Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- Always-On Computing(also: Always-available computing, Continuous computing)
- A model of interaction in which computing devices — particularly wearables such as smartwatches, AR glasses, and fitness trackers — remain continuously active and accessible throughout the day rather than being engaged only for discrete tasks. Always-on computing shifts design…
- Hearable(also: Smart Earbud, Smart Earphone)
- A class of in-ear or over-ear wearable devices that combine audio playback with one or more sensors and on-device computing - microphones for ambient audio capture, inertial sensors, biosensors, and machine-learning accelerators - enabling features beyond passive listening.…
- Location Awareness(also: Location-Aware Computing, Location Sensing)
- The ability of a computing system to determine and respond to the physical location of a user or device, typically using GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, cellular triangulation, or other sensing technologies. In assistive technology, location awareness enables context-sensitive support…
- MobileASL
- A research project from the University of Washington that developed video compression technology enabling real-time, two-way American Sign Language (ASL) video communication on mobile phones. MobileASL addressed the challenge that standard mobile video calling consumed too much…
- Personal Digital Assistant(also: PDA, Handheld Computer, Pocket PC)
- A portable handheld computing device popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s that combined features like a calendar, contacts, note-taking, and basic application support in a pocket-sized form factor with a touchscreen interface. In accessibility research, PDAs like the iPAQ…
- Visual-Inertial Odometry(also: VIO)
- A computer vision technique that combines camera imagery with motion sensor data (accelerometer and gyroscope) to track a device's position and orientation in 3D space. In accessibility applications, VIO enables smartphones to maintain awareness of object positions even when…
- mHealth(also: Mobile Health, Mobile Healthcare)
- The practice of medicine and public health supported by mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables. mHealth encompasses health apps, remote monitoring, telemedicine, health information systems, and medication reminders delivered through mobile platforms. For…
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