Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- 3D Printing(also: Additive Manufacturing, AM)
- A manufacturing process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing material layer by layer according to a digital design. Unlike subtractive manufacturing which removes material from a solid block, 3D printing builds objects additively, enabling complex geometries and…
- 3D-Printed Assistive Technology(also: 3D-Printed AT)
- Assistive devices manufactured using 3D printing technology, typically fused deposition modeling with thermoplastic materials like PLA. These devices can be rapidly prototyped and customized to individual needs at low cost, making them particularly valuable for people who cannot…
- Accessible Fabrication(also: Accessible Making, Accessible Digital Fabrication)
- Accessible fabrication refers to the design and use of digital fabrication tools — such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines — in ways that are usable by people with disabilities and that produce accessible outputs. This includes making the fabrication tools…
- Assistive device customization(also: AT personalization, Custom assistive technology)
- The process of tailoring assistive technology devices to match an individual's specific physical dimensions, functional abilities, preferences, and activity requirements. Traditional AT customization involves ordering from catalogs with limited options and long wait times, or…
- Computer-Aided Design(also: CAD)
- The use of software to create, modify, analyse, and optimise designs for physical objects or systems. In accessibility contexts, CAD tools are critical for designing assistive technology, tactile graphics, and 3D printable models, but most commercial CAD applications rely…
- Conductive Filament(also: Conductive 3D printing filament, Conductive PLA)
- A specialized 3D printing material that conducts electricity, enabling printed objects to interact with capacitive touchscreens. In accessibility applications, conductive filament can be embedded in otherwise non-conductive 3D printed objects — such as tactile maps or overlays —…
- Consumer-Grade 3D Printing(also: Desktop 3D Printing)
- Affordable 3D printing technology designed for personal or small-scale use, typically using fused deposition modeling with thermoplastic filaments. While consumer-grade printers have democratized fabrication and enabled DIY assistive technology programs, they have limitations in…
- DIY Assistive Technology(also: Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology, Maker Assistive Technology)
- DIY assistive technology refers to the practice of creating, modifying, or adapting assistive devices and tools through do-it-yourself methods, often using digital fabrication technologies such as 3D printers and laser cutters. This approach empowers people with disabilities,…
- Digital Fabrication(also: Digital Manufacturing)
- The process of creating physical objects from digital designs using computer-controlled manufacturing tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC mills. Digital fabrication has democratized the production of assistive technology by enabling non-specialists to create…
- Digital Fabrication(also: Digital Manufacturing, Rapid Prototyping)
- Digital fabrication encompasses manufacturing processes that use computer-controlled tools to create physical objects from digital designs. Common tools include laser cutters, 3D printers, and CNC routers. In accessibility contexts, digital fabrication enables the creation of…
- Fused Deposition Modeling(also: FDM, Fused Filament Fabrication, FFF)
- A 3D printing process that builds objects layer by layer by extruding heated thermoplastic filament through a nozzle. FDM is the most common and affordable 3D printing technology, making it widely used in makerspaces and DIY assistive technology programs. While effective for…
- Fused Filament Fabrication(also: FFF, Fused Deposition Modeling, FDM)
- A 3D printing technique that creates objects by depositing melted thermoplastic filament layer by layer. FFF printers heat plastic material (commonly PLA or ABS) and extrude it through a nozzle that moves according to digital model coordinates. In accessibility applications, FFF…
- Laser Cutter(also: CO2 Laser Cutter)
- A digital fabrication machine that uses a focused laser beam to cut or engrave flat materials such as wood, acrylic, cardboard, leather, and some plastics. Along with 3D printers and CNC routers, laser cutters are a core tool in makerspaces and community fabrication labs, and…
- PLA Filament(also: Polylactic Acid Filament, PLA)
- A biodegradable thermoplastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch, commonly used as the default material in consumer-grade 3D printers. PLA is easy to print with, produces minimal warping, and is available in many colors, but it has lower heat resistance and impact…
- Parametric design(also: Parametric modeling)
- A design approach in which objects are defined by adjustable parameters (dimensions, angles, ratios) rather than direct geometric manipulation, allowing users to customize designs by changing numerical values without needing 3D modeling expertise. Parametric design is…
- Personal-Scale Manufacturing(also: Desktop Manufacturing, Personal Fabrication)
- The use of affordable, accessible manufacturing tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines by individuals or small groups to produce custom physical objects, as opposed to relying on industrial-scale production. In the context of assistive technology,…
- Quality Assurance(also: QA)
- Systematic processes for ensuring that products or services meet defined standards of quality before reaching end users. In 3D-printed assistive technology programs, quality assurance includes inspecting printed devices for structural integrity, proper dimensions, smooth…
- Rapid Prototyping
- The fast fabrication of a physical model or functional prototype using computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies like 3D printing. In assistive technology development, rapid prototyping enables quick iteration on device designs, allowing makers to test and refine…
- STL File(also: Stereolithography File, Standard Triangle Language)
- A file format widely used in 3D printing that describes the surface geometry of a three-dimensional object using triangular facets. STL files are the standard format for sharing 3D-printable designs on repositories like Thingiverse. In assistive technology programs, curated…
- Thermoforming(also: Vacuum Forming, Thermoform)
- A manufacturing process used to create tactile graphics by heating a plastic sheet and pressing it over a mould to form a raised surface. In accessibility contexts, thermoforming is one of several methods for producing tactile maps and diagrams for people who are blind or have…
- Thingiverse
- An online repository for sharing user-created digital design files, primarily for 3D printing. Thingiverse hosts a large collection of freely downloadable STL files, including many assistive technology designs. DIY-AT programs often source device designs from Thingiverse and…
21 results.