On Sat, Sep 11, 1999 at 12:48:51AM +0300, Antti-Juhani Kaijanaho wrote: > > > ALT specifies what replaces the image when it cannot be displayed. > > > It should *not* be a description of the picture, unless the description > > > is relevant to the rest of the text. > > > > I disagree. > > How is this a matter of opinion? Read the HTML 4.0 spec: "Do not > specify meaningless alternate text (e.g., "dummy text"). Not only will > this frustrate users, it will slow down user agents that must convert > text to speech or braille output." (13.8) > > Indeed: at the start of every Debian page, imagine the computer reading > out loud "opening bracket swirl closing bracket".
Stupid, eh? :) Still, I don't agree this is meaningless ALT text nor that the ALT should be left empty. Call me a lunatic. > > > The swirl is a decoration and carries no information. > > > > Not quite. > > It is a decoration. It does carry information, but only in the visual > form - it is the picture which is our logo, not the string "swirl". With empty ALT, graphics-less browsing people wouldn't know that there is a logo there. > > Still, I think having [swirl] there would be good. People using lynx would > > at least wonder what this "swirl" is, and download the Logo and view it > > later. > > People using lynx will just get irritated. "[swirl]" adds no information > to most Debian pages! I use lynx regularly and this is the last thing that would irritate me. Something like "debian-logo-swirl-without-text-143-23.jpg (143112 bytes)" wouldn't bother me two bits these days, after all of these years browsing. YMMV, IMHO, <insert-your-favorite-disclaimer-here>. I'd say let's just drop this pointless discussion and let the people who are editing those pages do what they think it's best. -- enJoy -*/\*- don't even try to pronounce my first name
