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friendica (DFRN) - Link to source

As someone who is totally blind, the Fediverse is the only place where I have ever been able to follow people such as photographers, artists, or even those who post pictures of their cats or the food they ate. The reason is that most of them use alt text. They take the time to describe the images that my screen reader can't recognise. Some write the descriptions themselves, and others use tools such as altbot. Some worry that their descriptions aren't good enough, especially when they are new at this. Let me assure you, not only are they good enough, they are extremely appreciated! If the rest of the world thought as you did, it would be a much better place. Don't hesitate to ask if you're unsure of something, but never think that we don't notice your effort.

#appreciation #accessibility #altbot #alttext #blind #blindness #fediverse #gratitude #images #inclusivity #peoplewhocare #pictures #technology

#fediverse #images #pictures #alttext #technology #accessibility #blind #gratitude #appreciation #inclusivity #blindness #altbot #peoplewhocare
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Marches John
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Marches John
•
I once had to convert MBA lecturers' slides into tactile ones and describe in braille. This was Cambridge Uni so intelligent lecturers you would have thought but finally one said - I guess a picture soes paint a thousand words. My colleague then put up one slide from a lecturer and none of the others could work out what it said as it has some many graphs superimposed on each other. My sheer coincidence I was working on a bible (why it have never been done no idea) when some travelling missionaries knocked on the door. I had just got to the bit in Samuel 2 where God's chosen, King David, sent a man off to certain death in a battle so he could marry the man's wife. They went away
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

WoollyMel
mastodon - Link to source
WoollyMel
• •
I really appreciate your post Georgina.Before I came here I had no idea of alt txt but now make sure it is always on my photos. I also try to spread the word outside Fediverse.
in reply to WoollyMel

EntangledPear
mastodon - Link to source
EntangledPear
• •
@MelSedds I didn't know what the Alt was for until an account (or maybe a bot) boosting cat pictures told me I should provide it. I've done so ever since (and edited the ones I posted before that) and besides the obvious benefit, I find creating the descriptions and sometimes giving more context great fun ☺️ (I even learned some new words when I wanted to give accurate descriptions, like calyx.)
@WoollyMel
in reply to WoollyMel

bytebro
mastodon - Link to source
bytebro
• •

@MelSedds

Here's something I posted before about an easy way to get more consistent at this... πŸ™‚

mastodonapp.uk/@bytebro/113833…

@dandylover1

bytebro (@bytebro@mastodonapp.uk)

@loren@flipping.rocks I've posted this before, but I'm pretty rubbish at remembering alt-txt, but since I followed @PleaseCaptionBot@hachyderm.
Mastodon App UK
@Georgiana Brummell @WoollyMel
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Sybren Stüvel 🧑🀍
mastodon - Link to source
Sybren Stüvel 🧑🀍
• •

Thanks for posting this.

I've shared a screenshot of your post on Bluesky as well: bsky.app/profile/drsybren.bsky…

in reply to Sybren Stüvel 🧑🀍

TansterInJakarta (she/her)
mastodon - Link to source
TansterInJakarta (she/her)
• •

@sybren I will do the same if that’s okay with you Georgina. I can omit your name/avatar.

Bluesky actually has a settings option where you can only send your post after adding Alt Text, which I have activated.

@Sybren Stüvel 🧑🀍
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Fedo ΒΆ
sharkey - Link to source
Fedo ΒΆ
• •
something I’m never sure about is how much text in alt-text is too much. I generally stay as coincise as possible by describing what’s actually interesting in the image for the conversation, which may include written texts or not. Do you think vision-impaired readers may prefer a more complete description?
in reply to Fedo ΒΆ

Lydia Schoch
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Schoch
• •
@fdrc_ff I tend to write longer alt-text because I love details, but I wonder the same thing!
@Fedo ΒΆ
in reply to Lydia Schoch

xinit β˜•
mastodon - Link to source
xinit β˜•
• •

@lydiaschoch I find that I will put extra information in the alt text. Joke that's not in the post itself, perhaps. Pointing out what's strange in the picture. Explaining the joke. Something like it's a SPOILER tag you're only going to get if you check the alt text.

If web comics can do it, why not everyone?

Besides, the character count on alt text is HUGE.

@fdrc_ff @dandylover1

@Fedo ΒΆ @Lydia Schoch @Georgiana Brummell
in reply to xinit β˜•

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@xinit β˜• @Fedo ΒΆ @Lydia Schoch Wow! What a wonderful idea! Please forgive my ignorance, but is alt text something that sighted readers can see, or is it only available to screen readers? If so, this is one of the few times in which we actually get to have something that the rest of the world doesn't. If not, it's a great way to encourage sighted people to pay attention to the importance of alt text.
@xinit β˜• @Fedo ΒΆ @Lydia Schoch
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

zy πŸ‰
mastodon - Link to source
zy πŸ‰
• •
all the client applications i see allow anyone to see alt texts, there's a little "alt" button in the corner of the images. i think that does helps a lot for people to remember to put alt texts
in reply to zy πŸ‰

zy πŸ‰
mastodon - Link to source
zy πŸ‰
• •
if i didn't define my posts in english but in another language would you able to understand them?
in reply to zy πŸ‰

Shred
glitchsoc - Link to source
Shred
• •

@zy Some Mastodon sites offer to translate a post into the reader's language, which also translates the ALT text. As someone who likes to read posts in languages I'm not fluent with, it helps a lot to understand the pictures as well (e.g. memes or comic strips).

