- From: Al Gilman <asgilman@access.digex.net>
- Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 07:28:02 -0400 (EDT)
- To: w3c-wai-wg@w3.org (WAI Working Group)
You're on the right track, Gregg. It's not that complicated if you step back and see the rule as a smoothness metric on the web, and not a function of the image in isolation. The criterion for effective ALT text selection is simple: Ensure the continuity and maximize the smoothness of flow within the web of story lines which results when all images are replaced by their ALT strings. It only seems complicated if you assume that there should be a context-free, local rule. A more local rule that comes close to being sufficient for the satisfaction of the global rule is to say that the ALT text should perform the same function in connecting the story-line that the image performs. "Decorations" are images that don't play any role in connecting the story line. The functional equivalent there is ALT="". You have to look at the image in context, and ask "what is the contribution of this image to this story?" to know what the ALT string should say. -- Al Gilman
Received on Thursday, 10 July 1997 07:28:04 UTC