Glossary

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Interactive Description(also: Dynamic Description)

A design approach for providing accessible descriptions of interactive digital content that updates in real time as users navigate and manipulate elements. Unlike static alternative text, interactive descriptions consist of two complementary structures: state descriptions that…

Interactive Task Guidance(also: Task Guidance System, Step-by-Step Task Support, Task Prompting)

Interactive task guidance is a form of cognitive assistive technology that provides real-time, step-by-step instructions to help individuals with cognitive impairments complete multi-step daily activities. Unlike simple reminder systems that only alert users to start a task,…

Interactive Television(also: iTV, Interactive TV)

Interactive television (iTV) refers to television systems that allow viewers to interact with content beyond simply watching, through features such as voting on polls, accessing supplemental information, navigating menus, and using applications displayed on the TV screen. iTV…

Interactive Voice Response(also: IVR, Voice Response System)

A telephony technology that allows users to interact with automated systems using voice commands or keypad input. IVR systems are particularly valuable for accessibility in low-income settings because they work with any phone (including basic feature phones), require no internet…

Interaural Level Difference(also: ILD, Interaural Intensity Difference, IID)

The difference in sound pressure level (loudness) between the two ears, used by the auditory system to localize sound sources. Sounds coming from the right are louder in the right ear due to the head creating an acoustic shadow. ILD is most effective for localizing…

Interaural Time Difference(also: ITD, Interaural Phase Difference)

The difference in arrival time of a sound between the two ears, used by the auditory system to localize sound sources in the horizontal plane. Sound from the left reaches the left ear before the right ear; the brain uses this timing difference (up to about 0.6-0.7 milliseconds…

Interdependence(also: Relational autonomy)

A framework in disability studies that recognises all people — disabled and non-disabled — as fundamentally reliant on others and on social infrastructure, challenging the Western ideal of individual independence as the highest form of agency. In accessibility design,…

Interdependence Framework(also: Interdependence in Assistive Technology)

A theoretical framework in assistive technology design that challenges the traditional emphasis on individual independence as the primary goal of accessibility. The Interdependence Framework, introduced by Bennett et al., positions assistive technologies as emerging from mutual…

Interdependent Accessibility(also: Interdependence Framework, Access Interdependence)

A framework for understanding accessibility as a collective, co-created responsibility rather than an individual accommodation. Interdependent accessibility recognizes that access is produced through relationships and collaboration between disabled and non-disabled people,…

Interest-Based Personalisation(also: Interest-Based Customization, Special Interest Embedding)

A software design strategy in which content, visuals, or activities are customised to reflect a user's personal interests or preferences in order to increase engagement and motivation. In the context of autism and developmental disabilities, interest-based personalisation…

Interface Complexity(also: UI Complexity)

The degree of intricacy in a user interface, encompassing the number of elements, depth of navigation, variety of interaction patterns, and cognitive load required to accomplish tasks. For blind and low vision users, interface complexity is a significant accessibility barrier…

Interface Consistency(also: Consistent Navigation, Consistent Identification, UI Consistency)

Interface consistency is a design principle requiring that navigational mechanisms, visual layouts, and interactive components appear and behave in the same way across different pages, screens, or applications. In accessibility, consistency is critical because users who rely on…

Interface Personalisation(also: Interface Personalization, UI Personalisation, Adaptive Interface)

The ability for users to configure and customise the user interface of a digital system to match their individual needs, preferences, and abilities. In accessibility contexts, interface personalisation allows users to adjust settings such as text size, colour schemes, audio…

Intergenerational Communication(also: Cross-generational Communication)

Communication between people of different generations, particularly between older adults and younger family members or caregivers, which can be complicated by differing expectations, technology literacy levels, and communication styles. In accessibility and aging contexts,…

Intergenerational Design(also: Cross-Generational Design)

A design approach that considers the needs, preferences, and interaction patterns of users across different age groups and generations. Intergenerational design aims to create products and experiences that facilitate meaningful engagement between younger and older users rather…

Intergroup Contact Theory(also: ICT, Contact Hypothesis)

A social-psychology theory, originating with Gordon Allport's 1954 contact hypothesis and elaborated by Pettigrew, Tropp, and others, which holds that positive, meaningful interaction between members of different social groups reduces prejudice and increases acceptance —…

