Stefan BohacekQuestion for #blind #VisuallyImpaired folks, what kind of image descriptions do you prefer?
Short, to the point
As detailed as possible
Add a little whimsy!
Show results.
Poll ended at .
MostlyBlindGamer@stefan I think the distinction between alt text and descriptions is very useful here: short alt text can get the point across and a detailed description can provide access to further relevant information.
@MostlyBlindGamer I'm using these interchangeably, because Mastodon specifically adds image description as an alt text, but this is a good point, thank you!
@stefan yup, it does. It also uses the term “caption,” which might be a good indication that the idea is to be short. There’s nothing wrong with adding “description in reply” though.
Gregory J. Rosmaita@MostlyBlindGamer @stefan The idea that ALT provides a thumbnail by which a visually impaired individual can decide whether to either follow a graphically defined link or query the image for an extended description does NOT apply to social media where there is only one descriptor available that programmatically binds the image to its description. Yes, ALT was originally intended to be a textual thumbnail, but on Mastodon there is no way to link programmatically the description with the actual image.
Note that I keep harping on the term "programmatically". There MUST be a direct relationship between the image & its description, so that an assistive tech can provide the alternative IN PLACE of the inaccessible content in the natural document flow, as the document is being as the document is being rendered accessibly.
(Edited to remove repeated phrases caused by my iPhone's inability to properly transcribe my voice, not all of which I caught before I posted. I will always edit after-the-fact when clarity is in question)