Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
840 results found in assistive technology.
- Audio Interface (Auditory interface, Sound-based interface)
- An interface that conveys information through sound — including speech (text-to-speech), earcons, beeps, spatialised audio, and sonification of data streams. Audio interfaces dominate mainstream acces…
- Audio Production (Audio Engineering, Sound Production)
- The process of creating, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering audio content using specialized software and hardware. For blind and low-vision users, audio production presents unique accessibility…
- Audio Tone (Auditory Cue, Earcon)
- Non-speech audio signals used to convey information such as the presence, location, or status of objects or interface elements. In accessibility contexts, audio tones can supplement or replace verbal …
- Audio-Reactive Visuals (Sound-Reactive Displays, Audio-Visual Feedback)
- Visual display systems that respond in real time to audio input, translating sound properties such as frequency, amplitude, pitch, and rhythm into light, color, and movement. In accessibility contexts…
- Audio-Spatial Mapping (Auditory-Spatial Mapping, Sound Spatialization)
- A technique that uses sound properties such as pitch, volume, panning, and spatialization to represent spatial information non-visually. In accessibility contexts, audio-spatial mapping helps blind an…
- Audio-Tactile Interface (Audio-Haptic Interface, Multimodal Tactile Interface)
- A user interface that combines tactile (touch-based) interaction with auditory feedback to convey information that is otherwise visual. Audio-tactile interfaces are widely used in accessibility to mak…
- Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE, Brainwave Entrainment)
- Audio-visual entrainment (AVE) is a therapeutic technique that uses rhythmic light and sound stimuli to influence brainwave activity, guiding the brain toward specific frequency states associated with…
- Audio-tactile interface (Audio-tactile system, Talking tactile)
- An interactive system that combines physical tactile surfaces with electronic audio feedback, providing spoken labels, descriptions, or sonified data when the user touches specific areas of a tactile …
- Auditory Display (Audio Display, Auditory Interface)
- The use of sound to convey information, data, or interface state to users. Auditory displays encompass a range of techniques including sonification, earcons, auditory icons, and speech output. In acce…
- Auditory Feedback (Audio Feedback, Auditory Display)
- The use of sound — including tones, sound effects, earcons, and speech — to convey information about system states, user actions, or environmental changes. In accessibility, auditory feedback serves a…
- Auditory Icon (Audio Icon)
- A non-speech sound used in a user interface that represents an object, action, or event by mimicking its real-world sound — for example, the sound of crumpling paper to indicate deleting a file, or a …
- Auditory Interface (Audio Interface, Aural Interface, Non-Visual Interface)
- A user interface that conveys information and accepts input primarily through sound rather than visual displays. Auditory interfaces range from simple screen reader output to complex auditory environm…
- Auditory Map (Audio Map, Sonic Map)
- An auditory map is an audio-based representation of geographical information designed to enable blind and visually impaired users to access and understand spatial environments without relying on visio…
- Auditory Masking (Sound Masking, Acoustic Masking)
- A perceptual phenomenon where the presence of one sound makes it difficult or impossible to hear another sound. Masking occurs when sounds share similar frequencies or when a louder sound overwhelms a…
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- A broad set of strategies, tools, and technologies used to supplement or replace spoken or written communication for people with complex communication needs. AAC ranges from low-tech solutions like pi…
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC, Alternative communication, Aided communication)
- A range of strategies, tools, and technologies used to supplement or replace spoken or written communication for people who have difficulty producing or understanding speech. AAC encompasses unaided m…
- Augmented Communicator (AC, AAC User, Aided Communicator)
- A person who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to express themselves, typically because a disability affects their ability to produce speech. Augmented communicators use…
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- A technology that overlays digital information—such as images, text, or 3D objects—onto the real-world environment in real time, typically viewed through a head-mounted display, smartphone, or tablet.…
- Augmented Reality Intervention (AR Intervention, AR-Based Intervention)
- The use of augmented reality technology to deliver therapeutic or supportive interventions by overlaying digital content onto a person's real-world view. For OCD, proposed AR interventions include pla…
- Authorable Virtual Peer (AVP)
- A life-sized animated virtual character technology designed to support social skills development in children with autism and related disorders. Unlike passive virtual agents, authorable virtual peers …