Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
123 results found in communication.
- TTY (TDD, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, Text Telephone, Teletypewriter, Teletype)
- A text-based telecommunications device that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities to communicate over telephone lines by typing messages that are displayed on a scr…
- TTY Relay Service (Telecommunications Relay Service, TRS, Text Telephone Relay)
- A telecommunications service that enables people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone through a relay operator who converts between text and voice. Us…
- Talking Mats
- A visual communication framework that uses a textured mat and sets of picture symbols to help people express their views on topics that matter to them. Developed at the University of Stirling, Talking…
- Technical Agency
- Technical agency, in the context of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), refers to an individual's ability to actively participate in and contribute to a conversation through direct actio…
- Telegraphic Speech (Telegraphic Input, Compressed Speech)
- A simplified form of communication that uses only essential content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) while omitting function words (articles, prepositions, conjunctions) and grammatical inflections. I…
- Text-to-Speech (TTS, Speech Synthesis, Screen Reading)
- Technology that converts written text into spoken audio output, using either pre-recorded speech segments or synthesized voices. Text-to-speech is a foundational accessibility technology used by scree…
- Transactional Communication Model
- The most dynamic model of communication, in which all parties are simultaneously senders and receivers, co-creating meaning through instantaneous, continuous feedback. In this model, communication is …
- Transcription (Speech-to-Text Transcription, Real-Time Transcription)
- The process of converting spoken language into written text, either in real time or after the fact. In accessibility contexts, transcription services provide communication access for deaf and hard of …
- Trouble-Indicating Behavior (TIB, Trouble Source-Repair)
- Verbal or nonverbal behaviors that signal confusion, misunderstanding, or difficulty in communication. In research on dementia and human-robot interaction, TIBs are categorized into types including: r…
- Turn Taking (Conversational Turn-Taking, Turn-Taking)
- The pragmatic skill of alternating speaking and listening roles during conversation, including knowing when to speak, how long to speak, and how to signal readiness to yield or take a turn. Turn takin…
- Turn-Taking (Conversational Turn-Taking, Floor Management)
- The process by which speakers in a conversation negotiate who speaks when, managing transitions between speakers through verbal and non-verbal cues. Turn-taking involves recognizing when a speaker is …
- VR-ASL (Virtual Reality American Sign Language)
- A simplified adaptation of American Sign Language (ASL) designed for use in virtual reality environments where current controller tracking technology cannot capture the full range of hand and finger m…
- Video Communication (Video Relay, Video-Based Communication)
- The use of video technology for real-time or asynchronous communication, including video calls, video messages, and video posts on social media. Video communication is the primary medium for remote si…
- Video Remote Interpreter (VRI, Video Remote Interpreting, Video Relay Interpreting)
- A video telecommunication service that provides sign language interpretation remotely via video connection. VRI allows deaf or hard of hearing individuals to communicate with hearing people through an…
- Viseme (Visual Phoneme)
- The visual equivalent of a phoneme — the distinct mouth shape or lip position that corresponds to a speech sound as seen on a speaker's face. Unlike phonemes, which are auditory units, visemes are vis…
- Visual Interpretation Services (VIS, Remote Sighted Assistance, Visual Assistance Services)
- Visual interpretation services are technology platforms that connect blind and low vision users with sighted assistants (either human volunteers or paid professionals) who provide real-time visual des…
- Visual Scene Display (VSD)
- A type of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) layout that uses photographs or images of real-world scenes with embedded interactive hotspots that produce speech output when selected. Unli…
- Vlog (Video Blog, Video Blogging, Vlogging)
- A video-based form of blogging where individuals create and share content through recorded video rather than written text. For Deaf communities, vlogging has become a particularly important communicat…
- Voice prosthesis (speech prosthesis, voice restoration device)
- A device that enables speech production for people who have lost their natural voice, typically due to laryngectomy or severe laryngeal damage. Voice prostheses include external devices like electrola…
- Voice rest (vocal rest, voice therapy)
- A prescribed period of reduced or eliminated voice use, typically following laryngeal surgery, vocal cord injury, or to treat voice disorders. During voice rest, patients may be instructed to whisper …