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Re: Alt text (was VIKI - text transcodeing)

for

From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Jan 22, 2007 12:40PM

John Foliot - Stanford Online Accessibility Program wrote:

> This comes back to one of the comments I made earlier -
> some argue that the ALT text should be nothing but "factual data": alt="two
> men handshaking", whereas I have always used the "why it there?" rule, and
> have expanded on the alt text to include some context: alt="[Photo - a
> handshake: we are committed to ensuring your satisfaction]"

Which brings me back to my original assertion: if that is already
written out in the copy, I see it as duplication. For a sighted user, it
conveys the same meaning in two different ways; for a screen reader
user, it conveys it in a single way. Nonetheless, I argue that the
meaning of the page is not lost with an empty alt on the fluff image.

> OK, and??? Why would you indicate this to a visual user, and neglect to
> inform a non-visual user (or simply someone who has disabled images for a
> specific reason)? The fact that you are illustrating "...we've got
> photographic evidence" is in itself an important statement don't you think?

Nope.

But we'll have to agree to disagree on this matter then.

P
--
Patrick H. Lauke