Also, please, please, please turn on alt text as a default in accessibility settings to demonstrate inclusive posting. We have had a terrible time getting people to make their images accessible to low visibility and disabled users.
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I love this! I am brand new and missed the alt text for the first image I posted. Is there an option to edit the alt text on a previously posted image?
I remember seeing a post by @knilirabaj.bsky.social in spring of ‘23 right after joining about using alt text, and I had a lightbulb turn on. I had been seeing the alt on images all over various sites and had been wondering for a long time. Link’s post was the reason I started using alt.
Why is this not solved with an AI integration? The image recognition technology is already easily capable of describing any image with text instantly. There's a lot of bluster in the AI world, but this seems like a quick, easy and high-value use case.
When you post an image or video or screenshot of text, there's a little box in the corner that says ALT. You can then type in a description of that image/video/text. It's for people who are visually impaired or use readers.
I think what will help me a lot is taking the time to go into settings and get a lot of macros set up for miniatures. Painting, ink, etc. getting a default text block started will go a long way to helping me add alt more.
Funny, I included alt text just now in my first post on the @bsky.app and said to myself, "do that always". Question though, is it not already on by default? Seemed to be for me.
This, which @catsofyore.bsky.social shares often, is super useful to show HOW to write alt text. The idea is to capture in simple words what someone with visual impairments isn't able to see but can hear via a screen reader.
It's also useful because not all context can be captured in an image. I might not recognise what movie a still is from so I click on alt text and learn from that.
Just the "banner pic" and "profile pic" info - so if someone comes across my posts while scrolling, their screen reader will not only tell them what I say about myself but give them a "vibe" based on my banner and profile pics.
It's been useful for me to think about how much information I am able to absorb because I can see pictures (and how much I would miss out on if I removed my glasses and tried to navigate social media with extremely poor vision).
Does having it turned on make AI write it automatically? If not, whats the easiest way to have AI write it? Asking because I stink at describing things and it would be a lot easier to do consistently with AI help
Check to see if there's a Settings to your left (presumably). You might have another layout. Clicking that will show Accessibility. Click that and you'll see the requirement.
I’ve had it on for a while not, maybe since the very first day I made my account. I’m glad it’s an option, everyone deserves to feel included in seeing silly cat pictures or gifs.
You don't need to (in fact, shouldn't) note every detail, but you should give enough information that a person who is unable to see your image — or for whom it isn't loading — can understand what you are trying to say with it.
Like a lot of accessibility tools, if it's not something you've felt you needed for yourself it can be easy to overlook, so no shame here — but it's a necessary part of making a more accessible and inclusive culture and making this place better than what we had before.
Basically if you add alt text to images it makes it possible for screen-readers to describe the image for visually impaired users.
I sometimes do but my priority is to scout this place & maybe resume my self-imposed Role of Drill Sergeant of Online Liberal-Left, try get them making better arguments.
May I ask how we go about getting ppl to NOT put auto subtitles in their videos? I can NOT watch anything with them in it due to my disabilities. That is why I have them turned OFF in every app, TV & computer.
Ironically, between interpreting the intent and context of the image creator, the image, and the author of the post, posting "alt text is a good job for a bot" is the job most likely to be done well by a bot.
I take GREAT joy in correcting the alt text to be accurate. If it’s an anime I use name if character and show and what’s happening in the gif. So many put stuff that hardly matches the picture. Anything folks need in there better? I want to be thorough.
I got used to more or less automatically using alt text when posting images on Mastodon, so on an image-in-reply here today, it was second nature. But I have turned on that setting.
I need to get better at doing this. There are a few accounts like sardonicus, who give their photos elaborate and mind-bending descriptions and just reading the descriptions alone, as a visually abled person, is one of the best things ever.
It's pretty easy to do using Google Lens on Android as well.
But shortcuts on iOS are the real winner for me. They can extract text from multiple images at one go and chop it into 2000-character segments where necessary.
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He will also occasionally post gross videos of people popping zits. Just as a warning.
(OH GOD I'M JOKING PLEASE DON'T PUT ME ON BLOCKLISTS I'M STARTING FROM SCRATCH ALL OVER AGAIN.)
And there's a warning on the write-in screen not to write in a candidate listed above (write-in is the last choice for a race)
The one you have circled won't let you post without adding alt text and it's wonderful for building that habit.
Just reply to a post with @alt-text.bsky.social
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It turns the “job” of accommodation into a vector of extending the post meaning.
And, I see that gifs on Bluesky, come with auto captioning! 👍🏻
Where?
How?
Please.
I can only see how to edit my profile.
- Boomer 😀✌️
#BlueSkyTexties - nominate a skeet for good alt text (can be yours) and the poster of the winning skeet will win an audio book of their choice.
https://bsky.app/profile/pixelfish.bsky.social/post/3lapgmrc3s22o - nomination thread.
You don't need to (in fact, shouldn't) note every detail, but you should give enough information that a person who is unable to see your image — or for whom it isn't loading — can understand what you are trying to say with it.
I sometimes do but my priority is to scout this place & maybe resume my self-imposed Role of Drill Sergeant of Online Liberal-Left, try get them making better arguments.
From the movie Shrek
Sorry, boomer here🤷♀️🤓
I haven't seen it but there really ought to be a file format by now
But shortcuts on iOS are the real winner for me. They can extract text from multiple images at one go and chop it into 2000-character segments where necessary.