Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
840 results found in assistive technology.
- Sighted Assistance (Visual Interpreting, Remote Sighted Assistance)
- Sighted assistance refers to services that connect blind or low-vision individuals with sighted people who can provide visual information on demand, typically through a live video call from a smartpho…
- Sign Language Dictionary (SL Dictionary, ASL Dictionary)
- A reference tool that allows users to look up signs in a sign language, providing video demonstrations, definitions, and usage examples. Sign language dictionaries can be organized by English gloss (w…
- Sign language (Manual language, Visual-gestural language)
- A natural language that uses manual articulation (handshapes, movement, location relative to the body), facial expressions, and body posture to convey meaning, serving as the primary or preferred lang…
- Sign language animation (ASL animation, Signing avatar technology)
- Computer-generated animated characters that produce sign language from text or script input, offering a potentially scalable alternative to pre-recorded human signer videos for making information acce…
- Sign language avatar (Signing avatar, Virtual signer)
- A computer-generated animated character that produces sign language from text or speech input. While sign language avatars hold potential for scaling deaf accessibility, their premature deployment rai…
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR, S/N Ratio)
- A measure of the strength of a desired signal relative to background noise, expressed in decibels (dB). In accessibility, signal-to-noise ratio is critical for the effectiveness of auditory interfaces…
- Signature Guide (Writing Guide, Handwriting Guide)
- A small rectangular card, typically credit-card sized, with a cutout opening that enables blind people to write or sign in a straight line on paper. Signature guides are one of the simplest and most w…
- Signer-Independent Recognition (signer-independent SLR)
- A sign language recognition approach designed to work with signers whose data was not included in the training set. Similar to speaker-independent speech recognition, signer-independent systems must h…
- Signing Avatar (Sign Language Avatar, Virtual Signer)
- A 3D computer-generated character that produces sign language through animated hand movements, facial expressions, and body posture. Signing avatars are used in educational contexts to deliver accessi…
- Single-Message AAC Device (BIGmack, Single-Switch Communicator, Voice Output Communication Aid)
- A simple augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that records and plays back a single message when activated, typically via a large button or switch. Examples include the BIGmack Switc…
- Situation Awareness (SA, Situational Awareness)
- The perception and understanding of one's current environment, including the identification of relevant elements, comprehension of their meaning, and projection of their future status. In accessibilit…
- Skeleton Tracking (skeletal tracking, body tracking, pose estimation)
- Technology that detects and tracks the positions of human body joints (such as head, shoulders, elbows, hands) in real-time from camera or depth sensor data. In accessibility applications, skeleton tr…
- Skimming (Scanning, Speed Reading, Content Skimming)
- Skimming is a speed-reading technique in which a reader quickly glances through text to get the general idea or gist without reading every word. Sighted readers skim by scanning headlines, bold text, …
- Slide Rule
- A pioneering touch-based screen reader interaction technique for mobile devices, developed by Kane et al. in 2008, that makes touchscreen content accessible to blind users through finger-driven explor…
- Smart Glasses (AR Glasses, Assistive Smart Glasses)
- Smart glasses are head-mounted wearable devices that incorporate cameras, microphones, speakers, and computing capabilities into an eyeglass form factor. For people who are blind or have low vision, s…
- Smart Home (Home Automation, Connected Home)
- A residence equipped with networked devices and systems that can be monitored and controlled remotely or automatically, including lighting, heating, security, and entertainment systems. Smart home tec…
- Smart Home Technology (SHT, Smart Home Devices)
- Connected devices and systems within a home that can be controlled remotely or automated, including smart speakers, thermostats, lighting, locks, cameras, sensors, and blinds. Smart home technology us…
- Smart Speaker (Voice-Activated Speaker, Intelligent Speaker)
- A wireless speaker with an integrated voice assistant that responds to spoken commands, such as Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home (Google Assistant), or Apple HomePod (Siri). Smart speakers serve as ce…
- Smartglasses (Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, Connected Glasses)
- Eyewear with integrated computing capabilities including sensors, displays, cameras, and connectivity that overlay digital information onto the wearer's field of view or provide hands-free access to c…
- Smartphones as Assistive Technology (Mobile AT, Phone-Based AT)
- The use of mainstream smartphones as assistive devices through built-in accessibility features (screen readers, magnification, live captions, sound amplification) and downloadable applications that su…