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Re: A larger discussion (was RE: Inline Images and ALT text)

for

From: Oliver Boermans
Date: Jan 15, 2009 3:30AM

Thanks for the interesting discussion people!

As one of those learning lurkers [thanks John], I'd like to put
forward a design/communication principal which may have some bearing
on ensuring content is accessible and interesting.

With an idea to express, the most effective combination of text and
image is one where the visual and verbal elements work together. An
images with a caption that seems to restate the apparent content of
the image is boring alongside one that has a caption that tells us
something more. The viewers is involved by connecting the two. Having
a little gap is what keeps us engaged.

When the image is not visible it is important to consider what is
missing from the message as a result. I believe it is the role of the
alt text to at least attempt to adopt the role of the image in the
communication.

With a different hat on, it is easy for me to imagine scenarios where
having some such redundancy within the alt text of an image would be
beneficial. Placing an image on a public webpage is also placing an
image on the web. A web increasingly read by machines at some point
before we are presented with it. Simplest example is Google images
which works best when the information within the alt text clearly
labels the content of the image.

Mark me as somewhere in the middle – it's a balancing act.

--
Oliver Boermans
Communication designer
http://www.ollicle.com
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