WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: abbreviations

for

From: Geof Collis
Date: May 26, 2010 3:45PM


Sorry John, still dont buy it, I'll expand the
acronym/abbreviation the first time it appears on a page, the user
has some responsibility in taking it from there.



At 04:18 PM 5/26/2010, you wrote:
>Geof Collis wrote:
> >
> > I'm not sure where I read it but that is also the method I have
> > adopted because of it.
> >
> > I also have to wonder how using it will help someone who can't use a
>mouse.
>
>Sorry Geoff, this is simply the wrong perspective to be taking here: don't
>develop for specific devices or software, develop according to standards.
>Any other strategy will end up biting you in the back end at some point in
>time.
>
>
> >>
> >> It means that Jaws will NOT support the @title in <abbr> and <acronym>.
>
>It means nothing of the sort. It is simply a user setting that can be
>adjusted in a particular piece of software, and what JAWS does versus what
>NVDA does (versus what Voiceover does, and HAL, and WindowEyes, and...) is
>already a hugely different kettle of fish. Again, developing for a piece
>of software or a specific device is the wrong way forward - develop to the
>standards and let the software/end user make the choice of how and what
>they will consume your information.
>
> >>
> >> I stand with what I was saying earlier: explain what the acronym or
> >> abbreviation means on it's first occurence in the page (other than
> >> navigation or headings, for obvious reasons) by presenting it
> >> explicitely first, then give out it's acronym or abbreviation in
> >> parenthesis. Seems like the best option to me, a win-win situation
> >> for everyone.
>
>This is not a wrong strategy, but it is not a complete strategy either
>(IMHO)
>
>JF
>