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Skip to content WAI: Strategies, guidelines, and resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities
[Note: This document is a draft and should not be referenced or quoted under any circumstances.]
Notes:
Needs additional coordination:
Ready for review with other working groups:
| term | latest suggestion | WCAG | ATAG | [notes] & previous from TF |
| alternative equivalents | see equivalent alternative | ... | ... | no change |
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[EO discuss] |
Any item, piece of equipment, product, system or software, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. | nil | nil | [ CONSIDER adding: "For example, screen readers that read aloud Web pages for people who cannot see or read text, and voice input software and switches for people who cannot use a keyboard or mouse." or somesuch * rationale: it just makes it easier to understand if there are a few examples! (although I know that is challenging to pick a few and not others) (JB: probably COW) ]no change |
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[status: ready for review with WCAG & ATAG WGs] |
A narrative of the visual parts of a video. Audio descriptions are equivalent alternatives for actions, body language, graphics, scenes, and such. They are synchronized with the video. Audio descriptions can be either a pre-recorded human voice, or a synthesized voice recorded or generated real-time. They are used by people who are blind or have low vision. (Also called "described video".) |
Audio narration that is added to the soundtrack to explain important details that cannot be understood from the main soundtrack alone. During pauses in dialog, audio descriptions of video provide information about actions, characters, scene changes and on-screen text to people who are blind or visually impaired. | Audio description (also called "Described Video") is an equivalent alternative that provides aural information about actions, body language, graphics, and scene changes in a video. Audio descriptions are commonly used by people who are blind or have low vision, although they may also be used as a low-bandwidth equivalent on the Web. An audio description is either a pre-recorded human voice or a synthesized voice (recorded or automatically generated in real time). The audio description must be synchronized with the auditory track of a video presentation, usually during natural pauses in the auditory track. | [Note to reviewers: compare with "captions" process edit, copyedit Audio description (also called "described video") is an equivalent alternative that provides aural information about actions, body language, graphics, and scene changes in a video. Audio descriptions are commonly used by people who are blind or have low vision, although they may also be used as a low-bandwidth equivalent on the Web. An audio description is either a pre-recorded human voice or a synthesized voice (recorded or automatically generated in real time). The audio description must be synchronized with the auditory track of a video presentation, usually during natural pauses in the auditory track. |
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[status: review with ATAG WG] |
Any software or service that is used to create or modify content for the Web. Authoring tools include Web page editors, word processors that convert documents to Web formats, content management systems (CMS), multimedia editors, and others described in the Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) Overview. | nil | ATAG 2.0 defines an "authoring tool" as: any software, or collection of software components, that authors use to create or modify Web content for publication. A collection of software components are any software products used together (e.g. base tool and plug-in) or separately (e.g. markup editor, image editor, and validation tool), regardless of whether there has been any formal collaboration between the developers of the products. PLUS www.w3.org/TR/ATAG20/#intro-def-au | [copyedit] Any software or service that is used to produce content for publishing on the Web. Authoring tools include Web content editors, document conversion tools, and software that generate Web content from databases. f2f: changed "produce" to "create or modify" |
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[status: ready for review with WCAG & ATAG WGs] |
Text describing sound in video or audio. Captions are equivalent alternatives for people speaking and other important sounds. They are synchronized with the video. Captions are used by people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and people who cannot hear audio (for example, someone in a noisy environment). |
Synchronized transcripts of dialogue and important sound effects. Captions provide access to multimedia for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. | Captions are equivalent alternatives that consist of a text transcript of the auditory track of a movie (or other video presentation) and that is synchronized with the video and auditory tracks. Captions are generally rendered graphically. They benefit people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and anyone who cannot hear the audio (for example, someone in a noisy environment). | [Note to reviewers: compare with "audio descriptions" copyedit Captions are equivalent alternatives that consist of a text transcript of the auditory track of a movie (or other video presentation) and that is synchronized with the video and auditory tracks. Captions are generally rendered graphically. They benefit people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and anyone who cannot hear the audio (for example, someone in a noisy environment). |
