Glossary

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BlindSquare

A GPS-based iOS accessibility app designed for people who are blind or have low vision, providing spoken information about the surrounding environment — nearby points of interest, intersections, street names, and compass direction — drawn from OpenStreetMap and Foursquare data.…

Blindness and Low Vision(also: BLV, visual impairment, vision impairment)

Blindness and low vision (BLV) collectively describes the spectrum of significant visual impairment ranging from complete absence of sight to partial sight loss that cannot be fully corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses. The World Health Organization defines low…

Blocks4All

An accessible touchscreen-based block-based programming environment designed for students with visual impairments. Blocks4All enables drag-and-drop-like programming interactions on touchscreen devices with screen reader support, making it one of the few on-screen block-based…

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…

Bluetooth Beacons(also: BLE Beacons, iBeacons, Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons)

Small wireless transmitters that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to broadcast signals to nearby smartphones and other devices. In accessibility contexts, Bluetooth beacons are deployed in indoor environments to support wayfinding and navigation for blind and visually impaired…

Bluetooth Foot Pedal(also: Page Turn Pedal, Wireless Foot Pedal)

A wireless input device operated by foot that connects to tablets, computers, or specialized music-reading hardware via Bluetooth to enable hands-free page turning of digital music scores. Bluetooth foot pedals are particularly valuable for musicians who cannot take their hands…

Bluetooth Low Energy(also: BLE, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Smart)

A wireless communication technology designed for short-range data transmission with minimal power consumption. In accessibility contexts, BLE is widely used for indoor positioning and wayfinding systems through small transmitter devices called beacons. When a smartphone detects…

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

A small, low-power wireless transmitter that broadcasts Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals at regular intervals. In accessibility contexts, BLE beacons are widely used for indoor navigation systems for people with visual impairments, as GPS does not work reliably indoors. By…

Bluetooth beacon(also: BLE beacon, iBeacon)

A small wireless transmitter that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to broadcast signals to nearby devices, enabling indoor positioning and proximity detection. In accessibility applications, beacon networks deployed throughout buildings allow navigation apps to determine a user's…

Body Doubling(also: Parallel Working, Co-Working for Focus)

A productivity and focus strategy commonly used by people with ADHD and other executive function challenges, where having another person present — physically or virtually — helps with task initiation and sustained attention. The other person does not need to assist with the…

Body-Powered Prosthesis(also: Cable-Operated Prosthesis, Mechanical Prosthesis)

A body-powered prosthesis is a type of prosthetic device that uses the wearer's own body movements to operate a mechanical function, typically through a cable-pull system. In upper-limb devices like those produced by the e-NABLE community, wrist flexion pulls cables that cause…

Bone Conduction(also: 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 rather than covering or inserting into the ears, leaving the ear canals open to…

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 Headset(also: Bone Conduction Headphones, Bone Conduction Audio)

An audio device that transmits sound vibrations through the bones of the skull directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear and leaving the ear canal open. For people who are blind or have low vision, bone conduction headsets are particularly valuable during…

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…

Bone-Conducting Headphones(also: Bone Conduction Headphones, Bone Conduction Headset)

Headphones that transmit sound by vibrating the skull bones directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear and leaving the ear canals open. In accessibility contexts they are widely used by blind travellers and wayfinding systems because the wearer can continue to…

Bone-Conduction Headset(also: Bone-conduction headphones, Bone-conduction earphones)

A headphone that delivers sound by vibrating the bones of the skull and jaw rather than projecting air through the ear canal, leaving the wearer's ears uncovered and able to hear ambient sound. Bone-conduction headsets are widely used in blind and low-vision navigation contexts…

Bounce Keys

An operating system accessibility feature that introduces a brief delay after a key press during which the same key cannot be reactivated. This prevents bounce errors — unintentional repeated presses of the same key caused by tremor, spasm, or difficulty in cleanly releasing…

Braille(also: Braille System, Braille Code)

A tactile writing system used by people who are blind or have low vision, consisting of patterns of raised dots arranged in cells of up to six dots in a 3x2 configuration. Each cell represents a letter, number, punctuation mark, or other symbol. Developed by Louis Braille in…

Braille Cell(also: Braille Character, Six-Dot Cell)

The fundamental unit of the Braille writing system, consisting of a rectangular arrangement of up to six raised dots in a 3x2 matrix (three rows, two columns). Each dot position is numbered 1-6, with dots 1-3 in the left column (top to bottom) and dots 4-6 in the right column.…

Braille Display(also: Braille Terminal, Refreshable Braille Display)

An electromechanical device that displays braille characters using small pins that raise and lower dynamically, enabling blind users to read digital text through touch. Traditional braille displays present a single line of braille text (typically 14-80 characters) and are…

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 Input(also: Braille Keyboard Input, Braille Screen Input)

A text entry method that allows users to type characters using Braille code on a device, rather than a standard QWERTY keyboard. On touchscreen devices, Braille input typically maps finger taps or gestures to the six dots of a Braille cell, enabling blind users who know Braille…

Braille Label(also: Braille Signage, Braille Tag)

A label or sign that includes text in Braille to provide information to people who read Braille. In museums and public spaces, Braille labels are placed on exhibits, room signs, elevator buttons, and informational displays. While important for accessibility, Braille labels alone…

Braille Labeling(also: Braille Labels, Braille Signage)

The practice of adding braille text to physical objects, signs, models, or controls to make them accessible to blind users who read braille. While braille labeling is important for accessibility in public spaces (elevator buttons, room signs, museum exhibits), it is not a…

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 Screen Input(also: BSI)

