Ancestors

Toot

Written by Echo on 2024-11-15 at 10:26

Re: alt-text

I like the emphasis on fedi of adding alt-text to our pictures. Accessibility is very good and should be a bare minimum.

However I have no measure for how much detail should be in alt-text. Sure, its easy to understand that any text should be repeated but other than that how much description is the right amount? More is surely better but too much is probably a problem.

I think this is a result of people not really having thought about this for a good portion of our time on the internet.

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Descendants

Written by Kianga on 2024-11-15 at 10:39

@echoraptor I try to think of it like this: Imagine you're sitting next to a friend who can't see. How would you describe what you're seeing to them, so they can be a part of the conversation? A longer description isn't always the most helpful, sometimes mood and context are more important.

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Written by Echo on 2024-11-15 at 10:43

@kianga This is very true, but with someone sitting next to you they can ask questions and you can respond in turn.

Thats a good point though, perhaps I lack in visually-impaired friends on which I can base my experience.

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Written by Kianga on 2024-11-15 at 10:54

@echoraptor I'd say if you make an honest effort, that's already more than most do on social media, and nobody will expect perfection. And technically, people could also ask questions in the replies here. That has never happened to me, but actually I think it would be kinda cool? I'd love to explain more about a picture if someone needs it.

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Written by Claude LeChat on 2024-11-15 at 11:23

@echoraptor IMO the trick is to have purpose: what are you trying to convey? You won't be able to put it all in writing, otherwise you wouldn't need a picture; but do your best to leave the reader satisfied.

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Written by Echo on 2024-11-15 at 11:26

@claude I actually worry about adding context/meaning to images that a person who would otherwise be able to view it would not add themselves.

I try and make it as literal as possible so as not to add any of my own bias into it.

(Which is an impossible task)

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Written by Claude LeChat on 2024-11-15 at 11:50

@echoraptor How do you share a photo you took, or some art you made, without having some sort of implicit bias? That's kind of the point. And if you want to know what the viewer makes of it... for that they must be able to see the picture.

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Written by Echo on 2024-11-15 at 11:56

@claude Of course everything is laden with bias.

Its about trying to minimise it so people can make their own interpretation?

Though I think we're straying into philosophical territory and there be sharks.

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Written by Claude LeChat on 2024-11-15 at 12:58

@echoraptor Maybe that's why it's so tricky to write alt text and why people don't seem to think much about it.

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