@dandylover1

@zy πŸ‰ @Georgiana Brummell
in reply to zy πŸ‰

🀷🏻 Welcome Back
mastodon - Link to source
🀷🏻 Welcome Back
• •
@zy
You can also follow an alt text not that will remind you when you forget to add alt text. It just sends you a message requesting that you add alt text
@zy πŸ‰
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

xinit β˜•
mastodon - Link to source
xinit β˜•
• •

on desktop web browsers, there's a tag in the corner of an image - either ALT or just a scary red exclamation mark (indicating that there's no ALT text).

If a user drags the mouse pointer over the image, the alt text is visible to sighted users. I think most mobile apps show it on a click, but I don't really remember.

@fdrc_ff @lydiaschoch

@Fedo ΒΆ @Lydia Schoch
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Dec.tar.gz
mastodon - Link to source
Dec.tar.gz
• •
The IMG ALT tag (more correctly, the ALT attribute of the IMG tag) has been a part of the HTML standard since the mid 1990s.
I'm sighted. I haven't tested with a screen reader, but when looking at a Fedi post from a Web browser, the alt text is in the IMG ALT tag. Mouse over, and it just displays the alt text.
Most other social networking platforms seem to put the alt text behind a "click the small ALT button and a popup will pop up" mechanism.
This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to xinit β˜•

xinit β˜•
mastodon - Link to source
xinit β˜•
• •
I have considered just using a big black PNG just to use the alt text for an essay.
in reply to Lydia Schoch

cirrina
mastodon - Link to source
cirrina
• •
@lydiaschoch @fdrc_ff
there are *so* many great resources about this.
this for one:
accessibility.huit.harvard.edu…

Write helpful Alt Text to describe images | Digital Accessibility​

Alternative (Alt) Text is an essential part of making content accessible. When adding images, charts, icons or other graphic elements, alt text should be added to ensure your content will be accessible to all users.
accessibility.huit.harvard.edu
@Fedo ΒΆ @Lydia Schoch
in reply to Fedo ΒΆ

Servelan
mastodon - Link to source
Servelan
• •
@fdrc_ff I've read (from vision impaired Fedi users) that color is good, snark's ok, descriptive is good.
@Fedo ΒΆ
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lucilla Piccari
mastodon - Link to source
Lucilla Piccari
• •
thank you for your kind words and especially thank you for making me discover altbot! It will make it easier to write alt text (but I will try to personalise it as much as I can anyway) πŸ˜€
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lorin Sherman
mastodon - Link to source
Lorin Sherman
• •
I need to do that more, I am so sorry for all the times I have forgotten. You matter very much!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

γ‚ͺチγƒ₯γƒΌπŸ•ŠπŸ‡΅πŸ‡Έ
mastodon - Link to source
γ‚ͺチγƒ₯γƒΌπŸ•ŠπŸ‡΅πŸ‡Έ
• •
We ought to do something about some apps that does alt description of image out of their filename. "yay alt ! ...Oh it's 65fddf.jpg"
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

garettmd
mastodon - Link to source
garettmd
• •
for a second there I read "who post pictures of their cats they ate". Haha. I'm glad the fediverse makes you feel welcome!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Mo, Scotland photos
mastodon - Link to source
Mo, Scotland photos
• •
It's good to know that it's so appreciated. I always try to make a little effort to write something!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Mémère
mastodon - Link to source
Mémère
• •
accessibility benefits everyone. I do not have any vision impairment (yet) but often rely on the alt text to clarify what I am viewing. I am so very grateful to the people who take the time to caption their images.
in reply to Mémère

xinit β˜•
mastodon - Link to source
xinit β˜•
• •

@Memere I've seen posts that say something like "Can you believe this nonsense?"

And the image didn't make said nonsense obvious.

But the alt-text did. Sometimes, explaining the joke works for everyone.

@dandylover1

@Mémère @Georgiana Brummell
in reply to Mémère

SaltPhoenix
mastodon - Link to source
SaltPhoenix
• •
@Memere I am a seeing person, but I love alt text for the added info or insight into the personality of the poster and what's important to them. Sometimes they contain jokes.
@Mémère
in reply to Mémère

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •
@Memere
Just out of curiosity, if you have no vision impairment - why does your avi have glasses on?
@Mémère
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Daniel Marks
mastodon - Link to source
Daniel Marks
• •
Filling out alt text can be fun too because you can put your own snarky spin on things, so the benefit is mutual. You and other people who need it are so welcome here!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

N Toyohito / 縁 豊人
hometown - Link to source
N Toyohito / 縁 豊人
• •
I was always wondering "Am I trying to explain with too much detail? Is it too little? Does anyone actually ever use alt text of my images?" This post gave me all the answers I needed! Thanks! All hail fediverse πŸ˜€
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lydia Vvinters
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Vvinters
• •

Are alt texts expected to be objective?

I post a lot of art and am curious if I should describe the subjective interpretation as well.

This entry was edited (4 days ago)
in reply to Lydia Vvinters

Joan Albright
mastodon - Link to source
Joan Albright
• •
@HeliaXyana I will put in both. It's more important to describe the purpose of the image than to include every detail.
@Lydia Vvinters

Dilman Dila reshared this.

in reply to Lydia Vvinters

Joan Albright
mastodon - Link to source
Joan Albright
• •
@HeliaXyana Whatever feels right at the time. You can scroll through some of my posts to read examples.
@Lydia Vvinters
in reply to Joan Albright

Dilman Dila
mastodon - Link to source
Dilman Dila
• •
@Lironah @HeliaXyana I sometimes write in what I was feeling when taking the photograph, like one time I took a picture of clouds, and I said something like they looked great when I looked up in the sky and saw them, but the picture is crappy.... I find it fun to add such silly details in the alt text.
@Lydia Vvinters @Joan Albright
in reply to Dilman Dila

