>> -----Original Message----- >> From: Hope Stewart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Saturday, 4 June 2005 12:40 PM >> To: Web Standards Group >> Subject: [WSG] alt tags and image captions >> >> Having never seen/heard a screen reader in action, I am >> uncertain about how >> to make some aspects of coding user-friendly for those using >> screen readers. > > If you have got Windows XP or Windows 2000 you should have a screenreader > (Narrator) installed. In my case I find it under Programs > Accessories > > Accessiblity > Narrator. It's not as good as Jaws, but probably enough to > get an idea of how they work. >
Another option, especially for those of us not used to hearing web sites, is the Fangs extension to Firefox. This gives a text version of what Jaws (the most widely used screen reading software) would say aloud. I find this a much easier way to deal with developing for screen readers. I have used a screen reader to test my site and it was difficult. >> Specifically, I find my alt tags are almost always the same >> as my captions. >> For example, if I insert an image of Joe Smith, my code might >> look something >> like this: >> >> <p><img src="images/joe_smith.jpg" alt="Joe Smith" /></p> >> <p class="photocaption">Joe Smith</p> >> Does the screen reader read, "Joe Smith Joe Smith"? > > Yeah, they will repeat it. If I remember correctly they will read > something > like "Image Joe Smith, Joe Smith". > Fangs: "Graphic Joe Smith Joe Smith" >> If so, I >> would have >> thought that this repetition would get very annoying >> especially if there are >> a lot of images on the page. > > I guess it would be a bit repetitive. With an alt tag you generally write > what can be seen in the image. "Joe Smith" doesn't really tell me whether > the image you have is a photo of Joe Smith, Joe Smith the cartoon > character, > or a signature of Joe Smith. So to be a bit more specific you would > probably > write into the alt tag "Photo of Joe Smith". Depending on the purpose of > the > photo, you might even have more detail in the alt tag: "Photo of Joe Smith > at the last accounting conference". > This is certainly true for photos. For other images (logos, etc) they often have another semantic meaning in the page. A corporate logo for example is often also a link to the home page. In this case I wouldn't use 'my company logo', but rather 'my corporate home page'. Fangs: "Graphic link my corporate home page" If the image adds nothing to the meaning of the page, either put it in your css as a background-image or include an empty alt tag <img alt=""> > Hope this helps. > likewise, Damian > Andreas Boehmer > User Experience Consultant > > Phone: (03) 9386 8907 > Mobile: (0411) 097 038 > http://www.addictiveMedia.com.au > Consulting | Accessibility | Usability | Development > > ****************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ******************************************************
