The problem:

Often in viewing HTML pages, users will encounter images or anchor phrases which will fetch and display a large graphic image. This image is often displayed using a separate viewer in a separate window on screen.

• If you cannot see, you have no access to this information.
• If you are on a slow network connection, you need to wait a long time to download the image to see whether or not you are interested in the information it contains.
• If you do not have the proper helper programs you can not see the information.

Solution strategies in the future

Someday, all graphic data formats (such as TIFF, JPEG, PICT or their successors) will also allow incorporation of text describing the image (very useful for access and for searching or indexing pictures). External or "Helper" viewers could then allow display of the graphic, its text, or both. Servers could also be able to send the graphic portion, the text version, or both, on request from the browser. (Java applets could be programmed to do this today but it is not a general capability yet.)

Solutions today

Until this occurs, however, the only known approach for providing alternate text for NON-EMBEDDED GRAPHICS is to provide an alternate data file with the text description of the graphic in it. (Although some graphic storage formats do allow storage of text within the data structure, the servers, browsers, and viewers do not yet allow access to it.)

Approach 2-1: (generally recommended)
Place an anchor to a separate page which has a text description of the picture right next to the anchor that pulls up the picture.

As discussed in the last section, WGBH has instituted the practice of putting a capital "D" next to pictures or graphics in a document. If you are using a thumbnail version of the picture as an anchor to the larger picture, you could use the "D"-tag very effectively for the anchor to the description of the picture.

Approach 2-2:
Include a descriptive text anchor to a page describing the graphic. For example: "or a description of xxxx".

Approach 2-3:
If the user has requested a text-only page, replace all references to pictures with references to the text files describing them.

In general, Approach 2-1 is preferred since many users may have asked for the text-only version because of speed, and may want to view occasional pictures of interest. Also, even blind users may sometimes want to pull up a picture to show someone, or to have someone describe it to them in more detail. Both of these are much easier with approach 2-1 than with 2-3.

Please send comments and suggestions to: web-team@trace.wisc.edu