Glossary

Search results

Residual vision(also: Functional vision, Usable vision)

The remaining visual ability of a person with a visual impairment, which may include partial acuity, limited visual field, or light perception. The vast majority of people classified as legally blind have some residual vision rather than total blindness. Assistive technology and…

Resilience(also: Psychological resilience, Dementia resilience)

Resilience refers to the dynamic capacity of an individual to adapt positively in the face of adversity and to maintain or recover a satisfactory level of psychological and functional well-being. In the context of dementia, resilience challenges deficit-based models that frame…

Resistant Reading(also: Reading Against the Grain, Resistant Reader)

A critical reading method, originally articulated by feminist literary theorist Judith Fetterley, that refuses the interpretive framework an author invites the reader to adopt and instead reads texts for what they silence, marginalise, or explain away. In HCI and accessibility…

Respeaking(also: Speech-to-Speech Captioning, Voice Writing)

A real-time captioning method in which a trained operator listens to speech and repeats it clearly into a speech recognition system optimized for their voice, producing captions. Respeaking is commonly used in broadcast television captioning and live events. It requires less…

Respite Care(also: Respite, Carer Relief)

Temporary care provided to a person with a disability or chronic condition to give their primary caregiver a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Respite care can take many forms, including in-home care, day programs, overnight stays in care facilities, or social…

Response Bias(also: Acquiescence Bias, Yea-Saying Bias)

A systematic tendency for research participants to respond in a particular way regardless of the actual content of the question, distorting data collection and analysis. In accessibility research involving people with intellectual disabilities, acquiescence bias — the tendency…

Response Bias(also: Survey Bias, Respondent Bias)

A systematic tendency for survey respondents to answer questions in a way that does not accurately reflect their true opinions or experiences. In accessibility research, response bias is particularly important to consider because participants with disabilities may provide more…

Response Time(also: Reaction Time, Tact)

The time elapsed between the presentation of a stimulus and the user's physical response, typically measured in milliseconds. In scanning-based AAC, response time (often called Tact) is the interval between when an item is highlighted and when the user activates the switch.…

Responsibility OCD(also: Checking OCD, Responsibility Obsessions)

A subtype of OCD characterized by an exaggerated sense of responsibility for preventing harm or negative outcomes, accompanied by compulsive checking behaviors. People with responsibility OCD may repeatedly check that doors are locked, appliances are off, or that they have not…

Responsive Design(also: Responsive Web Design, RWD, Mobile First Design)

A web design approach in which layouts, images, and other content elements adapt fluidly to the size and capabilities of the user's device, providing an optimal viewing experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile phones without requiring separate versions of a site.…

Restorative Environment(also: Restorative Setting)

An environment—physical or virtual—that promotes psychological recovery from mental fatigue and stress. Based on Attention Restoration Theory, restorative environments typically feature natural elements (water, vegetation, wildlife), scenic views, and low-demand fascination that…

Restricted Field of View(also: Tunnel Vision, Peripheral Vision Loss, Visual Field Loss)

A condition in which the area of the visual environment that a person can see at any given moment is significantly reduced, often described as looking through a tunnel or a narrow tube. Restricted field of view can result from conditions such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa,…

Restricted Interest(also: Circumscribed Interest, Perseverative Interest, Fixated Interest)

An intense, narrow focus on specific topics, objects, or activities that is characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. Restricted interests can range from common subjects like trains, maps, or specific fictional characters to highly unusual topics like electricity pylons or…

Restricted Interests(also: Circumscribed Interests, Special Interests, Focused Interests)

A characteristic of autism spectrum disorder where individuals develop intense, narrowly focused interests in specific topics, objects, or activities. These interests may be unusual in their subject matter (such as specific letters, numbers, or mechanical objects) or in their…

Retinitis Pigmentosa(also: RP)

A group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive degeneration of the retina, typically beginning with loss of night vision and peripheral vision and potentially leading to tunnel vision or complete blindness. RP affects the rod photoreceptor cells first, then may…

Retinitis Pigmentosa(also: RP, Retina Pigmentosa, Rod-Cone Dystrophy)

A group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive degeneration of the retina, leading to gradual vision loss. Initial symptoms typically include difficulty seeing in low light (night blindness) and loss of peripheral vision (tunnel vision). The condition often begins…

Retinitis pigmentosa(also: RP)

A group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive degeneration of the retina, typically beginning with loss of night vision and peripheral vision and gradually narrowing the visual field (tunnel vision) over years or decades. Some people with RP eventually lose most…

