Glossary

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Computer Braille(also: Computer Braille Code, CBC)

Computer Braille is a specialized braille notation system that includes characters for symbols commonly used in computing, such as brackets, braces, semicolons, and other punctuation not found in standard literary braille. Unlike literary braille, which uses contractions to…

Computer Feedback System(also: CFS, Computerized Feedback System)

A technology system that detects a user's behavior — such as vocalizations, movements, or physiological signals — and provides immediate audio, visual, or haptic responses mapped to that behavior. In speech and communication interventions, computer feedback systems translate…

Computer Literacy(also: Digital Literacy, Technology Literacy, ICT Literacy)

A person's knowledge and ability to use computers and digital technology effectively. In accessibility research, computer literacy is an important variable when studying how different user groups interact with technology, as prior experience significantly affects task…

Computer Says No(also: Computer-Says-No)

A pattern in which an organisation invokes an algorithmic or automated decision as justification for an adverse outcome — a rejected application, a denied claim, an adjusted score — thereby deflecting responsibility from human decision-makers onto the technical system.…

Computer Science Education(also: CS Education)

The field of teaching and learning computing concepts, programming, and computational thinking across K-12, post-secondary, and professional contexts. CS education relies heavily on visual representations — code editors, diagrams of data structures and algorithms, flowcharts,…

Computer Self-Efficacy(also: CSE, Technology Self-Efficacy)

A person's belief in their own ability to successfully perform tasks using a computer. Computer Self-Efficacy (CSE) is a strong predictor of technology adoption and is inversely correlated with Computer Anxiety — people with low CSE are more likely to experience anxiety, avoid…

Computer Use Agent(also: CUA, computer-using agent, desktop agent)

A computer use agent is an AI system powered by multimodal large language models that operates a computer by taking screenshots and performing mouse, keyboard, and scroll actions — mirroring the interactions of a sighted user to complete natural language tasks such as booking a…

Computer Vision(also: CV, Machine Vision)

A field of artificial intelligence that enables computers to interpret, understand, and extract information from visual data including images and videos. Computer vision technologies—such as object detection, image segmentation, scene recognition, and optical character…

Computer-Aided Design(also: CAD)

The use of software to create, modify, analyse, and optimise designs for physical objects or systems. In accessibility contexts, CAD tools are critical for designing assistive technology, tactile graphics, and 3D printable models, but most commercial CAD applications rely…

Computer-Aided Instruction(also: CAI, Computer-Assisted Learning, Computer-Based Instruction)

Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) is the use of computer software to deliver educational content, practice exercises, and assessment in a structured learning environment. In accessibility contexts, CAI is particularly valuable for individuals with disabilities because it can…

Computer-Assisted Language Learning(also: CALL, Computer-Aided Language Learning)

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) refers to the use of computers and digital technology to support language education and pronunciation training. CALL systems often incorporate automatic speech recognition to provide feedback on learner pronunciation, detect…

Computer-Based Intervention(also: CBI, Technology-Based Intervention, Digital Intervention)

A structured programme delivered through computer technology that aims to teach, rehabilitate, or support skill development. In accessibility contexts, computer-based interventions use software applications — often on tablets or other mainstream devices — to provide interactive…

Computer-Based Speech Training(also: CBST, Computer-Aided Speech Training, CAST)

Computer-based speech training (CBST) refers to software systems designed to help individuals improve their speech production through automated exercises, feedback, and practice. These systems typically present target words or utterances, capture the user's speech through a…

Computer-Mediated Communication(also: CMC)

Communication that occurs through digital devices and platforms, including text messaging, email, video conferencing, voice chat, and social media. Computer-mediated communication raises accessibility challenges because many platforms assume users can see, hear, type, or speak.…

Computer-Supported Cooperative Work(also: CSCW, Collaborative Computing)

A field of research and practice focused on how technology can support people working together, encompassing tools for communication, coordination, and collaboration such as chat systems, shared documents, video conferencing, and project management platforms. In accessibility,…

Computer-Using Agent(also: CUA)

An AI agent, typically built on a Large Multimodal Model, that perceives a computer's graphical user interface through screenshots, reasons about on-screen context, and directly manipulates the interface by clicking, typing, scrolling, and navigating between applications. Unlike…

Computerized Visual Communication(also: C-VIC)

