> http://blog.fontdeck.com/post/9037028497/hyphens
>>>> >> https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/hyphens
>>>> >> https://css-tricks.com/almanac/properties/h/hyphenate/
>>>> >>
>>>> >> JF
>>>> >>
>>>> >> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 11:08 AM, David MacDonald <
>>>> david100@sympatico.ca>
>>>> >> wrote:
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> > I would propose we look to Root EMS instead for at least part of
>>>> this
>>>> >>> > proposal, and that we also include a magnification point (200%?
>>>> 400%?) as
>>>> >>> > also part of the requirement:
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> I think the latest proposal addresses the magnification issue by
>>>> >>> requiring that the SC be met without zooming text. The downside of
>>>> REMs are
>>>> >>> that it is harder to understand, it is a specific technology, and
>>>> it is a
>>>> >>> relative measurement. Patrick, Jon A., what are your thoughts?
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> I would also like Makoto and Swetank to respond to the hyphenation
>>>> >>> situation that most (all) bowsers don't add hyphens, and that CSS
>>>> can be use
>>>> >>> to override any hyphenation.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Cheers,
>>>> >>> David MacDonald
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> CanAdapt Solutions Inc.
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> Tel:  613.235.4902
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> LinkedIn
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> twitter.com/davidmacd
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> GitHub
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> www.Can-Adapt.com
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>   Adapting the web to all users
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>             Including those with disabilities
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> If you are not the intended recipient, please review our privacy
>>>> policy
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 11:24 AM, John Foliot <
>>>> john.foliot@deque.com>
>>>> >>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> David wrote:
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> > We have an established precedent in 1.4.8 of using characters to
>>>> >>>> > measure line length.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Hi David,
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> While we may have precedent there, SC 1.4.8 is a AAA Success
>>>> Criteria,
>>>> >>>> and I am hard-pressed personally to recall a site that meets (and
>>>> reports
>>>> >>>> compliance to) that SC consistently. As we've seen, "character" is
>>>> a very
>>>> >>>> imprecise unit of measurement.
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> I think we need to step back a bit; what is the real goal we are
>>>> trying
>>>> >>>> to achieve here? I don't think it has anything to do with actual
>>>> character
>>>> >>>> count (per-se), but rather that we need developers to not break
>>>> text re-flow
>>>> >>>> (perhaps to a minimum of 25 REMs - Root EMs). Level-set: LVTF, is
>>>> this the
>>>> >>>> real "goal" here?
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> However, given fixed view-port sizes and magnification there will
>>>> >>>> necessitate a trade-off, or else I could envision developers will
>>>> create one
>>>> >>>> line in their document at font-size:40px - perhaps an h1 - and
>>>> then use that
>>>> >>>> as the 'measuring point': 25 X 40px = 1000px, which, as a
>>>> "baseline, would
>>>> >>>> then "allow" paragraph text at 16px. to far exceed the 25
>>>> character count
>>>> >>>> being proposed (1000 / 16 = 62.5 "characters") It is for this
>>>> reason that I
>>>> >>>> would propose we look to Root EMS instead for at least part of this
>>>> >>>> proposal, and that we also include a magnification point (200%?
>>>> 400%?) as
>>>> >>>> also part of the requirement:
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> <draft> For the visual presentation of all text, text should
>>>> naturally
>>>> >>>> re-flow to a minimum of 25 REMs at 200% magnification without
>>>> horizontal
>>>> >>>> scrolling, with the following exceptions. </draft>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> ...or something along those lines. By moving away from actual
>>>> characters
>>>> >>>> (and their "imperfect" unit of measurement), we will likely
>>>> address most
>>>> >>>> concerns around internationalization, and with a more precise unit
>>>> of
>>>> >>>> measurement, we will be able to better test (mechanically)
>>>> compliance to the
>>>> >>>> new SC. (I'd also look to have this be an AA requirement, as
>>>> opposed to an
>>>> >>>> A, but that is a different discussion...)
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Thoughts?