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[status: ready for review] |
Satisfies all the requirements of a given standard, guideline, or specification. | nil | nil |
[changed term & definition to address complication with conformance being a "state"] conformance The state of a product or service when it satisfies all the requirements of a given specification. |
| deprecated | Obsolete or replaced, and should not be used. | nil | nil | [copyedit] A feature is that is obsolete or replaced by a newer feature and should no longer be used. |
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[status: ready to review with ATAG WG] |
Can be operated and perceived by various technologies; for example, voice input in addition to a mouse, and Braille output in addition to a screen. |
nil | device-independent action A device-independent action is an action that is not bound to only one type of input device. Input devices may include pointing devices (such as the mouse), keyboards, Braille devices, head wands, microphones, and others. |
[changed term & definition] device independence The use of a Web page or event handler with any kind of input device. Scripting should be device-independent or provide multiple input and output options for different devices. For example, onDblClick requires a mouse; there is no keyboard equivalent for double clicking. Input devices may include pointing devices (such as the mouse), keyboards, Braille devices, head wands, microphones, and others. f2f: was "Does not require a specific device (such as a mouse). Can be operated by various devices, for example voice input." only concern is use of "operated and perceived". |
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[EO discuss] |
Information in a different format that provides the same function. For example, text captions provide an equivalent alternative for an image or audio, and audio descriptions provide an equivalent alternative for the visual information in a video. | alternate version a version that provides all of the same information and functionality and is as up to date as any non-conformant content same functionality Items are considered to have the same function if the outcome of their use is identical. For instance, a submit "search" button on one delivery unit and a "find" button on another delivery unit may both have a field to enter a term and list topics in the web site related to the term submitted. In this case they would have same functionality but would not be labeled consistently text alternative Programmatically determined text that is used in place of non-text content or text that is used in addition to non-text content and referred to from the programmatically determined text. |
An equivalent alternative is content that is an acceptable substitute for other content that a person may not be able to access. An equivalent alternative fulfills essentially the same function or purpose as the original content upon presentation. Equivalent alternatives include text alternatives, which present a text version of the information conveyed in non-text content such as graphics and audio clips. The text alternative is considered accessible because it can be rendered in many different ways (e.g. as synthesized speech for individuals who have visual or learning disabilities, as Braille for individuals who are blind, as graphical text for individuals who are deaf or do not have a disability). Equivalent alternatives also include "media alternatives", which present essential audio information visually (captions) and essential video information auditorily (audio descriptions). | [ACTION: Check new WCAG & ATAG] An equivalent alternative is content that is an acceptable substitute for other content that an end-user may not be able to access. An equivalent alternative fulfills essentially the same function or purpose as the original content upon presentation to the end-user. Equivalent alternatives include text alternatives, which present a text version of the information conveyed in non-text content such as graphics and audio clips. Equivalent alternatives also include "media alternatives", which present essential audio information visually (captions) and essential video information auditorily (audio descriptions). |
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[EO discuss] |
When a browser or media player changes the presentation of a document, the new presentation offers the same functionality as the original. | nil | nil | [why not "transforms gracefully" ?] When a browser or media player changes the presentation of a document, the new presentation offers the same functionality as the original. |
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informative (also "non-normative") [status: ready for ATAG WG review (and suggest to WCAG probably, too)] |
Information in a standard, guideline, or specification that is not required for conformance. It is provided to help understand and implement the standard, guideline, or specification. See also normative. | nil | Informative ("non-normative") parts of this document are never required for conformance | [copyedit, process edit] Information in a specification that is not required for conformance but contributes to the correct use and implementation of the specification. f2f: tweaked |
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[status: ready for review] |
The ability of software and other products to work together smoothly on multiple devices and platforms. | nil | nil | [copyedit, minor addition] The ability of software and hardware to communicate meaningfully on diverse machines from multiple vendors.