A computer-based assistive technology system that enables people with aphasia to communicate by arranging icons and images on screen to form sentences, which can then be translated into spoken or written language. C-VIC systems use structured visual vocabularies where users…

Concatenated Speech Synthesis(also: Concatenative Synthesis, Unit Selection Synthesis)

A method of producing synthetic speech by connecting pre-recorded segments of human speech, typically diphones (transitions between phonemes) or demi-syllables, to form complete words and sentences. Concatenated speech synthesis produces more natural-sounding output than older…

Concatenative Synthesis(also: Unit Selection Synthesis)

A text-to-speech method that generates synthetic speech by concatenating (joining together) pre-recorded segments of human speech. These segments, called units, may be phonemes, diphones, syllables, or words. The system selects and joins appropriate units from a large database…

Conceptual Model(also: Mental Model)

A user's internal understanding of how a system works, including what actions are possible, what the current state is, and what the consequences of actions will be. Conceptual models are critical in accessibility because users who cannot build an accurate mental representation…

Concurrent Exploration(also: Concurrent Slide Access, Simultaneous Exploration)

The ability for screen reader users to independently browse and interact with visual content (such as presentation slides) at the same time as a presenter is speaking, mirroring the way sighted audience members can freely scan visual materials while listening. Concurrent…

Concurrent Speech(also: Simultaneous Speech, Parallel Audio)

The presentation of multiple audio streams simultaneously, leveraging the human ability to selectively attend to one stream while monitoring others — known as the cocktail party effect. In accessibility research, concurrent speech has been explored as a way to help blind users…

Concurrent speech interface(also: Simultaneous speech, Parallel audio streams)

An interaction paradigm that presents multiple speech audio streams simultaneously, spatially separated using techniques like head-related transfer functions, to enable users to scan or monitor several information items in parallel rather than listening to them sequentially.…

Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is a spreadsheet feature that automatically applies visual styles — fill color, font color, bold text, icons, data bars — to cells whose values meet specified rules (for example, highlighting failing grades in red or above-average sales in green). It is…

Conductive Filament(also: Conductive 3D printing filament, Conductive PLA)

A specialized 3D printing material that conducts electricity, enabling printed objects to interact with capacitive touchscreens. In accessibility applications, conductive filament can be embedded in otherwise non-conductive 3D printed objects — such as tactile maps or overlays —…

Conductive Ink(also: Conductive Paint, Electrically Conductive Ink)

An ink or paint formulated with electrically conductive materials such as silver, carbon, or graphene that can carry an electrical signal when applied to a surface. In accessibility applications, conductive ink is used to create touch-sensitive areas on physical objects like…

Cone Dystrophy(also: Cone-Rod Dystrophy)

A group of inherited eye disorders that affect the cone cells in the retina, which are responsible for color vision, central vision, and visual acuity in well-lit conditions. People with cone dystrophy typically experience progressive loss of color vision, decreased visual…

Cone Tree(also: Cone Trees, Cone Tree Visualization)

A 3D or 2D information visualization technique for displaying hierarchical data structures, where child nodes are arranged in a cone or fan shape around their parent node. When a user selects a child, the parent shrinks into the background and the selected item's children expand…

Confabulation (Clinical)(also: Clinical Confabulation)

Confabulation in a clinical sense is the unconscious production of fabricated, distorted, or misinterpreted memories without the intent to deceive - the person genuinely believes what they are recounting. It is associated with dementia (particularly Alzheimer's and Korsakoff's…

Confederate(also: Research Confederate, Study Confederate)

A person who plays a scripted role in a research study while appearing to participants as a naive participant, bystander, or user. Confederates allow researchers to observe how true participants behave in realistic social situations — for example, how a blind user interacts with…

Confidence Indicator(also: Confidence Score, Uncertainty Indicator)

An interface element that communicates how certain an AI or automated system is about a given output, helping users decide how much to trust the result. In accessibility tools for blind and low-vision users, confidence indicators are especially important because users cannot…

Confidence Score(also: Confidence Rating, Certainty Score)

A numerical measure output by AI systems indicating how certain the system is about a particular result or classification. While confidence scores have been proposed as a way to help users assess AI accuracy, research with blind participants has found them difficult to interpret…

Confidence score(also: Certainty score, Prediction confidence)

A numerical value (typically 0-100% or 0-1) indicating how certain an AI system is about its prediction or classification. In accessibility contexts, communicating confidence scores to users — particularly blind users who cannot visually verify AI output — helps them calibrate…

