Glossary

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Tangible User Interface(also: TUI, Physical Interface)

An interface in which users interact with digital information through physical objects and surfaces in the real world. Tangible user interfaces bridge the gap between digital and physical by giving digital data a physical form that can be grasped, moved, and manipulated. For…

Tangible interaction(also: Tangible user interface, TUI, Physical computing)

An interaction paradigm in which users manipulate physical objects and materials to interact with digital information, bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Tangible interfaces leverage people's existing skills in manipulating physical objects, making them…

Tangram Workstation(also: Tangram)

A LibreOffice extension for creating tactile graphics collaboratively. Tangram enables sighted users to design graphics while providing real-time tactile feedback to blind reviewers through a connected pin-matrix display. The tool includes a palette of validated tactile fill…

Tap-to-Hear(also: Point-to-Hear, Tap-to-Listen, Point-and-Click Exploration)

An interaction paradigm used in tactile graphic readers and touch-based accessibility tools where users touch or tap on elements of a tactile graphic to trigger spoken audio descriptions of the element beneath their finger. Tap-to-hear is the current standard approach for…

TapTapSee

An AI-enabled visual assistance app designed for blind and low vision users that identifies objects through photos taken with a smartphone camera. Users double-tap their screen to take a photo, and the app uses image recognition to identify and describe the object. TapTapSee is…

Tappability(also: Tap Target, Tappable)

The property of a user interface element that indicates whether it can be activated by tapping on a touchscreen device. Tappability is a key concern in mobile accessibility because elements that appear tappable but are not (or vice versa) create barriers for users who rely on…

Target Ambiguity(also: Command Ambiguity)

A usability problem in voice and speech-based interfaces where a user's spoken command could refer to more than one element on the screen. For example, if multiple buttons share the same label in different parts of an application, saying that label creates ambiguity about which…

Target Expansion(also: Expanding Targets, Dynamic Target Sizing)

An interaction technique where clickable interface elements dynamically grow in size as the cursor approaches, making them easier to select while conserving screen space when not being targeted. Research shows target expansion can reduce selection times by up to 14% and error…

Target Highlight Time(also: THT)

A performance measure used in human-computer interaction research that captures the time elapsed between when a user positions a pointer over a target and when they initiate an action on that target, such as clicking or dragging. THT reflects how quickly a user can recognize and…

Target Selection(also: Target Acquisition, Pointing)

The fundamental interaction task of moving a cursor or pointer to a specific location on screen and confirming selection, such as clicking a button or link. Target selection difficulty is affected by target size, distance to target, and user motor abilities—relationships…

Target Size(also: Touch Target Size, Click Target Size, Hit Area)

The physical dimensions of an interactive element on screen — such as a link, button, or checkbox — that a user must point to and activate. Adequate target size is critical for users with motor impairments, tremor, or limited dexterity, as small targets require greater precision…

Target Sound Extraction(also: Target Sound Separation, TSE)

A machine-learning task in which a model isolates a specific target sound (or class of sounds) from a complex acoustic mixture, conditioned on some specification of the target - a text label, a reference recording, or an embedding. Distinct from blind source separation (which…

Target acquisition(also: Target selection, Pointing task)

The process of moving a pointer or input device to a specific on-screen element and selecting it, such as tapping an icon, clicking a button, or choosing a menu item. Target acquisition is a fundamental interaction in graphical user interfaces, and its difficulty is influenced…

Target-Based Navigation(also: Target-Based Cursor Control, Object-Based Navigation)

A cursor control method where users identify the desired destination directly by name or label, such as saying "Select Friday" to move the cursor to that word on screen. Target-based navigation can be efficient when targets are clearly identifiable, but becomes error-prone as…

Task Allocation(also: Task Assignment, Job Assignment)

The process of assigning specific tasks or roles to workers based on their abilities, skills, and the accessibility of the task. In inclusive workplace settings, task allocation involves carefully evaluating which tasks can be made accessible through accommodations and which may…

Task Analysis(also: Hierarchical Task Analysis, HTA)

A systematic method for breaking down complex activities into their component tasks, subtasks, and actions to understand how users accomplish goals when interacting with a system. In accessibility and usability evaluation, task analysis is used to identify potential barriers by…

Task Automation(also: Web Task Automation, Browser Automation)

