Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
126 results found in Interaction Design.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI, Human-Computer Interface)
- The point of interaction between a human user and a machine, system, or device, encompassing the hardware and software through which users communicate with and control technology. In the context of ac…
- Human-Vehicle Interaction (HVI, Vehicle-pedestrian interaction)
- The field studying how people communicate, negotiate, and coordinate with vehicles and their occupants — including drivers, passengers, and, increasingly, automated systems. Human-vehicle interaction …
- Human-computer interaction (HCI, Human-machine interaction)
- The interdisciplinary study of the design, evaluation, and use of interactive computing systems by humans, drawing on computer science, psychology, design, and social science. HCI research encompasses…
- Implicit Interaction (Implicit Input, Implicit Human-Computer Interaction)
- Implicit interaction refers to user input that the system infers from natural behaviors not explicitly performed for the purpose of issuing commands, such as gaze, gait, posture, physiological signals…
- 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…
- Information wayfinding (Digital wayfinding, Information navigation)
- The process of orienting oneself within and navigating through digital information spaces such as websites, applications, or documents, analogous to physical wayfinding through buildings or cities. Fo…
- Interaction Framing (Narrative Framing, Framing (Interaction Design))
- Interaction framing refers to the way a system positions the user's role and the meaning of their input, independent of the underlying mechanics. The same choice can be framed as completing a task ("s…
- Loosely Coupled Interaction (Loosely Coupled Dual Interaction)
- An interaction architecture in which two or more user interfaces share the same underlying content and data but operate independently through separate, non-overlapping input and output modalities. In …
- Manipulable UI Component (Interactive UI Component, Actionable UI Element)
- An on-screen user-interface element that can be acted upon by the user — tapped, clicked, toggled, dragged, or typed into — as distinct from purely informational elements such as static text or images…
- Marking Menu (Pie Menu, Radial Menu)
- A marking menu is a radial (pie-shaped) menu that can be operated in two modes: a beginner mode that displays labelled wedges around the cursor for the user to aim at, and an expert mode that lets an …
- Menu-Driven Interface (Menu-Based Interface, Menu Selection Interface)
- A user interface style in which the available actions at each point in the interaction are presented to the user as an on-screen list, and the user selects an option by number, letter, keystroke, or p…
- Microinteraction (Micro-interaction, Quick interaction)
- A brief, high-frequency interaction with a device that typically takes a sighted user less than four seconds to complete, such as checking the time, glancing at a notification, or adjusting the volume…
- Multi-touch Interaction (Multi-touch Input, Multi-touch Gestures)
- An input method where a touchscreen or trackpad recognises two or more simultaneous points of contact, enabling gestures such as pinching, rotating, and swiping with multiple fingers. In accessibility…
- Multimodal Input (Multimodal Interaction, Multi-modal Input)
- An interaction approach that allows users to communicate with computing devices or systems through multiple input channels — such as touch, voice, eye gaze, head movement, facial expressions, hand ges…
- Multisensory (Multisensory Design, Multisensory Interaction)
- An approach to design and interaction that engages multiple human senses — such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste — to convey information and create richer experiences. In accessibility, mult…
- Multisensory Interaction (Multisensory HCI)
- Multisensory interaction is an HCI research area concerned with designing and studying systems that engage two or more human senses - sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, proprioception - simultaneous…
- 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…
- 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 Interaction (Non-Visual Access, Non-Visual Interface)
- Methods of interacting with computer systems and digital content without relying on visual display. Non-visual interaction encompasses screen reader output, speech interfaces, keyboard navigation with…
- Novice User (Beginner User, First-Time User)
- A user who is new to a particular system, task, or interface and has not yet built a mental model of its structure or vocabulary. Novice users typically benefit from menu-driven interfaces, prominent …