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Re: Opinions/Facts on Alt Images

for

From: Tim Harshbarger
Date: May 31, 2016 1:41PM

I think it would be difficult to claim the pictures are just decorative. I suspect they are present to allow someone using the directory to be able to identify the person.

I was going to suggest that alt="" would be ok since the information is redundant due to the name--but I guess that doesn't make sense. If you removed all the names and replaced them with just the images, the directory would be pretty worthless.

And it appears Bevi answered the question that might go something like "If someone uses the alt text to identify the picture, then they can't be using the picture to identify the people. So why include the alt text?" Apparently, as long as the alt text identifies the image, the user at least as has the option to use the picture for the intended user task--to identify the person. It really isn't for me to say how they go about doing that or what degree of disability they need to have before they would use an alt text. Thanks for the information, Bevi.


-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Chagnon | PubCom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 2:00 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List' < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Opinions/Facts on Alt Images

Our office always tags them and we try to minimize the length of the Alt-text to avoid redundency as much as possible.

I found from my work with people with low vision that they often can see that there's a photo/graphic, but can't make out the details and want reassurance that they aren't missing anything.

Another way to think about it: I doubt anyone could file a complaint or lawsuit for including the Alt-Text, but they might be able to if there wasn't Alt-text.

--Bevi Chagnon
www.PubCom.com

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Alex Hall
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 2:50 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] Opinions/Facts on Alt Images

Personally, I'd always tag the images. No, doing so likely won't offer additional details to the user, but which would you rather hear while
browsing:

John Smith
img_0040297 at 2016-04-01 8:27, image

or

John Smith
Picture of John Smith, image

If nothing else, this tells the user they aren't missing details by not seeing the image, and that the image is just there as a visual reference.
That is, it isn't a link or clickable item they need to interact with to do something with John.

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Campbell, John < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I was looking at an online directories that have Names and Data next
> to or under the image of the person. Do you think they need to Alt
> Tagged anyway or are the images considered decorative?
>
> --
> John R. Campbell, MS, ATP, RET
> Director of Accessibility & Access
> Lehigh Carbon Community College
> > > archives at http://webaim.org/discussion/archives
> >



--
Alex Hall
Automatic Distributors, IT department
<EMAIL REMOVED>