Glossary

Search results

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…

Bonferroni Correction(also: Bonferroni Adjustment)

The Bonferroni correction is a statistical adjustment that controls the family-wise error rate when multiple hypothesis tests are performed on the same data. It divides the target significance threshold (commonly 0.05) by the number of comparisons, so with three pairwise tests…

Bookshare

An online library of accessible digital books for people with print disabilities, operated by the nonprofit Benetech. Bookshare hosts more than a million titles in formats suitable for screen readers, refreshable braille displays, and audio playback, and provides free access to…

Borderline Intellectual Functioning(also: BIF, borderline intellectual disability, slow learners)

A condition describing individuals with IQ scores roughly between 70 and 85—above the diagnostic threshold for intellectual disability (IQ below 70) but below the neurotypical range. Representing about 13.6% of the general population, BIF individuals typically have working…

Borderline Personality Disorder(also: BPD)

A mental health condition characterized by extreme fluctuations in mood, energy, and ability to function, along with patterns of unstable relationships, distorted self-image, and intense emotional responses. People with BPD may experience impulsive behavior, chronic feelings of…

Born Accessible(also: Born-Accessible, Accessibility-First)

An approach to content creation where accessibility is designed in from the beginning rather than retrofitted afterward. Born accessible content is created with accessibility requirements as core specifications, ensuring that people with disabilities can access it immediately…

Borne-Accessible Document(also: born-accessible, natively accessible document)

A document that is created accessibly from the outset—its semantic structure, headings, alt text, and tags are built in at authoring time rather than added later through remediation. Borne-accessible PDFs come out of authoring tools (e.g., Microsoft Word, LaTeX with…

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…

Boundary Object

A concept introduced by Star and Griesemer (1989) for artefacts, documents, or concepts that are flexible enough to be used across different communities of practice while retaining a recognisable identity in each. Boundary objects let disabled people, designers, researchers,…

Boundary Objects(also: Boundary Object)

A concept from Star and Griesemer (1989) describing artifacts that are structured enough to be understood by different social worlds but flexible enough to be interpreted differently by each one, allowing cooperation across communities without forced consensus. In accessibility…

Bradykinesia(also: Slowness of Movement)

Bradykinesia is a motor symptom characterized by slowness of movement and a progressive reduction in the speed and amplitude of repetitive actions. It is one of the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease and directly affects a person's ability to interact with digital devices…

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 Authority of North America(also: BANA)

The standards-setting body responsible for establishing braille codes and guidelines for the production of braille materials in the United States and Canada. BANA publishes guidelines for tactile graphics, braille formatting, and specialized braille codes for mathematics, music,…

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 Contractions(also: Braille Short Forms, Braille Abbreviations)

Abbreviated representations in Grade 2 braille where a single braille cell or short sequence of cells stands for a common word, letter combination, or word fragment. For example, a single cell can represent the word "the" or the letter group "ing." Contractions follow…

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 Literacy(also: Braille Reading and Writing)

The ability to read and write using the braille system, a tactile code of raised dots representing letters, numbers, and symbols. Braille literacy is fundamental to educational achievement, employment, and independence for people who are blind or have low vision. It encompasses…

Braille Mathematics(also: Math Braille, Braille Math Notation)

The various systems of Braille codes designed specifically to represent mathematical expressions, formulas, and notation in a tactile format readable by blind individuals. Because standard literary Braille does not have enough symbols to represent the full range of mathematical…

Braille Music(also: Braille Music Notation, Music Braille)

A tactile system for encoding Western music notation using the same six-dot cells as literary Braille. Braille Music is read through touch rather than sight, making it particularly useful for blind musicians. However, it has a steep learning curve, requires prior knowledge of…

Braille Music Notation(also: Braille Music, Braille Music Code)

A tactile system for representing musical notation using the six-dot braille cell, encoding pitch, duration, dynamics, and other musical information for blind and visually impaired musicians. Unlike standard visual music notation which is two-dimensional (horizontal for time,…

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 Textbook(also: Braille Book, Braille Edition)

A textbook transcribed into Braille for use by students and teachers who are blind. Braille textbooks are significantly larger and more expensive to produce than print textbooks, often requiring multiple volumes for a single print book. In India, government-provided 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…

Braille literacy(also: Braille fluency)

The ability to read and write using the Braille tactile writing system of raised dots. Braille literacy rates among blind people have declined significantly — from over 50% in the 1960s to under 10% in some countries — due to factors including mainstreaming in education, reduced…

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 Fog(also: Cognitive Fog, Mental Fog)

Brain fog is a term used to describe a cluster of cognitive symptoms including difficulty concentrating, memory problems, mental fatigue, and reduced clarity of thought. It is commonly associated with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, long COVID,…

Brain Injury(also: Acquired Brain Injury, ABI)

Damage to the brain that occurs after birth, resulting from trauma, stroke, infection, tumour, or other causes. Brain injuries can affect physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, potentially causing difficulties with movement, memory, attention, communication, and…

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…

Brave Space

A community or environment where people are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, approach their limits, and try new things while being supported by those around them — as opposed to a "safe space" focused primarily on comfort and protection. In makerspaces and…

Breadboard(also: Solderless Breadboard, Protoboard)

A reusable plastic board with a grid of interconnected holes used for building temporary electronic circuits without soldering. Components are inserted into the holes and connected by internal metal strips. Breadboards are essential tools in electronics education and…

Breadcrumb(also: Breadcrumb Navigation, Breadcrumb Trail, Breadcrumbs)

A secondary navigation pattern that displays the user's current location within a site or application hierarchy as a series of linked steps, typically separated by arrows or slashes. Breadcrumbs help users understand where they are in a structure and navigate back to higher…

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…

Brickfield Accessibility Toolkit(also: Brickfield Toolkit)

An accessibility scanning and reporting tool for Moodle developed by Brickfield Education Labs. It is distributed on a freemium model: a community-edition set of scanners is integrated into the Moodle core Accessibility Toolkit, while advanced institutional features (bulk…

Bricolage

Bricolage is the practice of creating something from whatever materials happen to be at hand — duct tape, pool noodles, velcro strips, PVC pipes, household fabric scraps, bent sponges — rather than purpose-designed parts or specialized tools. The term, from Lévi-Strauss via…

Bridge

In the Shlaer-Mellor software analysis method, a bridge describes the relationships between two independently modelled problem domains. For example, the abstract concept of a menu of selectable options in a user interface has counterparts in concrete graphical user interface…