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

for

From: John Foliot
Date: Jan 16, 2009 10:50AM

J. B-Vincent wrote:
>
> What if there were a way for users to specify how they wanted to
> perceive ALT attributes, possibly at first through screen reader
> settings (similar to how screen reader users can set levels for how
> much punctuation they want to hear) and eventually through the browser.

Jane,

While this proposal certainly has merit, it also re-enforces the fact that
the decision process should (must?) remain with the end user. It further
supports the W3C concept of "author proposes, user disposes". As content
authors then, it also cements the idea that we should be providing content
for the alt value (and not "") whenever possible... let the user decide to
accept or ignore this data, don't presume that they may not want to have
it, based upon *your* perception of user needs.

>
> The latter two levels might assign an automatic null value for any
> graphics that omit the ALT attribute.

The debates surround error recovery for images that lack any alt value
could fill volumes (hint: search out the HTML5 archives), and is far
beyond what this thread could handle. I would suggest that this is not
necessarily the best solution, but if you think the pros and cons of the
current thread are wide-ranging, you ain't seen nothing 'till you delve
into that discussion.

>
> At an even higher level, users might be able to mark preferences for
> specific sites. For example, screen reader users could set a news site
> to "none" but an online learning site to "all."

Indeed, this type of granularity would be extremely useful. The WAI ARIA
spec has a capacity to determine a level of "politeness" (for WAI ARIA
Live Regions http://tinyurl.com/8j32zm) which has a similar kind of
switching mechanism, but I am not sure if there has been any work done
along the lines you propose.

>
> There would still need to be website designer awareness on how to write
> good ALT attributes, but this capability could give _all_ users more
> control over page presentation regardless of designers' awareness or
> choices.

<opinion>
Hear hear! While 3 web accessibility experts in the same room will likely
have 3 differing but correct opinions of what is "appropriate (or good)
alt text" for any given image[1], I would suggest that a null value is
usually never appropriate (or at least, that's the position I've had in
this thread from the start). If the image does not really require alt
text, it should be in your CSS, and not inline.
</opinion>


JF
===========================John Foliot
Program Manager
Stanford Online Accessibility Program
http://soap.stanford.edu
Stanford University
Tel: 650-862-4603

Soap Is a program directed by the
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
===========================
[1] Good geeky fun when web accessibility folk get together - grab a
selection of images and have everyone voice their idea of "good or
appropriate" alt text. Losers pay the round... (LOL)