Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
42 results found in hardware.
- Accelerometer
- A sensor that measures acceleration forces, including the constant force of gravity, along one or more axes. Accelerometers in smartphones and wearable devices detect device orientation, movement, and…
- BLE Beacon (Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon, iBeacon, Bluetooth Beacon)
- A BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon is a small wireless transmitter that broadcasts a signal at regular intervals, which can be detected by nearby smartphones to determine a user's indoor location. In…
- Bone Conduction Headphones (Bone Conducting Headphones, Bonephones)
- Audio devices that transmit sound through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Unlike traditional headphones, bone conduction headphones leave the ear …
- Bone conduction (Bone conduction hearing, Bone anchored hearing)
- Bone conduction is a method of sound transmission that delivers audio vibrations through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Bone conduction technolog…
- Bone conduction headphones (Bone conduction earphones, Bone conduction audio)
- Audio devices that transmit sound through vibrations on the skull bones rather than through the ear canal, leaving the ears open to ambient environmental sounds. For people with visual impairments usi…
- Braille Embosser (Braille Printer)
- A specialized printer that produces braille text and tactile graphics by pressing raised dots into heavy paper or card stock. Braille embossers range from personal devices to high-volume production ma…
- Braille Notetaker (Braille Note Taker, Braille PDA)
- A portable electronic device designed specifically for blind and low-vision users that combines a refreshable Braille display with a Braille keyboard for input, allowing users to take notes, read docu…
- Breadboard (Solderless Breadboard, Protoboard)
- A reusable plastic board with a grid of interconnected holes used for building temporary electronic circuits without soldering. Components are inserted into the holes and connected by internal metal s…
- Buddy Button
- A widely used commercial assistive technology switch manufactured by AbleNet, designed for single-switch access to computers, communication devices, and adapted toys. Buddy Buttons are large, colorful…
- Capacitive Touch (Capacitive Sensing, Capacitive Touch Sensing)
- A touch detection technology that works by measuring changes in electrical capacitance when a conductive object, such as a human finger, comes near or contacts an electrode surface. The finger and ele…
- Control Surface (Hardware Controller, Mixing Console Controller)
- A control surface is a hardware device with physical knobs, sliders, and buttons that maps to the controls of a software application, most commonly a digital audio workstation (DAW). For people with v…
- Depth Sensor (Depth Camera, RGB-D Sensor, 3D Sensor)
- A device that captures three-dimensional depth information about a scene in addition to standard two-dimensional imagery. Depth sensors measure the distance from the camera to objects in the environme…
- Digital Crown (Watch Crown, Rotary Input)
- A physical rotary input control on the Apple Watch and some other smartwatches that can be turned to scroll, navigate, or adjust values. The digital crown provides tactile, proportional input that doe…
- Electromagnetic Actuation (EM Actuation)
- A method of producing physical movement using electromagnetic fields generated by electric coils. In accessibility contexts, electromagnetic actuation is used to move tactile elements — such as magnet…
- Embosser (Braille Embosser, Tactile Graphics Embosser)
- A device that creates raised (embossed) output on paper or other materials, used to produce braille text and tactile graphics for people who are blind or have low vision. Braille embossers function si…
- End Effector (Haptic Stylus, Haptic Pen)
- The physical component of a haptic device that the user directly touches or manipulates to interact with a virtual environment. In assistive technology contexts, end effectors translate digital inform…
- Force-Sensing Resistor (FSR, Force Sensor)
- A sensor that decreases in electrical resistance when physical pressure is applied to its surface. Force-sensing resistors are commonly used in assistive technology and accessibility applications to c…
- Gyroscope (Gyro Sensor)
- A sensor that measures rotational velocity around one or more axes, detecting how quickly a device is being turned or twisted. Combined with accelerometers in an inertial measurement unit, gyroscopes …
- Haptic Handle (Tactile handle)
- A grip on a mobility or guidance device (robot, smart cane, haptic rein, etc.) that conveys information to the user through touch — typically via buttons, vibrotactile feedback, or physical coupling t…
- Head-Mounted Display (HMD, VR Headset, AR Headset)
- A wearable device worn on the head that places a display in front of the user's eyes to present virtual or augmented content. HMDs range from fully immersive VR headsets (like Meta Quest) that replace…