W3C standards call for the use of a ‘longdesc’ attribute for images or other possibly inaccessible page elements. The longdesc attribute in a tag links to an HTML file that gives a long description of the inaccessible element. But browser support for longdesc is still somewhat problematic. So many people are now using a workaround that involves putting a ‘d’ after the element. The ‘d’ is made into a link to the long description. This practice is understood by people who need the long description information.
Online Classes
SmartPlanet is a service of CNET and offers online classes for developers, designers and business people. You can try a sample or free trial to see if you like the classes. Barnes and Noble offers online classes in its ‘university.’ These are free classes, but, of course, they have a book for sale. LVS Online offers inexpensive classes.
SVG resources list
According to the W3C, SVG is a language for describing two-dimensional graphics in XML. SVG allows for three types of graphic objects: vector graphic shapes (e.g., paths consisting of straight lines and curves), images and text. The W3C has recommendations for SVG now. Here are some resources to get you started with Scalable Vector Graphics.
· W3C’s main SVG page
· SVG: The Art is in the Code
· Real World SVG
· Adobe SVG Zone
· xml.com SVG tutorials
· Web Developers Virtual Library SVG Resources
· SVG Spot
Create captions for multimedia
NCAM/Media Access Generator (MAGpie) This site has a tool that allows you to add captions to three multimedia formats – Quicktime, SMIL, and SAMI.
Dreamweaver and empty alt tags
Macromedia – How can I add empty ALT values to image objects? explains how to customize Dreamweaver so that empty alt tags can be added to img tags. For images used as spacers or other non-content purposes, adding an empty alt tag allows text to screen readers to ignore the image.
SVG and Adobe’s free SVG viewer
Web Center Features – SVG – Manual Download Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) are on the rise. Adobe provides a free viewer on their Web site. The W3C is working on the specifications for SVG, which can create vector graphics which can be animated by scripting and styled with CSS.
Accessible Web Sites
Web Accessibility Evaluation and Repair includes a review and comparison of software accessibility evaulation and repair tools. This site is by Jim Thatcher, one of the authors of a new book titled Contructing Accessible Web Sites.