Rachel StantzJan 4, 2023

In a couple of different places on Mastodon this week I’ve seen people saying something to the effect of “what does visible alt text matter, it’s for screen readers.”

Here are just a few scenarios why people might want to view alt text visually:

1. “I made the post and I want to double check the alt text I wrote.”
2. “I did not make the post but I want to learn how other people write alt text so I can write better descriptions.”
3. “I’m having trouble making sense of the image but I think a written description would help.”
4. “My vision is enough to read text at my preferred font size but not in a tiny screenshot with jpeg compression.”
5. “This is what works best for me because of reasons I don’t want to get into.”

Accessibility is for everyone. Try not to make assumptions.

Show threadPattacakek
@arjache I have added text to several images that I’ve posted, but it doesn’t show up after I’ve posted it. Is that what is meant to happen, or am I doing something wrong?
Jan 5, 2023 at 9:22pmWeb
Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023
@pattacakek @arjache Try hovering over the image. Or if you're on mobile, pop the image fullscreen and long-press it (doesn't work on the preview in the post, unfortunately).
Show threadPattacakekJan 5, 2023
@frostwolf @arjache
Thank you for your help. It works on my PC but not on my iphone. maybe it's an #iphone thing.
Show threadSumocat 🐈‍⬛Jan 5, 2023
@pattacakek @frostwolf @arjache
Official iPhone app doesn’t have a path to #AltText, but web app does. Need to tap to view photo, then long press to pull up the menu. Text is displayed above the menu options.
Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023
@Sumocat @pattacakek @arjache The "official" app /doesn't even show alt text/?? What.
Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023
@Sumocat @pattacakek @arjache (we've always used web on both mobile and desktop, it works great on mobile and you don't need an app at all unless you want push notifications I guess)
Show threadPattacakekJan 5, 2023
@frostwolf @Sumocat @arjache
I opened mastadon on a web page on my iphone and it worked.
#Mastadon encourages people to use alt text, but being able to see alt text is not available on iphone. Anyone know why?
Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023

@pattacakek @Sumocat @arjache 'Cause the "official" app is crap; just about any real app will work loads better (as will the web UI).

Web or a normal app will also get you the local/federated timelines! Technically the "official" app has local these days, but it's intentionally hidden. Feels like Gargron's trying to kill our communities.

Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023
@pattacakek @Sumocat @arjache (also by the way if you want an app feel without having to go find something else, you can actually add the website to your home screen as a PWA! Works on iOS, and even lets you have multiple accounts with multiple PWAs, last we tried. Android shares cookies between PWAs though.)
Show threadSumocat 🐈‍⬛Jan 5, 2023
@pattacakek @frostwolf @arjache alt text is intended for people who cannot see it. I assume it’s readable by the device with the correct accessibility settings.
Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023

@Sumocat @pattacakek @arjache Bah.

Alt text is intended for people who need alt text. It's not "only for Those Disabled People".

We use alt text all the fucking time.

Show threadFrost「｜｜霜の狼｜人面獣心」🐺❄️Jan 5, 2023
@Sumocat @pattacakek @arjache ... which is actually what the OP is about, heh! *waves paw upthread*
Show threadSumocat 🐈‍⬛Jan 5, 2023
@frostwolf @pattacakek @arjache It’s really just a starter app. Keep in mind, we are at a non-profit run by volunteers. There’s no venture capital backing this project.
Show threadPattacakekJan 5, 2023
@Sumocat @frostwolf @arjache
Thank you, good point.
Show threadRachel StantzJan 5, 2023
@pattacakek You might want to check with a different Mastodon client! Often they will have a little Alt button on the image that shows alt text. Or, if you have any web development experience, you could also examine the image element itself on the web.
Show threadPattacakekJan 5, 2023
@arjache any suggestions on which app?
Show threadKate BowlesJan 6, 2023
@pattacakek @arjache Toot! and Metatext apps both make adding and reading image descriptions (alt text) easy on iPhone. Minor flaw: Toot! will show very long descriptions as a transparent layer over the image. So writing out the whole text of a screenshot can trigger this problem. Do it anyway, just be ready for double vision.
Show threadPattacakekJan 6, 2023
@kate @arjache
Thank you, you have to pay for Toot so got Metatext.
I was getting really frustrated because I couldn't even sign in.
Then I realized (embarrassed) I was spelling Mastodon wrongly.
Show threadSarahJan 6, 2023

On Android Fedilab makes seeing alt text very easy when you open an image full-size.

When you're posting, it also gives you a little yellow triangle alert symbol when you attach an image reminding you to add a description.

@kate
@pattacakek @arjache