• Success Criterion 1.2.3
  • Conformance level A

Media Alternative Describing an Older, Outdated Video Cut

1.2.3 — Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded)

Scenario

Setting

A subscription box service's account settings

What’s wrong

Alternative describes an older cut of the video (out of sync with current content).

Example 

<video src="/account/manage-subscription-v2.mp4" controls></video>
<!-- Current v2 video moved the gear icon to the bottom nav bar and
     renamed the option "Skip a Delivery," but the transcript below
     still describes the old layout -->
<div class="descriptive-transcript">
  <p>Tap the gear icon in the top-left corner, then select "Pause Box"
  from the dropdown list.</p>
</div>

Why it matters

A blind subscriber following the transcript looks for a top-left gear icon and a "Pause Box" option that no longer exist, since the app was redesigned after the transcript was written.

How to test

Compare the media alternative's content to the current video: if it describes an older version that no longer matches, it fails.

How to fix

Update every text and audio alternative whenever the underlying video or interface changes; an outdated alternative actively misleads.

<video src="/account/manage-subscription-v2.mp4" controls></video>
<div class="descriptive-transcript">
  <p>Tap the box icon in the bottom navigation bar, then select
  "Skip a Delivery" from the menu.</p>
</div>

Outcome

A blind subscriber follows the current instructions and successfully skips next month's box.

Who is affected

Blind and low-vision subscribers relying on the outdated transcript get instructions that don't match the current interface at all.

Learn more

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