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Re: alt text and captions

for

From: Sachin Pavitran
Date: Feb 5, 2004 10:19AM

Hello Rachel,

Being a Jaws user, I don't think it would be redundant to have an ALT text
for the caption on the picture provided the caption on the picture is not a
text element by itself. If the text is something that's part of the picture
it would be essential to have a ALT text so that the screen reader know what
the information was on the picture.

I hope this makes sense.

Regards.



******************************************************

Sachin Dev Pavithran
Training and Development Specialist
Center for Persons with Disabilities
6800 Old Main Hill,
Logan, Ut - 84322
U.S.A.

Work Phone : 1-(435)-797 0974

Email : <EMAIL REMOVED>

Visit Us at http://www.cpd.usu.edu

******************************************************

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rachel Tanenhaus" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
To: < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Cc: "'Kathy Gips'" < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 9:26 AM
Subject: alt text and captions


> Hello!
>
> I've got a question about graphics, alt text, and captions. Not
> captions as in open- or closed-captioning, but captions as in the text
> that sometimes occurs under pictures.
>
> If a graphic is being used on a web site, and its caption is essentially
> a description of the picture being shown, what should be in the alt
> text? Right now, the caption and the alt text are identical, and we're
> wondering if that's a usability issue, or if it's just plain redundant
> and annoying, or what? How does one handle repetitive text like that?
> I suspect that a blank alt attribute (<alt="">) is inappropriate.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help, and please feel free to point me
> somewhere if this has already been discussed (but I checked the recent
> archives and didn't see it).
>
> -Rachel
>
> Rachel H. Tanenhaus, MPH
> Information Specialist
> New England ADA & Accessible IT Center
> 374 Congress Street, Suite 301
> Boston, MA 02210
> Phone: (617) 695-0085 (v/tty)
> or (800) 949-4232 (v/tty) (in New England)
> Fax: (617) 482-8099
> E-mail: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> URL: www.NewEnglandADA.org
>
>
>
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