Re: Unicode characters used as images

It might be argued that "heavy multiplication X" is not the most 
user-friendly way to indicate that an item has been checked off a list, 
but I don't believe it fails any WCAG SC. The way Unicode characters are 
announced by screen readers is not always as useful as we might like, 
but they are announced and the names they're given are usually 
understandable if less than perfectly so.


On 05/02/2024 21:44, S wrote:
> But that "heavy x" is not an image or ascii art and will not be 
> interpreted that way regardless of the intent. And, it would be 
> confusing to mark up text as if it was an image.  Suggestion is to use 
> text "Y" and "N" as indicators for better cognitive recognition.  But 
> if it has to appear as "x" for visual effect, then they should use an 
> actual image with valid alt text**so it is recognized accordingly.
>
> On 2/5/2024 7:53 AM, Ms J wrote:
>> Hello
>>
>> If I had a shopping list and each item had a 'cross' next to it to 
>> indicate it was completed but the unicode 'heavy multiplication x' 
>> character was used for the cross, is this a failure of any sc?
>>
>> They're basically using a text character like an image because 
>> they're using it for its physical characteristics, but they're not 
>> marking it up as an image (for example with an aria img role) and 
>> giving it an alt. It's read with JAWS as 'heavy multiplication x'.
>>
>> My thoughts are - could it fail name, role, value because it's used 
>> as an image but doesnt have that role?
>> Could it fail info and relationships because it coveys information 
>> visually but not programmatically? (But then thats like saying images 
>> with unclear alts should fail 1.3.1)
>> I don't think it fails sensory characteristics because there's no 
>> corresponding instructions that refer to it by its appearance
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Sarah
>>
>> Sent from Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
>

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Léonie Watson (she/her)
Director
https://tetralogical.com