Srini, Thanks a lot for such a detailed explanation. Another question of mine is that, is there any way that we can take initiatives and report the web developers of some of the most frequently used sites, for the accessibility issues?
Regards, Swarna. On 8/27/12, Srinivasu Chakravarthula <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Swarna, > Certainly, something can be done for existing web pages too; developer > needs to fix the problem. It's like adding a little piece of additional > code. Here is an example: > Bad example: > <img src="http://something.com/picture.jpg";> > > Good example: > <img src="http://something.com/picture.jpg"; alt="Image description"> > If image is used for decorative / spacer purpose, then right thing to do is > providing null alt attribute. > > Thanks, > -Srini > > On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Swarna Lakshmi > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Hi Srini, >> >> Thanks a lot for the explanation, apparently nothing can be done with >> already developed web pages? >> >> Regards, >> Swarna. >> >> On 8/27/12, Srinivasu Chakravarthula <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Dear Swarna, >> > It's neither a software nor any other program. It's a piece of code >> > that >> a >> > web developer need to incorporate on web pages to convey the >> > description >> of >> > the images. >> > >> > Best, >> > -Srinivasu >> > >> > On Mon, Aug 27, 2012 at 11:02 AM, Swarna Lakshmi >> > <[email protected]>wrote: >> > >> >> Hi Srini, >> >> >> >> As I joined the discussion late I just have an idea about Alt Text. >> >> >> >> I just wanted to know that is it a software to be installed or a >> >> program to be written and compiled? >> >> >> >> I am sorry if I have asked you anything wrong. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Swarna. >> >> >> >> On 8/24/12, Suman Damera <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > Thanks Srini for such a detailed explanation about the significance >> >> > of >> >> > alt text in web pages! >> >> > >> >> > On 8/23/12, Srinivasu Chakravarthula <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> Taken from a blog post >> >> >> >> >> >> Alt text (or text alternatives) are words that show up in place of >> >> >> an >> >> >> image, when that image can’t be loaded. Images are sometimes turned >> >> >> off >> >> >> by >> >> >> users with slow internet connections and blind users often use >> >> >> screen >> >> >> reader software that reads the alt text aloud when it reaches the >> >> >> image. >> >> >> The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 demand alt text >> >> >> for >> >> >> images in most cases. >> >> >> >> >> >> The text is meant as a replacement for the image – not in addition >> >> >> to >> >> it. >> >> >> This means the text should describe the image and give the same >> >> >> information >> >> >> as the image would if seen. This isn’t always easy and people don’t >> >> >> always >> >> >> agree on what the ‘same’ information is. The best bet is to be >> >> >> honest >> >> >> with >> >> >> yourself – what does the picture convey? >> >> >> >> >> >> If the image is your company logo, your company name is a good bet. >> If >> >> >> the >> >> >> image is of text, replicate the text exactly. For all other images, >> >> >> describe the image helpfully and succinctly – we don’t need to know >> >> >> it’s >> >> >> a >> >> >> picture of 17,387 trees if ‘forest’ would do. >> >> >> >> >> >> Whatever you do, don’t see alt text as a great resource for keyword >> >> >> stuffing. Adding out-of-context keywords as alt text is terrible >> >> >> for >> >> >> accessibility, does not meet WCAG 2.0 guidelines and has minimal to >> no >> >> >> search engine optimisation benefits. >> >> >> What to do >> >> >> >> >> >> - Add alt text to all of your images >> >> >> - Add a name to all of your buttons (such as ‘Search’ or >> >> >> ‘Submit’) >> >> >> >> >> >> How to do it >> >> >> >> >> >> If you’re using a good quality content management system, you will >> >> >> be >> >> >> able >> >> >> to add alt text with very little effort. For example, WordPress >> allows >> >> >> you >> >> >> to edit the alt text of all images that you insert into posts and >> >> >> pages. >> >> >> If >> >> >> you’ve got something a little more bespoke, here is some >> >> >> information >> >> >> and >> >> >> code that will help: >> >> >> >> >> >> An image on a website has two essential elements, its source and >> >> >> its >> >> >> alternative. The source is the location of the image and the >> >> >> alternative >> >> >> is >> >> >> what I’ve just been talking about. >> >> >> ? >> >> >> <http://www.wuhcag.com/alt-text/?goback=.gde_53511_member_150908160# >> > >> >> >> 1 >> >> >> <img src="filename.jpg" alt="insert alt text" /> >> >> >> >> >> >> Here’s how a form might look like with names added. >> >> >> ? >> >> >> <http://www.wuhcag.com/alt-text/?goback=.gde_53511_member_150908160# >> > >> >> >> 1 >> >> >> 2 >> >> >> 3 >> >> >> 4 >> >> >> 5 >> >> >> 6 >> >> >> 7 >> >> >> <form> >> >> >> <label for="option1">Option One</label> >> >> >> <input id="option1" type="radio" name="type" /> >> >> >> < /br> >> >> >> <label for="option2">Option Two,</label> >> >> >> <input