Glossary

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Navilens

A navigation and information system that uses specially designed colorful QR-like codes that can be detected by a smartphone camera from long distances and wide angles, without requiring precise aiming. Originally developed for people with visual impairments, Navilens codes can…

Near-Miss Detection(also: Near-Miss Interaction)

A strategy for identifying when a user almost but not quite succeeds at a device interaction, suggesting they might benefit from an accessibility accommodation. For example, if a user repeatedly attempts a double-click but falls just outside the required timing threshold, the…

Nemeth Braille Code(also: Nemeth Code, Nemeth Mathematics Braille)

A system of Braille encoding developed by Abraham Nemeth in 1946 for representing mathematical and scientific notation, widely used in the United States and some other English-speaking countries. The Nemeth Code uses combinations of standard six-dot Braille cells with…

Neural Control(also: Neural Interface, Neural Signal Input)

A method of computer interaction where users modulate their brain signals, detected through electroencephalography (EEG) or other neural monitoring technologies, to generate input commands. Neural control users can typically produce a small number of distinct signals by…

Neural Prosthetics(also: Neuroprosthetics, Neural Prostheses)

Devices that interface directly with the nervous system to restore or supplement lost sensory, motor, or cognitive functions. Neural prosthetics can be input devices (reading neural signals to control external equipment, as in brain-computer interfaces) or output devices…

Neurofeedback(also: EEG Biofeedback, Neurotherapy)

Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time monitoring of brain electrical activity (typically via EEG) to teach individuals to self-regulate their brain function. Users receive feedback — often through visual, audio, or game-based interfaces — about their current…

Neurotrophic Electrode(also: Neurotrophic Brain Electrode, Cone Electrode)

A type of implantable brain electrode designed for long-term, stable recording of neural signals. Unlike conventional electrodes that sit on the brain surface or are inserted as rigid probes, a neurotrophic electrode consists of a hollow glass cone coated with neurotrophic…

Non-Speech Audio(also: Non-Verbal Audio, Non-Speech Sound)

Auditory output that conveys information through sounds other than spoken words — for example tones, clicks, earcons, auditory icons, musical motifs, or vowel-like timbres. Non-speech audio is widely used in accessibility because it can be faster and less cognitively demanding…

Non-Speech Input(also: Non-Speech Acoustic Input, Non-Verbal Voice Input)

A method of controlling computers or devices using sounds produced by the human vocal tract that are not recognised words — such as humming, whistling, hissing, clicking, or varying pitch and volume. Unlike speech recognition, which must wait for a complete utterance before…

Non-Verbal Vocal Interface(also: NVVI, Non-Verbal Vocal Interaction)

An interaction method that uses non-speech vocal sounds — such as humming, hummed melodies, rhythmic patterns, or vowel sounds — to control a computer or communication device. Unlike speech recognition, which requires the user to produce intelligible words, non-verbal vocal…

Non-Visual Exploration(also: Non-Visual Interaction, Non-Visual Scanning)

The process by which blind or visually impaired people gather information about their physical environment, documents, or interfaces without relying on sight. Non-visual exploration combines multiple strategies including touch, audio feedback, spatial memory, contextual…

Non-Visual Interaction(also: Non-Visual Access, Non-Visual Interface)

Methods of interacting with computer systems and digital content without relying on visual display. Non-visual interaction encompasses screen reader output, speech interfaces, keyboard navigation with audio feedback, braille displays, and haptic feedback. The Raman Principle…

Non-Visual Makeup(also: Blind Makeup Application, Accessible Makeup)

The practice and process of applying cosmetics without relying on visual feedback, as performed by people who are blind or have low vision. Non-visual makeup involves embodied, tactile-first strategies including finger-based product application for direct sensory feedback,…

Non-Visual Navigation(also: Eyes-Free Navigation, Non-Visual Wayfinding)

Strategies and technologies that enable people who are blind or have low vision to navigate physical environments without relying on visual information. Non-visual navigation uses a combination of tactile cues (textured ground surfaces, cane feedback), auditory cues (traffic…

Non-Visual Reading(also: Audio Reading, Tactile Reading)

Methods of accessing written content without relying on visual perception, including braille reading, screen reader audio output, and text-to-speech technology. Non-visual reading is essential for blind users but presents unique challenges for navigation, skimming, and…

Non-Visual Reference Database(also: Non-Visual Cooking Database)

A proposed structured collection that maps common visual descriptions used in cooking and other domains to their non-visual equivalents using texture, sound, smell, time, and temperature descriptors. For example, mapping the visual instruction "cook until golden brown" to…

