Aurally Delivering Sizes

Abstract

Do text to speech browsers use the title attributes in <abbr> tags when reading out? Only with some careful manipulation.

Example

The size of the box was 15 in × 12 in across the top.

Code Used

  1. <p>The size of the box was 15 <abbr title="inches">in</abbr><abbr title="by">&times;</abbr> 12 <abbr title="inches">in</abbr> across the top.</p>
  1. @media aural,speech,screen {
  2. abbr:before { content:attr(title); }
  3. }
  4. @media aural,speech {
  5. abbr { speak: none; }
  6. abbr:before { speak: normal; }
  7. }
  8. @media screen {
  9. abbr:before { display: none; }
  10. }

Conclusion

With careful tweaking of the CSS using the @media attribute, Opera and other TTS browsers can be made to display one thing and use another for aural delivery.

This solution was taken from Alan J. Flavell ’s site [link removed]. Give that man a medal.

Update 2007-05-12: I'm obviously a little behind the times, as sadly Alan passed away in December. My little contact with him showed he was a good man with sound knowledge and advice. A project is under way to put his pages back together.

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