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WCAG 1.4.5 Question

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From: David Ashleydale
Date: Mar 29, 2012 5:49PM

1.4.5 Images of Text, states at the beginning, "If the technologies being
used can achieve the visual presentation, text is used to convey
information rather than images of text..."

What is meant by the word "technologies" in this case? Does it mean things
like HTML, Flash, PDF, etc.? Or does it mean the technology used to create
the page or file?

For example, let's say I'm talking about an HTML web page, but the
technology used to create the page is a software that assembles components
dynamically. And this software was specifically created to place images on
web pages, not chunks of HTML.

Would this be a case where we could say that "the technology being used
can't achieve the visual presentation", and we pass this guideline? Or, as
far as this guideline is concerned, is this just an HTML page and HTML
*is*capable of achieving the visual presentation using regular text,
so this
case fails the guideline.

I guess I'm wondering about the intent of including the "if" clause at the
beginning of this guideline. They could have just said, "Text *must* be
used to convey information, rather than images of text..." but they are
giving an "out" to page authors in some situation. Is my case an example of
that situation? If not, what would be an example of a "technology that
can't be used to achieve the visual presentation?

Thanks,
David