Glossary

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Smart Home Accessibility(also: Accessible Smart Home, Smart Home Automation)

The design and implementation of connected home technologies — such as voice-controlled lighting, automated door locks, smart thermostats, and appliance controls — in ways that are usable by people with disabilities. Smart home accessibility enables greater independence by…

Smart Home Technology(also: SHT, Smart Home Devices)

Connected devices and systems within a home that can be controlled remotely or automated, including smart speakers, thermostats, lighting, locks, cameras, sensors, and blinds. Smart home technology uses Internet of Things connectivity, voice control, and programmable rules to…

Smart Ring(also: Ring-Form Wearable)

A wearable computing device worn on a finger, typically combining sensors (motion, biometric, or camera) and/or actuators (vibration, kinesthetic feedback) in a ring form factor. In accessibility, smart rings have been proposed as discreet input devices, vibrotactile navigation…

Smart Speaker(also: Voice-Activated Speaker, Intelligent Speaker)

A wireless speaker with an integrated voice assistant that responds to spoken commands, such as Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home (Google Assistant), or Apple HomePod (Siri). Smart speakers serve as central hubs for smart home control, allowing users to operate connected devices,…

Smartglasses(also: Smart Glasses, AR Glasses, Connected Glasses)

Eyewear with integrated computing capabilities including sensors, displays, cameras, and connectivity that overlay digital information onto the wearer's field of view or provide hands-free access to computing functions. Smartglasses encompass several subcategories: passive…

Smartphone Accessibility(also: Mobile Phone Accessibility)

The design and adaptation of smartphone hardware, operating systems, and applications to be usable by people with disabilities. Smartphones have become increasingly important as assistive technology platforms due to their widespread availability, built-in accessibility features…

Smartphones as Assistive Technology(also: Mobile AT, Phone-Based AT)

The use of mainstream smartphones as assistive devices through built-in accessibility features (screen readers, magnification, live captions, sound amplification) and downloadable applications that support independence for people with disabilities. In low- and middle-income…

Smartwatch(also: Smart Watch, Wrist-Worn Device)

A wrist-worn computing device with a small touchscreen display that provides notifications, health tracking, and app functionality beyond timekeeping. Smartwatches present significant accessibility challenges for users with motor impairments due to their small touch targets,…

Smartwatch Interaction(also: Watch-Based Interaction)

The methods and techniques used to interact with smartwatch devices, including touch gestures on the small screen, physical button and crown inputs, and motion-based gestures detected by onboard sensors. Smartwatches present unique interaction challenges due to their small form…

Snap Turn(also: Snap Rotation, Comfort Turn)

A virtual reality locomotion technique that rotates the user's viewpoint in discrete angular increments rather than continuous smooth rotation. Typically triggered by a thumbstick or controller input, snap turns rotate the view by a fixed amount (commonly 30-45 degrees) to…

Snowball Sampling(also: Chain Referral Sampling)

A non-probability recruitment method where existing study participants recruit future participants from among their acquaintances, creating a chain of referrals. In accessibility research, snowball sampling is particularly valuable for reaching disability communities that may be…

Social Acceptability(also: Social Acceptance, Technology Stigma)

The degree to which the use of an assistive technology or interaction technique is perceived as socially appropriate by both the user and those around them. Social acceptability is a critical but often underestimated factor in assistive technology adoption. Users may reject…

Social Acceptance(also: Public acceptance, Bystander acceptance)

In assistive technology research, the degree to which bystanders and the broader public accept the presence and use of a device in shared spaces — and the degree to which the user feels comfortable using it in public. Low social acceptance can drive device abandonment even when…

Social Accessibility

A design paradigm introduced by Shinohara and colleagues emphasizing that assistive technologies must be designed for the social worlds they will be used within, not just for functional task completion. Social accessibility recognizes that assistive technologies often have a…

Social Agency

Social agency is the capacity to shape, initiate, and sustain one's social interactions - to contribute meaningfully to a group, express preferences, and influence shared activity. For people with cognitive disabilities, dementia, or communication differences, social agency is…

Social Anxiety(also: Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia)

