Introducing, immersive alt text. What is it? It’s alt text—written with gusto. Or, IMO—it’s just alt text, but done right.
Of course that intro block is an over simplification. But the general thesis I’m suggesting here, is that we should include mood and feeling alongside important visual characteristics when writing alt text. It’s the sum of the whole image that makes us interpret it a certain way, so why be skimpy on details for someone who has a visual impairment? Makes no sense to me and feels like a disservice.
Putting someone in the shoes of someone else in a different place and time that simulates its real or fictional environment, is an immersive experience.
When we write alt text a certain way, we can achieve that (see example later).
We explain the essence, meaning, context, yes of course (that’s alt text authoring 101). But with this approach / philosophy, we go a few steps further. We tell a story too. Every image has a story and an opportunity to be brought "to life".
The first most rudimentary step is what? Just write the bloody damn alt text following that theory! And, assign it to the alt attribute (easy).
But I don’t think we should stop there. Assigning good qualitative alt text directly to the image, is great for someone using a screen reader, and search engine bots, but where does that leave everyone else? The layman, who are just wondering what in the name is the story behind that image?
When we write exemplary alt text but stop at assigning it to the image’s alt attribute (notably when we’re including mood and narrative info), we’re now turning a problem upside down. We’re delivering more for some and less for others (roles reversed this time). Why not, expose that information, .. for all? That’s how we get from accessible—to inclusive.
Expose your alt text via an explicit "lever" (lever as in button).
You can even go one step further and find someone with a radio voice to read that alt text with enthusiasm, then top it off with some fitting background music and maybe even sound effects.
An audio alt text version, that’s immersive (or not). And yes, you would expose that via a UI button too.
Here’s how all that could look and sound. Ignore the subpar at best voice recording quality. The goal with this post is just to explain the general concept of what I’m calling "immersive alt text". What it could be, what it sounds like, and one option for how it’s presented in the UI.
This is a very viable solution people! And guess what? It’s fun stuff. You learn about your images, on more intimate levels, and you get to share that knowledge with a broader audience.
Alt text shouldn’t be boring. And alt text doesn’t have to stop at alt text being assigned to an image’s alt attribute for the purpose of serving someone who is blind and can’t see the image. Writing good alt text presents you with an opportunity to describe your images—with gusto.
See working example proof of concept below. I hope you too see what value this can have, and to see others apply a version of this, to their project(s).
Note: In the example below, I have two call to action buttons that link to the same audio file. In theory, the first could be a separate audio file that is a standalone narrated voice without the background music, or sound effects. So long as the alt text is inclusive of some details like mood, atmosphere, etc—a single narrated audio track is also immersive. It lets us imagine being there, and how it might feel, with just the right amount of accuracy.
Image Alt Text
Two sisters aged 4 and 6 dressed for Halloween as Star Wars’ Princess Leah and Grogu (also commonly mistaken as ‘baby Yoda’). They’re carrying light up toy lightsabers and candy bags. They’re exiting the front door of their house, surrounded by Halloween decorations (orange pumpkin storm trooper carved, purple and orange lights wrapped around a pole, heart eyed half smiling face jack o’ lantern). In and around the Halloween decorations are also gourds, and fallen leaves (brown, auburn, red-burgundy, orange). It’s dawn, the night is crisp, they’re wearing bright pink-fuchsia mittens, winter boots, and warm winter-like garments. One wears an aqua-cyan jacket over her costume, the other wears her jacket under a sand coloured gown, puffing her up like a squishy marshmallow. The front door behind them is wide open, likely because they exited the house excited and unaware of it. The house inside is glowing with warm orange yellow lights giving off an “it’s cold outside warm inside” feeling. One might imagine or suspect bats flying above—Halloween, is in the air.
Listen to this image being described
Play a recorded human voice dictating this image’s alt text—throw in some background mood music too
Background music credit: Haunted by Lenny B & Erwin Do (Album > A Lofi Chill Halloween - Vol. III).