Lydia Vvinters
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Vvinters
• •
@dilmandila @Lironah
Yes, good point. There is space for a little fun in there. When the subjective is the point of sharing the image, I think that's precisely what you should do.
@Dilman Dila @Joan Albright

Dilman Dila reshared this.

in reply to Lydia Vvinters

Kris Herbert
mastodon - Link to source
Kris Herbert
• •
@HeliaXyana I often use alt text to better understand an image, so I think it would be helpful. What should the viewer take away from seeing the image? If you were describing it to someone over the phone, what would you draw their attention to? Mood and meaning are definitely part of that.
@Lydia Vvinters
in reply to Kris Herbert

Lydia Vvinters
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Vvinters
• •
@Hareguizer
Well, there in lies the difficulty. I dislike instructing others in how they should see my work. Like in a gallery or museum, I like to keep the accompanying text relatively objective, as I feel all interpretations are valid. But that's not very helpful for those who cannot see it.
@Kris Herbert
in reply to Lydia Vvinters

Kris Herbert
mastodon - Link to source
Kris Herbert
• •
@HeliaXyana yes, and I can see it could be easy to go too far. Still, a reader can choose to stop reading at any point. I have never been troubled by too much alt text. There are whole essays on writing β€˜good alt text’ but I think the important thing is to have alt text.
@Lydia Vvinters
in reply to Kris Herbert

Lydia Vvinters
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Vvinters
• •
@Hareguizer
Yes, I might be overthinking this a tad. Still, it's good to differentiate between intensions for descriptions. I've seen a museum boast about accessibility when the images only had a description from the artists, clearly intended for those able to view the work.
@Kris Herbert
in reply to Lydia Vvinters

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Lydia Vvinters @Kris Herbert I can understand why you're thinking about it in this manner. Certainly, there is a case to be made both ways. If it's strictly meant for information, then short and to the point is good. But if it's about art, photography, etc. then it might make sense to describe it in more detail. But not all of us have seen in the past. So using metaphors, for example, sound pretty but may not truly help us understand what is in the image. It would be like saying "a woman with a face that looks like my mother's is sitting in a chair, holding a book." If you know what my mother looks like, it's fine. But if you don't, it will have no meaning for you. Likewise, I could say "the chair is beautiful" or I can say "the chair has ornate carvings of flowers on the back and has a velvet cushion". The latter tells me a lot more.
@Lydia Vvinters @Kris Herbert
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lydia Vvinters
mastodon - Link to source
Lydia Vvinters
• •

@Hareguizer

Yes, that's the problem. I see it as something that should match the intension but in the case of art, that can also be subjective. So in this case, if it's a work of art, I would be tempted to describe why this chair is beautiful to me.

Something like, "The soft lighting on the chair and the delicate carving evoke a sense of nostalgia in me."

@Kris Herbert
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Clinton Anderson SwordForHire
mastodon - Link to source
Clinton Anderson SwordForHire
• •

Question, if I may...

Should we also be using #CamelCase in our #HashTags so they're easier for Screen Readers to parse?

Cheers eh

#hashtags #CamelCase
in reply to Clinton Anderson SwordForHire

Gary Brazzell
mastodon - Link to source
Gary Brazzell
• •
@ClintonAnderson I have read that Title Case / Camel Case in hashtags is considered more accessible and therefore the standard. Of course, hashtags here are not case sensitive, so you are not limiting your audience with differing capitalization schemes.
@Clinton Anderson SwordForHire
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Dennis Nunes
mastodon - Link to source
Dennis Nunes
• •
@davidrevoy I always think that my descriptions are not detailed enough πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™‚οΈ
@David Revoy
This entry was edited (4 days ago)
in reply to Dennis Nunes

David Revoy
mastodon - Link to source
David Revoy
• •
@nunesdennis My technique is to imagine that I'm sitting in a movie theater next to someone who can't see the screen, and I have to whisper what I see to them so that they can be part of the experience.
Of course, I don't pretend that my ALT descriptions are perfect or accurate, but they are an extension of my own expression, with my own flaws, mistakes, and way of describing things. And well, I'm a human, not a machine, so I guess that's part of the homemade charm. 😺
@Dennis Nunes
in reply to David Revoy

wb x64
mastodon - Link to source
wb x64
• •

@davidrevoy @nunesdennis also, at minimum, consider that the default is something like "image." So even the difference between "photo" and "screenshot" and "meme" at least provides handles on what they're missing.

Obviously enough detail to be included in the conversation is better & elaboration on what's notable or aesthetic is best. Someone could always ask a question if they were curious, but not if they have insufficient info.

I usually elaborate on why it's nice: see attached

Photo of a Japanese-style park. Various evergreen trees and bushes surround a pond on a chilly bright winter day. Small in the middle of the pond is a male duck, napping with its head tucked away and one foot extended on a rock. The trees vary from yellow-green to sage green, the pond is green, and the sky is brilliant blue.
@David Revoy @Dennis Nunes
in reply to wb x64

wb x64
mastodon - Link to source
wb x64
• •

@davidrevoy @nunesdennis good series of guides mastodon.social/@mcc/113897045…

mcc

2025-01-26 22:36:38

mastodon - Link to source

Oh, one other alt-text rule I follow. Sometimes an image contains no additional information at all. When this is the case, I actually say so, as briefly as possible. If the post already describes the image fully, I just caption "As described". If multiple photos contain the same thing, I just say "ibid." (or maybe "a burning dumpster", "same dumpster from another angle", "ibid.", "ibid."). If I *say* there's no useful information, a screen reader user won't have to *wonder* why it's blank.

