LibAnswers: Instructional Design

Image Accessibility Creator

An accessible image includes descriptive “alternative text” (or “alt text”) so users who cannot view images can still make sense of the content. Visually impaired users rely on alt text to understand images; sighted users may rely on alt text when an image doesn’t load properly. Writing alt text, especially for more complex images, can be challenging. However, AI can support image accessibility.

What is the Image Accessibility Creator?

Arizona State University’s Instructional Design and New Media recently released the Image Accessibility Creator, a tool using OpenAI’s GPT-4 vision model. The tool generates long image descriptions, alt text, and a text transcription to be added to in Canvas or other digital platforms. Simple alt text is not sufficient for complex images, such as diagrams, charts, and graphs. Long image descriptions are needed for complex images to provide the essential information. Learn more about Complex Images from the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

Using the tool is easy: upload a JPG, PNG, or JPEG file and select “Create Image Details.” There is an option to add further details if needed to clarify the description.

Example of Generated Image Description

The article “What’s Going On in This Graph? | Online College” from the NYT’s The Learning Network includes a graph. Here is the graphic and the Image Accessibility Creator’s results:

Alt Text

A bar chart illustrating expectations for class delivery methods in 2025 across three student demographics – traditional-aged undergraduates, adult undergraduates, and graduate students – with data showing varying preferences for fully on-campus, primarily on-campus, a balance, primarily online, and fully online learning experiences.

Long Image Description

The image is a horizontal bar chart titled "What College Classes May Look Like in 2025," depicting how 271 chief online officers at colleges expect students nationwide to experience their classes. The chart compares the modes of class delivery for three student demographics: traditional-aged undergraduates, adult undergraduates, and graduate students. There are five categories that denote class delivery methods: 'Fully on-campus, little or no online,' 'Majority on-campus, some online,' 'A balance of campus/online,' 'Majority online, some on-campus,' and 'Fully online.' Colors differentiate each group with varying shades of blue for traditional-aged undergraduates and shades of orange for adult undergraduates and graduate students. Each bar is segmented to represent percentages, with numerical labels on top of the corresponding segments. For traditional undergraduates, the largest segment shows 'Fully on-campus' at 49%, closely followed by 'Majority on-campus' at 44%. The 'Balance of campus/online' has a smaller representation at 40%, and 'Fully online' is the smallest at 2%. For adult undergraduates, 'Majority online' has a higher representation at 32%, followed by 'Balance of campus/online' and 'Majority on-campus,' both at 36%, while 'Fully on-campus' has the smallest at 21%. Graduate students show a higher acceptance of online learning with 'Fully online' representing 17%, 'Majority online' at 34%, 'Balance of campus/online' at 33%, and 'Fully on-campus' at 15%. The bottom of the image cites the sources of the data as "Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) report by Quality Matters and Eduventures Research" and notes, "Some totals do not add up to 100 because of rounding or unanswered questions. THE NEW YORK TIMES."

Text Transcription

Title: What College Classes May Look Like in 2025 Subtitle: How 271 chief online officers at colleges expect students nationwide to experience their classes.

Labels:

• Fully on-campus, little or no online
• Majority on-campus, some online
• A balance of campus/online
• Majority online, some on-campus
• Fully online

Data:

• For traditional-aged undergraduates: 49%, 44%, 40%, 9%, 2%
• For adult undergraduates: 21%, 36%, 36%, 32%, 9%
• For graduate students: 15%, 33%, 33%, 34%, 17%

Sources: Changing Landscape of Online Education (CHLOE) report by Quality Matters and Eduventures Research Note: Some totals do not add up to 100 because of rounding or unanswered questions. Credits: THE NEW YORK TIMES

Additional Information on the Use of AI

As noted on the website, “This tool currently utilizes the GPT-4 vision model provided by OpenAI. We are using their API platform which ensures the data sent is not retained or stored to improve their training or models.”