f2f: simplified from 2005-12-12 version |
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[EO discuss] |
Keystrokes or combination that perform the same function that is usually done with a mouse or other input device. |
keyboard interface ... Allowing control via the "keyboard interface" means that the content could be controlled through commands issued from the keyboard or by alternate methods that are capable of generating text as if a keyboard had been used |
nil | [
ACTION: check new WCAG definitions [suggestion: provide an example (I didn’t come up with a good one right away) Key or key combination that activates an application function that is usually activated by another input or control device such as a voice input or pointing device. |
| linearized | Arranged in sequential order. For example, linearizing changes content displayed side-by-side into one column. Screen reader software reads information linearized by default, even if it is formatted in a multi-column table. | nil | nil | [copyedit] linearized content A presentation that arranges Web content in a sequential order. For example, one form of linearization changes side-by-side displayed content into a one column format. To be usable, a linearization should arrange content in a logical reading order. |
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[EO discuss] |
A syntax or set of rules for computer-understandable information. For example, HTML and CSS are markup languages to add semantic and presentation information to text files. | nil | Markup Markup is a set of tags from a markup language that specify the characteristics of a document. Markup can be presentational (i.e., markup that encodes information about the visual layout of the content), structural (i.e., markup that encodes information about the structural role of elements of the content) or semantic (i.e., markup that encodes information about the intended meaning of the content). Markup Language A markup language is a syntax and/or set of rules to manage markup (e.g. HTML [HTML4], SVG [SVG], or MathML [MATHML]). |
[copyedit] A markup language is a syntax and/or set of rules to manage content and structure of a document or object (for example, HTML , SVG , or MathML). |
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[others] |
Data that describes other data. Descriptive information about an object or resource. For example, metadata for a specific Web page might include publication date, character set, language, and such. | nil | nil | [ACTION: Confirm with someone who knows better...] meta data Data that describes, highlights and/or explains other data. This includes items such as authorship, key words, character set, publication dates, title information and language. The inclusion of metadata in a Web document helps indexing, searching processes and semantic analysis. |
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[others] |
A language used by people to communicate with each other, as opposed to a computer programming language. | languages are those used by humans to communicate, including spoken, written, and signed languages | nil | [copyedit] A language used by people to communicate with each other, opposed to e.g. a computer language. [JB: "I disagree... on the premise here. Once natural language is used to any extent in communicating with computers -- which it has been for years -- then it cannot be defined solely wrt its use for human-to-human communication."] |
| non-normative | see informative | ... | ... | [copyedit] Descriptions or prescriptions that lie outside the normative criteria of a specification. |
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[status: ready to review with ATAG & WCAG WGs] |
Criteria that must be satisfied in order to conform to a given standard, guideline, or specification. See also informative. | Required for conformance | Normative parts of this document are always required for conformance | [copyedit] Criteria that must be satisfied for conformance with a given specification. |
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[status: needs more thought] |
An event that is reported or recorded as it occurs. For example, real-time captions are typed as a person speaks, rather than prepared in advance. |
events that are live and not under the control of the author | nil | [copyedit] real-time events An event that is reported or recorded as it occurs — For example, in real time captioning text captions are displayed as the text is spoken. f2f: also applies to updating database (e.g., weather) |
| render | To transform computer-readable information into a form usable by humans. For example, a Web browser transforms HTML markup into a graphically-displayed Web page. | nil | nil | [copyedit] Transformation of machine-oriented information into a form perceivable and usable to a human user. Document markup such as HTML or CSS may be incomprehensible to the human user, but a browser or media player may transform it into a meaningful form. For example the HTML element <em> indicates that emphasis is intended. The user agent may emphasize the content responding to CSS directions by changing font or tone of voice. |
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[status: ready for review ATAG] |
WAI Techniques documents provide explanations, strategies, and markup examples for implementing WAI guidelines. They are informative. | nil | Techniques are informative suggestions and examples for ways in which the success criteria of a checkpoint might be satisfied and implemented. | [copyedit] Techniques are informative suggestions and examples for ways in which the success criteria of a checkpoint might be satisfied and implemented. |
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[status: open issue, then ready for review with ATAG] |
Text describing video or audio. Transcripts are equivalent alternatives for people speaking and other important sounds. For videos, transcripts also describe important actions, body language, graphics, scenes, and such. [QUESTION; need to clarify independent text vs. imbedded text? need to differentiate from captions?] |
nil |
A transcripts is an equivalent alternatives for the sounds, narration, and dialogue in an audio clip or an auditory track of a multimedia presentation. For a video, the transcript can also include the description of actions, body language, graphics, and scene changes of the visual track. | [copyedit] A transcript is an equivalent text alternative for the sounds, narration, and dialogue in an audio clip or an auditory track of a multimedia presentation. For a video, the transcript can also include the description of actions, body language, graphics, and scene changes of the visual track. f2f: "and such" or "etc." |
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[status: ready to review with WCAG & ATAG WGs] |
Software to access Web content, including Web browsers, media players, and assistive technologies. | Any software that retrieves and renders Web content for users. This may include Web browsers, media players, plug-ins, and other programs — including assistive technologies — that help in retrieving and rendering Web content | A user agent is software that retrieves and renders Web content. This may include Web browsers, media players, plug-ins, and other programs - including assistive technologies - that help in retrieving and rendering Web content | [copyedit] Software to access Web content, including desktop graphical browsers, text browsers, voice browsers, mobile phones, multimedia players, plug-ins, and some software assistive technologies used in conjunction with browsers such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software. f2f: their definitions miss the contribute idea. |
| Web accessibility | Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web. More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web. | ... | ... | [minor revision based on latest EOWG discussions (for Intro to Web Accessibility)] Web accessibility means that the Web is designed so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with it effectively, as well as create and contribute content to the Web. |