A built-in iOS accessibility feature that turns the touchscreen of an iPhone or iPad into a virtual Braille keyboard. When activated through VoiceOver, users can type Braille characters by tapping the screen with multiple fingers simultaneously, mimicking the six-key layout of a…

Braille Slate and Stylus(also: Slate and Stylus, Braille Writing Frame)

A low-cost, portable tool for writing Braille by hand, consisting of a hinged metal or plastic template (slate) with rows of cells and a pointed tool (stylus) used to press dots into paper from the reverse side. The slate and stylus is the most common and affordable Braille…

Braille Translation(also: Braille Transcription, Text-to-Braille Translation)

The process of converting printed text or digital text content into Braille, either manually by a trained transcriber or automatically using software such as Duxbury. Braille translation involves more than simple character substitution — it requires knowledge of Braille codes,…

Braille Translation Software(also: Braille Transcription Software, Braille Converter)

Software that converts print text into braille or braille into print, applying the appropriate contraction rules, formatting conventions, and code systems (such as UEB or Nemeth). Braille translation software is essential for producing accessible materials but can be…

Braille Translator(also: Braille translation software)

Software that converts print text (and sometimes marked-up content such as LaTeX or MathML) into correctly formatted Braille output, applying contractions, code switches, and page-layout rules. Braille translators are essential to every alternative-format production pipeline,…

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…

BrailleNote(also: BrailleNote Touch, Braille Notetaker)

A portable electronic device designed for blind users that combines a refreshable braille display with note-taking, reading, and computing capabilities. BrailleNote devices (manufactured by HumanWare) allow users to type using a braille keyboard, read output on a refreshable…

Brailler(also: Braille Writer, Perkins Brailler)

A mechanical or electronic device for writing Braille, functioning similarly to a typewriter with six keys corresponding to the six dots of a Braille cell. Braillers are significantly faster and easier to use than a slate and stylus, and produce immediately readable output…

Brain-Computer Interface(also: BCI, Brain-Machine Interface, BMI)

A technology that enables direct communication between the brain and an external device by detecting and interpreting neural activity, typically through electroencephalography (EEG) or electromyography (EMG). In accessibility contexts, BCIs allow people with severe motor…

Brain-Computer Interface(also: BCI, Brain-Machine Interface, BMI)

A direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device that enables users to control computers, prosthetics, or other systems using neural signals rather than physical movement. BCIs are particularly significant for people with severe motor impairments such as…

Brain-Computer Interface(also: BCI, Brain-Machine Interface, BMI)

A technology that enables direct communication between the brain and an external device by detecting and interpreting neural signals. BCIs can use invasive methods (implanted electrodes) or non-invasive approaches (EEG headsets). In accessibility contexts, BCIs allow people with…

Brain-Machine Interface(also: BMI, Brain-Computer Interface, BCI)

A technology that translates brain activity—typically measured via electroencephalography (EEG), electrocorticography, or implanted electrodes—into commands for controlling external devices such as computers, robotic limbs, wheelchairs, or communication systems. For people with…

BrainGate(also: BrainGate2)

A long-running multi-site clinical trial program (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00912041) that evaluates implantable intracortical brain-computer interfaces in people with paralysis from spinal cord injury, ALS, brainstem stroke, and other neurological conditions. Participants receive…

Breath Control(also: Sip-and-Puff Control, Pneumatic Input)

An assistive technology input method that uses breath pressure — blowing or sipping through a sensor — to control a computer, device, or instrument. Breath control is particularly valuable for individuals with severe motor disabilities who retain respiratory function, such as…

Breathing Input(also: Breath-based Input, Puff Input)

An alternative computer input method that uses deliberate breath actions — such as puffing, blowing, or inhaling — detected by a microphone or pressure sensor as control signals for navigating interfaces and selecting items. Breathing input is designed for people with severe…

Browser Accessibility(also: Accessible Browsing, Web Browser Accessibility)

The degree to which web browsers themselves are usable by people with disabilities and age-related impairments, distinct from the accessibility of web content. Browser accessibility encompasses built-in features such as text zoom, high contrast modes, keyboard navigation, screen…

Browser Extension(also: Browser Plugin, Browser Add-On)

A software module that adds functionality to a web browser, typically installed from a browser's extension store. Browser extensions are a common delivery mechanism for accessibility tools because they can modify webpage content and behavior without requiring changes to the…

Browser Extension Accessibility(also: Accessible Browser Extension, Assistive Browser Extension)

The design and development of web browser extensions that either enhance the accessibility of existing web content or are themselves fully accessible to users of assistive technologies. Assistive browser extensions can augment web pages with additional accessible content,…

Browser Helper Object(also: BHO)

A plugin module for web browsers (originally Internet Explorer) that loads with each browser instance and has access to the Document Object Model and browser events. In accessibility contexts, BHOs have been used to implement client-side web page transformations such as text…

Brute-Force Fallback(also: Reset Strategy, Exhaustive Recovery)

A workaround strategy employed by assistive technology users when standard interaction methods fail, involving systematically trying all available options or completely restarting a task from a known good state. Brute-force fallbacks are particularly common among screen reader…

Bubble Cursor(also: Dynamic Cursor, Area Cursor)

An enhanced pointing technique that dynamically resizes the cursor's activation area to make target selection easier, particularly for users with motor impairments. The bubble cursor expands to encompass the nearest target, effectively enlarging the clickable region without…

Bubble Cursor(also: Area Cursor, Enhanced Area Cursor)

An assistive pointing technique where the cursor's activation area is dynamically enlarged to make it easier to select targets on screen. Rather than requiring precise pixel-level accuracy, a bubble cursor expands its clickable region, effectively reducing the precision needed…

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…