18 July 2007
A new computer game called Phetch has been launched that collects explanatory text descriptions for images found on the web whilst users play and enjoy interacting with it. It takes any image found and outputs correct annotations for that image, helping to improve web accessibility.
It is hoped that the new game will help bring down the barriers to disabled users, whose internet usage grows at twice the rate of the non-disabled. Also, whilst providing entertainment Phetch assigns correct alternative text to hundreds of thousands of images on the web that are otherwise left inaccessible.
Images on the web present major accessibility issues for the visually impaired because less than 25% of them have an alternative text caption, describing the image details. Those using an assistive technology such as screen readers, convert the text of a web page into synthesized speech but screen readers cannot read the contents of images that are missing descriptive captions.
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