Week 2: Alt Text for Maps
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 10:23 am
Thank you for your feedback!
Questions about alt text for maps:
Question 1. What advice do you have for creating alt text for maps?
Question 2. Is it best to describe every possible detail or aim for less detail and more clarity?
Question 3. Map A uses different types of lines (dotted, solid, etc.) to depict the four different voyages. Is it best to describe these types of lines or to leave them out as done below?
Question 4. If a map depicts a more “well-known” area of land such as the United States as depicted in Map B, is okay to assume prior knowledge, or would you suggest against this?
Question 5. What do you think of the map descriptions provided below?
Question 6. Both these maps appear at the beginning of books to provide a reference document for the reader. Do you suggest flagging them/creating individual Headings for them, with this in mind?
Question 7. Do you have any other feedback or suggestions?
Map A alt text: A map depicting the area between Siberia and Big Land (Alaska): The Bering Strait and the Bering Sea. The map shows major voyages through these ocean waters. The Bering and Chrikov voyage (1728) began in Cape Kronotski, off the east coast of the Kamchatka peninsula, voyaging north alongside the east coast of mainland Siberia, past the Chukchi peninsula up through the Bering Strait. After reaching the Icy Sea (Arctic Ocean), voyagers then circled back south through the Bering Strait, traveling between Cape Chukchi and St. Laurwence Island, eventually ending their voyage where it began in Cape Kronotski. The St. Peter-Bering's route (1741) began in Petropavlovsk, eastern Kamchatka, and traveled east and south of the Aleutians. Voyagers then travelled north to Kayak Island in Big Land (Alaska) before circling back south west along the Alaska Peninsula, visiting Kodiak Island, Chrikov Island, Semidi Island, Shumagin Island and the Aleutians respectively before traveling north through waters near Semichi Island, ending the voyage on Bering Island. The Return of Bering's companions (1742) route depicts a relatively short trip from Bering Island back to Petropavlovsk. The final route that is shown on the map, the St.Paul - Chirikov's route (1741) travels south east under the Aleutian Islands from Petropavlovsk and visits the Alexander Archipelago at the eastern side of the Gulf of Alaska. Voyagers then circled back northeast up the Gulf of Alaska, following a similar return voyage as the St. Peter-Bering's route, except more direct (not visiting as many islands). Finally, the voyagers pass by the Atka, Adak, and Agattu Aleutian Islands before ending their voyage back in Petropavlovsk. Other points of note on the map include Bolsheretsk on the west side of the Kamchatka peninsula and Cape Lopatka at the southern point.
Map B alt text (fictional map): Two maps. The top map depicts The United States, circa 2075. The map shows the South Carolina Quarantine Zone (in modern day Florida) directly to the east of the larger Free Southern State (where Atlanta is). West of this is the Battles of East Texas area. The Mexican Protectorate lines the south western area of the map (including modern day California). The border between Canada and the U.S. remains pretty much the same as modern day. The bottom map depicts a closer view of the Free Southern State, circa 2075, taking up the south east corner of modern day U.S. The map depicts the Chestnut Family Home directly to the east coast of the state. Within the state, the capital is Atlanta in the central northeast, Camp Patience lines the border in the north west of the state. The Halfway Branch Forward Operating Base lines the northeast border. Slightly southwest of Atlanta is the Albert Gaines' Cabin; directly southwest is Lake Sinclair. East of this is August Docks, and north of this is Charity House 027. In the northeast, the South Carolina Quarantine Zone lies, and on an island to the south of the state is the Sugarloaf Detention Facility.
Questions about alt text for maps:
Question 1. What advice do you have for creating alt text for maps?
Question 2. Is it best to describe every possible detail or aim for less detail and more clarity?
Question 3. Map A uses different types of lines (dotted, solid, etc.) to depict the four different voyages. Is it best to describe these types of lines or to leave them out as done below?
Question 4. If a map depicts a more “well-known” area of land such as the United States as depicted in Map B, is okay to assume prior knowledge, or would you suggest against this?
Question 5. What do you think of the map descriptions provided below?
Question 6. Both these maps appear at the beginning of books to provide a reference document for the reader. Do you suggest flagging them/creating individual Headings for them, with this in mind?
Question 7. Do you have any other feedback or suggestions?
Map A alt text: A map depicting the area between Siberia and Big Land (Alaska): The Bering Strait and the Bering Sea. The map shows major voyages through these ocean waters. The Bering and Chrikov voyage (1728) began in Cape Kronotski, off the east coast of the Kamchatka peninsula, voyaging north alongside the east coast of mainland Siberia, past the Chukchi peninsula up through the Bering Strait. After reaching the Icy Sea (Arctic Ocean), voyagers then circled back south through the Bering Strait, traveling between Cape Chukchi and St. Laurwence Island, eventually ending their voyage where it began in Cape Kronotski. The St. Peter-Bering's route (1741) began in Petropavlovsk, eastern Kamchatka, and traveled east and south of the Aleutians. Voyagers then travelled north to Kayak Island in Big Land (Alaska) before circling back south west along the Alaska Peninsula, visiting Kodiak Island, Chrikov Island, Semidi Island, Shumagin Island and the Aleutians respectively before traveling north through waters near Semichi Island, ending the voyage on Bering Island. The Return of Bering's companions (1742) route depicts a relatively short trip from Bering Island back to Petropavlovsk. The final route that is shown on the map, the St.Paul - Chirikov's route (1741) travels south east under the Aleutian Islands from Petropavlovsk and visits the Alexander Archipelago at the eastern side of the Gulf of Alaska. Voyagers then circled back northeast up the Gulf of Alaska, following a similar return voyage as the St. Peter-Bering's route, except more direct (not visiting as many islands). Finally, the voyagers pass by the Atka, Adak, and Agattu Aleutian Islands before ending their voyage back in Petropavlovsk. Other points of note on the map include Bolsheretsk on the west side of the Kamchatka peninsula and Cape Lopatka at the southern point.
Map B alt text (fictional map): Two maps. The top map depicts The United States, circa 2075. The map shows the South Carolina Quarantine Zone (in modern day Florida) directly to the east of the larger Free Southern State (where Atlanta is). West of this is the Battles of East Texas area. The Mexican Protectorate lines the south western area of the map (including modern day California). The border between Canada and the U.S. remains pretty much the same as modern day. The bottom map depicts a closer view of the Free Southern State, circa 2075, taking up the south east corner of modern day U.S. The map depicts the Chestnut Family Home directly to the east coast of the state. Within the state, the capital is Atlanta in the central northeast, Camp Patience lines the border in the north west of the state. The Halfway Branch Forward Operating Base lines the northeast border. Slightly southwest of Atlanta is the Albert Gaines' Cabin; directly southwest is Lake Sinclair. East of this is August Docks, and north of this is Charity House 027. In the northeast, the South Carolina Quarantine Zone lies, and on an island to the south of the state is the Sugarloaf Detention Facility.