Dedicated Image Upload Field (including alt-text and decorative settings)

This request is related to KS-Element Input Field Image for Media in Test Questions.

1 Initial Problem

It is possible to upload images without alt-texts. Sloth is a rather prevalent characteristic. 
There is no known option for autrogenerating meaningful alt-texts. 

See also:

• WCAG (level A) success criteria 1.1.1.
• European/German law:
  • BITV-Prüfschritt 9.1.1.1b: alternative texts for images.
  • BITV-Prüfschritt 9.1.1.1c: alt-attribute with decorative images.

With uploading media, ILIAS should assume that the content of the media is relevant for tutors/editors who upload the media and because of that, it is also relevant for users/learners. This means for images, that we need to ensure that all relevant information will instantly be set with the media, so there must be settings for an alternative text equivalent (or alternatively an option for setting an image as decorative). These settings must always show up whenever an image is uploaded or edited:

• Options whether an image is decorative or has indeed relevant content which requires an alternative text must always show up with the upload of an image.
• Wherever we have settings for an image, the same options for alternative text or decorative content have to be available.
• Users should never be able to leave those settings when the image is not set to decorative and at the same time has no alternative text. Either of them MUST be given for each image (either decorative or alt-text).
• The presetting should be, that the image content is relevant and therefore needs an alternative text. Editors always need to choose the option 'decorative' wilfully and on purpose.

With these settings we ensure that users are aware of them and decide thoroughly which way they want to go with each image. It makes content in all ILIAS instances consequently more accessible.

Screenshot Sample Control

MS Word Solution

2 Conceptual Summary

3 User Interface Modifications

3.1 List of Affected Views

• Page Editor > Add Media (Add Image)
• Page editor > Edit image properties

3.2 User Interface Details

Concidering similar options in other parts of ILIAS (see 1., 'screenshot sample control') all page editor functions where images or their options can be set should get an addfitional settings area e.g.:

• Image upload
• Image selection (of already uploaded media)
• Image properties (of already inserted media)
• ...?

Because alt-text settings are strictly connected with images we might need to seperate the functionalities of image uploads from other media uploads. (We need the maintainers' suggestions to find a proper way.)

3.2.1 Image upload example (mock-up)

Add a section 'text alterative' to each add-image-function, see for example the following mock-ups for the image upload.

3.2.2 Image properties example (mock-up)

Add a section 'text alterative' to the options settings of each image.

3.3 New User Interface Concepts

none

4 Technical Information

{The maintainer has to provide necessary technical information, e.g. dependencies on other ILIAS components, necessary modifications in general services/architecture, potential security or performance issues.}

5 Contact

• Author of the Request: Tödt, Alexandra [atoedt]
• Maintainer: Killing, Alexander [alex]
• Implementation of the feature is done by: {The maintainer must add the name of the implementing developer.}

6 Funding

If you are interest in funding this feature, please add your name and institution to this list.

• ILIAS.nrw

7 Discussion

Schmidt-Sielex, Wolfgang [WSS], 2023-07-21: After discussing this in a sub-group of the SIG accessibility I changed the content of '3.2 User interface details' and added a new suggestion for handling alt-texts when uploading images. Our present recommendation is to give users the freedom to choose between alt-texts or decorative-settings (with no alt-text) - similar to office software and with techniques already established in ILIAS.

Tödt, Alexandra [atoedt]: The FR was reworked accoring to the input of Schmidt-Sielex, Wolfgang [WSS] and sub-group of the SIG accessibility.

Schmidt-Sielex, Wolfgang [WSS], 2024-01-23: The topic "Required alt-text for images in page editor" has been discussed with the UI clinic on 2023-09-12. New suggestion was, not to concentrate on the page editor alone, but to enhance the general file upload and add the desired functionality according to the automatically detected mime-type of an image file. The mime-type sensitive file upload has been discussed with Schmid, Fabian [fschmid] (maintainer) and work on this is in progress.

Killing, Alexander [alex], 29 Apr 2024: Just to clarify: The use case presented here (editor media object creation) still would need the solution of a mime-type sensitive file upload as mentioned in a previoud comment. The editor does not only allow to upload images, but audio and video files as well. We would not like to split the creation dialog into "Upload Images" and "Upload other Media" or something similar.

8 Implementation

{The maintainer has to give a description of the final implementation and add screenshots if possible.}

Test Cases

Test cases completed at {date} by {user}

• {Test case number linked to Testrail} : {test case title}

Approval

Approved at {date} by {user}.