Glossary

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Procedural Feedback System(also: Process-Oriented Guidance System)

An assistive technology paradigm that provides dynamic, step-by-step support throughout complex multi-step tasks rather than addressing isolated moments of need. Unlike traditional assistive tools that help with discrete actions (e.g., identifying a color or reading a label),…

Procedural Task Tracking(also: Task Progress Tracking, Step Tracking)

The automated monitoring of a user's progress through a multi-step task, identifying which steps have been completed, which are in progress, and which remain. In accessibility contexts, procedural task tracking enables assistive systems to provide context-sensitive guidance…

Product Identification(also: Product Recognition)

The task of determining what a packaged or unpackaged product is from visual (or other sensory) input, at a level of detail useful to an end user: generic type (soup, cereal, shampoo), brand (Campbell's, Kellogg's, Dove), and variety or flavour (tomato vs. chicken noodle; 90%…

Programming by Demonstration(also: PBD, Record and Replay, Macro Recording)

A technique for creating automated sequences of actions by recording a user performing the task manually, rather than requiring the user to write code or scripts. The system observes the user's interactions (clicks, keystrokes, form inputs) and generates replayable instructions.…

Prompting System(also: Prompting Device, Task Prompting Technology)

An assistive technology that provides stepwise guidance through text, images, audio, or video instructions to help individuals complete multi-step tasks such as cooking, personal hygiene, or workplace activities. Prompting systems are widely used to support people with cognitive…

Prosthesis(also: Prosthetic, Prosthetic Device, Artificial Limb)

A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through congenital conditions, injury, or disease. Prostheses range from purely cosmetic devices designed to replicate natural appearance, to functional devices that restore some degree of…

Prosthesis(also: Prosthetic, Prosthetic device, Artificial limb)

A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, most commonly a limb. Prosthetics range from cosmetic devices that restore appearance to functional devices that enable specific activities. Modern prosthetics may include mechanical components, myoelectric…

Prosthetics(also: Prostheses, Prosthetic Devices, Artificial Limbs)

Artificial devices designed to replace missing body parts, most commonly limbs lost through amputation, congenital absence, or trauma. Modern prosthetics range from basic cosmetic devices to highly functional myoelectric arms controlled by muscle signals and…

Proxemic Interaction(also: Proximity-Based Interaction, Proxemics)

An interaction design approach that uses the spatial relationship between users, devices, and objects in the environment — including distance, orientation, and movement — to trigger contextual actions and content delivery. Derived from Edward T. Hall's theory of proxemics (the…

Proximity Detection(also: Proximity Sensing, Proximity-Based Localization)

A method of determining a user's approximate location by measuring their closeness to known reference points, such as BLE beacons or Wi-Fi access points, based on signal strength. In accessible indoor navigation systems, proximity detection is used to localize users at specific…

Proxy(also: Support Person, Intermediary User)

In accessibility contexts, a person who assists someone with a disability in using technology or accessing services. Proxies may include family members, caregivers, support workers, or friends who help with tasks ranging from physical operation of devices to interpretation of…

Proxy Interface(also: Accessibility Proxy, Alternative Interface)

An intermediary user interface that sits between the user and the original content, re-presenting information in a more accessible format without modifying the underlying source. In accessibility contexts, proxy interfaces are used to transform visually-encoded content (like…

Proxy User(also: Proxy Participant, Surrogate User)

A person without a disability who participates in research or usability testing as a stand-in for the intended end user with a disability. Proxies are commonly used in AAC and assistive technology research to circumvent challenges in recruiting and communicating with…

Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale(also: PIADS)

A 26-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure the psychosocial impact of an assistive technology device on a person's functional independence, well-being, and quality of life. PIADS assesses three subscales: competence (subjective feelings of competence, productivity,…

Public Digital Terminal(also: PDT, Self-Service Terminal, Self-Service Kiosk)

A publicly available interactive electronic device that provides services or information to users, such as ATMs, ticket vending machines, check-in kiosks, and information points. Public digital terminals present significant accessibility challenges because users cannot install…

Pull Notification(also: On-Demand Notification, User-Initiated Notification)

A notification or information delivery model where content is provided only when explicitly requested by the user, in contrast to push notifications which are delivered automatically. In assistive navigation contexts, pull notifications allow blind users to request specific…

Pulse Oximetry(also: Pulse Oximeter, SpO2 Monitoring)

A non-invasive method of monitoring blood oxygen saturation (O2sat) and heart rate using a sensor typically placed on the finger or wrist. Pulse oximeters use light absorption through the skin to estimate the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen. In…

Pupillometry(also: Pupil Dilation Measurement)

A psychophysiological measurement technique that tracks changes in pupil diameter as an objective indicator of cognitive workload, mental effort, and emotional arousal. In accessibility research, pupillometry provides a non-invasive way to assess how demanding an interface or…

Push-to-Talk(also: PTT, Push to talk)

An interaction pattern where a user presses and holds (or taps) a dedicated button to signal the start of an input — historically used in two-way radios, now common in voice assistants and conversational interfaces as an alternative to continuous listening. In accessibility…

QR Code(also: Quick Response Code)

A two-dimensional barcode that encodes information such as text, URLs, or other data in a square matrix of black and white modules. In accessibility contexts, QR codes serve as a bridge between physical objects and digital information — they can be placed on tactile graphics to…

QR code accessibility(also: QR code labels, Machine-readable labels)

