Re: Web Accessibility Tutorials: Images and Tables

Hi Olaf,

the intent is that the alternative texts are used where having the image 
has an additional value to determine if the page is what the user is 
looking for. It is – depending on the context – a functional or a 
decorative image. The alt text does complete sentences. For example:

* Basic Tables [typically have one header row and/or one header column]: 
For simple tables with content that is easy to distinguish, mark up 
header cells with <th> and data cells with <td> elements.

In this case, Basic Tables is a good heading, but the image (as well as 
the alt text) help to get a better understanding on what basic tables 
actually are.

In the Irregular Tables example, the description is completely in the 
text after the colon, as I felt the image is only representing a certain 
example of irregular tables and the text has more (or the same) info in 
it.

I also think that captions are pretty self-describing and therefor 
don’t need an alternative text to further describe the redundant 
image.

I’m looking forward to your feedback on this.

Best, Eric

>> in the tutorial overview about tables the images illustrating the 
>> types of tables are tagged in a somehow weird and inconsistent 
>> fashion.
>>
>> For the basic table image, the alt text is
>>  typically have one header row and/or one header column
>> For the multi-directional table image, the alt text is
>>  usually have headers for rows and columns
>>
>> For the irregular table image, the alt text entry does not have a 
>> value
>>
>> For the multi-level table image, the alt text is
>>  have multiple header cells associated per data cell
>>
>> For the Caption & Summary image,  the alt text entry does not have a 
>> value
>>
>>
>> Apart from being a tad inconsistent, I consider the ones that are 
>> filled out to be inadequate - I have difficulty seeing how they serve 
>> as alternate text…. - they don't fit any of the descriptions in the 
>> image tutorial.
>>
>>
>> What am I missing?
>>
>>
>> Olaf



--

Eric Eggert, Web Accessibility Specialist
WAI-ACT Project

I’m yatil on IRC.