Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
67 results found in aging.
- Intergenerational Communication (Cross-generational Communication)
- Communication between people of different generations, particularly between older adults and younger family members or caregivers, which can be complicated by differing expectations, technology litera…
- Late-Life Disability (Age-Related Disability, Acquired Age-Related Disability)
- Disability that develops gradually as a person ages, including changes in vision, hearing, motor control, and cognition. Unlike disabilities present from birth or acquired through injury, late-life di…
- Loss Aversion
- A cognitive bias in which people experience the pain of losing something more intensely than the pleasure of gaining something of equal value. In the context of technology accessibility and aging, los…
- Medication Management (Medication Adherence, Medication Compliance)
- The process of overseeing and managing the medications prescribed to an individual, including remembering to take medications at the correct times, in the correct doses, and tracking what has been tak…
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, Mini-Mental State Exam, Folstein Test)
- A widely used brief screening tool for cognitive impairment, originally developed in 1975. The MMSE assesses orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills through a series of quest…
- Multimorbidity (Multiple Long-term Conditions, Co-occurring Conditions)
- Multimorbidity is the presence of two or more chronic health conditions or long-term impairments in a single individual. It is especially prevalent among older adults and is a major factor in the comp…
- Older Adults (Seniors, Elderly, Aging Population, Senior Citizens)
- People typically aged 65 and above who may experience age-related changes in vision, hearing, motor control, and cognition that affect how they interact with technology. Designing for older adults req…
- Perceptual speed (Processing speed, Cognitive processing speed)
- The speed at which an individual can accurately perceive, compare, and respond to visual or auditory stimuli, typically measured through timed tasks requiring rapid symbol comparison or pattern matchi…
- Person-Centred Care (Person-Centered Care, Person-Centred Approach)
- An approach to care and support that places the individual — their preferences, needs, values, history, and identity — at the centre of all decisions and interactions, rather than focusing primarily o…
- Personal emergency response system (PERS, PER system, Medical alert system, Life alert)
- A device, typically a wearable pendant or wristband with a button, that allows a person to summon help in an emergency. Despite being the mainstream solution for older adults living alone, PERS device…
- Persuasive Technology (Behaviour Change Technology, Behavior Change Technology)
- Technology designed to change users' attitudes or behaviours through persuasion and social influence rather than coercion. In health and wellness contexts, persuasive technologies use strategies such …
- Pet Robot (Robotic Pet, Zoomorphic Robot, Companion Pet Robot)
- A socially interactive robot designed to resemble and behave like an animal companion — most famously PARO (a baby harp seal) and AIBO (a robotic dog) — used to provide emotional comfort, reduce lonel…
- Presbyopia (Age-Related Farsightedness, Loss of Accommodation)
- An age-related vision condition in which the eye gradually loses the ability to focus on nearby objects, typically becoming noticeable after age 40. Presbyopia affects the vast majority of older adult…
- Processing Speed (Information Processing Speed, Cognitive Processing Speed)
- A cognitive ability referring to how quickly a person can perceive, process, and respond to information. Processing speed affects how rapidly someone can read, understand instructions, react to stimul…
- Quality of Life Technology (QoLT, QoL Technology)
- An umbrella term encompassing technologies designed to maintain or enhance the health, functioning, and independence of older adults and people with disabilities. Quality of life technology includes a…
- Reminiscence (Reminiscence Therapy)
- The process of recalling and reflecting on past personal experiences, often used therapeutically to promote mental well-being in older adults. Reminiscence therapy involves structured activities that …
- Respite Care (Respite, Carer Relief)
- Temporary care provided to a person with a disability or chronic condition to give their primary caregiver a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite care can take many forms, including i…
- Routinisation (Routinization, Age-Related Routinisation)
- The tendency of older adults to increasingly organise their daily activities into fixed, predictable routines as they age. As cognitive resources decline, older adults optimise their remaining capacit…
- Sedentary Behaviour (Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Inactivity)
- Any waking behaviour characterised by low energy expenditure while in a sitting, reclining, or lying posture, such as prolonged sitting at a desk, watching television, or using a computer. Sedentary b…
- Self-tracking (Quantified Self, Self-monitoring, Personal Informatics)
- The practice of using technology — typically wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers — to systematically record and monitor personal data about one's own behaviour, health, or activiti…