@David Revoy @Dennis Nunes
in reply to Dennis Nunes

πŸ• Paul πŸ¦„
mastodon - Link to source
πŸ• Paul πŸ¦„
• •
@davidrevoy @nunesdennis I suggest turning on audio description for a movie that has it available. You’ll usually find a variety of styles and not all are as elaborate as you might imagine. The most important thing is making an effort and understanding your purpose for sharing the image can guide your effort.
@David Revoy @Dennis Nunes
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Glenn Seto
mastodon - Link to source
Glenn Seto
• •

How well do very general descriptions of popular media references tend to work for members of your community? For example:

Scene from The Empire Strikes Back, Lando Calrissian muttering to himself "This deal's getting worse all the time..."

I'd hope major hits like Star Wars have been made as accessible as possible over the years, but still worry such minimal scene-setting might perpetuate a "you had to be there" feeling of exclusion.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

tunda
mastodon - Link to source
tunda
• •
Manche machen sich Sorgen, dass ihre Beschreibungen nicht gut genug sind, vor allem, wenn sie neu auf diesem Gebiet sind. Ich kann Ihnen versichern, dass sie nicht nur gut genug sind, sondern auch sehr geschΓ€tzt werden! Wenn der Rest der Welt so denken wΓΌrde wie Sie, wΓ€re es ein viel besserer Ort. ZΓΆgern Sie nicht zu fragen, wenn Sie sich bei etwas unsicher sind, aber denken Sie nicht, dass wir Ihre BemΓΌhungen nicht bemerken.
in reply to tunda

tunda
mastodon - Link to source
tunda
• •

Einige schreiben die Beschreibungen selbst, andere verwenden Tools wie altbot. Manche machen sich Sorgen, dass ihre Beschreibungen nicht gut genug sind, vor allem, wenn sie neu auf diesem Gebiet sind. Ich kann Ihnen versichern, dass sie nicht nur gut genug sind, sondern auch sehr geschΓ€tzt werden! Wenn der Rest der Welt so denken wΓΌrde wie Sie, wΓ€re es ein viel besserer Ort. …

Übersetzt mit DeepL.com (kostenlose Version)

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Karen Dorman
mastodon - Link to source
Karen Dorman
• •
I'm glad you appreciate it. I have several vision impaired followers and each time I write my #AltText I think of them personally and do my best.
#alttext
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Kat the Leopardess
mastodon - Link to source
Kat the Leopardess
• •

I admit that sometimes I struggle with alt tags. Understanding what there is to see in a picture is one thing, but providing info within the context of the overall post seems like it can come in handy

Curious to know if you tried Bluesky. I ask bc I thought Bluesky has a way to caption images.

in reply to Kat the Leopardess

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •
@Catwoman69y2k
As BSKY is just a walled off version of the the rest of the fediverse, it does - the same capability as most servers.
@Kat the Leopardess
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Alan Bucknam
mastodon - Link to source
Alan Bucknam
• •
I have an old art school friend who went gradually blind, and think of how I would describe my photos to her when I write my alt-text. I remember when she was sighted how much she enjoyed the act of looking, really catching this or that detail I hadn’t noticed, and I try to satisfy that, however I can, in text.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Jake
mastodon - Link to source
Jake
• •
this is good to know! These messages help us (artists) not to forget to use these features! Thanks!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Phracker
mastodon - Link to source
Phracker
• •
The Fediverse is also one of the few networks that actually allows you to edit the alt text directly. The only other ones I can think of are WordPress and Pinterest.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Francis Augusto πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄/πŸ‡§πŸ‡·/
mastodon - Link to source
Francis Augusto πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄/πŸ‡§πŸ‡·/
• •
I usually add descriptions to my pictures, but your post made me happy, and now I feel even more motivated to keep doing that ❀
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

mausmalone
mastodon - Link to source
mausmalone
• •

For the people who worry that their alt text isn't good enough - just keep practicing.

And consider how long it takes to read the ALT text. Was this a throw-away decorative image? Something brief should be fine. Was this image the thing you wanted to share? Time to be more descriptive.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Professor_Stevens
mastodon - Link to source
Professor_Stevens
• •

Thank you so much for posting this! I always include alt-text, but started doing so consistently mostly because self-appointed alt-text cops kept needling me anytime I left it out. This is the first time an alt-text user has actually said something nice about it (that I've seen in my feed, anyway).

Very kind of you to take a moment and say you appreciate it. I will continue to include it.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Sammi
mastodon - Link to source
Sammi
• •

Hi - I need to learn - how should we go about captioning video?

Thanks!

in reply to Sammi

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •

@SamanthaJaneSmith
I alt it the same way I do an image.

Physical description, then meanings/subtleties that are not as obvious, and if there is one the script

@Sammi
in reply to DB Schwein

Sammi
mastodon - Link to source
Sammi
• •
@deirdrebeth OK thanks, what would you do for abstract images? I find describing them difficult.
@DB Schwein
in reply to Sammi

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •
@SamanthaJaneSmith
In so many different kinds of art - it depends!
I would describe what strikes me.
So, "Portrait of a person standing next to a window but entirely made up of straight brushstrokes no single one shorter than the length of the face."
Or, "Bold black lines intersect across a white canvas with a single square of yellow towards the upper right corner."
@Sammi
in reply to DB Schwein

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •
@SamanthaJaneSmith
Honestly, if you don't know how on something specific - reach out and ask. If I'm around I'm happy to give it a go, but there's also the hashtag ALT4Me which will summon a figurative army to help you out 😁
@Sammi
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Edge
mastodon - Link to source
Edge
• •

What a great post, so helpful and encouraging.

I have a deaf/blind follower who mentioned my alt/text to me early on and I've tried to make a point of it ever since.