The use of software agents or scripts to automatically perform web-based tasks on behalf of users, such as filling forms, making purchases, or extracting information. Task automation in accessibility contexts promises to reduce the effort required for screen reader users to…

Task Completion Time(also: TCT, Time on Task)

A key usability metric measuring the time a user takes to complete a specific task from start to finish. In accessibility research, task completion time is one of the primary measures for comparing the efficiency of different assistive technology approaches or interaction…

Task Decomposition(also: Task Breakdown, Chunking Tasks)

The process of breaking a large, complex, or overwhelming task into smaller, manageable steps that can be completed sequentially. Task decomposition is a critical cognitive accessibility strategy for people with executive dysfunction, as large undifferentiated tasks create…

Task Initiation(also: Task Starting, Getting Started)

The executive function skill of beginning a task or activity, particularly when the task is complex, unstructured, or perceived as uninteresting. Task initiation is a common area of difficulty for people with ADHD and other executive function challenges. The difficulty is not…

Task Prompting(also: Task Prompting System, Cognitive Prompting)

Task prompting is an assistive technology approach that provides step-by-step instructions or cues to guide individuals with cognitive impairments through multi-step tasks. Prompts can be delivered through text, images, audio, or video on screens or mobile devices, and may be…

Task Sequencing(also: Task Decomposition, Step Sequencing)

The cognitive ability to break down complex activities into substeps and execute them in an appropriate order. Task sequencing is essential for Activities of Daily Living such as brushing teeth, dressing, or cooking, where multiple steps must be coordinated correctly. People…

Task Switching(also: Context Switching, Task-Switching Cost)

The cognitive process of shifting attention from one task to another, which incurs a measurable performance cost in terms of time, accuracy, and mental effort. For individuals with ADHD and other conditions affecting executive function, task switching is particularly challenging…

Task-Specific Navigation(also: Task-Based Browsing, Goal-Directed Navigation)

A web interaction paradigm where the interface adapts to surface content relevant to a user's specific task or goal, filtering or de-emphasizing irrelevant elements. Task-specific navigation contrasts with general-purpose browsing by using knowledge of the user's intent to…

Task-Technology Fit(also: TTF)

A concept from information systems research describing how well a technology's capabilities match the requirements of the tasks it is used to perform. In assistive technology, task-technology fit is critical to successful adoption: a mismatch between the type of assistive device…

Tatreez(also: Palestinian Cross-Stitch, Palestinian Embroidery)

A traditional Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery practice, inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021, in which motifs encode regional identity, family history, and social status through colour and geometric pattern. In accessibility…

Taxonomy(also: Classification System, Classification Scheme)

A structured classification system that organizes concepts, terms, or entities into hierarchical categories based on shared characteristics. In accessibility research and practice, taxonomies are used to categorize types of disabilities, assistive technologies, accessibility…

Taylor Frame(also: Taylor Mathematical Slate, Taylor Slate, Math Frame)

A tactile tool used by visually impaired students to perform arithmetic calculations. The device consists of a rectangular board with rows of holes into which small lead or plastic bars are inserted. Each bar has notched ends representing digits 0-9, which users identify by…

Teach Access

A collaborative initiative bringing together technology companies, academic institutions, and advocacy organizations to advance accessibility education. Teach Access provides resources, curriculum materials, and community connections to help educators integrate accessibility…

TeachAccess(also: Teach Access, TeachAccess initiative)

A US-based initiative co-founded in 2015 by technology companies, universities, and disability organisations to integrate accessibility into the curricula of computer science, design, and related disciplines. TeachAccess develops teaching materials, study-abroad programmes,…

Teachable AI(also: Teachable Machine Learning, Interactive Machine Learning)

Teachable AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that allow end users to personalize the system by providing their own training examples, high-level constraints, or prompts — without requiring programming or machine learning expertise. In the accessibility context,…

Teachable Object Recognition(also: Teachable Object Recognizer, TOR, Personalized Object Recognition)

A machine learning approach that allows users to train an object recognition system to identify their own personal items by providing a small number of training examples, typically photos or videos. This technology is particularly valuable for blind and low vision users who need…

Teachable Object Recognizer(also: Teachable Machine, Personalized Object Recognizer)

A machine learning application that allows end users to train custom object recognition models by providing their own example images, rather than relying on pre-trained models with fixed categories. In accessibility contexts, teachable object recognizers empower blind and…

