[css3-speech] LC comment: why no play-during or equivalent?

aloha!

Question 1. why was the ACSS and CSS 2.1 Appendix A 'play-during'
mixing property

http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/aural.html#mixing-props

removed from css3-speech?


Question 2. css3-speech Section 9 "Cue properties" provides for an
aural icon to be played before an element is encountered or after
that element has been encountered within the audio box model:

QUOTE cite="http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-speech/#cue-props"
The 'cue-before' and 'cue-after' properties specify auditory icons
(i.e. pre-recorded / pre-generated sound clips) to be played before
(or after) the selected element within the audio "box" model.
UNQUOTE

additionally, css3-speech provides a (non-normative) means of playing
a sound clip of a marked string of text

QUOTE
In a similar way, text strings in a document can be replaced by a
previously recorded version.

Example XIII

In this example - assuming the format is supported, the file is available
and the UA is configured to do so - a recording of Sir John Gielgud's
declamation of the famous monologue is played. Otherwise the UA falls
back to render the text using synthesized speech.

.hamlet { content: url(./audio/gielgud.wav); }
...
<div class="hamlet">
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
</div>
UNQUOTE

but what if the author wanted to provide a subtle ambient background
sound to indicate, for example, that the string of text currently being
spoken is contained in a specific type of containing element, such as
BLOCKQUOTE, Q, or EM?


Question 3. what of aural events one might want to associate with
interactive elements, such as edit boxes and other form controls, so
that as long as the user is activating a form control -- for example, a
sound that plays simulating typewriter keystrokes when input is
received by a TEXTAREA to inform the user/reinforce for the user
that text is being entered into a TEXTAREA (this is intended to
aid those with cognitive issues who are aided by supplemental
speech, as well as those screen reader users who don't mind
aural clatter if it assures them that their input is actually
being input into the interactive element (such as the TEXTAREA
in this example)


Question 4. what is an author or a user of a client-side stylesheet to
do if one wants to associate a sound with a change in state of a form
control (such as a radio button or check box) in an accessible manner
WITHOUT using javascript?

use of javascript to provide this function does not suffice, as it
prevents a user from associating an aural event to a change in state
via a client-side stylesheet -- the more a user can control aural
events via a simple syntax such as provided by CSS/css3-speech, the
better the user experience...

i hope that i made my concerns clear -- that:

1) the css3-speech cue properties are insufficient, as there is no
"play-during" or equivalent option available to authors and users;

2) how does one indicate state (e.g. checked/unchecked - on/off)

2a) as an author, i want to be able to serve up a variety of aural
overlays, much in the way that many sites allow users the option to
switch font, font-size, contrast, etc. -- by such means, i can offer
more verbose, less verbose, and audio-only overlays so that users
have a choice of the amount of aural information they receive via
css3-speech

2b) as a user, i want to be able to use css3-speech to control
client-side aural stylesheets -- control over which could easily be
turned into a user-friendly "wizard" or "property sheet" type interface
so that users don't have to know CSS in order to exercise control over
aural events, as well as providing a user with a consistent aural
experience which that user can tailor to his or her needs

THANK you for your work on moving css-speech towards rec status!

gregory
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PEDESTRIAN, n. The variable (and audible) part of the roadway for
an automobile.          -- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
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       Gregory J. Rosmaita, gregory.rosmaita@gmail.com
        Camera Obscura: http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus
     Oedipus' Online Complex: http://my.opera.com/oedipus
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Received on Saturday, 1 October 2011 03:14:32 UTC