Describing colors is important, and all the things that make photos interesting. I figure if people don't want to read the whole thing, no one has to!

But I also try to make it funny, if I can, like dog_rates always does, so there's a point to reading it for everyone. I'm sure I rarely succeed. πŸ˜€

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Star12Mt
mastodon - Link to source
Star12Mt
• •
this is the first thing I read right after I went back in and edited my ALTtext for the second time because I didn't think it was detailed enough. Just need to keep trying. Thank you for posting this!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Matt Palmer
mastodon - Link to source
Matt Palmer
• •
That's fantastic. Alt tags have been around since I started coding for the web 30 years ago and yet for some reason it's taken this generation of social media to integrate them fully. I'm so glad you can join us fully!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

KB Sez
mastodon - Link to source
KB Sez
• •
Thank you for posting this and reminding me it's worth my time to add Alt Text to my photos and dump posts.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Pino Carafa
mastodon - Link to source
Pino Carafa
• •
I always try to add Alt Text ... and I just discovered that on Pixelfed you can switch on a setting that forces you to add Alt Text. Great idea so I've turned it on on my Pixelfed account.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

CynBloggerβ„’οΈπŸ™ˆπŸ™‰πŸ™Š
mastodon - Link to source
CynBloggerβ„’οΈπŸ™ˆπŸ™‰πŸ™Š
• •
Thanks very much for the acknowledgmentβ€” it’s good to know our descriptions are helpful.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

My best life πŸŽ’
mastodon - Link to source
My best life πŸŽ’
• •
Please recommend an #altbot. If I find one, I will also use #alttext on my images.
#alttext #altbot
in reply to My best life πŸŽ’

Esther
mastodon - Link to source
Esther
• •

@schoolboy

Replace the # by a @ in #altbot@fuzzies.wtf or summon the alt4me army by using the hastag #Alt4Me.

@dandylover1

#alt4me #altbot @Georgiana Brummell @My best life πŸŽ’
in reply to Esther

My best life πŸŽ’
mastodon - Link to source
My best life πŸŽ’
• •
@src_esther
So it's inconvenient, he leaves a comment under the post. I need to copy it and edit the post.
@Esther
in reply to My best life πŸŽ’

Esther
mastodon - Link to source
Esther
• •

@schoolboy

Inconvenient? ...
Well, actually, check this answer from Georgiana:
friendica.world/display/84b6ef…

@dandylover1

Georgiana Brummell

2025-01-25 16:50:18

friendica - Link to source

@Xanathon That would be truly wonderful! But honestly, even just using AltBot normally is fine, since the descriptions usually appear as a post right after the original.

@Georgiana Brummell @My best life πŸŽ’
in reply to Esther

My best life πŸŽ’
mastodon - Link to source
My best life πŸŽ’
• •
@ConnyDuck
So what? She says it would be nice Alt text in the photo, but if this is difficult, then alt text in the form of a post from an altbot is enough. This proves my point about inconvenience. It would be convenient if the image was recognized and the text was inserted at the stage of writing the post!
I have already raised this issue with the developer of Tusky. I love this app and hope the developer will implement this feature.
@Conny Duck
This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Christen Lofland
mastodon - Link to source
Christen Lofland
• •
THANK YOU for this! I struggle to create alt text and it feels like it is a waste of time as nobody actually reads it. I will now keep your post and use it to motivate myself to create alt texts and enjoy knowing it matters rather than feel like it is pointless.
in reply to Christen Lofland

DB Schwein
mastodon - Link to source
DB Schwein
• •
@EkpyroticFrood
I read every Alt Text, despite not using a screen reader. I think you might find that quite a few people do!
@Christen Lofland
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Xanathon
iceshrimp - Link to source
Xanathon
• •
Is it enough to have the Altbot text as a comment to my post or would it be better for you and others if I transfer the Altbot description to the image alt text?
in reply to Xanathon

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Xanathon That would be truly wonderful! But honestly, even just using AltBot normally is fine, since the descriptions usually appear as a post right after the original.
@Xanathon
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Xanathon
iceshrimp - Link to source
Xanathon
• •
Thanks for the information. So far I used ChatGPT manually for descriptions of my scifi and fantasy renders because Google's LLM was very lacking. I will keep that up, but for photographies or simpler images I will use Altbot. That was a very valuable hint, thanks again!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Matt Payne
mastodon - Link to source
Matt Payne
• •
good to hear this perspective, because adding them does create a lot of extra work so it’s nice to hear it’s actually of value!
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Kira, in convalescence πŸŒ™
mastodon - Link to source
Kira, in convalescence πŸŒ™
• •
Thank you for saying so! I've been wondering all this time, "are there any real people out there who actually see this alt-text?" I'm so glad there are. πŸ˜€
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

josh susser
mastodon - Link to source
josh susser
• •
As a sighted person who posts pics, I find I enjoy writing alt-text descriptions, so I don't mind it or think of it as a burden. I often find something new to appreciate in the picture as I think about how to describe it, and it feels nice to be doing something intentionally inclusive as well. I hope you don't think we're all begrudgingly doing something we hate, because some of us embrace it and are glad to do it.
in reply to josh susser

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@josh susser Oh, no. Definitely not, and that's really the point. It's wonderful to see people who care so deeply about inclusivity. Your own experience makes it even more meaningful, since both sides are benefiting. All of this is a lovely change from what I see elsewhere.
@josh susser
in reply to josh susser