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> JF
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 8:59 AM, John Foliot <
>>>> john.foliot@deque.com>
>>>> >>>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> David wrote:
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> > No browser that I know would do this:
>>>> >>>>> >
>>>> >>>>> > "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their
>>>> >>>>> > establish-
>>>> >>>>> > ment party for now and forever"
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Erm... https://www.w3.org/TR/css-text/#hyphens-property
>>>> >>>>> and http://caniuse.com/#search=hyphens
>>>> >>>>> (which suggests support in most browsers with the exception of
>>>> >>>>> Android's native browser)
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> JF
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 8:52 AM, David MacDonald
>>>> >>>>> <david100@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> Perhaps I'm missing something. For example say there is the line
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their
>>>> >>>>>> establishment party for now and forever"
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> And lets say that at the end of the word "their" we have a count
>>>> of 45
>>>> >>>>>> characters (I didn't count). The browser window is narrowed to 50
>>>> >>>>>> characters. Then the line will wrap after "their" and it would
>>>> pass.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their
>>>> (45
>>>> >>>>>> characters)
>>>> >>>>>> establishment party for now and forever ..."
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> This would pass because there are 50 or less characters on that
>>>> line.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> No browser that I know would do this:
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their
>>>> >>>>>> establish-
>>>> >>>>>> ment party for now and forever"
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> In other words.... most lines will be less than 50 characters if
>>>> 50 is
>>>> >>>>>> the threshold we decide on.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> We have an established precedent in 1.4.8 of using characters to
>>>> >>>>>> measure line length. I think in a dot release we should stick
>>>> with that,
>>>> >>>>>> unless I'm missing something.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> Cheers,
>>>> >>>>>> David MacDonald
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> CanAdapt Solutions Inc.
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> Tel:  613.235.4902 <(613)%20235-4902>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> LinkedIn
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> twitter.com/davidmacd
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> GitHub
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> www.Can-Adapt.com
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>   Adapting the web to all users
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>             Including those with disabilities
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> If you are not the intended recipient, please review our privacy
>>>> >>>>>> policy
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 9:21 AM, Patrick H. Lauke
>>>> >>>>>> <redux@splintered.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> On 11/01/2017 14:12, David MacDonald wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> Hi Shwetank
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> Can you help us understand how hyphenation works in those
>>>> languages?
>>>> >>>>>>>> In
>>>> >>>>>>>> English and French, (the languages I speak), the web the page
>>>> just
>>>> >>>>>>>> wraps
>>>> >>>>>>>> the entire word if it doesn't fit. So there is not generally
>>>> >>>>>>>> hyphenation
>>>> >>>>>>>> for web writing.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> Regardless of language, hyphenation will be up to the browser
>>>> to do
>>>> >>>>>>> (support isn't fantastic / cross-browser just yet), or would
>>>> require
>>>> >>>>>>> additional JS solutions that forcibly break and hyphenate words
>>>> (which would
>>>> >>>>>>> likely lead to issues where AT would start to read word
>>>> fragments rather
>>>> >>>>>>> than full words). So there are potential technical limitations
>>>> to overcome
>>>> >>>>>>> here as well.
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> P
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>> >>>>>>>> David MacDonald
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> *Can**Adapt* *Solutions Inc.*
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> Tel:  613.235.4902
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> LinkedIn
>>>> >>>>>>>> <http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmacdonald100>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> twitter.com/davidmacd <http://twitter.com/davidmacd>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> GitHub <https://github.com/DavidMacDonald>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> www.Can-Adapt.com <http://www.can-adapt.com/>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> /  Adapting the web to *all* users/
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> /            Including those with disabilities/
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> If you are not the intended recipient, please review our
>>>> privacy
>>>> >>>>>>>> policy
>>>> >>>>>>>> <http://www.davidmacd.com/disclaimer.html>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> On Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 8:12 AM, Shwetank Dixit
>>>> >>>>>>>> <shwetank@barrierbreak.com <mailto:shwetank@barrierbreak.com>>
>>>> >>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>     FWIW, I agree with John that character length is not a good
>>>> >>>>>>>> criteria
>>>> >>>>>>>>     at all for this purpose, especially from the viewpoint of
>>>> >>>>>>>>     non-english languages. I believe the research and
>>>> guidelines
>>>> >>>>>>>>     mentioned in this discussion have not included languages
>>>> from
>>>> >>>>>>>>     scripts apart from the Latin script (please correct me if
>>>> I’m
>>>> >>>>>>>> wrong)
>>>> >>>>>>>>     like Devnagari, Gurkumikhi, or any from the CJK ones for
>>>> >>>>>>>> example.
