Jithin Puleeserry Mathew
Hidegram/AltView - For Exploring Alt Text Practices and Awareness on Social Platforms
The project "Design for Change: Exploring Alt Text Practices and Awareness on Social Platforms" delves into the critical examination of alternative text (ALT-TEXT) authoring practices on social media, with a focus on raising awareness and fostering collective efforts to enhance inclusivity and accessibility. Social media platforms have increasingly embraced technological advancements, such as AI-generated ALT-TEXT, to make visual content accessible to visually impaired users. However, significant questions arise about the accuracy and effectiveness of these automated descriptions. This research critically evaluates whether AI can truly capture the context, nuance, and meaning of images in the same way that human-generated ALT-TEXT can.
To deepen this exploration, the project introduces two innovative browser extensions—HideGram and AltView—designed which serves as a thought catalyst to immerse users in the experience of navigating social media without the aid of images or videos. These extensions aim to simulate the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, offering users a chance to step into their shoes and gain firsthand insight into the pain points associated with inaccessible visual content. By removing images and videos, HideGram encourages users to think and reflect on their social media behaviors and consider the importance of ALT-TEXT in creating an inclusive online environment.
AltView, specifically, serves as a powerful tool to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of AI-generated image descriptions. By comparing AI-generated ALT-TEXT with human-generated descriptions, users can experience the difference in quality, detail, and context. This comparison highlights the potential shortcomings of AI in fully conveying the intended message and emotional depth of visual content. Ultimately, these plugins function as impactful messengers, prompting users to recognize the vital role that human insight plays in crafting meaningful and effective ALT-TEXT, and challenging them to rethink how they engage with social media in the context of accessibility and inclusivity.
