Glossary

Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.

840 results found in assistive technology.

Free-Space Haptics (Mid-Air Haptics, Contactless Haptics)
Haptic feedback technology that applies physical forces or tactile sensations to a user without requiring contact with a mechanical device or surface. Unlike traditional haptic systems that use physic…
Frequency shifting (Frequency transposition, Frequency lowering, Spectral shifting)
An audio processing technique that moves sounds from one frequency range to another, typically shifting high-frequency sounds into lower frequency ranges that a person with high-frequency hearing loss…
Functional Assessment (Functional Capability Assessment, FA)
A systematic process for evaluating an individual's ability to perform specific tasks or activities, focusing on what a person can actually do rather than their medical diagnosis. In assistive technol…
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
A rehabilitation technique that uses low-level electrical currents to activate paralyzed or weakened muscles in people with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, or multiple scle…
GPS (Global Positioning System, GNSS, Satellite Navigation)
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information to receivers on Earth. For accessibility, GPS is foundational to wayfinding apps …
GPS Navigation (Satellite Navigation, GNSS Navigation)
GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation uses satellite signals to determine a device's location and provide directions to a destination. For people with disabilities, GPS navigation apps on smartph…
GPS Tracking (GPS Monitoring, Electronic Tracking, Location Tracking)
The use of Global Positioning System technology to monitor and record the geographic location of a person or device in real time. In accessibility and dementia care contexts, GPS tracking is used in s…
Game-Based Therapy (Therapeutic Gaming, Serious Games for Rehabilitation, Gamification of Therapy)
The use of video games and interactive digital experiences as therapeutic interventions, particularly for physical or cognitive rehabilitation. Game-based therapy leverages engaging gameplay mechanics…
Gaze (Eye Gaze, Gaze Direction, Point of Regard)
The direction in which a person is looking, typically measured as the point of visual fixation on a display or in a physical environment. Gaze tracking technology captures where users look and for how…
Gaze Input (Eye Tracking Input, Gaze-Based Interaction, Eye Control)
An input method that uses eye-tracking technology to detect where a user is looking, enabling interaction with digital interfaces through eye movements such as fixation (dwelling on a target), smooth …
Gaze Interaction (Gaze-Based Interaction, Gaze Input, Eye Gaze Control)
Gaze interaction is a method of controlling computers and devices by tracking where a person is looking on the screen. Using eye-tracking technology, the system detects the user's point of gaze and tr…
Gaze Tracking (Eye Tracking, Eye Gaze Tracking)
Technology that measures and records eye movements to determine where a person is looking, for how long, and in what pattern. In low-vision research and rehabilitation, gaze tracking can reveal visual…
Gaze Typing (Eye Typing, Gaze-Based Text Entry, Eye-Typing)
A text input method that uses eye tracking technology to allow users to type by looking at keys on a virtual on-screen keyboard. The most common technique is dwell-based selection, where the user fixa…
Gaze-Based Interaction (Gaze Input, Eye-Gaze Interaction, Gaze Control)
An interaction method where users control digital interfaces by directing their visual gaze at on-screen targets, typically detected through eye tracking or head orientation tracking. In accessibility…
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced spatial data. In accessibility, GIS technology underpins navigation and wayfinding tools for blind and visually imp…
Gestural Interface (Gesture-Based Interface, Gestural Controller)
An input device or system that interprets body movements, hand gestures, or physical expressions as control signals for digital systems. In accessibility and music contexts, gestural interfaces are pa…
Gesture Input (Gestural Input, Gesture-Based Input)
A form of human-computer interaction where users perform physical movements—such as swipes, taps, pinches, or mid-air hand motions—to issue commands or provide input to a digital device. Gesture input…
Gesture Recognition (Gesture Detection)
The computational process of identifying and interpreting human gestures—typically hand, arm, or body movements—using sensors and machine learning algorithms. Gesture recognition systems analyze data …
Gesture-based interaction (Gestural interface, Touchless interaction)
An interaction modality where users control technology through body movements, hand gestures, or postures detected by sensors such as depth cameras, rather than through traditional input devices like …
Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII)
A framework and set of technologies designed to allow people with disabilities to automatically have their accessibility preferences and settings applied across any device, platform, or service they e…