Interlingua(also: Interlingual Representation, Interlingual MT)

In machine translation, a language-neutral semantic representation that serves as an intermediate form between the source and target languages. An interlingual MT system first analyses the source text into this representation and then generates the target text from it, so the…

Intermedia(also: Intermedia Representation)

Intermedia refers to a framework for information representation that supports diverse, adaptable, and flexible presentation modes, allowing the same content to be accessed through multiple alternative forms suited to individual needs and capabilities. Unlike multimedia (which…

Intermediated Technology Use(also: Intermediated Interaction, Assisted Technology Use)

A pattern of technology interaction where a person accesses technology through the assistance of another person (an intermediary) rather than using it directly themselves. This occurs when barriers such as cost, literacy, disability, or lack of access prevent direct use. Common…

Internal Access Conflict(also: Conflicting Access Needs)

A situation where a single individual's different access needs contradict or undermine each other, making it impossible to fully accommodate all needs simultaneously. For example, a person with chronic illness may benefit from remote meetings to avoid physical exertion, but the…

Internal Reliability(also: Internal Consistency)

A psychometric property that measures whether all items in a questionnaire or instrument contribute consistently to the overall score. It is commonly assessed using Cronbach's alpha, where values of 0.7 and above are generally considered acceptable. In accessibility research,…

Internalized Ableism(also: Internal Ableism, Self-Ableism)

The process by which disabled individuals absorb and internalize society's negative attitudes, stereotypes, and devaluation of disability, leading to feelings of shame, self-doubt, or a desire to hide or overcome their disability. Internalized ableism can cause disabled people…

Internalized Ageism(also: Self-Directed Ageism)

The process by which older adults absorb and accept negative societal stereotypes about aging, applying these beliefs to themselves and their peers. Internalized ageism can lead older adults to underestimate their own capabilities, avoid learning new technologies, or accept…

Internalized stigma(also: Self-stigma, Internalized ableism)

The process by which individuals with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions absorb and internalize negative societal attitudes about their condition, leading to shame, reduced self-worth, and reluctance to seek support. Internalized stigma can manifest as viewing one's…

Internationalization(also: i18n)

The process of designing and developing software, websites, or applications so that they can be adapted to different languages, regions, and cultural conventions without requiring engineering changes. Internationalization involves architectural decisions such as supporting…

Internet Archive(also: Wayback Machine, Web Archive)

A non-profit digital library founded in 1996 that archives web pages, books, audio, video, and software for free public access. Its Wayback Machine service stores historical snapshots of websites, allowing researchers to view how web pages appeared at specific points in time. In…

Internet Health(also: Web Health)

A concept describing the overall state of the internet as a public resource, encompassing factors such as accessibility, privacy, security, openness, and digital inclusion. In the context of web accessibility, Internet Health refers specifically to how well the web serves people…

Internet Voting(also: E-Voting, Electronic Voting, i-Voting)

Internet voting (also known as e-voting or i-voting) is the casting and counting of votes via internet-connected systems, enabling voters to participate in elections from any location without attending a physical polling station. For accessibility, internet voting is significant…

Internet of Things(also: IoT)

A network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity that enables them to collect and exchange data over the internet. In accessibility contexts, IoT devices—including smart speakers, connected thermostats, automated locks, and wearable health…

Interoception(also: Interoceptive Awareness)

The sense of the internal state of the body, including perception of heartbeat, breathing, hunger, thirst, temperature, pain, and emotional feelings. Interoception enables people to recognize and respond to their physiological and emotional states. Differences in interoception…

Interoperability

The ability of different systems, devices, applications, or products to connect and communicate with each other in a coordinated way, without requiring special effort from the user. In accessibility, interoperability is critical because assistive technologies must be able to…

Interpersonal Accessibility(also: Social Access)

The dimension of accessibility that depends on social interactions and communication between people rather than on physical infrastructure or digital technology alone. Interpersonal accessibility encompasses the informal negotiations, requests for help, and explanations of…

Interpersonal Reactivity Index(also: IRI)

A widely used multidimensional self-report measure of empathy developed by Mark H. Davis in 1980. The instrument contains four seven-item subscales: perspective taking (the tendency to adopt another's point of view), empathic concern (feelings of warmth and compassion for…

