Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
28 results found in emerging technology.
- 3D Instance Segmentation
- 3D instance segmentation is a computer vision technique that identifies and delineates individual objects within a three-dimensional point cloud or mesh, assigning a distinct label to each detected in…
- ARKit (Apple ARKit)
- ARKit is Apple's augmented reality development framework for iOS that enables developers to create AR experiences for iPhone and iPad. It uses the device's camera, motion sensors, and processor to det…
- Adaptive Environment (Adaptive System, Responsive Environment)
- A physical or digital space that automatically adjusts its properties and behaviours in response to the people within it. Adaptive environments use sensors, machine learning, and actuators to modify l…
- Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
- A family of in-vehicle technologies that partially automate driving tasks — adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, automatic emergency braking, parking assistance, blind-spot monitoring — while a huma…
- Ambient Intelligence (AmI)
- An environment enriched with networked, sensor-equipped devices that are sensitive and responsive to the presence and needs of people within it. Ambient intelligence systems anticipate user requiremen…
- Automated Employment Decision System (AEDS, AEDT, Automated Employment Decision Tool)
- A software system that screens, evaluates, categorises, recommends, or otherwise makes or facilitates hiring or employment decisions about job candidates or workers. AEDSs span résumé sorters, persona…
- Autonomous Ferry (Self-Driving Ferry, Autonomous Passenger Ferry)
- A waterborne passenger vessel that navigates, docks, and avoids obstacles without a human pilot, typically using a sensor suite (cameras, radar, LiDAR, ultrasonic, IMU, GNSS) and a shore-based supervi…
- Autonomous Vehicle (AV, Self-Driving Car, Automated Driving System, ADS)
- A vehicle equipped with technology that enables it to navigate and operate without human input, ranging from partial automation features like adaptive cruise control to fully autonomous systems that h…
- Brain-Computer Interface (BCI, Brain-Machine Interface, BMI, Neural Interface)
- A technology that enables direct communication between the brain and an external device by detecting and interpreting neural activity, typically through electroencephalography (EEG) or electromyograph…
- Brain-Machine Interface (BMI, Brain-Computer Interface, BCI, Neural Interface)
- A technology that translates brain activity—typically measured via electroencephalography (EEG), electrocorticography, or implanted electrodes—into commands for controlling external devices such as co…
- Calm Technology (Peripheral Computing, Ambient Computing)
- A design philosophy originated at Xerox PARC in which technology communicates information through the periphery of a user's attention rather than demanding direct focus. Calm technology moves between …
- Digital Twin
- A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical object, space, or system that is updated in real time to mirror its real-world counterpart. In accessibility contexts, digital twins of physical envir…
- Esports (Competitive Gaming, Electronic Sports, E-Sports)
- Organised, competitive video-game play — typically involving tournaments, teams, audiences, and professional players. Esports has grown into a major global industry and a site of accessibility researc…
- Fully Autonomous Vehicle (FAV, Level 5 Autonomous Vehicle, Self-Driving Car, Driverless Vehicle)
- A vehicle capable of performing all driving functions without any human intervention, classified as SAE Level 5 automation. Unlike semi-autonomous vehicles that require a human driver as backup, FAVs …
- Geofencing (Geo-Fencing, Virtual Boundary)
- Geofencing is a technology that creates virtual geographic boundaries using GPS, RFID, or other location-based data to trigger actions when a device enters or exits a defined area. In accessibility co…
- Human Augmentation (Body Augmentation, Augmentative Technology)
- Technologies that extend or enhance human physical or cognitive capabilities beyond their current state, including robotic exoskeletons, prosthetic limbs, sensory substitution devices, and brain-compu…
- Information Retrieval (IR)
- The science of searching for and extracting relevant information from large collections of documents or data. In accessibility, information retrieval techniques such as keyword extraction, text summar…
- Keyword Extraction (Key Term Extraction, Automatic Keyword Extraction)
- A natural language processing technique that automatically identifies the most important or representative words and phrases in a document. In accessibility, keyword extraction can provide blind users…
- Metaverse
- The metaverse refers to a persistent, interconnected network of virtual and mixed-reality spaces where users can interact, collaborate, and engage with digital content and each other in real time. It …
- Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS, Transportation-as-a-Service)
- A transportation model that integrates various mobility services (public transit, ridesharing, bike-sharing, car rentals) into a single accessible platform, typically via a smartphone app. For people …