Glossary

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Magnification inset(also: Magnified inset view, Zoom inset)

A user interface element that displays a magnified view of a specific region of content within a smaller window overlaid on the original view. Unlike full-screen magnification, an inset preserves the surrounding context while enlarging the area of interest. For low-vision users,…

Manipulable UI Component(also: Interactive UI Component, Actionable UI Element)

An on-screen user-interface element that can be acted upon by the user — tapped, clicked, toggled, dragged, or typed into — as distinct from purely informational elements such as static text or images. Common examples include buttons, icons, text buttons, checkboxes, switches,…

Marking Menu(also: Pie Menu, Radial Menu)

A marking menu is a radial (pie-shaped) menu that can be operated in two modes: a beginner mode that displays labelled wedges around the cursor for the user to aim at, and an expert mode that lets an experienced user draw the directional stroke toward the desired item without…

Menu-Driven Interface(also: Menu-Based Interface, Menu Selection Interface)

A user interface style in which the available actions at each point in the interaction are presented to the user as an on-screen list, and the user selects an option by number, letter, keystroke, or pointer. Menu-driven interfaces reduce the need to memorise commands and are…

Microinteraction(also: Micro-interaction, Quick interaction)

A brief, high-frequency interaction with a device that typically takes a sighted user less than four seconds to complete, such as checking the time, glancing at a notification, or adjusting the volume. Microinteractions are significant for accessibility because they expose…

Midas Touch Effect(also: Midas Touch Problem)

An interaction design challenge in touch-based and gesture-based interfaces where the system cannot distinguish between intentional activation commands and incidental or exploratory touches. Named after the mythological King Midas whose touch turned everything to gold, the…

Mixed-Initiative Design(also: Mixed-Initiative Interaction)

An interaction design approach in which both the system and the user can take initiative in directing the flow of interaction, rather than one party being entirely in control. In accessibility contexts, mixed-initiative design is used to balance automated system actions (such as…

Mixed-Initiative Interaction(also: Mixed-Initiative Systems, Human-Agent Collaboration)

An interaction paradigm in which both the human user and the computer system can take initiative in directing the task, rather than one party being entirely in control. In accessibility contexts, mixed-initiative interaction is particularly important for AI-powered assistive…

Modal Dialog(also: Modal Window, Dialog Box)

A user interface element that appears on top of the main content and requires user interaction before returning to the underlying page. In accessibility, modal dialogs must properly manage keyboard focus—trapping focus within the dialog so screen reader and keyboard users cannot…

Motion-Based AAC(also: Physical Expressive AAC, Expressive Sidekick)

An emerging form of augmentative and alternative communication that uses physical movement of objects or robotic devices to convey nonverbal communicative intent during conversations. Unlike traditional AAC which focuses on generating speech, motion-based AAC addresses the…

Multi-Sensory Feedback(also: Multimodal Feedback, Cross-Modal Feedback)

The simultaneous or coordinated use of multiple sensory channels—such as audio, haptic, visual, and sometimes olfactory or thermal—to convey information to a user. Multi-sensory feedback is a key accessibility strategy because it ensures that information is not conveyed through…

Multi-touch Interaction(also: Multi-touch Input, Multi-touch Gestures)

An input method where a touchscreen or trackpad recognises two or more simultaneous points of contact, enabling gestures such as pinching, rotating, and swiping with multiple fingers. In accessibility contexts, multi-touch interaction is significant both as a challenge and an…

Multimodal Alert System(also: Multi-Sensory Alert, Multimodal Notification)

A notification system that communicates alerts through multiple sensory channels simultaneously, such as combining audio, visual, and haptic signals. Multimodal alert systems are critical for accessibility because they ensure people with different sensory abilities can perceive…

Multimodal Communication(also: Multi-Modal Communication)

The use of multiple channels and resources simultaneously during interaction, including speech, gesture, gaze, facial expression, body movement, writing, drawing, and physical artifacts. All human communication is inherently multimodal, but this concept is especially significant…

Multimodal Feedback(also: Multi-Sensory Feedback)

The simultaneous or coordinated use of multiple sensory channels — such as auditory, tactile, and visual — to convey information to a user. In accessibility, multimodal feedback is essential for creating inclusive interfaces that do not rely on a single sense. Combining audio…

Multimodal Input(also: Multimodal Interaction, Multi-modal Input)

An interaction approach that allows users to communicate with computing devices or systems through multiple input channels — such as touch, voice, eye gaze, head movement, facial expressions, hand gestures, brain-computer interfaces, and biometrics — either simultaneously or…

Multimodal Interaction(also: Multimodal Interface)

An interaction approach that combines multiple input and output modalities—such as voice, touch, keyboard, gestures, and visual/audio feedback—to support flexible, accessible user experiences. In accessibility contexts, multimodal interaction is valuable because it allows users…

Multimodal Interface(also: Multimodal Interaction, Multi-Modal UI)

A multimodal interface is a system that communicates with users through multiple sensory channels simultaneously, such as speech, haptic feedback, sound, vibration, and visual output. In accessible navigation and assistive technology, multimodal interfaces are critical because…

Multimodal Output(also: Multi-Modal Output, Cross-Modal Output)

The simultaneous presentation of information through multiple sensory channels or formats, such as audio, visual, tactile, and text-to-speech, allowing users to choose the modality or combination of modalities that best suits their abilities and preferences. In accessible…

Multisensory(also: Multisensory Design, Multisensory Interaction)

An approach to design and interaction that engages multiple human senses — such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste — to convey information and create richer experiences. In accessibility, multisensory design is valuable because it provides alternative channels for…

Multisensory Interaction(also: Multisensory HCI)

Multisensory interaction is an HCI research area concerned with designing and studying systems that engage two or more human senses - sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, proprioception - simultaneously or in combination. It differs from multimodal interaction (which typically…

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