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>     I am especially concerned about the possibility of
>>>> significantly
>>>> >>>>>>>>     increased ‘hyphenation’ that this could result in (which
>>>> John
>>>> >>>>>>>> also
>>>> >>>>>>>>     mentioned) causing bigger problems from a cognitive
>>>> perspective.
>>>> >>>>>>>>     —
>>>> >>>>>>>>     Shwetank
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     On Wednesday, Jan 11, 2017 at 4:32 PM, Michael Pluke
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <Mike.Pluke@castle-consult.com
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <mailto:Mike.Pluke@castle-consult.com>> wrote:
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     I can see that the choice of characters as the unit of
>>>> >>>>>>>>> measurement
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     can result in very different end-results that you get
>>>> depending
>>>> >>>>>>>>> on
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     the chosen font-size and font-face. This may make this
>>>> unit
>>>> >>>>>>>>> less
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     useful from an LV perspective. ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     However I still think that, from a cognitive perspective,
>>>> it is
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     relevant and important to set a maximum line length in
>>>> >>>>>>>>> characters.
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Long lines with many words/characters are demonstrably
>>>> hard to
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     read for everyone but, most particularly for people with
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     dyslexia.  The 80 characters in SC 1.4.8
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> <https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/visual-audio-con
>>>> trast-visual-presentation.html>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     will cause significant difficulties for many people with
>>>> >>>>>>>>> dyslexia.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     EA has quoted several research-based sources that offer
>>>> >>>>>>>>> realistic
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     line-length proposals. From reading the extract from
>>>> 'Dyslexia
>>>> >>>>>>>>> in
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     the Digital Age' that EA linked-to (
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/jra7hk3)
>>>> >>>>>>>>> I
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     don’t think that it gives very strong evidence that 55
>>>> >>>>>>>>> characters
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     is the only choice. I’m a great fan of the realistic
>>>> proposals
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     that Luz Rello makes (based on her research
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (http://www.luzrello.com/Publications_files/uais2015.pdf
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <http://www.luzrello.com/Publications_files/uais2015.pdf>))
>>>> so
>>>> >>>>>>>>> I
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     have confidence for specifying line lengths in the 44-66
>>>> range
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (although it was non-dyslexic people who benefitted most
>>>> from
>>>> >>>>>>>>> 44
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     character columns). The British Dyslexia Style Guide
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/common/ckeditor/filemanager/us
>>>> erfiles/About_Us/policies/Dyslexia_Style_Guide.pdf
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> <http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/common/ckeditor/filemanager/u
>>>> serfiles/About_Us/policies/Dyslexia_Style_Guide.pdf>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     recommends that “Lines should not be too long: 60 to70
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     characters.”____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Conclusion*: Based on all of the above I think that:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>       * To benefit LV users we should avoid having SCs that
>>>> give a
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         line length based on the number of characters;____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>       * To benefit people with dyslexia (and also the general
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         population) the 1.4.8-based 80 character maximum in
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         proposal #51 <https://github.com/w3c/wcag21/issues/51
>>>> >
>>>> >>>>>>>>> should
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         be reduced to a figure no greater than 70 characters
>>>> (and
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         probably no less than 60).____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Mike____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *From:*John Foliot [mailto:john.foliot@deque.com
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <mailto:john.foliot@deque.com>]
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Sent:* 10 January 2017 23:56
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *To:* David MacDonald <david100@sympatico.ca
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <mailto:david100@sympatico.ca>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Cc:* WCAG <w3c-wai-gl@w3.org <mailto:w3c-wai-gl@w3.org>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Subject:* Re: Length of line____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     TL;DR - Using 'character' as a unit of measurement is
>>>> extremely
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     problematic, and I do not support it's use here. ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     **************____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Some thoughts after today's call.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     I personally have significant concerns over prescribing a
>>>> fixed
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     number of characters, especially such a low number, as a
>>>> unit
>>>> >>>>>>>>> of
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     measurement. ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Internationalization:*____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     When we factor in both Internationalization and languages
>>>> other
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     than English, we will quickly arrive at a point where the
>>>> >>>>>>>>> number
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     25 is smaller than numerous words in different languages
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_words
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_words>), which
>>>> will then
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     require word hyphenization (most probably supplied by the
>>>> >>>>>>>>> content
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     author, until such time as AI can do that job
>>>> seamlessly). This
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     then suggests to me that we will start to see 'forced'
>>>> >>>>>>>>> line-breaks
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     again (using the presentational <br>), which could have a
