Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
93 results found in Motor Accessibility.
- Non-Verbal Vocalization (Non-Speech Vocalization, Vocal Gesture, Non-speech Vocalisation, Non-Speech Vocalisation)
- A sound produced by the voice that is not a spoken word, such as a sustained vowel sound ("Ahhhhh"), hum, or other vocal noise. In assistive technology and alternative input contexts, non-verbal vocal…
- Nontraditional Assistive Technologies (NTATs, Nontraditional Input Technologies)
- Input technologies that use physiological signals rather than physical movement to control computers, providing access for people who cannot use traditional devices like keyboards, mice, or even eye-t…
- Oligodactyly
- A congenital condition in which a person is born with fewer than the typical number of fingers or toes. The condition varies widely in presentation — some individuals may have fewer digits on one hand…
- Overshoot (Cursor Overshoot, Target Overshoot)
- In pointing device interaction, the phenomenon where the cursor travels beyond the intended target before the user can stop it, requiring corrective movements back toward the target. Overshoot is meas…
- Parkinsonian Tremor (Rest Tremor, Parkinson Tremor)
- Parkinsonian tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic shaking that occurs primarily at rest and is associated with Parkinson's disease. It is caused by the reciprocal activation of antagonistic muscle group…
- Peak Velocity
- The maximum speed reached by a cursor or limb during a directed movement toward a target. In human-computer interaction research, peak velocity is a key metric for understanding pointing performance, …
- Point-and-Click (Point and Click, Click Target)
- A fundamental interaction paradigm in graphical user interfaces where the user moves a cursor to a target on screen and activates it by pressing a button on a pointing device such as a mouse or trackp…
- Pointer Speed (Mouse Gain, Cursor Speed, Mouse Speed, Pointer Acceleration)
- An operating system setting that controls how far the cursor moves on screen relative to physical movement of the mouse or pointing device. Higher pointer speed (gain) means less physical movement is …
- Pointing (Pointing Performance, Mouse Pointing, Cursor Pointing)
- The act of moving a cursor or pointer to indicate a specific location on screen, typically to select, activate, or interact with an interface element. Pointing is a fundamental computer interaction th…
- Pointing Device (Pointer Device, Input Device)
- Any hardware device used to control the movement of a cursor or pointer on a computer screen, enabling users to select, click, drag, and interact with interface elements. Common pointing devices inclu…
- Pointing Device Gain (Control-Display Gain, Mouse Sensitivity, Pointer Speed, CD Gain)
- The ratio between the movement of a physical input device (such as a mouse or trackball) and the resulting movement of the cursor on screen, typically measured in pixels per inch of device movement. H…
- Predictive Cursor (Anticipatory Cursor, Offset Cursor)
- A cursor display technique designed to compensate for the delays inherent in speech-based or other high-latency input methods. A predictive cursor shows an indicator ahead of the actual cursor positio…
- Programming Accessibility (Accessible Programming, Accessible IDE)
- The practice of making software development tools, environments, and workflows usable by programmers with disabilities. Programming presents unique accessibility challenges beyond general computer use…
- Range of Motion (ROM)
- The full extent of movement possible at a joint, measured in degrees of rotation or linear distance. Range of motion is a fundamental clinical measurement used by occupational and physical therapists …
- Segmentation Problem (Stroke Segmentation, Input Segmentation, Gesture Segmentation)
- The segmentation problem in text entry and gesture recognition refers to the challenge of determining where one input unit (such as a letter, word, or gesture) ends and the next begins when there is n…
- Sensory-Motor Processing (Sensorimotor Processing, Sensorimotor Integration)
- Sensory-motor processing refers to the brain's ability to receive sensory input (visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive) and coordinate appropriate motor responses. This includes fine motor control…
- Single Switch (Single Switch Access, One Switch)
- An assistive technology input device that provides a single binary action — on or off — enabling people with severe motor impairments to interact with computers and communication devices. Switches can…
- Spastic Diplegia (Diplegic Cerebral Palsy)
- A form of cerebral palsy characterised by muscle stiffness (spasticity) that primarily affects the lower limbs, though the upper limbs may also be mildly affected. It is one of the most common types o…
- Spastic Triplegia (Triplegic Cerebral Palsy)
- A form of cerebral palsy in which three limbs are affected by spasticity (muscle stiffness), typically both legs and one arm. This condition presents unique challenges for assistive technology use bec…
- Speech-Based Cursor Control (Voice Cursor Control, Speech-Driven Pointing)
- A method of controlling a computer's pointing cursor using spoken voice commands rather than a mouse, trackpad, or other physical pointing device. Users speak directional commands (such as "move left,…