Glossary

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Accelerometer

A sensor that measures acceleration forces, including the constant force of gravity, along one or more axes. Accelerometers in smartphones and wearable devices detect device orientation, movement, and gestures. In accessibility applications, accelerometer data enables…

Alternative input device(also: Alternative access method, Switch access)

Any input method that replaces or supplements standard keyboard, mouse, or joystick interfaces to enable people with motor impairments to operate computers, wheelchairs, and other technology. Examples include sip-and-puff controllers, eye-tracking systems, head switches, voice…

Augmented reality(also: AR)

A technology that overlays digital information — such as text, images, highlights, or 3D objects — onto the user's view of the real world, typically through smart glasses, head-mounted displays, or smartphone cameras. In accessibility applications, augmented reality can…

BLE Beacon(also: Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon, iBeacon, Bluetooth Beacon)

A BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon is a small wireless transmitter that broadcasts a signal at regular intervals, which can be detected by nearby smartphones to determine a user's indoor location. In accessibility contexts, networks of BLE beacons are widely used to enable…

Bluetooth(also: BLE, Bluetooth Low Energy)

A short-range wireless communication standard used to exchange data between devices over distances of up to approximately 30 metres. In accessibility, Bluetooth is widely used in assistive technology: hearing aids use Bluetooth to stream audio directly from phones and…

Bone Conduction Headphones(also: Bone Conducting Headphones, Bonephones)

Audio devices that transmit sound through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Unlike traditional headphones, bone conduction headphones leave the ear canal open, allowing users to hear environmental sounds while receiving audio…

Bone conduction(also: Bone conduction hearing, Bone anchored hearing)

Bone conduction is a method of sound transmission that delivers audio vibrations through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. Bone conduction technology is used in hearing aids and headphones designed for people with conductive…

Bone conduction headphones(also: Bone conduction earphones, Bone conduction audio)

Audio devices that transmit sound through vibrations on the skull bones rather than through the ear canal, leaving the ears open to ambient environmental sounds. For people with visual impairments using navigation assistants, bone conduction headphones are essential for…

Braille Embosser(also: Braille Printer)

A specialized printer that produces braille text and tactile graphics by pressing raised dots into heavy paper or card stock. Braille embossers range from personal devices to high-volume production machines and vary in their ability to produce graphics versus text-only output.…

Braille Notetaker(also: Braille Note Taker, Braille PDA)

A portable electronic device designed specifically for blind and low-vision users that combines a refreshable Braille display with a Braille keyboard for input, allowing users to take notes, read documents, browse the web, and manage files. Unlike general-purpose computers with…

Braille display(also: Refreshable braille display, Braille terminal)

An electromechanical device that renders text as tactile braille characters using small pins that raise and lower dynamically. Braille displays connect to computers and mobile devices, enabling blind and deafblind users to read digital content through touch. They are…

Breadboard(also: Solderless Breadboard, Protoboard)

A reusable plastic board with a grid of interconnected holes used for building temporary electronic circuits without soldering. Components are inserted into the holes and connected by internal metal strips. Breadboards are essential tools in electronics education and…

Buddy Button

A widely used commercial assistive technology switch manufactured by AbleNet, designed for single-switch access to computers, communication devices, and adapted toys. Buddy Buttons are large, colorful, easy-to-activate mechanical switches that can be positioned on various body…

Capacitive Touch(also: Capacitive Sensing, Capacitive Touch Sensing)

A touch detection technology that works by measuring changes in electrical capacitance when a conductive object, such as a human finger, comes near or contacts an electrode surface. The finger and electrode form a capacitor whose capacitance changes upon contact, and this change…

Charge-Coupled Device(also: CCD)

An electronic light sensor used in cameras and scanners that converts light into electrical signals. CCDs capture images by accumulating electric charge in proportion to the intensity of light hitting each pixel. In accessibility applications, CCD sensors are used in optical…

Control Surface(also: Hardware Controller, Mixing Console Controller)

A control surface is a hardware device with physical knobs, sliders, and buttons that maps to the controls of a software application, most commonly a digital audio workstation (DAW). For people with visual impairments, control surfaces provide essential tactile access to…

Depth Camera(also: Depth Sensor, RGB-D Camera, 3D Camera)

A depth camera is a device that captures both standard visual imagery and per-pixel distance information, producing a 3D representation of the scene. Technologies include structured light (projecting patterns and measuring distortion), time-of-flight (measuring how long light…

