Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
6660 terms — page 247 of 333
- SUDS (Subjective Units of Distress Scale, Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale)
- A self-report scale, typically ranging from 0 to 100 or 0 to 10, used to measure the intensity of subjective distress or anxiety experienced by an individual in a given moment. SUDS ratings are widely…
- SUMI (Software Usability Measurement Inventory)
- A standardised questionnaire-based method for measuring software usability from the end user perspective. SUMI assesses five dimensions: efficiency, affect (user satisfaction), helpfulness, control, a…
- SUS (System Usability Scale)
- Abbreviation for System Usability Scale, a ten-item questionnaire developed by John Brooke in 1986 that produces a single usability score from 0 to 100 based on user ratings of agreement with statemen…
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- An XML-based markup language for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, widely used on the web for icons, illustrations, data visualizations, and interactive graphics. Unlike raster images (JPEG,…
- SWIM Method (Someone Who Isn't Me, SWIM Technique, SWIM Video Prompts)
- A participatory design technique where fictional characters ("someone who isn't me") are used in narrative scenarios to help co-designers envision and discuss technology concepts without the cognitive…
- Saccade (Saccadic Eye Movement)
- A rapid, ballistic eye movement that shifts the point of fixation from one location to another. Saccades are essential for visual search, reading, and scanning the environment. In low-vision rehabilit…
- Saccade (Saccadic Eye Movement)
- A rapid, ballistic eye movement that shifts the point of gaze from one fixation location to another. Saccades typically last 20 to 200 milliseconds, and visual processing is largely suppressed during …
- Safe Walking Technology (Safe Walking Aids, Walking Safety Devices)
- Assistive technologies designed to help people with cognitive impairments, particularly dementia, walk safely outdoors. These devices typically combine GPS tracking, navigation assistance, fall detect…
- Safeguarding (Abuse Prevention, Protection from Abuse)
- The set of policies, practices, and measures designed to protect vulnerable individuals — including people with disabilities, children, and older adults — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Safegu…
- Safety Check-in (Wellness Check-in, Check-in Call)
- A safety check-in is a brief remote-communication exchange — most often a phone call, text, or app-based 'ping' — whose primary purpose is to confirm the safety and wellbeing of a person at a distance…
- Sampling Bias (Selection Bias, Participation Bias)
- A systematic error in research caused by non-random selection of participants, resulting in a sample that does not accurately represent the target population. In accessibility research, sampling bias …
- Sampling Method (Sampling, Page Sampling, Site Sampling)
- A sampling method is a rule for selecting a subset of pages, screens, or components from a larger product to be evaluated for accessibility. Because full manual evaluation of every page on a real-worl…
- Sandbagging
- The practice of deliberately underperforming in a competitive setting to obtain a more favourable handicap, ranking, or matchmaking placement, then exploiting that advantage in later matches. Sandbagg…
- Sans-Serif Font (sans serif, grotesque font)
- A typeface that lacks the small projecting lines (serifs) at the ends of letter strokes. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana are generally recommended for screen readability and are of…
- Satin Stitch
- An embroidery stitch type that creates a smooth, flat fill by laying long or short parallel stitches closely together. Satin stitch produces a relatively smooth tactile surface and is commonly used to…
- Satisficing
- A decision-making strategy where users select the first option that appears "good enough" rather than evaluating all possibilities to find the optimal choice. Coined by Herbert Simon, satisficing is c…
- Savoring
- An emotion-regulation strategy involving the mindful noticing, appreciating, and intensifying of positive experiences — past, present, or anticipated future — to support subjective wellbeing. Savoring…
- Scaffolded Learning (Scaffolding, Graduated Support)
- An instructional approach that provides structured, temporary support to help learners progressively build skills, with support gradually reduced as competence increases. In assistive technology train…
- Scaffolded interaction (Structured interaction, Guided interaction)
- A design approach where technology provides structured support that gradually guides users through increasingly complex social or cognitive tasks, with the system mechanics enforcing desired behaviour…
- Scaffolding (Instructional Scaffolding, Cognitive Scaffolding)
- A support strategy that provides temporary, structured assistance to help a learner accomplish tasks they cannot yet perform independently. In digital accessibility, scaffolding can take the form of p…