Social anxiety (social anxiety disorder, SAD) is a mental-health condition characterised by persistent and intense fear of being judged, rejected or humiliated in social or performance situations, leading to avoidance of interactions that most people experience as routine. It is…

Social Attention(also: Social Orienting)

The set of behaviours, motivations, and perceptual processes involved in directing and coordinating attention toward other people during social interaction. Social attention includes orienting toward others, maintaining awareness of their position and gaze direction, and using…

Social Capital

The networks of relationships, shared norms, trust, and reciprocity that enable individuals and communities to function effectively and access resources. People with intellectual disabilities often have limited social capital due to restricted social networks, reduced community…

Social Cognitive Theory(also: SCT, Social learning theory)

A psychological framework developed by Albert Bandura that explains how people learn through observing others, building self-efficacy, and interacting with their social environment. In the context of accessibility and digital literacy, SCT provides a foundation for designing…

Social Communication(also: Social-Communication, Pragmatic Communication)

The use of language and nonverbal behavior in social contexts, encompassing skills such as taking turns in conversation, adjusting communication style based on the listener or situation, understanding nonliteral language, and interpreting social cues. Difficulties with social…

Social Communication Disorder(also: SCD, Pragmatic Language Impairment)

A condition characterized by persistent difficulties with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. Individuals with social communication disorder struggle with using communication for social purposes, adjusting communication to match context, following…

Social Connectedness

The subjective experience of feeling close to and in touch with others, characterized by a sense of belonging, being cared for, and maintaining meaningful relationships. Social connectedness is distinct from social contact — a person can have frequent interactions yet feel…

Social Constructivism(also: Sociocultural Theory)

An educational theory emphasizing that learners co-construct knowledge through social interactions with others, particularly more knowledgeable individuals. Rooted in Vygotsky's work, social constructivism highlights that learning is fundamentally a social process where…

Social Desirability Bias(also: Impression Management)

A type of response bias in which research participants answer questions in a way that presents themselves favorably rather than truthfully, either to project a positive self-image or to avoid judgment from the researcher. In accessibility research, social desirability bias can…

Social Desirability Bias(also: Impression Management)

A type of response bias where participants answer questions in a manner they believe will be viewed favorably by others rather than responding truthfully. In accessibility research contexts, this can manifest when participants with disabilities provide positive ratings to appear…

Social Distancing(also: Physical Distancing)

The practice of maintaining a minimum physical distance from other people to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic with recommended distances of at least 1 metre (WHO) or 6 feet (CDC). Social distancing presented unique…

Social Emotional Learning(also: SEL, Social-Emotional Learning)

A pedagogical approach focused on developing students' self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making abilities to support academic success and mental wellbeing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social emotional learning…

Social Engagement(also: Social Participation)

The active involvement of a person in social interaction with others - making eye contact, attending to a partner, taking turns, responding to bids for attention, and sustaining shared activity. Social engagement is a foundation for communication and peer interaction, and…

Social Inclusion(also: Social Integration, Community Inclusion)

The process of ensuring that people with disabilities can fully participate in social, cultural, and community activities on an equal basis with others. Social inclusion goes beyond physical access to encompass meaningful participation, belonging, and the ability to contribute.…

Social Interaction(also: Social Communication, Interpersonal Interaction)

The process by which people act and react in relation to one another, including verbal conversation, non-verbal communication, and physical proximity. For people with disabilities, social interactions can be significantly affected — for example, individuals who are blind may…

Social Isolation(also: Social Disconnection)

A state characterized by a lack of meaningful social contacts, relationships, and community engagement. Social isolation is a significant public health concern among older adults and people with disabilities, associated with increased risks of depression, cognitive decline,…

Social Isolation(also: Social Disconnection)

The objective lack of social contact and relationships, distinct from loneliness (the subjective feeling of being alone). Social isolation is a significant accessibility concern because it can both result from and contribute to barriers in technology use—isolated individuals may…

Social Isolation

A state of limited or absent social contact and interaction with others, which can result from physical, environmental, or psychological barriers. For people with disabilities and older adults, social isolation often stems from mobility limitations, communication difficulties,…

Social Marking(also: Stigma Marking, Social Visibility of Disability)

