#longdesc

Out here on the interwebs, people are communicating and sharing information. That means that those who author information need to be sure those receiving it can perceive and understand it. What about all those funnies, all those comics that are shared in social media, mails, etc.? Those are visual pieces of information. How do people with low or no vision perceive them, let alone understand them? It's easy. You use something called alt text or long description, known as longdesc to those who code the web.

Oh, by the way, it's not just blind people who benefit from alt or longdesc. Blind people use something called a screen reader to read and navigate desktop computers or mobile devices.  It turns out that some people with physical disabilities choose to use screen readers, too. It saves them from muscle fatigue, for example. Don't get locked in stereotypes. You never know who is using a screen reader. In fact, you never know what kind of device your reader is using. That is why it is only considerate of you to make sure your information that you are so eager to share is perceivable and understandable in all cases. Enter alt and longdesc.

This Tumblr blog is just for the geek giggles - geeky-type comics or accessibility-related comics - that we couldn't resist giving a longdesc makeover.

For a proper look at longdesc and alt text, check out these excellent articles from WebAIM.

The longdesc attribute

Usefulness of longdesc (from a survey

Appropriate use of alt text