Problem:
Image maps allow users to click on "hot spots"
of a picture which reference WWW pages. This type
of feature, which requires an ability to see and click on particular
parts of a graphic image, is completely inaccessible to people
who are blind. Even if the picture is described, they are unable
to detect where to click.
Image maps are used in a wide variety of ways. Some uses are rather
simple like nice looking menu bars. Others
are more sophisticated, like graphic representations of maps,
diagrams, etc.
Solution strategies in the future
"Client Side" image map capabilities are beginning to
be introduced in browsers though no standard approach has yet
been agreed upon. "Client Side" image maps are similar
to regular image maps except that the information regarding all
of the links or "hot spots" on the image are sent to
the browser along with the image map picture. If descriptions
(a sort of "ALT-TEXT" for the image maps links) are
provided with the URLs, then browsers can be designed which would
give a user the choice between the graphic image map or a descriptive
listing of the choices normally provided by the image map - in
all text format.
Solutions today
Today, there are three strategies for providing access. All of
them involve ways to provide an option for a text-only version
of the image map's choices, usually as a listing of
text anchors.
Approach 5-1:
Next to (or just below) the image map graphic, provide a text anchor which will take you to a new page with the text listing of the image map URLs on it. This is easy, but removes the listing from the context of the rest of the page. As a result this approach is not generally recommended.
Approach 5-2: (recommended)
Have an anchor to a text-only page which presents an alternate form of the entire page. Replace the image map with a list of text anchors of the URLs available through the image map.
Approach 5-3: (also good if done in a way which avoids confusion)
Provide a listing of image map choices as a list of text anchors immediately below the image map. This sometimes works, but can also be confusing. The ALT-TEXT of the image map should say that choices are provided in text form following the image map.
See appendix for experimental approaches and discussion.
Please send comments and suggestions to: web-team@trace.wisc.edu