Glossary

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Impression Management(also: Self-Presentation)

The conscious or unconscious process of controlling how one is perceived by others, including managing what personal information is visible or shared. For blind people using visual assistance technologies, impression management includes controlling what appears in…

Improvisation(also: Design Improvisation, Research Improvisation)

In the context of accessibility research and design, improvisation refers to the practice of creatively adapting plans and methods in response to unexpected circumstances, defined as "a creative act composed without prior thought." When conducting participatory research with…

Improvisational Music Therapy(also: IMT, Creative Music Therapy)

A therapeutic approach in which the therapist and client spontaneously create music together without predetermined structure or composed material. This form of music therapy allows non-verbal communication and emotional expression through musical interaction, making it…

Impulse Engine(also: Impulse Engine 3000)

The Impulse Engine 3000 was a force-feedback haptic device manufactured by Immersion Corporation in the 1990s, used for research into haptic interfaces and virtual reality. The device featured a probe that users manipulated in three degrees of freedom (forward/backward, up/down,…

Impulsivity(also: Impulsiveness)

A core symptom of ADHD characterized by acting without forethought, difficulty waiting, interrupting others, and making hasty decisions without considering consequences. In digital contexts, impulsivity can lead to premature form submissions, unintended purchases, accidental…

In Situ Study(also: Field Study, In-the-Wild Study, Remote Study)

An in situ study is a research method where participants are observed or data is collected in their natural environment rather than in a controlled laboratory setting. In accessibility research, in situ studies are particularly valuable because they capture how users interact…

In-Situ Deployment(also: In-Situ Study, Field Deployment Study)

A research methodology in which a functional prototype or product is installed on participants' own devices and used in their everyday environment over days, weeks, or months, rather than in a controlled laboratory session. In-situ deployments are especially valuable for…

In-Situ Intervention(also: in-context intervention, just-in-time intervention)

An in-situ intervention is a technological or design feature that is invoked within a user's existing workflow and context, rather than requiring them to switch to a separate application or interrupt their current task. In accessibility research, in-situ interventions are…

In-situ Highlighting(also: In-situ Guidance, In-situ Instruction, On-screen Highlighting)

In-situ highlighting is a tutorial technique that overlays visual indicators directly on the live application interface to show the user exactly where to tap, look, or interact next - rather than describing the action in a separate text or video tutorial. Common implementations…

In-situ Study(also: In-situ evaluation, Field study)

A user study conducted in the real-world setting where the technology would actually be used (a museum floor, a corridor with passersby, a commuter train), rather than in a controlled lab or via remotely viewed videos. In-situ studies matter for accessibility research because…

Inattention(also: Inattentiveness)

A core symptom of ADHD characterized by difficulty sustaining focus, being easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli, difficulty following through on instructions, and appearing not to listen when spoken to directly. In digital accessibility, inattention impacts the ability to…

Inattentional Blindness(also: Perceptual Blindness)

Inattentional blindness is the failure to notice a fully visible but unexpected object or feature when attention is directed elsewhere. It is distinct from change blindness (failure to notice a change between two views): inattentional blindness is about missing something that…

Inception-v3(also: Inception v3)

A deep convolutional neural network architecture developed by Google for image recognition, introduced in 2015. It uses "inception modules" that apply multiple convolution filter sizes in parallel to efficiently capture features at different scales, balancing recognition…

Incidental Learning(also: Observational Learning, Informal Learning)

Knowledge and skills acquired without deliberate instruction, typically through casual observation of the environment and other people. An estimated 80% of early childhood learning occurs incidentally through vision — watching how others make sandwiches, navigate social…

IncluSet

A dataset surfacing repository created by researchers at the University of Maryland that catalogs and organizes accessibility datasets — datasets sourced from people with disabilities and older adults. IncluSet was developed to make it easier for AI researchers and practitioners…

Inclusive AI(also: Accessible AI, Disability-Inclusive Artificial Intelligence)

The design and development of artificial intelligence systems that account for the needs, experiences, and data of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups. Inclusive AI requires representative training datasets, accessible interfaces for AI-powered tools, and…

Inclusive Co-Design(also: Inclusive Participatory Design)

