Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
840 results found in assistive technology.
- Dwell Selection (Dwell Click, Dwell Time Selection, Hover Click)
- An interaction technique where a user activates or selects an on-screen element by keeping a cursor, gaze point, or pointer within the target area for a specified duration (the dwell time), rather tha…
- Dynamic Programming (DP, DP Matching)
- A mathematical optimization technique used in pattern recognition that breaks complex problems into simpler overlapping subproblems. In accessibility technology, dynamic programming matching (DP match…
- E-Ink Display (Electronic Ink, E-Paper, Electronic Paper Display)
- A display technology that mimics the appearance of ink on paper by using electrically charged particles to create images. E-ink displays are characterized by high readability in direct light, minimal …
- E-textiles (Electronic Textiles, Smart Textiles)
- E-textiles are textile objects that integrate electronic components such as sensors, lights, or actuators into their design. They combine traditional textile techniques (sewing, embroidery, weaving) w…
- Ear-EEG (Around-the-Ear EEG, cEEGrid)
- Ear-EEG refers to electroencephalography (EEG) recorded using electrodes placed in and around the ear canal rather than on the scalp. Consumer-grade ear-EEG devices such as cEEGrid sensors are unobtru…
- Earcon (Auditory icon)
- A brief, distinctive sound used in a user interface to convey information, status, or feedback non-visually. Earcons serve a similar function to visual icons but through the auditory channel. In acces…
- Echolocation (Human echolocation, Active echolocation)
- The ability to determine the location and characteristics of objects by emitting sounds and interpreting their echoes. While commonly associated with bats and dolphins, many blind and low-vision indiv…
- Edge enhancement (Edge detection, Contour enhancement)
- An image processing technique that identifies and highlights the boundaries between objects in a visual scene, typically rendering them as bright lines against a dark background or overlaying them on …
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- A non-invasive method of recording electrical activity of the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. In assistive technology, EEG is the primary sensing technology behind brain-computer interface…
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- A non-invasive method of recording electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. EEG is fundamental to most consumer and research brain-computer interfaces because it is relat…
- Electrolarynx (Artificial Larynx, Electronic Larynx)
- A handheld, battery-powered device that produces voice for people who have lost their larynx. The device is held against the neck or cheek and generates vibrations that travel through the throat tissu…
- Electromyography (EMG, Electromyogram)
- Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for measuring the electrical activity produced by muscles when they contract or are at rest. In accessibility and assistive technology, EMG sensors placed on the …
- Electronic Travel Aid (ETA)
- An electronic device designed to help blind or visually impaired people navigate their environment by detecting obstacles and conveying spatial information through non-visual feedback such as audio cu…
- Electropalatography (EPG, Dynamic Palatography, Palatography)
- A technique for recording tongue-palate contact during speech using an artificial palate fitted with electrodes. When the tongue touches the palate, it completes a low-amperage electrical circuit that…
- Electrotactile Feedback (Electrotactile, Electrical Tactile Stimulation)
- A form of haptic feedback that uses controlled electrical current applied directly to the skin or through a thin insulating layer to generate tactile sensations. Unlike vibrotactile feedback (which us…
- Embossed Graphics (Embossed Tactile Graphics, Raised Graphics)
- Tactile graphics produced by a braille embosser or similar device that creates raised dots and lines on heavy paper or card stock. Embossed graphics are one of the most common methods for producing ta…
- Embossed Paper (Raised Paper, Tactile Paper)
- Paper that has been processed to create raised textures, shapes, or text that can be perceived through touch. In accessibility contexts, embossed paper is used to represent visual information non-visu…
- Embosser (Braille Embosser, Tactile Graphics Embosser)
- A device that creates raised (embossed) output on paper or other materials, used to produce braille text and tactile graphics for people who are blind or have low vision. Braille embossers function si…
- Emergent Communicator (Beginning Communicator, Pre-Symbolic Communicator)
- A person who is in the early stages of learning to use symbolic communication — understanding that symbols, words, pictures, or signs can represent objects, actions, and concepts. Emergent communicato…
- Emotional Agency
- The ability of an individual to independently manage their emotional responses and experiences, particularly when encountering sensitive or personal information. In the context of accessibility and ge…