Depth Sensor(also: Depth Camera, RGB-D Sensor, 3D Sensor)

A device that captures three-dimensional depth information about a scene in addition to standard two-dimensional imagery. Depth sensors measure the distance from the camera to objects in the environment, enabling more accurate detection and tracking of faces, hands, and body…

Digital Crown(also: Watch Crown, Rotary Input)

A physical rotary input control on the Apple Watch and some other smartwatches that can be turned to scroll, navigate, or adjust values. The digital crown provides tactile, proportional input that does not require looking at a screen, making it valuable for accessibility…

Digital Signal Processor(also: DSP)

A specialised microprocessor designed to perform mathematical operations on digital signals in real time, such as filtering, compression, and pattern recognition. In assistive technology, DSPs are used in hearing aids to process and amplify sound, in speech recognition systems,…

Digital fabrication(also: Fab, Digital manufacturing)

The process of creating physical objects from digital designs using computer-controlled tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines. In accessibility contexts, digital fabrication enables the creation of customised assistive devices tailored to individual needs —…

Dual Channel Audio(also: Dual Audio Channel, Two-Channel Audio)

An audio configuration that provides two independent, simultaneous audio streams to a user, typically through separate channels in a headset. In assistive technology, dual channel audio is important for vision impaired users in call centre environments who need to hear screen…

Electromagnetic Actuation(also: EM Actuation)

A method of producing physical movement using electromagnetic fields generated by electric coils. In accessibility contexts, electromagnetic actuation is used to move tactile elements — such as magnetic markers or braille pins — to create dynamic tactile displays and interfaces…

Electromagnetic Tracking(also: Magnetic Tracking, 6-DOF Tracking)

Electromagnetic tracking is a position and orientation sensing technology that uses electromagnetic fields to determine the location and rotation of a sensor in three-dimensional space. Systems like the Polhemus tracker generate a low-frequency magnetic field from a stationary…

Embedded System(also: Embedded Device, Embedded Computer)

A specialised computer system designed to perform a dedicated function within a larger device, typically operating with real-time constraints and limited resources. Unlike general-purpose computers, embedded systems are built into the products they control. In assistive…

Embosser(also: Braille Embosser, Tactile Graphics Embosser)

A device that creates raised (embossed) output on paper or other materials, used to produce braille text and tactile graphics for people who are blind or have low vision. Braille embossers function similarly to printers but press dots upward into heavy paper to create tactile…

End Effector(also: Haptic Stylus, Haptic Pen)

The physical component of a haptic device that the user directly touches or manipulates to interact with a virtual environment. In assistive technology contexts, end effectors translate digital information into tactile sensations — the device applies forces, vibrations, or…

FPGA(also: Field-Programmable Gate Array)

An integrated circuit that can be configured by the user after manufacturing to implement custom digital logic. FPGAs contain an array of programmable logic blocks and interconnects that can be reprogrammed to perform different functions. In assistive technology, FPGAs enable…

Flatbed Scanner(also: Desktop Scanner, Document Scanner)

A device that uses a flat glass surface on which documents or books are placed face-down to be digitised by a sensor that moves beneath the glass. In assistive technology, flatbed scanners have been used with optical character recognition (OCR) and text-to-speech software to…

Force-Sensing Resistor(also: FSR, Force Sensor)

A sensor that decreases in electrical resistance when physical pressure is applied to its surface. Force-sensing resistors are commonly used in assistive technology and accessibility applications to create pressure-sensitive input devices, haptic feedback systems, and adaptive…

Form Factor(also: Device Form Factor, Handset Form Factor)

Form factor refers to the overall physical size, shape, weight, and mechanical configuration of a device — for mobile phones this includes distinctions like candy-bar, clamshell (flip), slide-out keyboard, foldable, and modern all-touch slab. Form factor has direct accessibility…

Graphics Tablet(also: Drawing Tablet, Pen Tablet, Digitiser Tablet)

An input device consisting of a flat surface on which a user draws or points with a stylus to interact with a computer. Graphics tablets translate the position and pressure of the stylus into cursor movements on screen. For users with motor impairments who find a mouse difficult…

Gyroscope(also: Gyro Sensor)

A sensor that measures rotational velocity around one or more axes, detecting how quickly a device is being turned or twisted. Combined with accelerometers in an inertial measurement unit, gyroscopes provide detailed motion tracking that enables gesture recognition, orientation…

