Re: ACTION-886 definition of text alternatives for text content

I had assumed that the definition - "text that is programmatically
associated (PA)" forced the paragraph in the example to be PA, even if it
didn't state it outright. That said, it is a good idea to be explicit...
A revised def
text alternatives for non-text content: Text that is programmatically
associated with non-text content or referred to from text that is
programmatically associated with non-text content. For example, an image of
a chart might have two text alternatives: a description in the paragraph
after the chart (e.g. in HTML using longdesc or aria-describedby
attributes) and a short text alternative (using the alt attribute on the
chart)for the chart indicating in words that a description follows.


On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 7:56 AM, Richards, Jan <jrichards@ocadu.ca> wrote:

>  Hi Greg,****
>
> ** **
>
> Good points. The only small thing I would change is that “the paragraph
> after the chart” IS a text alternative (by WCAG), just not a RECOGNIZED one
> as required by UAAG. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Unless you’re already doing it, I will try to add your edits to a new
> proposed definition that I will send out in another email.****
>
> ** **
>
> Cheers,****
>
> Jan****
>
> ** **
>
> *(MR) JAN RICHARDS*
>
> PROJECT MANAGER****
>
> INCLUSIVE DESIGN RESEARCH CENTRE (IDRC)****
>
> OCAD UNIVERSITY****
>
> ** **
>
> *T *416 977 6000 x3957****
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> *F *416 977 9844****
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> *E* jrichards@ocadu.ca****
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> ** **
>
> *From:* Greg Lowney [mailto:gcl-0039@access-research.org]
> *Sent:* September-10-13 10:42 PM
> *To:* w3c-wai-ua@w3.org
> *Cc:* WAI-UA list
>
> *Subject:* Re: ACTION-886 definition of text alternatives for text content
> ****
>
>  ** **
>
> I'm okay with the new text in its context, but it's worth noting that it
> would be way too broad if it stood on its own: almost any HTML attribute
> might count, since whether or not a text attribute "provides expanded
> information" seems subjective. Luckily, the text above it for "alternative
> content" puts more restrictions on what constitutes alternative content,
> and presumably that also narrows what is "text alternatives for text
> content". If you wanted the definition to stand alone you could modify it
> to say "*alternative content* that is programmatically...".)
>
> However, there is a more significant problem with the bullet item "text
> alternatives for non-text content": the text says that the alternative
> content must be programmatically associated, but that seems contradicted by
> the the examples.
>
> To correct that you could add a sentence to the effect that "Note that a
> description in the paragraph after the chart would not qualify as
> alternative content unless associated with the chart using ARIA describedby
> attribute or equivalent." Or you could merge that into the previous
> sentence as "For example, an image of a chart might have two text
> alternatives: a description in the paragraph after the chart, as long as
> the two are linked by a method such as ARIA describedby, and a short text
> alternative for the chart summarizing its content."
>
> Hmm. Technically, one could argue that anything an author stuffs into the
> alt attribute counts as text alternatives, regardless of how useful it is,
> because the alt attribute is reserved for alternative content. On the other
> hand, if the alt text doesn't satisfy the criterion of "[fulfilling]
> essentially the same function or purpose as the original content", then
> suddenly it's not alternative content. Would alt saying "a graph described
> in the following paragraph" meet that bar? If not, then either the example
> or the definition is off.
>
>     Greg
>  ****
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: ACTION-886 definition of text alternatives for text content
> From: Richards, Jan <jrichards@ocadu.ca> <jrichards@ocadu.ca>
> To: WAI-UA list <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org> <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org>
> Date: 9/10/2013 11:51 AM****
>
> +1 to Jim’s addition****
>
>  ****
>
> *From:* Jim Allan [mailto:jimallan@tsbvi.edu <jimallan@tsbvi.edu>]
> *Sent:* September-10-13 11:38 AM
> *To:* WAI-ua
> *Subject:* ACTION-886 definition of text alternatives for text content****
>
>  ****
>
> added a first bullet. nothing else has changed in the definition.
> <new>
> text alternatives for text content: Text that is programmatically
> associated with text content to provide expanded information. For example,
> an abbreviation (or acronym) may provide an expansion of the shortened word
> or initialized words (<abbr title="User Agent Accessibility
> Guidelines">UAAG</abbr>).****
>
> </new>
>
> ****
>
> a****
>
> ttached all the code for the glossary entry.****
>
>  ****
>
> --
> Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator & Webmaster
> Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
> 1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
> voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9264  http://www.tsbvi.edu/
> "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964 ****
>
> ** **
>



-- 
Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator & Webmaster
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9264  http://www.tsbvi.edu/
"We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964