Providing a text alternative that identifies the purpose of the non-text content

ID: G82

Technology: general

Type: Technique

When to Use

Applies to all technologies

Description

The purpose of this technique is to provide useful information via the text alternative even if the full function of the non-text content cannot be provided.

Sometimes, a text alternative cannot serve the same purpose as the original non-text content (for example an applet meant to develop two dimensional rapid targeting skills and eye hand coordination.) In these cases this technique is used. With this technique a description of the purpose of the non-text content is provided.

Examples

An eye-hand coordination development applet has the following text alternative "Applet that uses the mouse and moving targets to develop eye-hand coordination"
A camera applet that has a round disk where you push on the edges to control a remote camera and a slider in the middle for zooming has the following text alternative "Control for aiming and zooming remote video camera".

Tests

Procedure

remove, hide, or mask the non-text content
replace it with the text alternative
check that the purpose of the non-text content is clear - even if function is lost.

Expected Results

#3 is true.