Teacher of Blind Students(also: TBS, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, TVI)

A specially licensed educator trained to teach students who are blind or have low vision. TBSs provide instruction in the expanded core curriculum, which includes Braille literacy, orientation and mobility concepts, assistive technology skills, and self-advocacy. Research…

Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments(also: TVI, Vision Teacher, Teacher of the Visually Impaired)

A specialized educator certified to teach students who are blind or have low vision, providing instruction in the expanded core curriculum including braille literacy, orientation and mobility concepts, assistive technology use, and daily living skills. TVIs work in school…

Teacher of the Visually Impaired(also: TVI, Vision Teacher, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments)

A specialized educator trained to work with students who are blind or have low vision, providing instruction in skills such as Braille, use of assistive technology, orientation and mobility, and adapting educational materials for visual accessibility. In music education, TVIs…

Teacher with Vision Impairment(also: TVI, Visually Impaired Teacher, Blind Teacher)

An educator who is blind or has low vision and teaches in educational settings, often in schools for the blind where they share the lived experience of their students. TVIs are particularly prominent in the Global South, where residential schools for the blind employ significant…

Tech support for older adults(also: Senior tech support, Elder tech assistance)

The provision of guidance, troubleshooting, and learning resources to help older adults use digital technologies effectively. Research identifies two key dimensions: self-reliant support (online tutorials, video guides, built-in help features, trial-and-error) and social support…

Technical Agency

Technical agency, in the context of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), refers to an individual's ability to actively participate in and contribute to a conversation through direct actions such as speaking, gesturing, or vocalizing. It is distinguished from…

Techno-Solutionism(also: Technological Solutionism, Tech Solutionism)

The belief that technology can solve complex social, political, and cultural problems, often without addressing underlying systemic causes. In accessibility, techno-solutionism manifests as the assumption that building the right assistive device or application will resolve the…

Technoableism

A concept describing how technology is framed as a solution to disability in ways that reinforce ableist assumptions, treating disability primarily as a problem to be fixed rather than a form of human diversity. Coined in the context of disability studies and critical technology…

Technocapitalist Disability Rhetoric

A term describing the marketing and promotional language used by technology companies that recasts lived disability experience into marketable suffering and positions technological products as purchasable solutions. Coined by Bonnie Tucker, technocapitalist disability rhetoric…

Technology Abandonment(also: Device Abandonment, Technology Discontinuance)

The phenomenon where users stop using a technology or assistive device after initial adoption, often due to poor usability, lack of perceived benefit, inadequate training, or misalignment with actual needs and routines. Technology abandonment rates are particularly high among…

Technology Acceptance(also: Technology Adoption, TAM)

The process by which individuals evaluate, adopt, and integrate new technology into their routines, often modeled through frameworks like the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which emphasizes perceived usefulness and ease of use as key predictors. For accessibility, technology…

Technology Acceptance Model(also: TAM)

A theoretical framework originally developed by Fred Davis in 1989 that explains how users come to accept and use a technology. TAM posits that technology adoption depends on two primary factors: perceived usefulness (the degree to which a person believes the technology will…

Technology Adoption(also: AT Adoption, Technology Uptake)

The process by which individuals begin using and integrating new technology into their daily routines. In accessibility contexts, technology adoption encompasses the decision to acquire assistive technology, the learning curve involved in using it effectively, and sustained use…

Technology Adoption Model(also: TAM)

A theoretical framework developed by Fred Davis that explains how users come to accept and use new technology. The model proposes that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the primary factors influencing technology adoption decisions. In accessibility research, TAM…

Technology Amplification Theory(also: Technology as Amplifier)

A theory proposed by Kentaro Toyama positing that technology amplifies existing human intent and capacity rather than creating new capabilities from scratch. In the context of assistive technology and disability services, this theory argues that introducing digital tools into…

Technology Biography(also: Technology Biographies)

A qualitative research method consisting of structured interview and observation sessions focused on specific elements of a user's interaction with technological artifacts. Developed by Blythe and colleagues, the method encourages sharing and discussion about how a person uses…

Technology Dependency(also: Tech Dependency, Digital Dependency)

The state of relying on technology to perform tasks that one might otherwise accomplish independently, or the risk that technology use persists beyond the original need. In disability and accessibility contexts, technology dependency raises complex questions: reliance on…