Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
221 results found in Cognitive Accessibility.
- Home Button (Home Key, Home Screen Button)
- The home button is a persistent, consistently-placed control on a device that returns the user to a known starting state — typically the home screen or main menu — from anywhere in the interface. From…
- Human Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (HFMEA, Human FMEA)
- An adaptation of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) that focuses specifically on human performance and error. HFMEA systematically examines each step in a process to identify how humans might f…
- Hyperfixation
- Hyperfixation is an intense, prolonged focus on a single activity, topic or interest to the exclusion of other tasks and bodily needs, commonly associated with ADHD and autism. Unlike hyperfocus, whic…
- Iconography (Icon Design, Icon System)
- The design and systematic use of visual symbols to convey meaning in an interface. Good iconography balances recognisability, consistency, and cultural appropriateness so that users can interpret symb…
- Illiteracy (Functional Illiteracy, Low Literacy)
- The inability to read or write, or having reading and writing skills below a functional level needed for everyday tasks. In the context of digital accessibility, illiteracy and low literacy present si…
- Image-Based Interface (Photo-Based Interface, Picture-Based Interface)
- A user interface design approach that uses photographs, icons, or other visual images as the primary means of interaction and identification, minimizing or eliminating the need for text. Image-based i…
- In-situ Highlighting (In-situ Guidance, In-situ Instruction, On-screen Highlighting)
- In-situ highlighting is a tutorial technique that overlays visual indicators directly on the live application interface to show the user exactly where to tap, look, or interact next - rather than desc…
- Inattentional Blindness (Perceptual Blindness)
- Inattentional blindness is the failure to notice a fully visible but unexpected object or feature when attention is directed elsewhere. It is distinct from change blindness (failure to notice a change…
- Independent Living (Autonomous Living)
- A philosophy and practical goal emphasizing that people with disabilities should have the same opportunities and control over their daily lives as people without disabilities, including making choices…
- Information Appliance (Smart Appliance, Dedicated Device)
- A computing device designed for a specific, well-defined purpose that is communication-oriented and easy to use, in contrast to a general-purpose computer. Information appliances typically have reduce…
- Information Foraging (Information Foraging Theory)
- A theoretical framework from cognitive science that models how people search for and navigate to information, drawing an analogy to animal foraging behaviour. Users assess "information scent" — cues l…
- Information Overload (Cognitive Overload, Information Overwhelm)
- The state of being overwhelmed by the volume of information presented, making it difficult to identify relevant content, make decisions, or complete tasks effectively. In web accessibility contexts, i…
- Information Seeking (Information Retrieval Behavior, Information Search)
- The process of actively looking for specific information to answer a question, complete a task, or satisfy an information need. Information seeking on the web involves formulating queries, navigating …
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL, IADLs)
- Complex daily tasks that require higher-order cognitive and organizational skills beyond basic self-care. IADLs include managing finances, shopping, preparing meals, housekeeping, using transportation…
- Intellectual Disability (ID, Learning Disability (UK), Cognitive Disability, Developmental Disability)
- A condition characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and adaptive behavior (conceptual, social, and practical skills) that origi…
- Intellectual Disability (ID, Intellectual Development Disorder)
- A disability characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and adaptive behavior (everyday social and practical skills), originating durin…
- Interactive Task Guidance (Task Guidance System, Step-by-Step Task Support, Task Prompting)
- Interactive task guidance is a form of cognitive assistive technology that provides real-time, step-by-step instructions to help individuals with cognitive impairments complete multi-step daily activi…
- Intrinsic Cognitive Load (Intrinsic Load)
- One of three types of cognitive load identified by cognitive load theory, referring to the inherent difficulty of the material being learned based on its complexity and the learner’s prior knowledge. …
- Jakob's Law (Jakobs Law, Law of Familiarity)
- A usability heuristic coined by Jakob Nielsen stating that users spend most of their time on other sites and expect your site to work like the ones they already know. Accessibility implication: novel …
- Joint Awareness
- Joint awareness is a shared understanding between two or more people about a condition, situation, or state - for example, a child's sensory triggers known to both the child and their parent, or a chr…