In accessibility contexts, social marking refers to the way assistive technologies or accommodations can draw unwanted attention to a person's disability, making their impairment visible in social situations where they might otherwise go unnoticed. Research has shown that users…

Social Media

Networked digital platforms — including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LINE, WhatsApp, and similar services — that enable users to create, share, and discuss content with others. For accessibility, social media raises questions about platform-level support for assistive technology…

Social Media Accessibility

The practice of making social media platforms, content, and interactions accessible to people with disabilities. This encompasses platform-level features (alt text support, caption generation, screen reader compatibility), content creator practices (adding image descriptions,…

Social Media Video Captions(also: SMVC)

An umbrella term for the textual or symbolic elements — platform-generated captions, creator-edited captions, user-generated captions, and non-speech information such as sound effects, music cues, or onomatopoeia — that are temporally aligned with video content on social media…

Social Microvolunteering(also: Intermediated Friendsourcing)

A form of online volunteering in which a person installs an application that posts small tasks (microtasks) to their social media feed on behalf of a cause or organization, enabling their friends and followers to contribute by completing these tasks within the social platform…

Social Model of Disability

A framework originating in disability studies and activism that views disability not as an inherent deficit in an individual but as the result of social, environmental, and political barriers that exclude people with impairments from full participation. Introduced by Michael…

Social Model of Disability(also: Social Construction of Disability)

A framework that locates disability not in an individual's body or mind but in the barriers created by society — including physical environments, attitudes, policies, and systems that exclude people with impairments from full participation. Developed in contrast to the medical…

Social Model of Disability(also: social model, barriers model)

A framework that distinguishes between impairment (a physical, sensory, or cognitive difference) and disability (the social barriers and exclusion that result from society not accommodating that difference). Under this model, people are disabled by inaccessible environments,…

Social Motor Synchrony(also: Interpersonal Synchrony, Motor Synchrony)

The spontaneous or intentional coordination of body movements between two or more people during social interaction, such as matching rhythms, mirroring gestures, or moving in temporal alignment. Social Motor Synchrony is considered an important indicator of social engagement and…

Social Navigation(also: Socially-aware navigation, Socially compliant robot navigation)

In robotics, the problem of moving through an environment that contains people, in a way that respects social norms, comfort, and safety. Social navigation goes beyond obstacle avoidance: it requires predicting pedestrian intentions, respecting personal space, interpreting…

Social Networking Site(also: SNS, Social Network, Social Media Platform)

A social networking site (SNS) is an online platform that enables users to create profiles, connect with others, share content, and engage in social interactions. Examples include Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and WhatsApp. For accessibility, SNS design presents…

Social Play

Social play is intrinsically motivated, voluntary activity between two or more children that has no purpose beyond itself, yet is essential to emotional, cognitive, and social development. Developmental researchers categorise it along two axes: social level (Parten's six stages…

Social Playware(also: Interactive Playware, Technology-Mediated Play)

Intelligent hardware and software systems designed to create playful interactive experiences that encourage learning, social interaction, and communication between users. In accessibility and therapeutic contexts, social playware is used to promote social skills development in…

Social Prescribing(also: Community Prescribing, Non-Medical Referral)

A non-medical intervention that links clinical practice with community-based activities and support services to improve health and wellbeing. In the context of accessibility, social prescribing connects people living with disabilities or chronic conditions — including dementia —…

Social Presence(also: Co-Presence, Telepresence)

The sense of being together with another person in a mediated environment, whether through video conferencing, virtual reality, or other communication technologies. In accessibility contexts, social presence is crucial for remote therapy, telerehabilitation, and virtual support…

Social Proof

A psychological and behavioural phenomenon in which people rely on the choices, ratings, and reviews of others as evidence when making decisions under uncertainty. In digital accessibility contexts, social proof becomes especially load-bearing for users who cannot independently…

Social Responsiveness Scale(also: SRS-2, SRS)

A standardized questionnaire used to measure the severity of autism spectrum symptoms in individuals aged 2.5 years through adulthood. The SRS-2 assesses social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation, and restricted interests/repetitive behaviors.…