Using Alt Text in E-Learning #429: Challenge | Recap
On the surface, writing alt text seems simple enough: Add text to on-screen images to verbally describe what's depicted in an image. Eas...
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I think you took on a big challenge with this one! How do you describe something like a meme that is intended as an inside joke and maintain the humor of it? I'm not a big social media person so when I see memes I'm usually clueless to their meanings. You really got me thinking with this one. Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks Jodi. It's a tricky one, for sure. I'm not certain describing a meme with a robotic-sounding screen reader can ever have the same immediacy and impact as a purely visual meme. I listen to a lot of radio comedy, so I firmly believe humour can be achieved without visuals, though.
There have been attempts to subvert the Alt Text format for humour, using it to deliver a punchline. But this also relies on the visual setting up the joke. Understandably, this has drawn criticism for accessibility advocates.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/misuse-of-twitters-alt-text-feature-draws-criticism-from-accessibility-advocates-11657879200
There have been attempts to subvert the Alt Text format for humour, using it to deliver a punchline. But this also relies on the visual setting up the joke. Understandably, this has drawn criticism for accessibility advocates.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/misuse-of-twitters-alt-text-feature-draws-criticism-from-accessibility-advocates-11657879200