Comments on: @media Day 2 - Dan Cederholm http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/conferences/media-day-2-dan-cederholm/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:07:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Ann http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/conferences/media-day-2-dan-cederholm/#comment-6 Ann Tue, 20 Jun 2006 21:02:52 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/conferences/media2006/media-day-2-dan-cederholm/#comment-6 Icons as background images are only frowned upon when they give information that's not given elsewhere (and that's something that's in WCAG1.0 too...). In the examples highlighted on page 155 of his presentation, the images/icons are decorative, because the information required is given by the adjacent text and so they don't require descriptive alt text. So it's still very much a viable option, and actually, is one of my favourite techniques for adding benefit for users who perhaps have learning/reading or cognitive difficulties (who might benefit from well chosen images to illustrate the text) and from a developer's point of view it's easier to maintain because it doesn't involve peppering the markup with embedded images with null alt. Obviously, if it's an image that presents information (for example, the star ratings images), then it should be embedded as content (rather than presentation) and given appropriate alt text. Icons as background images are only frowned upon when they give information that’s not given elsewhere (and that’s something that’s in WCAG1.0 too…).

In the examples highlighted on page 155 of his presentation, the images/icons are decorative, because the information required is given by the adjacent text and so they don’t require descriptive alt text.

So it’s still very much a viable option, and actually, is one of my favourite techniques for adding benefit for users who perhaps have learning/reading or cognitive difficulties (who might benefit from well chosen images to illustrate the text) and from a developer’s point of view it’s easier to maintain because it doesn’t involve peppering the markup with embedded images with null alt.

Obviously, if it’s an image that presents information (for example, the star ratings images), then it should be embedded as content (rather than presentation) and given appropriate alt text.

]]> By: George http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/conferences/media-day-2-dan-cederholm/#comment-5 George Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:05:03 +0000 http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/conferences/media2006/media-day-2-dan-cederholm/#comment-5 Dan's slides make so much sense. It is a shame that a couple of his recommendations won't be usable in conjunction with WCAG 2.0. Take page 155 for example. Background images as icons are frowned upon in the recommendations as an alternative is not avaiable when stylesheets are turned off. For me this looks like one of the best presentations from @media and a sensible and workable application of web standards. Dan’s slides make so much sense. It is a shame that a couple of his recommendations won’t be usable in conjunction with WCAG 2.0. Take page 155 for example. Background images as icons are frowned upon in the recommendations as an alternative is not avaiable when stylesheets are turned off.

For me this looks like one of the best presentations from @media and a sensible and workable application of web standards.

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