Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
899 results found in Assistive Technology.
- OrCam (OrCam MyEye, OrCam Read)
- A family of wearable assistive devices made by OrCam Technologies that use a camera and on-device AI to read printed text aloud, identify faces and products, and recognize colors and banknotes for bli…
- Orca (GNOME Orca)
- A free, open source screen reader for the GNOME desktop environment on Linux and Unix-like operating systems. Orca provides access to graphical applications through speech synthesis, braille output, a…
- Orientation and mobility (O&M)
- A professional discipline and set of skills that enable people with visual impairments to travel safely and independently through their environment. Orientation refers to understanding one's position …
- Orthosis (Orthotic, Orthotic Device, Brace)
- An externally applied medical device used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system. Orthoses support, align, prevent, or correct deformities and…
- Orthotics (Orthosis, Orthoses, Orthotic Device)
- Externally applied devices used to modify the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems — including braces, splints, and supports for the spine, limbs, hands,…
- Overlap Error (Key Overlap Error, Simultaneous Key Press Error)
- A typing error that occurs when two keys are pressed down at the same time, typically when a finger accidentally activates an adjacent key while moving toward the intended key, or when a user's hand r…
- P300 (P3, P300 Component, P3b)
- The P300 is an event-related potential (ERP) component — a positive voltage deflection in EEG brain signals that peaks approximately 300 milliseconds after a person perceives a rare or task-relevant s…
- PC-Talker (PCTalker)
- A Windows screen reader developed by the Japanese company KGS Corporation, widely used by blind and low-vision users in Japan. PC-Talker provides speech output for Windows applications and the web and…
- PS5 Access Controller (PlayStation Access Controller, Access Controller)
- Sony's highly customisable controller for PlayStation 5, released in 2023 and designed for players with limited motor control. It has a flat disc layout with interchangeable button caps and analog sti…
- Pacing Aid (Pacing System, Time Management Aid)
- An assistive technology that helps individuals with cognitive impairments manage the timing and sequence of activities in daily routines. Pacing aids provide cues — visual, auditory, or tactile — to i…
- Page Magnification (Page Zoom, Web Page Magnification)
- An accessibility feature that enlarges the entire visual presentation of a web page, including text, images, and layout elements, to make content easier to see for people with low vision or visual fat…
- Panning (Screen Panning, Viewport Panning)
- The act of moving the visible area of a screen magnifier or viewport across a webpage or application to view content that extends beyond the currently displayed portion. For screen-magnifier users, pa…
- Pantograph (Haptic Pantograph)
- A haptic input device that allows users to explore a two-dimensional surface by physically moving a stylus or finger pad across an exploration area, while receiving tactile feedback from an attached t…
- Parallax (Visual Parallax, Binocular Parallax)
- Parallax is the apparent displacement or difference in position of an object when viewed from two different vantage points. In human vision, binocular parallax — the slight difference between the imag…
- Passive Infrared Sensor (PIR Sensor, PIR, Motion Sensor)
- A passive infrared sensor detects movement by measuring changes in ambient infrared radiation in its field of view — typically body heat from a person moving across the detection zone. PIR sensors are…
- Passive Pin Retention
- A mechanical technique used in refreshable Braille display design where pins are held in their raised or lowered positions by a passive mechanical structure rather than by continuously powered actuato…
- Pedestrian Detection (Person Detection, Human Detection)
- A computer vision task that identifies and locates people in images or video frames, typically using deep learning models such as convolutional neural networks. In accessibility applications, pedestri…
- Pedestrian Navigation System (Pedestrian GPS, Walking Navigation)
- A navigation system designed specifically for people travelling on foot, as opposed to systems designed for car drivers. Pedestrian navigation systems must account for footpaths, crosswalks, stairs, p…
- Pen-based Interface (Stylus Interface, Pen Computing, Digital Pen Interface)
- A computer interaction method that uses a stylus or digital pen as the primary input device, typically in combination with a graphics tablet or touchscreen. Pen-based interfaces can support handwritin…
- People with Severe Motor Disabilities (PSMD)
- A term used in assistive technology and human-robot interaction research to describe individuals whose motor impairments are severe enough that they cannot reliably use their hands or arms for everyda…