Glossary

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

840 results found in assistive technology.

Line Tracing
A reading technique in which a user physically follows lines of text with their finger or a pointing device, typically while receiving feedback to maintain accurate positioning. In assistive technolog…
Live Captions (Google Live Caption, Automatic Captions)
An Android accessibility feature that automatically generates real-time captions for any audio playing on the device, including videos, podcasts, phone calls, and video meetings. Unlike Live Transcrib…
Live Transcribe (Google Live Transcribe)
An Android accessibility feature developed by Google that provides real-time speech-to-text transcription, displaying spoken words as text on the smartphone screen. Live Transcribe supports over 80 la…
Localization (Position Estimation, Indoor Localization, User Localization)
Localization is the process of determining a user's position within an environment, typically using a combination of sensors such as GPS, inertial measurement units, BLE beacons, Wi-Fi signals, or com…
Lookout (Google Lookout)
An Android accessibility application developed by Google that uses the smartphone camera and machine learning to identify objects, read text, scan documents, and describe surroundings for blind and pa…
Low-Tech Accessibility (Low-Tech Accommodations, Low-Tech Solutions)
Accessibility solutions that use simple, inexpensive materials and methods rather than advanced technology to support people with disabilities in completing tasks. Examples include tactile guides made…
Lynx
A text-only web browser that runs in terminal or command-line environments, displaying web content as plain text without images, JavaScript, or visual formatting. Developed in 1992 at the University o…
MAGic
A screen magnification software program developed by Freedom Scientific that enlarges on-screen content and enhances visibility for people with low vision. MAGic can magnify the screen up to 36x, offe…
Machine Embroidery (Computerized Embroidery, Automated Embroidery)
A textile production method using computer-controlled embroidery machines to stitch patterns onto fabric based on digital design files. Machine embroidery can produce a wide variety of stitch types, t…
Magnetic Prototyping
A prototyping technique that uses magnetic elements on magnetic boards to create quickly reconfigurable physical designs. In accessible design for blind users, magnetic prototyping is particularly eff…
Magnification (Screen Magnification, Visual Magnification)
The enlargement of visual content to make it more readable for people with low vision. Magnification can be achieved through optical means (magnifying glasses, telescope magnifiers), electronic means …
Magnification inset (Magnified inset view, Zoom inset)
A user interface element that displays a magnified view of a specific region of content within a smaller window overlaid on the original view. Unlike full-screen magnification, an inset preserves the …
Makerspace (Fab Lab, Fabrication Laboratory, Hackerspace)
A collaborative workspace equipped with tools and technology for designing and fabricating physical objects, typically including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and electronics workbenches. …
Making (Maker Movement, Maker Culture)
Making refers to the practice of creating, building, or fabricating physical objects, often using tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics. In accessibility contexts, making encompasses …
Manipulative (Math Manipulative, Educational Manipulative, Tactile Manipulative)
A physical object used in education to help students learn abstract concepts through hands-on exploration and manipulation. In mathematics, common manipulatives include blocks, counters, fraction tile…
Markov Logic Networks (MLN, MLNs)
A machine learning framework that combines first-order logic with probabilistic graphical models to handle uncertainty in rule-based reasoning. In assistive technology contexts, MLNs enable context-aw…
Material Experience (Material Aesthetics, Material Interaction)
The multidimensional way people perceive, interpret, and emotionally respond to the physical materials of objects they interact with. The materials experience framework categorizes these experiences i…
MathJax
An open-source JavaScript display engine that renders mathematical notation written in LaTeX, MathML, or AsciiMath in web browsers. MathJax is significant for accessibility because it produces output …
MathSpeak (MathSpeak Rules)
A set of rules and conventions for verbally describing mathematical notation in a standardized, unambiguous way that can be understood by people who cannot see the visual representation of formulas. M…
Meal Assistance Technology (Dining Assistance Technology, Food Accessibility Technology)
Assistive technologies designed to help people with disabilities identify, locate, and consume food independently during mealtimes. For people with visual impairments, these systems may use computer v…