Retinopathy(also: Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Disease)

A group of eye conditions affecting the retina that can cause vision loss or blindness. Diabetic retinopathy, caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes, is one of the leading causes of blindness in working-age adults. Symptoms may include blurred vision,…

Retinopathy of Prematurity(also: ROP)

An eye condition that can occur in premature infants when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina. In severe cases, these vessels can cause scarring, retinal detachment, and significant vision loss or blindness. ROP is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness and low…

Retrieval-Augmented Generation(also: RAG)

An AI technique that enhances the responses of large language models (LLMs) by first retrieving relevant information from an external knowledge base or document collection, then providing that information as context for the model to generate its response. In accessibility…

Retrofit Accessibility(also: Accessibility Retrofitting, Bolt-On Accessibility)

The practice of adding accessibility features to a product, system, or interface after it has already been designed and built for non-disabled users. Retrofit accessibility often results in suboptimal experiences because the fundamental interaction paradigms may be misaligned…

Retrospective Protocol(also: Retrospective Think Aloud, Retrospective Verbal Protocol, Post-Task Protocol)

A usability evaluation method in which participants complete tasks first and then describe their thought processes, decisions, and experiences immediately afterwards, rather than verbalising concurrently during the task. Retrospective protocols are particularly important in…

Rett Syndrome(also: RTT)

A rare, X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused in most cases by mutations in the MECP2 gene, affecting almost exclusively females. After typical early development, children with Rett syndrome lose purposeful hand use and acquired speech between 6-18 months, develop…

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination(also: Revenge Procrastination)

The deliberate delay of sleep without external factors forcing the delay, in order to reclaim personal time lost during a busy or low-autonomy day. The "revenge" framing points to reclaiming agency over one’s own time. The behavior is particularly common among people with ADHD,…

Reverse Dictionary(also: Sign-to-English Dictionary, ASL-to-English Dictionary)

A dictionary tool that allows users to search for the meaning of a sign language sign by inputting its visual or linguistic properties — such as handshape, location, movement, and orientation — rather than searching from a known English word. Reverse dictionaries address the…

Reverse Inclusion

A design approach that begins with the lived experience and needs of a person with a disability and then expands the design outward to include broader social circles and communities. Reverse inclusion inverts the typical inclusive design process, which starts from neurotypical…

Reverse Privacy Paradox

The reverse privacy paradox is a pattern, described by Zhang and colleagues in research on LLM-based conversational agents, in which users appear to disregard privacy concerns in the moment of use while still recognising those concerns exist and being willing to adopt…

Revocable Consent(also: Withdrawable Consent)

A consent pattern in which the user can withdraw their previously granted permission at any time, typically through a persistent, discoverable UI control that immediately halts data processing and triggers deletion of data collected under that consent. A stronger form than…

Rhetorical Question (ASL)(also: ASL Rhetorical Question, RHQ)

In American Sign Language, a grammatical construction in which the signer poses a question and then immediately answers it, used as a cohesive rhetorical device rather than as a genuine inquiry. ASL rhetorical questions are marked by specific non-manual signals — typically…

Rheumatoid Arthritis(also: RA)

A chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, particularly in the hands, wrists, and fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis can significantly affect a person's ability to use computers by reducing grip strength, limiting finger…

Rhythm Game(also: Music Game, Music/Rhythm Game)

A genre of video game in which players must perform actions — such as pressing buttons, tapping a screen, or moving a controller — in time with music or a rhythmic pattern. Popular examples include Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, and Beat Saber. Rhythm games are…

Rhythm-Action Game(also: Rhythm Game, Music Rhythm Game, Beat-Matching Game)

A genre of video game in which players must make timed inputs (button presses, key strokes, or physical movements) synchronised with musical beats or rhythmic patterns. Popular examples include Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and PaRappa the Rapper. Rhythm-action games are…

Rich Internet Application(also: RIA, Dynamic Web Application)

A web application that uses JavaScript and related technologies to provide interactive features, dynamic content updates, and sophisticated user interface widgets that approach the functionality of desktop applications. RIAs present significant accessibility challenges because…

Rich Text(also: Formatted Text, Styled Text)

Text content that includes visual formatting attributes beyond plain characters, such as font size, font family, color, bold, italic, underline, and other styling properties. On the web, rich text is created through HTML elements and CSS properties that give text visual emphasis…

