Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
39 results found in data visualization.
- Graphicacy (Graph Literacy, Visual Literacy)
- The ability to read, interpret, and communicate information presented in graphs, charts, maps, and other visual representations of data. Graphicacy is considered a foundational literacy alongside read…
- Heat Map (Heatmap, Attention Map, Gaze Map)
- A data visualization technique that uses colour intensity to represent the distribution and density of user attention or interaction on a page or interface. In eye tracking research, heat maps aggrega…
- Hypergraph
- A mathematical structure that generalises both trees and graphs by allowing edges (called hyperedges) to connect any number of nodes rather than being limited to exactly two. In the context of accessi…
- Information Graphics (Infographics, Data Graphics, Statistical Graphics)
- Visual representations of data, information, or knowledge designed to present complex information quickly and clearly. Common types include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, and more…
- Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
- A quantifiable metric used to evaluate the success of an activity, process, or organization against defined objectives. In dashboards, KPIs are typically displayed as prominent single numbers or summa…
- Line Chart Accessibility (Accessible Line Graphs, Chart Accessibility)
- The practice of making line charts and graphs perceivable and understandable by people with visual impairments through alternative representations such as tactile graphics, sonification, speech descri…
- Monarch (Monarch Tactile Display, Dynamic Tactile Device)
- The Monarch is a multi-line refreshable tactile display developed by HumanWare and the American Printing House for the Blind, representing a significant advancement in tactile display technology. Unli…
- OM Principle (Object Model Principle)
- A design principle for accessible digital content stating that any digital object is made more accessible by using the application's designated object model for that content rather than visual workaro…
- Perceptual Congruence (Perceptually Congruent Structure)
- A design principle for accessible representations that requires the structure of a non-visual interface (such as a screen reader navigation tree) to mirror the visual structure of the original graphic…
- Pitch Mapping (Pitch-Y Mapping, Frequency Mapping)
- A sonification technique that maps data values to auditory pitch, where higher values produce higher-pitched sounds and lower values produce lower-pitched sounds. In accessibility contexts, pitch mapp…
- Relief Chart (3D Chart, Haptic Chart, Relief Graph)
- A tactile data visualization that uses height (the third dimension) to encode data values, making charts accessible to people with visual impairments through touch. Unlike flat tactile graphics that u…
- Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
- An XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics that supports interactivity and animation. Unlike bitmap formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF) which store images as grids of pixels, SVG describes sha…
- Semantic Level (Semantic Content Level, Alt Text Semantic Level)
- A framework for categorizing the depth of information conveyed in alt text descriptions of data visualizations, introduced by Lundgard and Satyanarayan. The four levels are: Level 1 (construction deta…
- Small Multiples
- A series of similar graphics or charts arranged in a grid or sequence, each showing a different frame, condition, or time point, used to illustrate change or comparison. In tactile graphics, small mul…
- Tactile Graphic Reader (Tactile Graphic Display, Tactile Image Reader)
- A device that combines physical tactile graphics (raised-line images on paper) with digital audio feedback, enabling blind and visually impaired users to explore graphical content through touch while …
- Verbosity Level (Verbosity Setting, Detail Level)
- A configurable setting that controls the amount of detail provided in text or audio descriptions of content, particularly for screen reader users and accessible data visualizations. Verbosity levels t…
- Vibro-Audio (Vibrotactile Audio, Vibro-Tactile)
- Vibro-audio is a multimodal interaction technique that combines vibration feedback from a device's built-in motor with auditory cues to convey information non-visually. On touchscreen devices, vibro-a…
- Visualization Literacy (Data Visualization Literacy, Graphical Literacy, Graph Literacy)
- The ability to read, interpret, and extract meaningful insights from visual data representations such as charts, graphs, maps, and infographics. Visualization literacy encompasses skills like identify…
- VoxLens
- An open-source JavaScript plug-in developed at the University of Washington that improves the accessibility of online data visualizations for screen-reader users through a multimodal approach. VoxLens…