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     significant impact on screen flow in RWD (Responsive)
>>>> layouts
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (i.e. the cure being worse the the symptom).____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *Font-size and font-face choices:*____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Equally, as mentioned on the call, another factor in
>>>> measuring
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     this, related to horizontal scrolling, is font-size. For
>>>> those
>>>> >>>>>>>>> of
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     you using HTML-rich mail clients, and using a 25
>>>> >>>>>>>>> character-count
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     example taken from
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> http://www.litscape.com/words/length/25_letters/25_letter_wo
>>>> rds.html
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> <http://www.litscape.com/words/length/25_letters/25_letter_w
>>>> ords.html>:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>               ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         (Gmail's____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         '____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         S____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         mall' sizing)____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical      (Gmail's____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         'Normal' sizing)____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical      (Gmail's____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         'Large' sizing)____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical      (Gmail's____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         'Huge' sizing)____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Q: How do we test for "success" here? Even the final line
>>>> above
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (Gmail's "Huge" font-size) could introduce horizontal
>>>> scrolling
>>>> >>>>>>>>> at
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     some level of magnification on some devices, yet at 25
>>>> >>>>>>>>> characters
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     "meets" the current wording of the proposed SC.  ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Additionally, different font-faces will have different
>>>> >>>>>>>>> font-width
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     characteristics, depending on the font-face chosen. For
>>>> >>>>>>>>> example:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical      (Gmail 'sans-serif',
>>>> size
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         'normal')____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical    (Gmail 'Verdana', size
>>>> >>>>>>>>> 'normal') ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         electroencephalographical     (Gmail 'Wide', size
>>>> >>>>>>>>> 'normal')____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     ...once again, depending on the font-face choice we have 3
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     different line-lengths, and so I question the overall
>>>> choice of
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     "character" as a unit of measurement here.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     *How to 'Succeed'/Author push-back:*____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     The current proposed language for this SC reads:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         For the visual presentation of all text, a mechanism
>>>> is
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         available such that line length is user adjustable,
>>>> to 25
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         characters, with no two-dimensional scrolling
>>>> required, and
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         with the following exceptions.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     However, it is unclear what a page author can or should
>>>> do to
>>>> >>>>>>>>> meet
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     this requirement____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     , as it very much feels like a User-Agent requirement as
>>>> much
>>>> >>>>>>>>> as
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     anything else. For SC 1.4.8, one technique is ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     G204
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <https://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/20
>>>> 16/WD-WCAG20-TECHS-20160105/G204>:
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     /Not interfering with the user agent's reflow of text as
>>>> the
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     viewing window is narrowed/____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     /, /which seems to me to at least address the larger issue
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     (avoid horizontal scrolling) without prescribing a
>>>> specific
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     line-length.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Finally, the current Success Criteria that requires an 80
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     character line-length (____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     SC 1.4.8
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> <https://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/visual-audio-con
>>>> trast-visual-presentation.html>)
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     is a AAA Success Criteria requirement, and yet this new
>>>> >>>>>>>>> proposed
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     SC is at level A, at roughly 1/3 the 80-char limit. ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Sadly (but not totally unreasonably) ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     I suspect that we will get significant push-back at level
>>>> A____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     .____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     JF____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>      ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 3:31 PM, David MacDonald
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     <david100@sympatico.ca <mailto:david100@sympatico.ca>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>> wrote:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         I'm the manager of Issue #57 line length.
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         https://github.com/w3c/wcag21/issues/57
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         <https://github.com/w3c/wcag21/issues/57>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         I was asked to explain why 25 characters was chosen
>>>> as the
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         threshold. I deferred to the LVTF____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         since I did not write that requirement____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         . One point that was mentioned was that 25 characters
>>>> is
>>>> >>>>>>>>> about
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         the width of most news article columns.