Rich internet application(also: RIA)

A web application that uses client-side scripting (typically JavaScript) to provide dynamic, interactive functionality similar to desktop software, including features like drag-and-drop, real-time updates, and complex widgets. Rich internet applications present significant…

Right to Education(also: RTE, Right to Education Act)

Legal frameworks guaranteeing the right to free and compulsory education for all children, including children with disabilities. India's Right to Education Act (2009) mandates free education for all children aged 6-14 and includes a controversial "no detention" policy requiring…

Right to Erasure(also: Right to be Forgotten, GDPR Article 17)

A user right under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (Article 17) to have their personal data deleted by a data controller when certain conditions are met (e.g., data no longer needed, consent withdrawn, unlawful processing). Implemented in accessible products through…

Right to Repair

A movement advocating for consumers' ability to repair, modify, and maintain their own devices and equipment, including access to diagnostic information, repair manuals, and replacement parts. For people with disabilities, right to repair is especially significant because…

Right-of-Way(also: Pedestrian Right-of-Way, ROW)

Right-of-way refers to the legal right of a pedestrian, vehicle, or other entity to proceed with precedence over others in a specific area of public space. In accessibility, pedestrian right-of-way is critical because sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks are essential pathways…

Rigid Scoping

A voice navigation strategy that requires users to explicitly navigate through a hierarchical structure before issuing commands to specific targets. In rigid scoping, the user must first select a container or menu level, then name items within that scope, preventing ambiguity by…

Rigidity(also: Muscle Rigidity, Stiffness)

Increased muscle tone causing stiffness and resistance to passive movement, commonly experienced in Parkinson's Disease and other neurological conditions. Unlike spasticity (which varies with movement speed), rigidity is constant throughout the range of motion. Rigidity affects…

Risk-Free Exploration(also: Safe Exploration)

Risk-free exploration is a design principle for making touchscreen interfaces accessible to blind users by enabling them to explore the screen surface without accidentally triggering interface actions. On standard capacitive touchscreens, any finger contact can activate buttons,…

Robo-Identity(also: Robot Identity, Robot Persona)

An emerging concept in human-robot interaction research referring to the identity or persona a robot takes on, as perceived and co-constructed by the people it interacts with. Robo-identity is not a fixed property of the robot itself but is negotiated dynamically through…

Robodebt(also: Online Compliance Intervention)

An automated debt-recovery scheme run by Services Australia (Centrelink) from 2016 to 2020, which used income-averaging algorithms to calculate alleged welfare overpayments and issue hundreds of thousands of debt notices without human review. A Royal Commission in 2023 found the…

Robot-Assisted Feeding(also: Assistive Feeding Robot, Robotic Feeding System, RAF)

A robotic system designed to help people with upper-limb motor impairments eat independently by automating the process of acquiring food from a plate and transferring it to the user's mouth. Robot-assisted feeding systems range from simple table-mounted devices with spoons (like…

Robotic Arm(also: Robot Arm, Assistive Robotic Arm, Manipulator Arm)

A programmable mechanical device with jointed segments that can grasp, move, and manipulate objects, controlled through various input methods. In assistive technology contexts, robotic arms are used to extend the physical capabilities of people with motor impairments, enabling…

Robotic Guide Dog(also: Robot Guide Dog, Quadruped Guide Robot)

A mobile robot — typically a quadruped platform — designed to provide navigation and obstacle-avoidance support for blind and low-vision users, filling a role analogous to that of a trained guide dog. Research prototypes have explored handler interaction, leash-based coupling,…

Robotic Social Attributes Scale(also: RoSAS, RoSAS-SF, Robotic Social Attributes Scale Short Form)

A validated psychometric instrument developed by Carpinella et al. (2017) that measures how people perceive the social attributes of a robot along three subscales: Warmth (how likable, friendly, and companionable the robot feels), Competence (how capable, knowledgeable, and…

Role Attribute(also: ARIA Role, WAI Role)

An HTML attribute that defines the purpose or type of a user interface element, communicating its function to assistive technologies. Originally proposed as part of the XHTML namespace-based approach described by Gibson and Schwerdtfeger at IBM, the role attribute became a…

Role Shifting(also: Referential Shift, Constructed Action)

A narrative device in American Sign Language (and many other sign languages) in which a signer takes on the persona, gaze, and body posture of a character in a story, dropping the default "narrator" framing. Role shifting is marked by a subtle shift in the signer's body, head…