[html4all] Object element support

[Leif Halvard Silli]

Jason White 2008-08-23 12.14:

> On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 12:21:54PM +0300, Robert J Burns wrote:


> I also disagree with the claim, introduced earlier in this thread, that there
> are two categories of users, one of which would supposedly be served by the
> seamless substitute, and the other of which would need, or benefit from, the
> additional description. To the contrary, there is one category of users,
> namely those whose delivery context precludes viewing or listening to the
> embedded media, whether temporarily, as may be due to environmental or
> technological circumstances, or permanently, in the case of the user's having
> a disability. However, the circumstances giving rise to the need don't alter
> the nature of that need, namely for a seamless and adequate substitute.

I think you may have characterized the views I put forward, here. 
  I must admit that, having lead Rob astray, <smile> I begin to 
view things as you do. ;-)

> While I appreciate the thinking that underlies Rob's distinction, I don't find
> it compelling and I don't think it should serve to influence markup language
> design. Moreover, WCAG does not draw such a distinction, and I would argue
> that it should not.
> 
> With apologies for entering the discussion purely to make a negative point, I
> nonetheless hope this contrary view helps more than it hinders.


There is nothing to aplogy for! On the contrary!

 
> To explain a little further, I think it is a matter of style on the part of
> the author whether to provide a seamless substitute "in place", or whether to
> provide part of that substitute - a label or a brief explanation - in place,
> and then to include a link to additional details that give the missing
> explanatory or descriptive material.
> 
> I earlier argued that if the substitute is adequate, then additional
> description is superfluous. It may be useful to provide such a description,
> but it is not an accessibility requirement to do so - if it were, then the
> supposed substitute would be inadequate as a genuine alternative to the media.

Good point. It is also be much simpler if we operate with just one 
level of textual fallback.
-- 
leif halvard silli