id="option2" type="radio" name="type" /> >> >> >> </form> >> >> >> Auditing alt text >> >> >> >> >> >> Alt text is relatively simple to audit and easy to fix, making this >> >> >> a >> >> >> quick-win WCAG 2.0 guideline. One of the best ways is to add the >> >> >> WAVE >> >> >> toolbar <http://wave.webaim.org/toolbar/> to Firefox and check a >> page. >> >> As >> >> >> most sites have a standard template, you can catch your biggest >> issues >> >> >> with >> >> >> one sweep. Banners, sidebar images and footers only need fixing >> >> >> once >> >> >> to >> >> >> improve every page on your site. After that, you’ll need to do >> >> >> page-by-page >> >> >> checking. >> >> >> >> >> >> If you want a more in-depth and hands-off solution, you can request >> an >> >> >> accessibility audit <http://www.wuhcag.com/contact/> of your whole >> >> >> website >> >> >> for alt text and other issues. >> >> >> One more thing >> >> >> [image: Forest] >> >> >> >> >> >> Photo credit <http://www.flickr.com/photos/view_camper/3179689934/> >> >> >> >> >> >> There are a few types of image that don’t need alt text: spacers, >> >> >> icons, >> >> >> purely decorative, tests and CAPTCHA images. >> >> >> >> >> >> Icons are usually used to complement text not replace it, so >> >> >> there’s >> >> >> no >> >> >> need to duplicate your efforts here. Users with screen readers >> >> >> would >> >> just >> >> >> hear the same thing twice anyway – which is the opposite of what >> we’re >> >> >> trying to do. >> >> >> >> >> >> Spacers are images used for padding, often for ease and not good >> >> >> coding. >> >> >> They are used to preserve formatting and present no information so >> >> >> don’t >> >> >> need alt text. >> >> >> >> >> >> Decorative images are ones used just because they look nice, they >> have >> >> no >> >> >> information or use other than aesthetics. >> >> >> >> >> >> Tests and CAPTCHAs would be undermined by text alternatives so you >> >> >> don’t >> >> >> need them – although if you do use CAPTCHA, use one with an audio >> >> >> alternative or add contact details to help blind users. >> >> >> >> >> >> In all theses cases, use what is called ‘null’ alt text by simply >> >> leaving >> >> >> the alt text out – but do put the quotes in: >> >> >> ? >> >> >> <http://www.wuhcag.com/alt-text/?goback=.gde_53511_member_150908160# >> > >> >> >> 1 >> >> >> <img src="location-of-image.jpg" alt="" /> >> >> >> >> >> >> Screen readers will then skip the image rather than reading the >> >> >> filename >> >> >> or >> >> >> trying to substitute an alt text. >> >> >> >> >> >> That’s all there is to alt text! Is there anything you’d like to >> >> >> add >> >> >> or >> >> >> any >> >> >> questions you have? Leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to >> respond. >> >> >> Don’t forget, you can now buy the >> >> >> book<http://www.wuhcag.com/shop/how-to-meet-the-wcag/>and learn >> about >> >> >> all the web accessibility guidelines at once! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> Regards, >> >> >> >> >> >> Srinivasu Chakravarthula - Twitter: >> http://www.twitter.com/VasuTweets >> >> >> Website: http://www.srinivasu.org | >> http://www.learnaccessibility.org >> >> >> >> >> >> Let's create an inclusive web! >> >> >> >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> >> >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> >> >> >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> >> >> changes, >> >> >> please >> >> >> visit the list home page at >> >> >> >> >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > suman >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > Search for old postings at: >> >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> > >> >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> >> > [email protected] >> >> > with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> > >> >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> >> > changes, >> >> please >> >> > visit the list home page at >> >> > >> >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> >> [email protected] >> >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> >> please visit the list home page at >> >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >> >> > >> > >> > -- >> > Regards, >> > >> > Srinivasu Chakravarthula - Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VasuTweets >> > Website: http://www.srinivasu.org | http://www.learnaccessibility.org >> > >> > Let's create an inclusive web! >> > >> > Search for old postings at: >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> > >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> > [email protected] >> > with the subject unsubscribe. >> > >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> > visit the list home page at >> > >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> > >> > >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> > > > -- > Regards, > > Srinivasu Chakravarthula - Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/VasuTweets > Website: http://www.srinivasu.org | http://www.learnaccessibility.org > > Let's create an inclusive web! > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. 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