Providing descriptive captions for images part 2

Posted on : November 29th 2022

In the first section of this blog, we discussed why image descriptions are crucial and why it is essential to get them right. The potential use of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to generate image descriptions was also explored. In this section, we will discuss about the concrete steps you can take to ensure everyone has equal access to images.

Practical solutions to make images accessible to everyone

Scholarly publications are increasingly incorporating alternative text (alt text) for images into their high-quality content. All parties involved in the creation, production, and dissemination of information have a responsibility to ensure that all readers have equal access to the images they find in scholarly papers.

Workflows are being modified by content and service providers to enhance image metadata and meet accessibility standards. Accessible images provide all users with a better experience in addition to leveling the playing field for readers with disabilities. These improvements range from better search and quicker navigation to richer audio experiences for those using text-to-speech assistive technologies.

The majority of the fundamental standards governing digital content markup outline what is expected of fully accessible publications, including picture files and in-line graphics. The following are included on the must-know standards checklist for accessible scholarly publishing:

• EPUB, as of version 3.3, enables the sharing of ebooks in a single, accessibility-compliant container.
• The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) mandates alt text for all meaningful images.
• Accessibility metadata, such as the availability of alt text or other accessibility features (field 341 and field 532) are supported by MARC
• The IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) photo metadata standards now include embedded alt text to be used across digital initiatives.
• The Journal Article Tagging Suite (JATS) allows tagging for both long and short descriptions, in addition to unified resource identifier (URI) tags for linking to more detailed descriptions.
• The Onix Codelist 196 tags provide both short and comprehensive alt text tags for books.
• Schema.org tagging offers particular fields to specify how content is made accessible.

Transfer of content and metadata can be automated by content providers thanks to the supply-chain infrastructure made possible by these standards and schemas. The production pipeline necessitates a competent human touch, particularly from authors and editors at the beginning of the pipeline, in order to disseminate scholarly content with robust alt-text metadata.

Shared platform infrastructure offers further potential for scaling accessible publishing solutions, beginning with the front-end "face" of the content rendered to both human and machine readers to the back-end content management and distribution channels. Platform partners can help evaluate the accessibility of images and develop strategies to improve access to graphics and tables in research papers, logos and other branding assets, access or e-commerce indicators, and image collections.

Effective alt text serves accessibility and archiving needs by capturing the context and subtext that are represented by tables, images, and other visuals in scholarly papers. In spite of the fact that automated descriptions are appearing in commonly used applications like Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, reliance on human authors to provide the critical thinking, empathy, and skill necessary to develop rich, descriptive language for the visuals continues.

After implementing alt-text protocols, publishers can aggregate these resources in a centralized content repository for adaptation and distribution. Regular audits of accessible publishing practices can help to make sure that suppliers are up to date with the most recent industry standards for image metadata supported by user-friendly academic information channels.

Conclusion

Access to information is a fundamental human right. Accessible publishing is about reaching every member of your audience, developing user satisfaction, and acting as responsible custodians of the content shared. Additionally, accessible images increase the discoverability of content and provide rich assets for data-driven products and services. Even in cases where library discovery services or other institutional channels may not yet be able to use image metadata, many accessibility criteria are reflected in industry-accepted best practices for conventional search engine optimization. Platform providers are more likely to update their systems to support image alt text if there is greater availability of alt text.

Alt text is a significant method for eliminating occupational and educational barriers. Millions of blind and visually impaired persons are prevented from participating equally in employment and education when publishers fail to accomplish this, which contradicts the goals of almost every scholarly publisher.