Re: there are markup options [was: Re: img/alt summary attempt]

Hi Ian,

I like how your message cuts to the point.

If I may, I would like to replace "is important" with "CONVEYS 
INFORMATION", as in:

(1) Image DOES NOT CONVEY INFORMATION, alternative text is available. 
(alt="")
(2) Image CONVEYS INFORMATION, alternative text is available. (alt="...")

Now, in my opinion, a missing "alt" attribute actually represents:

(3-REWORDED) Image MAY OR MAY NOT CONVEY INFORMATION and alternative 
text is not available.

Now, I think there is a fourth state that I see use in representing:

(4-NEW) A tool (CMS, etc.) knows that the image CONVEYS INFORMATION 
(e.g. someone uploaded it from their camera, so it's probably not a 
blank placeholder), but alternative text is not available.

That said, I'm not sure how (4) should be represented (e.g., some have 
suggested something like alt="_none").

Cheers,
Jan




Ian Hickson wrote:
> The problem is that there are _three_ states, not two:
> 
>  1. Image is not important. (alt="")
>  2. Image is important, alternative text is available. (alt="...")
>  3. Image is important, alternative text is not available.
> 
> Case 3 is the one we are discussing. Cases 1 and 2 are well understood and 
> nobody is suggesting changing them.
> 

-- 
Jan Richards, M.Sc.
User Interface Design Specialist
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC)
Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto

   Email: jan.richards@utoronto.ca
   Web:   http://jan.atrc.utoronto.ca
   Phone: 416-946-7060
   Fax:   416-971-2896

Received on Tuesday, 15 April 2008 20:54:25 UTC