Re: the market hasn't spoken - it hasn't bothered to listened [was Re: fear of "invisible metadata"]

On Jun 26, 2007, at 6:36 AM, Gijs Kruitbosch wrote:

>
> Henri Sivonen wrote:
> <snip>
>>> can expose the ability to enter the appropriate role perhaps from  
>>> either a
>>> dropdown list of standard roles, or with the added ability to  
>>> "custom"
>>> create.  We currently have *today* (on my cow path of life)  
>>> WYSIWYG editors
>>> that allow similar functionality with CSS.
>> WYSIWYG editors then
>>
>> I still find it curious how accessibility experts have faith in  
>> authoring software gaining all manner of features while at the  
>> same time assuming explicitly or implicitly that AT will be more  
>> or less frozen to its current state.
> <snip>
> [... ].
>
> In this case, attributes which can be applied to versatile elements  
> are a better solution than separate elements with limited  
> functionality for every possible semantic the WG can think of  
> (which I'm sure will be a lot). As Aaron also said, having builtin  
> functionality will be good. Go for it. But don't stop authors from  
> making their own creations (which are just a little more weird/ 
> pretty/versatile than the things the WG thought of) accessible.

One idea that comes to mind from this discussion is that the new AT  
related elements (like <progress>) might be defined in terms of @role  
by indicating what the @role value would be by default (and  
cautioning that it should not be changed except in rare circumstances  
etc.). I think this would raise awareness about @role and demonstrate  
its proper use. Its this type of default usage that helps authors  
understand and properly extend these facilities.

Take care,
Rob

Received on Wednesday, 27 June 2007 18:37:04 UTC