Information Representation

An information representation is any structured artifact that encodes data or knowledge and allows people to interact with that content — examples include documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, diagrams, databases, and videos. Representations are fundamental to knowledge work because they externalize thought, organize information, and coordinate collaboration among team members. In accessibility contexts, information representations are frequently designed with implicit assumptions about visual perception (for example, reliance on spatial layout, colour encoding, or untagged images) that create barriers for users with disabilities. Accessible representation design requires considering how content is encoded, how it is perceived across modalities (visual, auditory, tactile), and whether assistive technologies can meaningfully interpret its structure.