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Technique G82:Providing a text alternative that identifies the purpose of interactive non-text content

About this Technique

This technique relates to 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Sufficient using a more specific technique).

This technique applies to all technologies.

Techniques are examples of ways to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). They are not required to meet WCAG. Content can satisfy the normative requirements of WCAG even if it does not use any of the documented techniques. See About WCAG Techniques.

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 interactive 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

Example 1

  • 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

  1. Remove, hide, or mask the non-text content.
  2. Replace it with the text alternative.
  3. Check that the purpose of the non-text content is clear - even if function is lost.

Expected Results

  • #3 is true.
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