Glossary

Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.

72 results found in media accessibility.

360-Degree Video (360 Video, VR360, Spherical Video, Omnidirectional Video)
Video content recorded or rendered to cover the full 360-degree sphere around the viewer, allowing them to look in any direction during playback. When viewed in a virtual reality headset, 360-degree v…
AI Dubbing (AI Voice Generation, Neural TTS Dubbing)
The use of artificial intelligence text-to-speech systems to generate spoken narration and character dialogue for media production. In accessible webtoon and comic production, AI dubbing offers a cost…
Anchored Generative Model (Anchored Transformation Model)
A constrained AI generation approach where content creators define upper and lower bounds (anchors) of acceptable variation, and a generative model interpolates between these boundaries based on user …
Audio Describer (Describer, AD Writer)
A professional who writes and sometimes narrates audio descriptions for film, television, live performance, museums, and digital media. Audio describers craft concise verbal narration that conveys ess…
Audio Description (AD, Descriptive Audio, Audio Narration)
A narration track that describes visual elements of media, exhibitions, performances, or environments for people who are blind or have low vision. In museums, audio descriptions provide verbal account…
Audio Description Customization (Personalized Audio Description, Adaptive AD)
The ability for users to adjust the content and presentation of audio descriptions for video media based on their individual preferences. Customization dimensions may include detail level, emphasis on…
Audio Ducking (Volume Ducking, Sidechain Compression)
An audio production technique that automatically reduces the volume of one audio track (such as background music or sound effects) when another track (such as narration or dialogue) is playing, ensuri…
Audio Effect Placement (AE Placement, Sound Effect Timing)
The strategic timing of sound effects relative to narration or audio description in accessible media. Three primary placement strategies have been studied: pre-placement (sound effects before narratio…
Auditory Description (Audio Description, Spoken Description, Verbal Description)
The practice of providing spoken narration that describes visual information, making content accessible to people who are blind, have low vision, or benefit from auditory reinforcement of visual conte…
Auditory Satisfaction
The overall positive emotional and cognitive response users experience after engaging with audio content, encompassing contentment with auditory features, narration style, and technical quality. In ac…
Background Music (BGM, Underscore)
Continuous music that plays beneath narration or dialogue to establish mood, atmosphere, and emotional tone in media. In accessible audio production, background music should be distinguished from disc…
Caption Customization (Caption Personalization, Adaptive Captioning)
The ability for viewers to adjust caption properties to match their individual preferences and needs. Caption customization can encompass visual attributes like font size, color, and positioning, as w…
Caption Density
The amount of caption text displayed on screen relative to the available display time and screen space. High caption density—common in fast-paced scenes with many sound events—can overwhelm viewers by…
Caption Occlusion (Caption Blocking, Subtitle Occlusion)
The phenomenon where captions or subtitles visually block or cover other important information displayed on a video screen. Caption occlusion is a significant accessibility concern for Deaf and Hard o…
Caption Placement (Caption Positioning, Subtitle Placement)
The decision of where captions or subtitles are positioned on a video screen, which significantly affects the viewing experience of Deaf and Hard of Hearing users. Poor caption placement can occlude i…
Caption Readability
The ease with which viewers can read and process caption text on screen, influenced by factors including font size, display duration, caption density, reading speed requirements, and competition with …
Captioning Key (DCMP Captioning Key)
A set of guidelines and best practices for creating high-quality captions, most notably published by the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP). The Captioning Key covers standards for caption a…
Closed Captioning (CC, Closed Captions)
Text displayed on screen that represents dialogue, sound effects, music, and other audio information in video content, which viewers can toggle on or off. Unlike open captions, closed captions are a s…
Closed Captioning (CC, Closed Captions)
Text displayed on a screen that transcribes spoken dialogue, identifies speakers, and describes relevant sound effects in video content. Unlike open captions which are permanently embedded in the vide…
Community Sourcing (Community-Driven Accessibility)
An approach to creating accessible content by drawing on community members who have domain expertise or vested interest in the content, rather than relying on professional describers or general crowdw…