Carolyn
mastodon - Link to source
Carolyn
• •
@joshsusser I haven't posted some images because it does take time and sometimes photos are difficult to explain, but I won't post images without it because it seems disrespectful on this platform without it and I don't boost images without it. So enjoying writing it or not, it's respecting a space that was here before the mass exoduses from other places.
@josh susser
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Nat Oleander
mastodon - Link to source
Nat Oleander
• •
I'm so glad it's helpful! It's such an important skill for us to practice, too. It is so heartening to see not just the accessibility itself, but the solidarityβ€”many people won't share a post that lacks alt text. That helps keep it front & center as an expectation rather than a bonus.
in reply to Nat Oleander

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Nat Oleander When I first saw that, it warmed my heart. When I saw how many people refused to boost images without alt text, it utterly amazed me.
@Nat Oleander
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Nat Oleander
mastodon - Link to source
Nat Oleander
• •
yes! The ethos here is make it accessible or don’t bother posting, rather than make it accessible if you have the time, inclination, and energy.
in reply to Nat Oleander

Nat Oleander
mastodon - Link to source
Nat Oleander
• •
I love the reminders too, because I have ADHD and I often forget. But the app makes me go back and fix it!
in reply to Nat Oleander

Jupiter Rowland
hubzilla - Link to source
Jupiter Rowland
• •
#alttext #long #imagedescriptions #CWLongPost #LongPost #CWLong #CWImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescription #CWAltTextMeta #AltTextMeta @Nat Oleander
in reply to Jupiter Rowland

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Jupiter Rowland @Nat Oleander I'm a bit confused. If you write long descriptions, why wouldn't that help to make your images accessible? Alt text doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to give us an idea of what is in the image. It's certainly wonderful when more details are given, but even having an idea of what is going on is better than nothing.
@Jupiter Rowland @Nat Oleander
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Jupiter Rowland
hubzilla - Link to source
Jupiter Rowland
• •
#alttext #metaverse #long #imagedescriptions #CWLongPost #LongPost #CWLong #VirtualWorlds #CWImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescription #CWAltTextMeta #AltTextMeta @Georgiana Brummell @Nat Oleander
in reply to Jupiter Rowland

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Jupiter Rowland @Nat Oleander Oh my goodness! Now I see what you mean. Even as a lover of nineteenth-century writing and proper English, that's long, especially for alt text!
@Jupiter Rowland @Nat Oleander
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Ponder Stibbons πŸ‡§πŸ‡·πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ
mastodon - Link to source
Ponder Stibbons πŸ‡§πŸ‡·πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ
• •
Thank you for the encourageing words. I am one of those people who always think that the descriptions are somehow not good enough and end up overthinking it...
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Robert Logger πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
mastodon - Link to source
Robert Logger πŸ‡³πŸ‡±
• •
If I post photos, the alt-text is already in the text-area instead of the picture itself.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Artemisia Vulgaris
mastodon - Link to source
Artemisia Vulgaris
• •
Thank you for saying this.
I had never written alt text before joining the fediverse, but I’ve come to appreciate the opportunity it gives me to think about why I posted the image and what’s worth knowing about it. I still do worry, but I feel more relaxed thanks to your post.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Erik van Straten
mastodon - Link to source
Erik van Straten
• •

: thank you!

I often spend more time writing alt text than the text in the toot itself - not just to keep the toot itself as short as possible.

Writing alt text, even if using energy, is useful for myself as well. In particular in the case of photo's, it makes me look better. Often I notice details that I missed before.

What I like about Mastodon is the enormous variety in people, from all over the world, one can meet here and discuss with. Even if I'm not an "easy person", it enriches my life.

Thank you again, and my pleasure!

#Blind #AltText #PleaseAddAltText

#alttext #blind #pleaseaddalttext
in reply to Erik van Straten

Jupiter Rowland
hubzilla - Link to source
Jupiter Rowland
• •
#alttext #FediMeta #long #imagedescriptions #CWFediverseMeta #FediverseMeta #CWFediMeta #CWLongPost #LongPost #CWLong #CWImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescription #CWAltTextMeta #AltTextMeta @Erik van Straten
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

LukΓ‘Ε‘ Tyrychtr
gotosocial - Link to source
LukΓ‘Ε‘ Tyrychtr
• •
@modulux Also, thanks for the simple fact, that every Fediverse server has a publicly full-featured API, so it is possible to write a client which you want to use, and you do not have to use what some corporation gives you, on platforms of its choosing. Also, thank you again for the image descriptions, they're really appreciated.
@modulux
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Chris Walter
mastodon - Link to source
Chris Walter
• •
Thanks for this post. I’m a person who always try to add descriptions, reallly wonder if I am doing it right, and have always wondered if anyone ever looked at them.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

publius
mastodon - Link to source
publius
• •

A while back, I built an exhibit I thought people would find interesting.

The first place I took it, I was thanked for having an exhibit which was accessible for the visually-impaired (I'm not certain about totally blind). I hadn't even thought of it that way!

You can read my write-up here. Unfortunately, the "caption" property on the images kind of conflicts with the "alt text" property, and I don't know which one you'll get.

publius.ntfn.org/denwa/taxofon…

New Uses for Old Payphones

publius.ntfn.org
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Nate Allen
mastodon - Link to source
Nate Allen
• •
I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds themselves paying more attention to their alt text than the actual post or image, both because it just seems right but also because it's kind of fun to put a little lighthearted humor. If a picture is a thousand words then the inverse must also be true.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

indi πŸͺ‘
hometown - Link to source
indi πŸͺ‘
• •
I'm so glad to hear this! I put alt text on my photos and I try to get the important bits without overthinking it. I say what a thing is, list the colors it's in if that's important, explain the composition if that's important - all those old photo classes discussing images help with doing this, I've found.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Bass #AlleBurgers #EcoHumanist
mastodon - Link to source
Bass #AlleBurgers #EcoHumanist
• •

How do I make posts more accessible to blind people on Mastodon and the Fediverse?
fedi.tips/how-do-i-make-posts-…

h/t @FediTips

If there’s no #Alt4Me tag on the undescribed image, it’s still worth being polite as no one wants bad feelings generated around the topic of descriptions. You might want to just reply with a description and #Alt4You tag, and if they’re abled they will hopefully get the message that descriptions are preferred.

