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Alt text (was VIKI - text transcodeing)

for

From: Keith Parks
Date: Jan 19, 2007 11:40AM

Thought this should branch into its own thread (for those who care
about such things)

On Jan 19, 2007, at 9:07 AM, John Foliot - Stanford Online
Accessibility Program wrote:

> * Interesting that you are wrapping image's alt text with [square
> brackets],
> although the "i" I'm not sure about (it is not clearly defined). I
> have
> taken to wrapping all my alt text with [square brackets] as well
> (presumably
> for the same reason you have), but have also taken to "defining"
> what type
> of graphic it is as part of the alt text: Photo, Logo, Icon, etc. The
> little feedback I have received has not been negative, but now that I
> mention it on this list, I would be curious for more feedback...
> It's a
> little something I've been quietly trying. See:http://
> soap.stanford.edu


I had been doing the same thing with Logo, Photo, etc. references in
ALT tags, but I recently came across this very thorough WebAIM
article on ALT text...

<http://www.webaim.org/techniques/images/alt_text.php>;

which made me rethink some things. In that author's way of thinking,
you would only include that sort of information if it was relevant to
the purpose of the graphic. Whether it is a photo of a student using
a computer, or a clip-art illustration of a student using a computer
would likely be irrelevant.

A brief quote:
> Images that contain important content
>
> If the image or graphic contains information that is relevant to
> the content of the site, then the alt attribute should also provide
> that content, in a way that is consistent with the purpose of the
> image. Remember that the purpose of the image is not necessarily
> the same as the appearance of the image.

There's more, but I thought I'd pass the link along, as I found it
rather insightful.

******************************
Keith Parks
Graphic Designer/Web Designer
Student Affairs Communications Services
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-7444

(619) 594-1046

mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED>
http://www.sdsu.edu
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/communications
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