Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
899 results found in Assistive Technology.
- Myo Armband (Thalmic Myo)
- A commercially available wearable gesture-recognition armband released by Thalmic Labs in 2014 and discontinued in 2018, containing eight dry sEMG electrodes sampling at 200 Hz plus a 9-axis IMU. Desp…
- Myoelectric Control
- The use of electromyographic (EMG) signals from voluntary muscle contractions as control inputs for external devices, most commonly powered upper-limb prostheses but also exoskeletons, wheelchairs, an…
- NFC (Near Field Communication)
- A short-range wireless communication technology that enables data exchange between devices held within a few centimetres of each other. NFC is built into most modern smartphones and can read passive N…
- NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)
- A free, open-source screen reader for Microsoft Windows developed by NV Access. NVDA enables people who are blind or have low vision to use computers by reading on-screen text aloud through a speech s…
- Narrative Route Description (Verbal Route Guidance, Turn-by-Turn Narrative)
- A structured verbal representation of a travel route that guides users through sequential steps using spoken or text-based instructions. Effective narrative descriptions for blind travelers typically …
- Narrator (Windows Narrator)
- The built-in screen reader included with Microsoft Windows operating systems. Narrator reads aloud text on screen, describes notifications and interface elements, and allows users to navigate Windows …
- Natural Language Interface (NLI, Natural Language User Interface)
- A user interface that allows people to interact with technology using everyday language rather than specialized commands, menus, or graphical controls. Natural language interfaces can improve accessib…
- Natural Speech Output (Recorded Speech, Digitized Speech)
- Speech output produced from digital recordings of actual human speakers, as opposed to artificially generated synthetic speech. Natural speech output preserves the prosody, intonation, emotion, and vo…
- NavTap
- A navigational text-entry method designed for blind mobile phone users that reduces the cognitive load associated with inputting text without visual feedback. NavTap organizes the alphabet into five r…
- Navigation Axis (Multi-Axial Navigation, Axis-Based Navigation)
- A navigation axis is a concept from screen reader research describing a specific linear serialization of a subset of web page elements that represents one navigation strategy. Rather than forcing blin…
- Neural Control (Neural Interface, Neural Signal Input)
- A method of computer interaction where users modulate their brain signals, detected through electroencephalography (EEG) or other neural monitoring technologies, to generate input commands. Neural con…
- Neural Prosthetics (Neuroprosthetics, Neural Prostheses)
- Devices that interface directly with the nervous system to restore or supplement lost sensory, motor, or cognitive functions. Neural prosthetics can be input devices (reading neural signals to control…
- Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback, Neurotherapy)
- Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time monitoring of brain electrical activity (typically via EEG) to teach individuals to self-regulate their brain function. Users receive feedbac…
- Neurotrophic Electrode (Neurotrophic Brain Electrode, Cone Electrode)
- A type of implantable brain electrode designed for long-term, stable recording of neural signals. Unlike conventional electrodes that sit on the brain surface or are inserted as rigid probes, a neurot…
- Non-Speech Audio (Non-Verbal Audio, Non-Speech Sound)
- Auditory output that conveys information through sounds other than spoken words — for example tones, clicks, earcons, auditory icons, musical motifs, or vowel-like timbres. Non-speech audio is widely …
- Non-Speech Input (Non-Speech Acoustic Input, Non-Verbal Voice Input)
- A method of controlling computers or devices using sounds produced by the human vocal tract that are not recognised words — such as humming, whistling, hissing, clicking, or varying pitch and volume. …
- Non-Verbal Vocal Interface (NVVI, Non-Verbal Vocal Interaction)
- An interaction method that uses non-speech vocal sounds — such as humming, hummed melodies, rhythmic patterns, or vowel sounds — to control a computer or communication device. Unlike speech recognitio…
- Non-Visual Exploration (Non-Visual Interaction, Non-Visual Scanning)
- The process by which blind or visually impaired people gather information about their physical environment, documents, or interfaces without relying on sight. Non-visual exploration combines multiple …
- Non-Visual Reading (Audio Reading, Tactile Reading)
- Methods of accessing written content without relying on visual perception, including braille reading, screen reader audio output, and text-to-speech technology. Non-visual reading is essential for bli…
- Non-Visual Skimming (Aural Skimming, Accessible Skimming)
- Non-visual skimming is the process of quickly surveying and extracting key information from text content without visual access, typically through auditory means such as screen readers. While sighted u…