Can HTML 5 provide an accessible alternative?
Eventually, once HTML 5 is available on most browsers, authors will be able to use many new widget types and semantic structures that will provide new functionality for everyone. Because authors will have a larger set of ready-to-use widgets, there will be less need for authors to develop their own. However, HTML 5 will not be widely supported in browsers for many years.
The HTML 5 standardization effort at W3C seeks to add new features — additional elements, attributes, interfaces, etc. that provide authors with a more complete set of widgets and the ability to better describe web page structures such as sections. Eventually, once HTML 5 is available on most browsers, authors will be able to use many new widget elements and descriptive structures that will provide new functionality for mouse and keyboard users, as well as accessibility for users of assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice input software and on-screen keyboards. Because authors will have a larger set of ready-to-use widgets, there will be less need for authors to develop their own. However, HTML 5 is not available yet, although some new elements from it are being implemented in browsers now. There is no clear date when it will be usable for authors. The accessibility issue cannot wait for HTML 5 to be finalized, let alone widely deployed, as the entire i
