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Trivial no, necessary yes
merc2dogs asks why an alt tag for a graphic is necessary when there is a description of an item already on the page. It's mostly necessary so that the blind read will know what they're missing, so to speak. If the screen reader just identifies the graphic from its file name, which is typically something completely generic like "pic_4775.jpg" at a big Web site, then blind readers don't know whether there's information they're missing in the graphic. There shouldn't be, but you can make sure the screen reader user knows that with the alt tag.

One of the first rules of accessibility is that you don't embed data in graphics that the screen reader can't read -- for example, I remember trying to cut and paste a telephone number out of a Web page to send my boss once, but it was actually a graphic depicting the phone number. As so many of you point out, the same things can be annoying to sighted users as blind users! Like those ridiculous, evil Flash intros that we all grit our teeth and click past.

Now, had Target followed accessibility guidelines in the first place, they'd have much less work ahead of them. Retroactively making a big, dynamic site accessible is going to be much more challenging. BTW, I haven't spent a dime at Target since they refused to make their page accessible.
Posted by: riotsquirrl   Posted on: 10/17/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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odd  voska | 10/04/07
W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines  Grayson Peddie | 10/04/07
Does Target use Schlockwave-Trash?  Knorthern Knight | 10/04/07
"I see," said the blind woman  lauren.glenn@... | 10/04/07
Go somewhere else? NOPE! Sorry!  Grayson Peddie | 10/05/07
Your point?  jasonshortphd | 10/08/07
Classic move unethical people  bobsterz69 | 10/09/07
Yeah, you're right...  jasonp@... | 10/05/07
It's a trivial task  voska | 10/05/07
correct me if I'm wrong  merc2dogs` | 10/08/07
High Fives to the plaintiffs  yyuko@... | 10/04/07
Is it just me???  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/04/07
Well, judge made a mistake for dismissing a lawsuit.  Grayson Peddie | 10/04/07
can you see what you wrote?  lauren.glenn@... | 10/04/07
I KNOW THERE are 50 states!  Grayson Peddie | 10/05/07
Any judge needs to understand...  NeuromancerLV | 10/08/07
Yes, it's just you...  jasonp@... | 10/05/07
Ya know.. there's a reason it's called a "Graphical User Interface".  James T. Kirk | 10/04/07
A "graphical user interface" not accessible by blind?  Grayson Peddie | 10/04/07
Unnecessary litigation!  thespasticone | 10/04/07
Democracy works great when you are in majority  voska | 10/05/07
RE: Judge allows class action over Target Web site  lauren.glenn@... | 10/04/07
OH, COME IN!  Grayson Peddie | 10/05/07
No, what's disrespectful is...  James T. Kirk | 10/05/07
my...my  Niffy_z | 10/05/07
His comment tells me that he didn't care for the disabled.  Grayson Peddie | 10/05/07
This is what happens when...  supercharlie | 10/05/07
Come on...  Firstpoet | 10/05/07
Don't know how is in the US  mrjonno | 10/05/07
I think it's because...  James T. Kirk | 10/05/07
But that still doesn't explain..  Harrim | 10/08/07
It speaks  NeuromancerLV | 10/08/07
REDICULOUS FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT  pcguy777 | 10/05/07
No kidding.. shop somewhere else then.  Been_Done_Before | 10/05/07
Dirty litigation that harms all society  Omch'Ar | 10/05/07
Let's be efficient, as class action goes  Boot_Agnostic | 10/06/07
ZDNet, Internet Explorer, and ZoomText 9.1  Grayson Peddie | 10/07/07
Does American Disabilities Act cover Websites?  camccarty | 10/08/07
RE: Judge allows class action over Target Web site  KrazyGuy | 10/08/07
Ridiculous  sapper80 | 10/08/07
Yep!  BlazingEagle | 10/08/07
Big Brother now dictates web content?  taylor17@... | 10/08/07
In The Land Of The Blind The One-eyed Judge Is King!  John Westra | 10/09/07
RE: Judge allows class action over Target Web site  rperry@... | 10/09/07
Change the world.  wayworld@... | 10/09/07
Trivial no, necessary yes  riotsquirrl | 10/17/07

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