Confirmation Dialogue(also: Confirmation Dialog, Verification Prompt)

An interaction pattern where a system summarizes a proposed action and asks the user to confirm before executing it. In accessible calendar design and voice assistant interactions, confirmation dialogues are critical for preventing errors—users want the system to summarize…

Confirmation Message(also: Positive Feedback, On-track Feedback, Progress Confirmation)

A system message that reassures users they are performing a task correctly or are on the right path, as opposed to only providing error messages or corrective instructions. In assistive technology and cognitive accessibility, confirmation messages have been shown to be…

Conformance Evaluation(also: Conformance Assessment, Accessibility Conformance Testing)

The process of systematically assessing whether a website, application, or digital product meets the requirements of a specific accessibility standard, typically WCAG at a designated conformance level (A, AA, or AAA). Conformance evaluation typically combines automated testing…

Conformance Level(also: WCAG Level, Priority Level)

The three-tiered classification system used by WCAG to rank success criteria by their importance and impact on accessibility. Level A represents the minimum baseline — criteria that must be met or some users will be completely unable to access content. Level AA addresses the…

Conformance Review(also: WCAG Conformance Review, Conformance Evaluation, Accessibility Conformance Review)

A conformance review is a systematic evaluation of a website or web application against a specific set of accessibility guidelines, most commonly WCAG, to determine whether and to what level the content meets the standard's success criteria. The review process involves checking…

Conformance Testing(also: Compliance Testing, Guideline Review)

An accessibility evaluation method that checks whether a website or digital product meets the requirements specified by accessibility guidelines or standards such as WCAG. Conformance testing can be performed manually by human evaluators or through automated testing tools that…

Confusion Matrix(also: Error Matrix)

A table used to characterize the accuracy of an input system by showing the probability that an intended signal will be correctly recognized versus misinterpreted as a different signal. In assistive technology, confusion matrices are used to map the error patterns of alternative…

Congenital Blindness(also: Congenital Vision Loss)

Blindness or severe visual impairment present from birth or very early childhood, as opposed to acquired or adventitious blindness that develops later in life. The distinction is significant for accessibility because congenitally blind individuals may have different information…

Connected Learning

A culturally-embedded learning paradigm developed by Mizŭko Ito and colleagues that frames rich learning as emerging from interest-driven, peer-supported, and academically-oriented activities across a network of everyday settings — including online affinity communities, fandoms,…

Connected Speech Recognition(also: Continuous Speech Recognition)

A form of automatic speech recognition in which users speak words naturally, with normal coarticulation and minimal pauses, rather than pausing between each word as required by older 'discrete' or 'isolated-word' recognisers. Connected-speech recognition was a significant…

Connected TV(also: Smart TV, Internet TV, CTV)

A television set or set-top box that can connect to the Internet, providing access to interactive features beyond traditional broadcast content including streaming applications, electronic programme guides, web browsing, and app stores. Connected TVs present significant…

Consent(also: Informed Consent)

Voluntary, informed, and revocable agreement by a person to a particular action or interaction involving them - whether that is sexual activity, data collection, medical treatment, research participation, or interaction with an automated system. In accessibility contexts,…

Consent Model(also: Consent Framework)

A prescriptive framework specifying how consent should be requested, given, sustained, and revoked in a particular interaction context. Examples include affirmative consent (explicit verbal agreement), embodied consent (drawing on bodily and somatic cues), and haptic consent…

Consequence Calculus

The decision-making process by which disabled individuals weigh all available options for addressing an access barrier and select the option that best matches their priorities given their contextual factors. Consequence calculus involves evaluating trade-offs across multiple…

Consequence-Based Accessibility

A framework introduced by Mack and McDonnell that describes how people with chronic illnesses experience access barriers where the consequences of their actions, rather than the nature of the task itself, make something inaccessible. For example, a person may be physically…

Constitutional AI(also: CAI)

A training method introduced by Anthropic in 2022 in which a large language model is aligned to a written set of principles (a 'constitution') through self-critique and reinforcement learning from AI feedback, rather than relying exclusively on human preference labels. The model…

Constrained Creativity(also: Constrained Design, Creative Constraints)

Constrained creativity is a design approach that supports creative expression by deliberately limiting the choices available to users, providing structure and boundaries within which they can create. In accessibility, constrained creativity has proven especially valuable for…