Non-Visual Skimming(also: Aural Skimming, Accessible Skimming)

Non-visual skimming is the process of quickly surveying and extracting key information from text content without visual access, typically through auditory means such as screen readers. While sighted users skim by rapidly scanning text with their eyes, blind users lack an…

Non-Visual Web Access(also: Non-Visual Browsing, Nonvisual Web Access)

The use of the web without relying on visual display, typically through screen readers, voice browsers, or refreshable braille displays that convert web content into speech or tactile output. Non-visual web access depends heavily on proper semantic HTML, alternative text for…

Non-Visual Web Browser(also: Self-Voicing Browser, Audio Web Browser, Talking Browser)

A web browser specifically designed for users who cannot see the screen, providing audio-based or haptic interfaces for navigating and interacting with web content. Unlike standard screen readers that overlay existing visual browsers, non-visual browsers are purpose-built to…

Non-visual Display(also: Nonvisual Display, Non-visual Interface)

A non-visual display presents information to a user through senses other than vision — most commonly hearing (synthesized speech, earcons, sonification), touch (Braille output, vibrotactile patterns, force-feedback haptics), or combinations thereof. Non-visual displays are…

Nontraditional Assistive Technologies(also: NTATs, Nontraditional Input Technologies)

Input technologies that use physiological signals rather than physical movement to control computers, providing access for people who cannot use traditional devices like keyboards, mice, or even eye-tracking systems. NTATs include brain-computer interfaces (using EEG or fNIR),…

Nonvisual Access(also: Non-Visual Access, Nonvisual Web Access, Non-Visual Web Access)

The use of digital content, particularly web pages and applications, through means other than sight. Nonvisual access typically involves screen readers that convert text to speech, braille displays that render content tactilely, or other assistive technologies that present…

Nonvisual Accessibility(also: Non-Visual Access)

Nonvisual accessibility refers to approaches, strategies, and technologies that enable people who are blind or have low vision to access information and interact with digital and physical environments without relying on sight. This encompasses screen readers, braille displays,…

Nonvisual Programming(also: Non-Visual Programming, Blind Programming)

The practice of writing, navigating, debugging, and managing software code without relying on visual display, typically using screen readers, braille displays, and audio cues. Nonvisual programmers face unique challenges with syntax highlighting, code indentation, error…

Note-Taking Accommodation(also: Note-Taker Service, Classroom Note-Taking Support)

An educational accommodation that provides students with disabilities access to lecture content they cannot capture independently. Traditional note-taking accommodations include human note-takers (peers or professionals who share their notes), lecture recording systems, and…

Notification Fatigue(also: Alert Fatigue, Information Overload)

Notification fatigue is a state in which users become desensitized to or overwhelmed by frequent alerts, notifications, or information delivery from a device or system, causing them to ignore or tune out important messages. In accessibility contexts, notification fatigue is a…

Novint Falcon

A consumer-grade 3D haptic input device originally marketed for gaming that has been widely adopted in accessibility research for providing force feedback to people with visual impairments. The device features a grip attached to three arms that can exert forces in three…

OCR(also: Optical Character Recognition)

Technology that converts images of text into machine-readable text. In accessibility contexts, OCR is used by visual assistance technologies and screen readers to read printed text from photos, signs, documents, and product packaging. While valuable for blind users, OCR has…

OCR (Optical Character Recognition)(also: OCR, Optical Character Recognition, Text Recognition)

A computer-vision technology that converts images of printed, handwritten, or on-screen text into machine-readable character data. OCR is foundational to a wide range of accessibility tools: extracting alt-text for image-based PDFs, reading labels for screen-reader users (e.g.,…

OSARA(also: Open Source Accessibility for the REAPER Application)

An open-source extension for the REAPER digital audio workstation that significantly improves its accessibility for screen reader users. OSARA adds enhanced spoken feedback for track and item properties, transport state, mixer controls, and other DAW elements that would…

Object Localisation(also: Object Localization, Spatial Localisation)

The process of determining the position and location of an object within a physical or virtual space. In accessibility, object localisation is a key challenge for blind and visually impaired users interacting with spatial interfaces, virtual environments, or graphical content.…

Object Status Recognition(also: Object State Recognition, Object Transformation Detection)

The computer vision task of identifying the current condition or transformation state of objects, such as whether an ingredient is raw, chopped, sauteed, or blended. Object status recognition goes beyond simple object detection (identifying what is present) to understand how…