#Alt4Me #Alt4You


How do I make posts more accessible to blind people on Mastodon and the Fediverse? | Fedi.Tips – An Unofficial Guide to Mastodon and the Fediverse

An unofficial guide to using Mastodon and the Fediverse
fedi.tips
#ALT4you #alt4me @Fedi.Tips
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

J. Cliff Dyer
mastodon - Link to source
J. Cliff Dyer
• •

A friendly suggestion to all the people who follow me here: put alt text on your images. It makes a difference!

@glyph

@Glyph
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Of Bookish Things
mastodon - Link to source
Of Bookish Things
• •
I struggle with mine, that are not photos. The asemic art collage compositions I create can be very chaotic. Asemic writing & deconstructed text removes meaning, leaving the codes and conventions of writing and text. A combination of various colours, textures, irregular shapes and lines is an accurate over all description, but the devilishness is in the details.
Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail. I've tried using the Alt-for-me tag, but nobody responded.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Frank Hightower
mastodon - Link to source
Frank Hightower
• •
i'm honestly very insecure about how well I comply with this, so I'll say both "you're welcome" and "I'm sorry"
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Brandon W
mastodon - Link to source
Brandon W
• •

If you don't mind my asking - as a comic artist, I usually post full comic pages. There isn't enough alt text room to fully transcribe the page, so usually l will write something like "Page X of the comic Love and Hex. Full transcript: (link to an external page with both the comic image and a complete transcript)" followed by a broader description of what's going on without much detail.

Does that sort of thing suffice, or is there a preferred approach?

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

AJ Dunevent
firefish - Link to source
AJ Dunevent
• •
I appreciate you saying so. I am someone who often worries about the insufficiency of my image descriptions.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Fedi.Tips
mastodon - Link to source
Fedi.Tips
• •
Thank you for taking the time to write this! It is very very nice to read it.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

PostcardsFromParadise
mastodon - Link to source
PostcardsFromParadise
• •

Are there things your screen reader has trouble with or that make listening more tedious?

I remember from years ago there was a sequence preference for some things. For example, with lists, I think the preference was word first, then tick box or radio button.

in reply to PostcardsFromParadise

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
Yes. That still exists and is all part of WCAG, the guidelines used to create accessible websites, documents, etc. I am still learning it, so I can't answer from a professional point of view. But from a personal one, I find emoticons, emojis, etc. to be annoying, especially when they're used consecutively. "hands clapping" twenty times, for example, or during e-mails or other important communication. I don't mind if someone includes a few in his posts. Websites with clutter, such as adds in the middle of articles, hamburger menus, strange edit boxes, and pages that try to refresh when I read them are annoying, and of course, captchas without any audio option can be not only frustrating but actual barriers. I also convert all pdfs to txt. But as far as alt text, not much causes trouble. Sometimes, having many tags in the beginning or middle of a post, instead of at the end, can be confusing, since I have no way of just scrolling passed them.

Esther reshared this.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Sarah G. Carpenter, Ph.D.
mastodon - Link to source
Sarah G. Carpenter, Ph.D.
• •
I often get tasked to write alt-text descriptions for the images accompanying SEO blogs. I've read a couple of guides with recommendations for what's most "salient" in alt-text (some of them said, "Don't lead with 'image of' & I thought "'oh ... DUH'"), but is there anything particular that you find especially helpful? Like identifying overhead view or differentiating between foreground vs. background?? Is it context-dependent?
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Pedr01gb
mastodon - Link to source
Pedr01gb
• •
may I ask a question about using the platform with a screen reader?
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

David
mastodon - Link to source
David
• •
I can't figure out how to use alt text with my app, so I try to put my description in the actual text. I hour this helps.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Jupiter Rowland
hubzilla - Link to source
Jupiter Rowland
• •
#alttext #long #imagedescriptions #CWLongPost #LongPost #CWLong #CWImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescriptionMeta #ImageDescription #CWAltTextMeta #AltTextMeta
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

zombiecide
hometown - Link to source
zombiecide
• •

Thank you.

And - everyone sighted, please, let us worry a bit about our descriptions. It's a good thing to worry about.
That is, many of our worries are about things that are completely out of our hands. Alt texts are something we can act on. We can think about what we see in a picture, what's important to us, what we want to convey, what we should describe. We can talk about it with each other, try things out, and get better at it.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Kevin Karhan
mastodon - Link to source
Kevin Karhan
• •

thanks!

I've shared this post of you because more people need to know that Alt Text and Image Descriptions are not only good but are appreciated by those that rely on them!

  • The strenght of the Fediverse is based upon it's diversity, and that must include accessibility!

After all it's easy for sighted people to dismiss it when in reality it doesn't take away anything from them if they just write a sentence or two per image.

  • Thabks for letting us know!

#AltText #ImageDescription #Accessibility #Fediverse #blind #inclusion #thanks

#fediverse #alttext #accessibility #thanks #blind #Inclusion #ImageDescription
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Zalagath
mastodon - Link to source
Zalagath
• •
I hate it when I can't edit the alt text exactly for this same reason! Every social network shoud let everyone do it! I forget from time to time because I'm always rushing to get the post done and be gone x'D and it's enfuriating
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

It's pretty, but is it art?
mastodon - Link to source
It's pretty, but is it art?
• •
I'm not always great with words, but it really gives me a real sense of fulfillment knowing that even though I don't have much in the way of money, I can still make positive contributions towards helping people! πŸ˜­πŸ’•
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lewis
mastodon - Link to source
Lewis
• •

I do my best with this. It's extra writing, and I love the sound of my own voice even in text, so I actually find it fun and not a chore.

