[uf-discuss] Putting microformats on the BBC iPlayer

[Michael Smethurst]

Hi Adam

We've had the same problems with http://bbc.co.uk/programmes. For now we've
stuck with the standard abbr design pattern but as Mr Mabbett helpfully
pointed out our use has potential accessibility issues and definite semantic
nastiness.

See here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/formats/animation

We've spoken to the bbc accessibility and semantic html working groups. The
accessibility people said there were no accessibility problems which in the
light of discussions here and elsewhere surprises me. I'm still chasing to
get a definite answer and some proper testing

The conversation is currently in the hands of the UXD cluster

I've been pushing to get full coverage testing and an update to the BBC
accessibility standards to say either:

- you may use microformats
- you may use the abbreviation design pattern

Or conversely

- you may use microformats
- you must not use the abbreviation design pattern

[And similar for rdf-a]

Would be good if you could also raise these questions with Nick Holmes and
cc Frances Berriman and me. Ta






On 4/3/08 13:26, "Adam Craven - Four Shapes" <adam.craven at fourshapes.com>
wrote:

> Hi fellers,
> 
> We're working on the next version of the BBC iPlayer and would love to
> put some microformats in there.
> 
> Below is what I've gotten so far. In this particular instance there's
> a single box (206x115) with an image attached. When hovered over,
> using JavaScript, the idea is to retrieve the last 7 days of shows for
> that particular program. I've opted to use the vevent pattern as it's
> the most widely supported currently - this is open to change in the
> future.
> 
> I have a concern though. At the moment the spec's datatime pattern is
> <abbr>. Unfortunately screen readers are going to mangle this, which
> is unacceptable naturally, so I've reverted to hiding the abbr with
> {display:none} (this will cover the majority of screen readers) and
> filled the field with with extra text, date;
> 
> <h4><abbr class="dtstart dtstamp" title="2008-03-04T00:00:00Z">Date:</
> abbr>Mon 8pm - Radio 2</h4>
> 
> That way the information can still be parsed. I understand this is an
> incorrect implementation, but currently unsure how to work around this.
> 
> Does anyone have suggestions how this can be worked around whilst
> still keeping relatively good screen reader support?
> 
> 
> 
> <li class="programme">
> <div class="feature">
> <a id="uid-9121211" href="#9121211" class="image uid url">
> <img src="img/_dev/206x115.jpg" width="206" height="115"
> alt="206x115" />
> </a>
> <div class="details">
> <a class="play-tv" href="#9121211">
> <span>Play TV</span>
> </a>
> <h3 id="summary-9121211" class="summary">
> <a href="#9121211">Two pints of Juergen and a ...</a>
> </h3>
> </div>
> </div>
> <ul>
> <li class="vevent featured">
> <a href="#summary-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <a href="#uid-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <h4><abbr class="dtstart dtstamp"
> title="2008-03-04T00:00:00Z">Date:</abbr>Mon 8pm - Radio 2</h4>
> <div class="description">
> <p>Short description of episode lies here. It can be up-to 90
> characters long.</p>
> <p>Expires in 3 days</p>
> </div>
> <p><a href="#downbaby">More episodes >></a></p>
> </li>
> <li class="vevent">
> <a href="#summary-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <a href="#uid-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <h4><abbr class="dtstart dtstamp"
> title="2008-03-04T00:00:00Z">Date:</abbr>Mon 8pm - Radio 2</h4>
> <div class="description">
> <p>Short description of episode lies here. It can be up-to 90
> characters long.</p>
> <p>Expires in 3 days</p>
> </div>
> <p><a href="#downbaby">More episodes >></a></p>
> </li>
> <li class="vevent">
> <a href="#summary-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <a href="#uid-9121211" class="include"></a>
> <h4><abbr class="dtstart dtstamp"
> title="2008-03-04T00:00:00Z">Date:</abbr>Mon 8pm - Radio 2</h4>
> <div class="description">
> <p>Short description of episode lies here. It can be up-to 90
> characters long.</p>
> <p>Expires in 3 days</p>
> </div>
> <p><a href="#downbaby">More episodes >></a></p>
> </li>
> </ul>
> 
> 
> </li>
> </li> 
> _______________________________________________
> microformats-discuss mailing list
> microformats-discuss at microformats.org
> http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss


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