Object recognition(also: Object detection, Image classification)

A computer vision task in which a system identifies and labels objects within images or video, often using deep learning models trained on large datasets. For blind and low-vision users, object recognition is a core capability of camera-based assistive technologies like Seeing…

Obstacle Avoidance(also: Obstacle Detection)

The ability to detect and navigate around physical barriers in one's path, a critical mobility skill for blind and visually impaired people. Traditional obstacle avoidance relies on long cane techniques (sweeping the cane side to side to detect ground-level hazards) and guide…

Obstacle Detection(also: 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 use sensors (ultrasonic, infrared, LiDAR, or camera-based) embedded in devices…

Occupancy Grid(also: Occupancy Map, Mental Occupancy Grid)

A spatial representation that divides an environment into a grid of cells, each indicating whether that location is occupied by an object, free space, or unknown. In accessibility and assistive technology, occupancy grids are used to help people with visual impairments build…

Occupational Therapist(also: OT, Occupational Therapy)

An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional who helps people participate in the 'occupations' of daily life — self-care, work, school, leisure, and community roles — through therapeutic activity, environmental modification, and assistive technology. In…

Occupational therapy(also: OT)

A healthcare profession focused on enabling people to participate in meaningful daily activities ("occupations") despite physical, cognitive, sensory, or psychosocial challenges. Occupational therapists assess individuals' functional abilities, recommend assistive technology,…

Occupational therapy(also: OT)

A healthcare profession focused on enabling people to participate in meaningful daily activities (occupations) by addressing physical, cognitive, sensory, and environmental barriers. Occupational therapists assess individual abilities, recommend and customize assistive…

Off-Screen Model(also: OSM, Virtual Buffer)

A data structure maintained by screen readers that represents the content and structure of the visual display in a form that can be navigated non-visually. Traditional screen readers intercept system calls to build this off-screen model because they did not have direct access to…

Off-the-Shelf Technology(also: OTS, Commercial Off-the-Shelf, COTS)

Commercially available products designed for the general consumer market without customization for specific user groups. In accessibility research, off-the-shelf technology refers to mainstream devices like smart speakers, thermostats, and lighting systems that were not designed…

Omnidirectional Camera(also: 360-Degree Camera, 360 Camera, Panoramic Camera)

A camera equipped with multiple wide-angle or fish-eye lenses that captures a complete 360-degree view of its surroundings in a single shot. The resulting equirectangular image can be projected into conventional perspective views for viewing or processing. In accessibility…

Omnidirectional wheelchair(also: Holonomic wheelchair)

An electric wheelchair capable of moving in any direction — forward, backward, sideways, and diagonally — as well as rotating in place, typically using Mecanum wheels or similar omnidirectional drive systems. Unlike conventional wheelchairs that can only move forward and…

On-Body Gesture(also: On-Body Interaction, Body-Based Gesture)

A gesture performed on or against one's own body rather than on a device surface or in the air. Examples include tapping the thigh, swiping along the forearm, or touching the ear to trigger a command on a connected device. On-body gestures are explored as an alternative input…

On-Body Interaction(also: Body-centric interaction, Skin input, On-body input)

An interaction paradigm that uses the surface of the user's own body as an input medium, typically through gestures like taps, swipes, or touches on the skin. On-body interaction leverages tactile and proprioceptive feedback from the user's own body, making it potentially…

On-Screen Keyboard(also: Virtual Keyboard, Software Keyboard, OSK)

A software application that displays a visual representation of a keyboard on the computer screen, allowing users to type by selecting keys with a pointing device, head tracker, eye gaze system, or switch. On-screen keyboards are essential assistive technology for people who…

One-Handed Input(also: 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, stroke, cerebral palsy, or other physical conditions. One-handed input methods…

Online Braille(also: Web Braille, Digital Braille, Electronic Braille)

Online Braille refers to Braille content that is generated, distributed, or accessed through the Internet or digital platforms, as opposed to traditional embossed paper Braille. This includes web-based Braille translation services, downloadable Braille-formatted files such as…

Open Sound Control(also: OSC)

An open, network-based protocol for communication between computers, sound synthesizers, and other multimedia devices, developed by Matthew Wright and Adrian Freed (1997). OSC sends human-readable address patterns and floating-point values over UDP/TCP, offering higher…

Open-Source Hardware(also: OSHW)

Physical devices and components whose design specifications are publicly available for anyone to study, modify, distribute, and manufacture. In the assistive technology space, open-source hardware enables global sharing of device designs that communities can adapt to local needs…