Glossary

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

40 results found in user interface.

Graphical User Interface (GUI, WIMP Interface)
A visual interface paradigm based on windows, icons, menus, and pointer (WIMP) interaction, which became dominant in personal computing from the late 1980s onward. GUIs represented a major accessibili…
Guided Incremental Search (Step-by-Step Search, Faceted Browsing)
A web navigation pattern in which users are led through a series of small, sequential choices — such as selecting categories, subcategories, and filters — to progressively narrow search results toward…
Haptic Interface (Haptic Device, Tactile Interface, Touch Interface)
An interface that communicates with users through the sense of touch, using vibrations, forces, or textures to convey information. Haptic interfaces can range from simple vibration motors in mobile de…
Human-Machine Interface (HMI, Human-Computer Interface)
The point of interaction between a human user and a machine, system, or device, encompassing the hardware and software through which users communicate with and control technology. In the context of ac…
Keyboard Shortcut (Hotkey, Keyboard Accelerator, Access Key, Shortcut Key)
A key or combination of keys that triggers a specific command or function in software without requiring navigation through menus or interface elements. Keyboard shortcuts are essential for accessibili…
Layout Customization (Visual Layout Control)
The ability to modify the spatial arrangement and visibility of visual elements within a video or interface. In video accessibility for ADHD, layout customization allows viewers to choose which visual…
Midas Touch Problem (Midas Touch Effect)
The Midas Touch problem is a well-known challenge in gaze-based and dwell-time-based computer interfaces where everything the user looks at or pauses the cursor over is interpreted as a selection comm…
Multimodal Feedback (Multi-Sensory Feedback)
The simultaneous or coordinated use of multiple sensory channels — such as auditory, tactile, and visual — to convey information to a user. In accessibility, multimodal feedback is essential for creat…
Multisensory Interface (Multimodal Interface, Multi-Sensory Feedback)
An interface that communicates information through multiple sensory channels simultaneously, such as visual, auditory, and tactile (haptic) feedback. Multisensory interfaces are particularly valuable …
Narrow-Deep Interface (Narrow-Deep UI, Wizard Interface, Step-by-Step Interface)
A user interface design pattern that presents information across many screens, with only a small amount of content per screen. Users navigate through multiple sequential screens rather than scrolling …
One-Handed Input (Single-Handed Operation, One-Handed Operation)
One-handed input refers to interaction techniques and interface designs that can be operated using a single hand, accommodating users who have limited use of one limb due to amputation, hemiplegia, st…
Panning (Screen Panning, Viewport Panning)
The act of moving the visible area of a screen magnifier or viewport across a webpage or application to view content that extends beyond the currently displayed portion. For screen-magnifier users, pa…
Pie Menu (Radial Menu, Circular Menu)
A pie menu is a circular or ring-shaped menu interface in which command options are arranged radially around a central point, allowing selection by moving the cursor or making a directional gesture to…
Preset (Default Configuration, Template Setting)
A predefined combination of settings or options that can be applied as a group, reducing the number of individual decisions a user needs to make. In accessibility interfaces, presets help users with c…
Progress Tracking (Progress Indication, Progress Visualization)
The use of visual or auditory indicators to show how far a user has advanced through a task, document, or process. In cognitive accessibility, progress tracking serves multiple functions: it provides …
Touch Target (Tap Target, Hit Area, Target Size)
A touch target is the area on a touchscreen interface that responds to a user's tap or touch input. Accessibility guidelines recommend minimum touch target sizes to ensure that people with motor impai…
User Preference Profile (Customization Profile, Personalization Profile)
A stored set of user preferences and settings that can be automatically applied to new content, reducing the need for repeated manual customization. In video accessibility for ADHD, user preference pr…
Verbosity Settings (Screen Reader Verbosity, Announcement Settings)
Configuration options that control the amount of detail a screen reader or accessible application announces to the user. Verbosity settings allow users to adjust the balance between receiving comprehe…
Voice User Interface (VUI)
A user interface that enables interaction with a device or system through spoken voice commands and audio responses. Voice user interfaces use speech recognition to interpret user input and text-to-sp…
Web Widget (Widget, UI Widget, Web Component)
A discrete, interactive user interface element within a web page that allows users to perform specific actions or view dynamic content. Widgets range from simple controls like checkboxes and dropdown …