Interpersonal Safety

Interpersonal safety refers to protection from threats of bodily harm caused by other people, such as assault, harassment, or violence. For people with disabilities, interpersonal safety presents distinct challenges because visual or auditory cues used to assess threats from…

Interpretive Agency(also: Viewer Agency)

The capacity of an audience member to form their own independent understanding and emotional response to content, free from imposed interpretations. In the context of media accessibility, interpretive agency is a concern when AI-generated or highly expressive captions may impose…

Interpretive Alt Text

Alt text that goes beyond objective, functional description to convey interpretive dimensions of an image such as mood, symbolism, narrative, and aesthetic effect. It is most relevant for images where meaning is carried by formal attributes (composition, color, lighting,…

Interpretive phenomenological analysis(also: IPA)

A qualitative research methodology focused on exploring how people make sense of their lived experiences, widely used in accessibility and disability research. IPA involves detailed analysis of individual accounts — typically through in-depth interviews — to understand…

Intersection Detection(also: Junction detection, Corridor intersection recognition)

A computer-vision or sensor-fusion technique used in indoor navigation systems for blind travellers to identify where two or more walkable corridors meet, so the navigation software can update the user's position on a map and issue a turn instruction at the right moment.…

Intersectionality(also: Intersectional analysis)

A theoretical framework originated by Kimberlé Crenshaw recognizing that individuals hold multiple social identities (disability, race, gender, class, sexuality) that interact to produce unique experiences of privilege and oppression that cannot be understood by examining any…

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how different aspects of a person's identity — including disability, race, gender, class, immigration status, language, and age — interact to create unique experiences of privilege or disadvantage that cannot be understood by examining any single…

Intra-sectionality(also: Intra-sectional Analysis)

The examination of variation and diversity within a single identity category or demographic group, as opposed to intersectionality which examines the interaction between different identity categories. In disability research, intra-sectionality reveals that people within a single…

Intracortical BCI(also: iBCI, Intracortical Brain-Computer Interface)

A brain-computer interface that records neural activity directly from inside the cerebral cortex, typically using surgically implanted microelectrode arrays such as the Utah array. Compared with non-invasive EEG-based BCIs, intracortical BCIs offer dramatically higher…

Intralingual Subtitling(also: Same-language subtitling, SLS)

The practice of transcribing and synchronising audio content into text in the same language as the spoken audio. Intralingual subtitling differs from interlingual (translation) subtitling and is particularly important for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, second-language…

Intrinsic Cognitive Load(also: Intrinsic Load)

One of three types of cognitive load identified by cognitive load theory, referring to the inherent difficulty of the material being learned based on its complexity and the learner’s prior knowledge. Intrinsic cognitive load is determined by the number of elements that must be…

Intrinsic Complexity(also: Intrinsic Cognitive Load)

In Cognitive Load Theory, intrinsic complexity refers to the inherent difficulty of understanding and processing the content or material itself, as opposed to extraneous complexity which arises from how the material is presented or accessed. In accessibility contexts,…

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity for its inherent satisfaction rather than for external rewards or consequences. In accessibility and inclusive design, understanding intrinsic motivation is crucial for creating technologies that people genuinely want to…

Intrinsic Motivation Inventory(also: IMI)

A standardized psychometric instrument used to assess participants' subjective experience during activities, measuring dimensions such as interest/enjoyment, perceived competence, effort/importance, value/usefulness, and felt pressure/tension. The IMI is commonly used in HCI and…

Intrinsic accessibility

A property of a user interface whose underlying architecture inherently supports adaptation across a broad range of user capabilities, as distinct from functional accessibility which addresses specific user profiles through bolt-on assistive technology. An intrinsically…

Intrusive Thoughts(also: Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts)

Unwanted, distressing thoughts, urges, or images that enter a person’s mind involuntarily and are typically experienced as ego-dystonic (contrary to the person’s values or intentions). Intrusive thoughts are the defining feature of the obsessions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder…

Intubation(also: Endotracheal Intubation)

A medical procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway and assist with mechanical ventilation. Intubation renders patients unable to speak because the tube passes through or bypasses the vocal cords. In…