Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
116 results found in technology.
- Human Computation
- A computing paradigm in which humans perform tasks that computers cannot yet do reliably, often embedded within systems that combine human and machine capabilities. The classic example is reCAPTCHA, w…
- HyDE (Hypothetical Document Embeddings)
- A query-expansion technique for retrieval-augmented generation in which an LLM is first asked to generate a hypothetical answer to the user's question, and that hypothetical answer — rather than (or a…
- Hybrid Space (Blended Space, Hybrid Community Space)
- A community or program environment that combines both in-person and online elements, not necessarily simultaneously, to create a more accessible and inclusive experience. In accessibility contexts, hy…
- ICT4D (Information and Communication Technologies for Development, ICTD)
- A field of research and practice focused on how information and communication technologies can be designed, deployed, and used to support social and economic development, particularly in low- and midd…
- IDE (Integrated Development Environment)
- A software application that provides a comprehensive environment for writing, testing, and debugging code. Common IDEs include Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and Xcode. In accessibility contexts, …
- Inertial Sensors (IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit)
- Electronic sensors that measure motion and orientation, typically including accelerometers (measuring acceleration/tilt), gyroscopes (measuring rotation), and magnetometers (measuring magnetic field/c…
- Instructional Technology (Educational Technology, EdTech)
- Digital technologies intentionally designed and used for teaching and learning purposes, including learning management systems (Google Classroom, Canvas), educational software (Khan Academy, MyMathLab…
- Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA, Virtual Assistant, AI Assistant, Digital Assistant)
- A software agent that uses natural language processing and speech recognition to perform tasks, answer questions, and control devices on behalf of a user. Examples include Amazon Alexa, Google Assista…
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- A network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity that enables them to collect and exchange data over the internet. In accessibility contexts, IoT devices—including smart…
- Interoperability
- The ability of different systems, devices, applications, or products to connect and communicate with each other in a coordinated way, without requiring special effort from the user. In accessibility, …
- LLM (Large Language Model)
- A large neural network trained on enormous volumes of text (and often code and images) to predict and generate natural language. Modern LLMs such as GPT-5, Claude, and Gemini can follow instructions, …
- Landmark Extraction (Keypoint Detection, Skeletal Tracking)
- A computer vision technique that identifies and tracks specific anatomical points (landmarks or keypoints) on the human body, hands, and face from images or video. In sign language technology, landmar…
- Linked Data (Linked Open Data, LOD)
- A method of publishing structured data on the web so that it can be interlinked and queried across different sources using standard web technologies such as URIs and RDF (Resource Description Framewor…
- Linked Data (Linked Open Data, LOD)
- A method of publishing structured data on the web so that it can be interlinked and queried across different sources using Semantic Web technologies such as RDF, URIs, and SPARQL. Linked Data principl…
- Localization (Position Estimation, Indoor Localization, User Localization)
- Localization is the process of determining a user's position within an environment, typically using a combination of sensors such as GPS, inertial measurement units, BLE beacons, Wi-Fi signals, or com…
- Location-Based Service (LBS, Location-Based Services)
- A software application or platform that uses geographic position data — from GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth beacons, or other localization technologies — to deliver context-aware information or functionality t…
- MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
- A technical standard for communication between electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices. MIDI transmits digital messages representing musical events like note-on, note-off,…
- MLLM (Multimodal LLM, Multimodal Large Language Model)
- A large language model extended to accept and reason over multiple input modalities — typically images and text, and sometimes audio or video — in addition to producing natural-language output. Exampl…
- Machine Learning (ML)
- A branch of artificial intelligence in which computer systems learn patterns from data to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed for each scenario. In accessibility contexts…
- Math OCR (Mathematical OCR, Scientific Document Recognition)
- Optical character recognition technology specifically designed to recognize and convert mathematical expressions, formulas, and scientific notation from printed or PDF documents into accessible digita…