Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
899 results found in Assistive Technology.
- Remote Captioning (Remote CART, Remote Real-Time Captioning)
- A live captioning service delivered at a distance, in which a human captioner (CART provider) or automatic speech recognition system receives an audio feed from a meeting, classroom, or event over the…
- Remote Monitoring (Remote Patient Monitoring, RPM, Remote Care Monitoring)
- Remote monitoring is the collection of health, activity, or environmental data from a person in their own home or community setting and its transmission to carers, clinicians, or family members at a d…
- Remote interpreting (Video remote interpreting, VRI, Remote sign language interpreting)
- The provision of sign language interpretation or other communication access services through video technology, where the interpreter is located in a different physical space from the deaf or hard of h…
- Residual vision (Functional vision, Usable vision)
- The remaining visual ability of a person with a visual impairment, which may include partial acuity, limited visual field, or light perception. The vast majority of people classified as legally blind …
- Right to Repair
- A movement advocating for consumers' ability to repair, modify, and maintain their own devices and equipment, including access to diagnostic information, repair manuals, and replacement parts. For peo…
- Robotic Arm (Robot Arm, Assistive Robotic Arm, Manipulator Arm)
- A programmable mechanical device with jointed segments that can grasp, move, and manipulate objects, controlled through various input methods. In assistive technology contexts, robotic arms are used t…
- Robotic Guide Dog (Robot Guide Dog, Quadruped Guide Robot)
- A mobile robot — typically a quadruped platform — designed to provide navigation and obstacle-avoidance support for blind and low-vision users, filling a role analogous to that of a trained guide dog.…
- Rollator (Wheeled Walker, Rolling Walker)
- A walking frame equipped with wheels, handbrakes, and typically a built-in seat, designed to provide stability and support for people with mobility difficulties. Unlike standard walkers that must be l…
- Route Learning (Route Familiarization)
- The process by which a traveler — particularly a blind or low-vision person — acquires a mental representation of a specific path through an environment, including its turns, landmarks, distances, sur…
- Row-Column Scanning (RCS, Grid Scanning, Two-Switch Scanning)
- The most widely used single-switch selection method for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and on-screen keyboards. Options are arranged in a two-dimensional grid, and the interf…
- Runtime Accessibility (dynamic accessibility, on-demand accessibility adaptation)
- Runtime accessibility refers to the ability to modify, adapt, or enhance the accessibility of a software application or digital environment while it is actively running, rather than through static des…
- SAPI (Speech Application Programming Interface, Microsoft SAPI)
- The Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI) is a Microsoft Windows API that enables applications to use speech recognition and text-to-speech synthesis. SAPI provides a standardized interface …
- SMART Matrix (Systems-Market Framework)
- A framework for understanding assistive technology ecosystems developed by MacLachlan et al. that analyzes AT provision at three levels: micro (individual user — matching products to needs), meso (ser…
- Scaffolded Learning (Scaffolding, Graduated Support)
- An instructional approach that provides structured, temporary support to help learners progressively build skills, with support gradually reduced as competence increases. In assistive technology train…
- Scanning Rate (Scan Rate, Scan Speed, Dwell Time)
- The speed at which options in a scanning interface are sequentially highlighted, typically measured in seconds per item. The scanning rate is a critical configuration parameter in switch-access system…
- Scanning System (Automatic Scanning, Group Scanning, Row-Column Scanning)
- An assistive technology input method in which selectable items are sequentially highlighted on screen, and the user activates a switch (or other simple input) when the desired item is highlighted. Sca…
- Scene simplification (Visual decluttering, Complexity reduction)
- An assistive technology approach that reduces visual complexity in real-world or digital scenes by highlighting relevant objects, suppressing background clutter, and isolating key information. Scene s…
- Screen Curtain (Display Curtain)
- Screen Curtain is an accessibility feature available on iOS and some other platforms that turns off the device's display while keeping the device fully functional and responsive to touch input and scr…
- Screen Magnification (Screen Magnifier, Display Magnification)
- Software or operating system features that enlarge a portion of the screen content to make it readable for people with low vision. Common modalities include full-screen magnification (which expands th…
- Screen Magnifier (Screen Magnification Software, Magnification Software)
- An assistive technology application that enlarges a portion of the screen display to make content more readable for people with low vision. Screen magnifiers work by rendering a zoomed-in view of the …