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         I did a survey of several top news sites on the web
>>>> and
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         measured the length of characters when text size is
>>>> 100%
>>>> >>>>>>>>> (no zoom)
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -CNN 74____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         characters without counting spaces 87 with spaces.
>>>> could
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         narrow to 35 (w/ spaces) in Responsive
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -NBC 61 no spaces 73 with spaces, could narrow to 39
>>>> (w/
>>>> >>>>>>>>> spaces)
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -ABC NEWS 81 no spaces 92 Spaces, could narrow to 43
>>>> in
>>>> >>>>>>>>> responsive
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -FoxNews 67 no space 79 spaces could narrow to 45 in
>>>> >>>>>>>>> responsive
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -Le Droit french 74 no space, 86 with spaces, no
>>>> responsive
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         -Google News 73 No Spaces 87 with spaces could narrow
>>>> to 44
>>>> >>>>>>>>> in
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         responsive
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         - Huff post French 67 no spaces 79 with spaces no
>>>> >>>>>>>>> responsive____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         N____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         one of these sites passed the new SC proposal of 25
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         characters. They all went to horizontal scroll when
>>>> window
>>>> >>>>>>>>> was
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         narrowed less than those ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         minimum character ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         widths shown above.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         Do we____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>          want to make the minimum a little wider, say 45 or 50
>>>> >>>>>>>>> characters.
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         For reference, the following is about 25
>>>> characters:____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         "This test assesses basic"____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         Cheers,
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         David MacDonald____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>          ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         *Can**Adapt* *Solutions Inc.*____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         Tel:  613.235.4902 <(613)%20235-4902>
>>>> <tel:(613)%20235-4902>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         LinkedIn
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         <http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmacdonald100>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         twitter.com/davidmacd <http://twitter.com/davidmacd>
>>>> ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         GitHub <https://github.com/DavidMacDonald>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         www.Can-Adapt.com <http://www.can-adapt.com/>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>           ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         /  Adapting the web to *all* users/____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         /            Including those with disabilities/____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         If you are not the intended recipient, please review
>>>> >>>>>>>>>         our privacy policy
>>>> >>>>>>>>> <http://www.davidmacd.com/disclaimer.html>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     -- ____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     John Foliot____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Principal Accessibility Strategist____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Deque Systems Inc.____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     john.foliot@deque.com <mailto:john.foliot@deque.com>____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     __ __
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>>     Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and
>>>> >>>>>>>>> inclusion____
>>>> >>>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> --
>>>> >>>>>>> Patrick H. Lauke
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>> www.splintered.co.uk | https://github.com/patrickhlauke
>>>> >>>>>>> http://flickr.com/photos/redux/ | http://redux.deviantart.com
>>>> >>>>>>> twitter: @patrick_h_lauke | skype: patrick_h_lauke
>>>> >>>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> --
>>>> >>>>> John Foliot
>>>> >>>>> Principal Accessibility Strategist
>>>> >>>>> Deque Systems Inc.
>>>> >>>>> john.foliot@deque.com
>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> --
>>>> >>>> John Foliot
>>>> >>>> Principal Accessibility Strategist
>>>> >>>> Deque Systems Inc.
>>>> >>>> john.foliot@deque.com
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> --
>>>> >> John Foliot
>>>> >> Principal Accessibility Strategist
>>>> >> Deque Systems Inc.
>>>> >> john.foliot@deque.com
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> John Foliot
>>> Principal Accessibility Strategist
>>> Deque Systems Inc.
>>> john.foliot@deque.com
>>>
>>> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator
>> Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
>> 1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
>> voice 512.206.9315 <(512)%20206-9315>    fax: 512.206.9264
>> <(512)%20206-9264>  http://www.tsbvi.edu/
>> "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964
>>
>
>
>
> --
> John Foliot
> Principal Accessibility Strategist
> Deque Systems Inc.
> john.foliot@deque.com
>
> Advancing the mission of digital accessibility and inclusion
>

Received on Thursday, 12 January 2017 19:35:19 UTC