Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
28 results found in wearable technology.
- Activity Tracker (Fitness Tracker, Step Counter, Fitness Band)
- An activity tracker is a wearable device or smartphone application that monitors and records physical activity data such as steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, heart rate, and sleep patte…
- Augmented Reality (AR) (AR, Augmented Reality)
- An interactive technology that overlays digital information — such as text, images, or video — onto the real-world environment in real time. In accessibility contexts, AR has significant potential for…
- Bone Conduction (Bone Conduction Headphones, Bone Conduction Audio)
- A method of transmitting sound vibrations through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Bone conduction headphones rest on the cheekbones or temples rat…
- Chest-Mounted Camera (Body-Worn Camera, Torso Camera)
- A wearable camera mounted on the user's chest or torso to capture a first-person perspective of activities. In accessibility research, chest-mounted cameras are used to record BLV users' daily activit…
- Data Glove (digital glove, sensor glove, wired glove)
- A wearable input device equipped with sensors to capture hand and finger movements, positions, and orientations. Data gloves use technologies like gyroscopes, accelerometers, flex sensors, or fiber op…
- Egocentric Camera (First-Person Camera, POV Camera)
- A camera that captures video from the wearer's point of view, typically mounted on the head, glasses, or chest. Egocentric video captures what the user sees or interacts with, making it valuable for a…
- Electromyography (EMG, Electromyogram)
- Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for measuring the electrical activity produced by muscles when they contract or are at rest. In accessibility and assistive technology, EMG sensors placed on the …
- Finger-mounted Camera (Fingertip Camera, Wearable Finger Camera)
- A small camera device worn on the finger that enables direct, tactile interaction with printed documents for blind and low-vision users. Unlike handheld or phone-based cameras, finger-mounted systems …
- Haptic Feedback (Tactile Feedback, Haptics)
- Technology that communicates information through the sense of touch, using vibrations, pressure, or motion applied to the user's body. In accessibility, haptic feedback provides a non-visual, non-audi…
- Haptic Glove (Data Glove, Tactile Glove, Wearable Haptic Device)
- A wearable device worn on the hand that provides tactile feedback through vibration motors, piezoelectric actuators, pin arrays, or other mechanisms embedded in the fingers and palm. In accessibility …
- Haptic Wearable (Haptic Wearable Device, Wearable Haptic Technology)
- A body-worn electronic device that communicates information through touch sensations such as vibration, pressure, or temperature changes. In accessibility contexts, haptic wearables can serve as assis…
- Head-Mounted Display (HMD) (HMD, Head-Mounted Display, Smart Glasses, AR Glasses)
- A display device worn on the head that places visual content in front of one or both eyes. Head-mounted displays include AR smart glasses (like Vuzix Blade), VR headsets, and mixed reality devices. In…
- Head-mounted display (HMD, Smart glasses, Head-worn display)
- A wearable device that positions a display in front of one or both eyes, either overlaying digital content onto the real world (optical see-through) or replacing the visual field with a camera-capture…
- Human Activity Recognition (HAR, Activity Recognition)
- A field of machine learning and ubiquitous computing that uses sensor data — typically from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and other sensors in smartphones, smartwatches, or other wearable devices — to a…
- Imaginary Interface (Spatial Memory Interface, Empty-Handed Interaction)
- An interaction paradigm where users interact with a virtual interface mapped to empty space or their own body, without any physical device in the interaction area. Users transfer their spatial memory …
- Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses (Ray-Ban Meta, Meta Smart Glasses)
- Consumer smart glasses produced through a partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban that integrate cameras, speakers, and microphones into a conventional eyewear form factor. When paired with Meta's Live A…
- Obstacle Detection (Obstacle Avoidance)
- Technology or techniques that identify physical barriers in a person's path and alert them in time to take corrective action. For people who are blind or visually impaired, obstacle detection systems …
- On-body Input (Skin-based Input, Body-based Interaction)
- An interaction technique that uses the surface of the user's own body — typically the hand, arm, or other skin areas — as an input surface for controlling digital devices. On-body input is sensed thro…
- Peltier Module (Peltier Device, Thermoelectric Module, TEC Module)
- A Peltier module is a thermoelectric device that creates a temperature difference when electrical current is applied, with one side heating up and the other cooling down. In assistive technology, flex…
- Photoplethysmography (PPG)
- A non-invasive optical technique used to detect blood volume changes in peripheral circulation, commonly implemented in wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. PPG sensors use light (…