Haptic Device(also: Haptic Interface, Force-Feedback Device, Tactile Device)

A hardware device that provides tactile or force feedback to users, enabling them to feel virtual objects, textures, resistance, or vibrations. Haptic devices range from simple vibration motors in smartphones to sophisticated force-feedback systems like the Geomagic Touch…

Haptic Handle(also: Tactile handle)

A grip on a mobility or guidance device (robot, smart cane, haptic rein, etc.) that conveys information to the user through touch — typically via buttons, vibrotactile feedback, or physical coupling to the device's motion. On suitcase-shaped navigation robots for blind users, a…

Head-Mounted Display(also: HMD, VR Headset, AR Headset)

A wearable device worn on the head that places a display in front of the user's eyes to present virtual or augmented content. HMDs range from fully immersive VR headsets (like Meta Quest) that replace the visual environment to AR glasses that overlay digital information on the…

Head-Mounted Display (HMD)(also: HMD, Head-Mounted Display, Smart 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 accessibility applications, HMDs can present captions, sign language…

Head-mounted display(also: 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-captured and digitally processed view (video see-through). For people with low vision,…

HoloLens(also: Microsoft HoloLens)

A self-contained, wearable mixed reality headset developed by Microsoft that overlays interactive holograms onto the user's real-world environment. HoloLens uses spatial mapping, gaze tracking, gesture recognition (air-tap), voice commands, and a physical clicker for…

Human Interface Device(also: HID, Input Device, Peripheral)

Any device used to facilitate interaction between a human and a computer, including keyboards, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touchscreens, switches, and eye-tracking systems. The USB HID standard defines a protocol for these devices that enables plug-and-play compatibility. For…

Impulse Engine(also: Impulse Engine 3000)

The Impulse Engine 3000 was a force-feedback haptic device manufactured by Immersion Corporation in the 1990s, used for research into haptic interfaces and virtual reality. The device featured a probe that users manipulated in three degrees of freedom (forward/backward, up/down,…

Inertial Measurement Unit(also: IMU)

An electronic sensor module that combines accelerometers and gyroscopes (and sometimes magnetometers) to measure motion, orientation, and gravitational forces. IMUs are embedded in smartphones, smartwatches, and other wearable devices, where they can detect gestures, track…

Inertial Sensors(also: 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/compass heading). In accessibility applications, inertial sensors enable indoor…

Inertial measurement unit(also: IMU)

A sensor device that combines accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers to measure and report body movement, orientation, and gravitational forces. IMUs are widely used in assistive technology and accessibility research for gesture recognition, body pose…

Infrared Emitting Diode(also: IRED, IR LED, Infrared LED)

A light-emitting diode that produces infrared radiation, used in assistive technology for motion tracking and position sensing. IREDs are commonly used in head-tracking systems, eye-tracking devices, and other assistive input methods where a camera detects the infrared light…

Keypad(also: Numeric Keypad, Phone Keypad, Small Keypad)

A keypad is a compact input device with a small number of keys, typically arranged in a 3x4 grid (phone keypads) or other constrained layouts. In accessibility contexts, keypads are relevant both as the *only* viable input device for some users — small physical keypads are…

Microelectrode Array(also: Utah Array, MEA)

A small grid of fine recording electrodes (typically 96 silicon shanks in a 4mm x 4mm Utah array) surgically implanted into the cerebral cortex to record the electrical activity of individual neurons and small neural populations. Microelectrode arrays are the sensing front-end…

Microsoft Kinect(also: Kinect, Kinect sensor)

A motion-sensing device that captures RGB video, depth images, and skeletal tracking data simultaneously. Originally developed for gaming, the Kinect became widely adopted in accessibility research due to its affordable price point (compared to laboratory equipment) and ability…

Motion capture(also: Mocap)

The process of recording the movement of objects or people, typically using optical systems with reflective markers, depth cameras, or body-worn sensors. Motion capture is used in accessibility research to create ground-truth datasets for developing assistive body-tracking…

Mouse(also: Computer Mouse, Optical Mouse)

A mouse is a hand-operated pointing device that translates relative motion across a flat surface into movement of an on-screen cursor, with one or more buttons and usually a scroll wheel for selection and additional commands. It is the dominant pointing device for desktop…