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ChangeProposals/InstateLongdesc/8020
80/20 Rule
- This document is a part of the: Include longdesc in HTML5 Change Proposal
- For: HTML5 ISSUE-30 longdesc
- Editor: Laura Carlson, (laura.lee.carlson at gmail.com)
- Date: January 31, 2011, last updated May 7, 2011
Numbers alone must not be the driving factor for technology decisions. Both mainstream (80/20) and edge-case requirements must be addressed, because for online information, there is:
- No standardized user, and
- No standardized device (browser or other user agent) for accessing information.
Longdesc usage is not and will never be widespread because:
- People with disabilities are a minority.
- Images that need longdesc are a minority.
As Al Gilman said a few years ago,
80%-rule-NOT
Some commentors have suggested that in order to sustain a small language there have to be some screening factors, and frequency of use in the as-is Web is the screening factor to use.
The WAI position on this is roughly "that is like saying that the builder of a high-rise building should decide whether or not to include fire-stairs based on whether the previous buildings at that street address had burned down or not."
We don't build fire stairs just enough to evacuate 80% of the occupants.
Accessibility features address failure modes that are infrequent, but critical when they occur.
Popularity among authors should be used to select between _functionally complete_ alternative strategies for supporting required functionality.