A design methodology that ensures people from typically marginalized groups, including people with intellectual disabilities, are meaningfully included throughout the technology design process as equals rather than subjects. Inclusive co-design adapts traditional participatory…

Inclusive Design(also: Inclusive Design Methodology)

A design methodology that considers the full range of human diversity from the outset of the design process, including ability, language, culture, gender, and age. Inclusive design differs from accessibility retrofitting in that it incorporates diverse needs as core design…

Inclusive Design Process

A design approach that intentionally includes diverse users, particularly those with disabilities and from marginalized communities, throughout all stages of product development. An inclusive design process goes beyond accessible materials to consider the entire ecosystem of…

Inclusive Education(also: Inclusive Schooling, Mainstreaming)

An educational approach where students with disabilities learn alongside their non-disabled peers in mainstream classrooms, with appropriate supports, accommodations, and modifications to curriculum and instruction. Inclusive education contrasts with segregated schooling in…

Inclusive Employability(also: Inclusive Employment Practices, Disability-Inclusive Employment)

An approach to employment preparation, recruitment, and workplace practices that intentionally addresses the barriers faced by people from equity groups, including people with disabilities, in accessing and succeeding in employment. Inclusive employability goes beyond simply…

Inclusive Esports(also: Accessible Esports)

A framing of competitive gaming that enables players with and without disabilities to compete on common terms — through universal input modalities (e.g., EMG, motion sensing, eye tracking), accessible controllers, software-based player balancing, or game designs that avoid…

Inclusive Imagery(also: Inclusive Representation, Disability-Inclusive Media)

Visual content that authentically and respectfully represents people with disabilities and other marginalized groups. Inclusive imagery goes beyond accessibility (having alternative text) to address how disability is depicted—avoiding stereotypes, tragedy narratives, and…

Inclusive Immersion

A design objective for VR that seeks to create maximally accessible and enjoyable virtual and augmented reality experiences for users with different capability levels. The concept recognizes that immersion and enjoyment should be achievable regardless of disability, and that…

Inclusive Learning(also: Inclusive Education Design, Accessible Learning)

An educational approach that ensures all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in and benefit from learning activities and materials. Inclusive learning involves designing curricula, content, and delivery methods that accommodate diverse abilities,…

Inclusive Privacy(also: Accessible Privacy, Privacy and Accessibility)

An emerging field of research and practice focused on designing security and privacy mechanisms that are inclusive of people with diverse characteristics, abilities, needs, and values — particularly people with disabilities. Inclusive privacy recognizes that standard privacy…

Inclusive Procurement(also: Accessible Procurement)

The practice of embedding accessibility requirements into purchasing and contracting processes for products and services, particularly ICT systems. Inclusive procurement ensures that organizations evaluate vendors on their ability to meet accessibility standards such as EN 301…

Inclusive Thinking

A design and problem-solving mindset that treats the needs of people with diverse abilities as a core consideration from the outset of a project, rather than as an afterthought or accommodation added later. Inclusive thinking goes beyond technical knowledge of accessibility…

Inclusive avatar(also: Disability-representative avatar)

A digital self-representation in virtual environments that includes disability signifiers such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, canes, or visual metaphors for invisible conditions. Inclusive avatars enable disabled users to express their identity in virtual spaces and…

Inclusive pedagogy(also: Inclusive teaching, Inclusive educational practice)

Teaching approaches and practices designed to ensure all students — including those with disabilities — can meaningfully participate in and benefit from educational experiences. Inclusive pedagogy goes beyond providing individual accommodations to reshape the learning…

Independent Living(also: Autonomous Living)

A philosophy and practical goal emphasizing that people with disabilities should have the same opportunities and control over their daily lives as people without disabilities, including making choices about where and how they live. In accessibility practice, independent living…

Independent Living Movement(also: IL Movement)

A disability rights movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s advocating for disabled people's right to live independently in the community, make their own choices, and participate fully in society on a par with nondisabled peers. The movement organized protests, including…

Independent Living Skills(also: Daily Living Skills, ILS)

The practical skills needed to manage everyday tasks and routines autonomously, including personal hygiene, food preparation, household chores, money management, and time management. For people with disabilities, developing independent living skills is a core component of…