Still, Fedi really taught me how important it is and how to do it well, and I'm thankful for that. I've been on the periphery of web dev since before it was called "web dev" so I knew what alt text was. But I'll confess to never doing it particularly well before I came here.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Cambionn
mastodon - Link to source
Cambionn
• •
You know what? This is a nice post. I never thought much about this. #Fedilab gives me a big yellow warning when there's no #alttext so I just fill it in. But as someone who's only worry is overstimulation it rarely really crosses my mind. This is a good reminder that it dΓ³Γ©s matter, and reading it makes me happy I fill it in.
#alttext #fedilab
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

korakophilos πŸ……//TelephoneJax
mastodon - Link to source
korakophilos πŸ……//TelephoneJax
• •
BlueSky has an option in the settings that forces you to add alt-text before posting an image or video. If people still aren't adding alt text, that is definitely a choice they are making, and it's not a good choice IMHO.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Carla Houston
mastodon - Link to source
Carla Houston
• •
Looking to advance your career? πŸš€ Discover amazing opportunities at Amazon, Pepsi, and FedEx! From cutting-edge innovation to leadership and logistics, these top companies are ready to support your growth. Begin your journey to success today! 🌟 #CareerOpportunities #AmazonJobs #PepsiCareers #FedExJobs
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Sign in - Google Accounts

sites.google.com
#CareerOpportunities #amazonjobs #pepsicareers #fedexjobs
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Em
mastodon - Link to source
Em
• •
I appreciate you saying this. Is there a list of alttext generators that most people here use? I am trying to use them as much as possible. I will definitely look up altbot.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Lyn
mastodon - Link to source
Lyn
• •

@LittleRedhead

Will do as soon and as good as I can. I promise. Sorry for ignoring this until now πŸ₯Ή

@Charlie
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί
mastodon - Link to source
James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί
• •
This is wonderful! Please may I ask - I was just adding some alt text to an image and wondered if there's a convention when the text on the post adequately describes the image or I struggle to describe it again without repetition, is alt text still needed/is it annoying listening to it again, or do you always prefer alt text? Thanks!
in reply to James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί No. if you describe it, then the alt text really shouldn't be needed. The whole purpose of the alt text is to describe the image, so if that's what you're doing, you don't need to do it twice. However, there may be an exception. Let's say that you have a picture, and "grandma's delicious cake" is written on the picture. Since it's inside the image, a screen reader most likely wouldn't be able to read that without some other extraction/ocr tool. So in that case, you could write the text. Whether you choose to add details "the cake is in a pan, sitting on a large table", is up to you.
@James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί
in reply to James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί I actually just saw something very interesting, directly related to our conversation! Someone posted an image with two descriptions. It seemed that he wrote one and then something like Altbot wrote the other. It was fascinating, because while they were describing the same thing, the second was more detailed. Yet either one could have worked and provided the same information. That said, here, the focus was on the image. It wasn't just there in the background with text, so while the double description wasn't technically necessary, it worked.
@James πŸ¦‰ #FBPE πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Ί
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Stephen
mastodon - Link to source
Stephen
• •
I'm curious about your browsing setup, do you mind if I ask about it? (I've gone back and added alt text to any images I've posted to try and be worthy)
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Gary Brazzell
mastodon - Link to source
Gary Brazzell
• •
Georgiana, do you find alt tags to be better on Mastodon than other social platforms? What about accessibility in general?
in reply to Gary Brazzell

Georgiana Brummell
friendica (DFRN) - Link to source
Georgiana Brummell
•
@Gary Brazzell The only other social platforms I've used are Facebook and Dreamwidth. On Facebook, I've never seen alt tags at all. Dreamwidth is a journalling site, so it's really a different thing entirely. I do love the alt text here, though. I was very surprised when I first saw it, and even more so at how many people use them and even refuse to boost images without them! So it was an extremely wonderful thing to realise. As for accessibility, the Basic Mobile site (not app) of Facebook used to be very accessible. Their shutting it down is what made me come to Friendica. I mostly use it via a client called TweeseCake. I am finding various inaccessible features, or at least ones that cause a lot of a nnoyance, on the main site and intend to write to the Friendica Support group about it. Mastodon seems to be accessible from my glancing at it while reading people's profiles.
@Gary Brazzell
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

DΕΊwiedziu
mastodon - Link to source
DΕΊwiedziu
• •
This is uplifting. May there be a riddle to honor people with visual impairments who found themselves welcome within the Federation.
β€œWhom does not see, yet has thousands of eyes writing for them?”
Unknown parent

🀷🏻 Welcome Back
mastodon - Link to source
🀷🏻 Welcome Back
• •

@zy @shred
@dandylover1
When I get a message in German, the alt text is also in German (for example). It makes it easy to copy and paste into an internet translator.

I have found it helpful when the words are embedded in the picture too. Just go to the alt text and cut and paste.

I'm so happy that it helps people with vision problems.

(I had no idea German would be so important in 2025, but here we are.)

@zy πŸ‰ @Shred @Georgiana Brummell
This entry was edited (2 days ago)
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Yesterday's Rose
mastodon - Link to source
Yesterday's Rose
• •
I previously used alt tests only on my Mastodon posts (I post images here only very occasionally), but this kind of comments really convinced me that I should just bite the bullet and write alt texts for Pixelfed images from now on, too. Because that's what I *ought* to be doing.
⇧