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Re: Alt text (was VIKI - text transcodeing)

for

From: John Foliot - Stanford Online Accessibility Program
Date: Jan 22, 2007 10:20AM

Patrick H. Lauke wrote:
> John Foliot - Stanford Online Accessibility Program wrote:
>
>> Well, here, you and I agree, although others may not always. But I,
>> like you, have always asked "what is the *reason* for the photo, what
>> is the message it is intending to send", and then try and incorporate
>> it into the alt text.
>
> If the reason is pure eye candy to evoke a certain feel/attitude (e.g.
> smily teacher to show that it's a friendly environment), can the
> purpose not also be reflected in the way the main copy is written,
> the tone of voice, choice of words, etc? Would this then not make the
> ALT redundant, as the same information is conveyed already?

Then why bother with the image at all? Evocation of a mood is a subtle
thing, but I posit that even the visually impaired can appreciate the
subtleties of mood (feel/attitude). To *not* offer the equivalent, is to
me, doing them an injustice: surely Patrick you are not suggesting that 60%
of all images on the web today (used to establish mood) should simply have
alt=""?

Why not: <img src="path" alt="[Photo - Students enjoying the relaxed
teaching style of Professor Jones]" />

Your main point of ensuring that the supporting text also supports the tone,
mood or feel is 100%, but if the copy-writer wants an image there to support
that mood, then the alternative text should do so as well.

Just my $0.02

JF