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RE: Is "this-or-that logo" adequate in an ALT text?

for

From: Darold Lindquist
Date: Aug 19, 2002 5:22AM

From the perspective of a screen reader/speech user, I do not believe that
enclosing alt text in square brackets would pose an accessibility problem,
but it doesn't add any value to the page accessibility either. Generally
speaking, web browsing could be categorized as a reading activity. Screen
readers give the user a lot of control over how much if any punctuation
and/or symbols are spoken. In this context most screen reader users would
turn off or limit the speaking of punctuation marks and symbols since they
are reading for content not editing. So the only indicators of punctuation
in this scenario are communicated to the user through pauses or speech
inflection. Symbols such as the square brackets would not be communicated
to the user. The only way they would become aware of their presence would
be if they reviewed the alt text description letter by letter.

Darold

At 07:32 AM 8/19/02, you wrote:
>Query: how do most list members feel about enclosing alt text within the
>square brackets as noted above? Does it pose any accessibility issues with
>any of the alternative devices out there? (I can't think of any) Is it
>"annoying" to non-visual users employing speech synthesisers on a regular
>basis? Could it be a "Best Practices" recommendation floated to the Working
>Group of WCAG (v2) and other Accessibility organizations?
>
>JF


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