Index of Difficulty(also: ID, Fitts ID)

The Index of Difficulty (ID) is the central quantity in Fitts' law that captures how hard a rapid aimed pointing movement is, computed as log₂(A/W + 1) in the Shannon formulation, where A is the amplitude (distance to the target) and W is the target width along the movement…

Indian Language Accessibility(also: Indic Language Accessibility)

The set of challenges and solutions involved in making digital technology accessible to people with disabilities who use Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and others. Indian languages use complex scripts with features like consonant conjuncts…

Indian Sign Language(also: ISL, Indo-Pakistani Sign Language, IPSL)

The sign language used predominantly by the Deaf community in India. Indian Sign Language has its own distinct grammar and vocabulary that differs substantially from American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages. ISL is used by millions of Deaf individuals across India…

Indigenous Data Sovereignty(also: IDS, Tribal Data Sovereignty)

The right of Indigenous peoples to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about their communities, lands, and resources. Rooted in inherent rights of self-governance, Indigenous data sovereignty ensures that research involving Indigenous populations respects…

Indirect Discrimination(also: Disparate Impact)

A form of unlawful discrimination where a policy, criterion, or practice that appears neutral on its face disproportionately disadvantages people with a protected characteristic. Unlike direct discrimination, there is no need to prove discriminatory intent—it is sufficient to…

Indirect Text Entry(also: Indirect Selection, Indirect Text Composition)

A text input method where the number of available input controls (such as switches or keys) is significantly smaller than the number of characters that can be entered. The user selects characters through an intermediary process such as scanning, where the system cycles through…

Indirect speech act(also: Indirect request)

A linguistic utterance whose intended meaning differs from its literal meaning, commonly used in neurotypical communication for politeness or social convention. For example, "Can you pass the salt?" is literally a question about ability but is conventionally understood as a…

Individual Sign Language Recognition(also: ISLR, Word-Level Sign Recognition, Isolated Sign Recognition)

A machine learning task focused on recognizing individual signs from a sign language, translating single signs independently without considering surrounding context. Unlike continuous sign language recognition which attempts to interpret flowing signed sentences, ISLR identifies…

Individual-Technology Fit(also: ITF, User-Technology Match)

A framework for matching individual users with the most appropriate assistive technology based on their personal characteristics and the technology's requirements. In brain-computer interface contexts, ITF considers factors like age, education, caffeine consumption, and video…

Individualized Education Plan(also: IEP, Individualized Education Program)

A legally binding document in the United States that outlines the special education services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability. IEPs are developed collaboratively by educators, parents, and specialists, and are mandated under the Individuals with…

Individualized Education Program(also: IEP, Individualized Education Plan)

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document in the United States that outlines the specialized instruction, services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability who qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).…

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(also: IDEA)

A United States federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Originally enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized as IDEA in 1990…

Indoor Accessibility(also: Home Accessibility, Domestic Accessibility)

The degree to which indoor spaces — including homes, workplaces, and public buildings — can be safely and independently used by people with disabilities. Indoor accessibility encompasses physical features such as door widths, counter heights, light switch placement, grab bar…

Indoor Localization(also: Indoor Positioning, Indoor Positioning System, IPS)

The problem of determining the precise location of a person or device inside a building, where GPS signals are weak or unavailable. Indoor localization is foundational for accessible wayfinding systems aimed at blind and low-vision travellers, who need to know their position…

Indoor Navigation(also: Indoor Wayfinding, Indoor Positioning)

Technologies and systems that help users find their way within indoor environments such as museums, shopping centers, airports, and public buildings where GPS signals are unreliable. Indoor navigation systems for blind and low vision users may use Bluetooth beacons, Wi-Fi…

Indoor Positioning(also: Indoor Localization, Indoor Location)

Technology that determines a person's location within an indoor environment where GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable. Indoor positioning systems use various technologies including BLE beacons, Wi-Fi signal strength, RFID tags, ultra-wideband radio, and computer vision.…

Indoor Positioning System(also: IPS)

A technology system that determines the location of people or objects inside buildings where GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable. Indoor positioning systems use various technologies including Wi-Fi fingerprinting, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, ultra-wideband (UWB),…