The use of Quick Response (QR) codes as an alternative to Braille or printed text for encoding information in tactile graphics, product labels, or physical environments that can be read by smartphone cameras. QR codes can encode 45% more text than Braille in the same physical…

QUEST(also: Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology)

A standardised outcome measure designed to evaluate a person's satisfaction with their assistive technology device and the services related to it. QUEST 2.0 consists of 12 items rated on a five-point satisfaction scale, covering eight device-related items (dimensions, weight,…

Quality Assurance(also: QA)

Systematic processes for ensuring that products or services meet defined standards of quality before reaching end users. In 3D-printed assistive technology programs, quality assurance includes inspecting printed devices for structural integrity, proper dimensions, smooth…

Quality of Life Technology(also: QoLT, QoL Technology)

An umbrella term encompassing technologies designed to maintain or enhance the health, functioning, and independence of older adults and people with disabilities. Quality of life technology includes assistive technology, smart home systems, telemedicine, health monitoring…

QuickFire(also: Quick Phrases, Quick Response Buttons)

Pre-programmed short phrases or responses stored on AAC devices that can be accessed and played quickly with minimal navigation, typically arranged on a single page for rapid access. QuickFire phrases commonly include backchanneling responses ("yes," "no," "wait"), social…

REAPER(also: Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording)

A digital audio workstation (DAW) software application developed by Cockos that is known for its relatively strong accessibility support compared to other professional DAWs. When used with the OSARA (Open Source Accessibility for the REAPER Application) extension, REAPER…

RESOLV Icons(also: Representational Enumerated Semi-transparent Overlaid Labels for Voice)

A visual disambiguation technique for voice interfaces where semi-transparent numbered labels are overlaid on screen elements that match an ambiguous voice command. When a user speaks a command that could refer to multiple targets, RESOLV icons appear next to each matching…

RFID(also: Radio Frequency Identification, RFID Tag)

A technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. RFID tags contain electronically stored information that can be read by RFID readers without line-of-sight contact. In accessibility applications, RFID enables physical…

RGB-Depth Camera(also: RGB-D camera, Depth camera)

A camera that captures both a conventional colour image (RGB) and a per-pixel depth map, usually via structured light, time-of-flight, or stereo sensing. RGB-D cameras are widely used in assistive navigation systems for people who are blind because they enable real-time…

RGBD Camera(also: RGB-D Camera, Depth Camera, Stereo Camera)

A camera that captures both a colour (RGB) image and a per-pixel depth (D) measurement of the scene, yielding a 3D representation of the environment. Depth can be produced by stereo vision, structured light, or time-of-flight sensing. In accessibility research RGBD cameras…

RSSI Fingerprinting(also: Received Signal Strength Fingerprinting, Radio Fingerprinting, Signal Fingerprinting)

An indoor localization technique in which a device estimates its position by comparing the current pattern of received signal strengths (RSSI) from surrounding radio sources — most commonly Bluetooth Low Energy beacons or Wi-Fi access points — against a pre-collected map of…

Radial Direction(also: Angular Direction, Heading, Bearing (audio display))

In auditory-display research, a data value that represents a direction in a plane — for example a compass bearing, the tangent of a curve, or the orientation of a pointer — treated as an angle rather than as a pair of Cartesian coordinates. Radial values are inherently circular…

Raised Line Drawing(also: Raised Line Graphic, Tactile Line Drawing, Swell Paper Drawing)

A graphic representation in which lines and shapes are physically raised above the surface of paper or another substrate so they can be perceived by touch. Raised line drawings are a fundamental tool for making visual information accessible to blind and low-vision users,…

Raised-Line Drawing(also: Raised-Line Picture, Tactile Line Drawing, Embossed Line Drawing)

A raised-line drawing is a tactile representation of a visual image created by producing elevated lines on a surface that can be felt by touch, enabling blind and visually impaired people to perceive graphical information through their fingertips. Raised-line drawings can be…

Re-speaking(also: Respeaking, Speech-to-Text Relay)

A captioning technique in which a trained operator listens to a speaker and repeats (re-speaks) their words clearly into a high-quality microphone in a controlled environment, allowing automatic speech recognition software to generate captions with higher accuracy than direct…

Reach Envelope(also: Workspace Envelope, Reach Zone, Comfort Zone)

The three-dimensional volume of space that a person can physically access with their hands or arms from a given position, taking into account their specific motor abilities, range of motion, and comfort levels. For people with upper extremity mobility impairments — such as those…

Reacher(also: Grabber, Reacher-Grabber, Grabber Tool)

A reacher (also called a grabber or reacher-grabber) is a low-cost handheld assistive device — typically a lightweight aluminum or plastic shaft 60-90 cm long with a trigger handle at one end and a pair of gripping jaws at the other — used by people with limited reach, mobility,…

Read-Aloud Technology(also: Read-Aloud Feature, Text Read-Aloud)

Technology that converts written text to spoken audio output, allowing users to listen to content rather than or in addition to reading it visually. Read-aloud technology differs from general text-to-speech in its focus on synchronized presentation — highlighting words or…

Reading Assistance(also: Reading Assistance Technology, Reading Support Tools)

Reading assistance refers to technologies and strategies that help people understand written text more easily. This includes tools like text-to-speech, automatic text simplification, screen readers, reading rulers, and dictionary lookups. For accessibility, reading assistance is…

Reading Assistant(also: Reading Aid, Reading Machine)

An assistive technology device or software application that helps people with visual impairments or reading disabilities access printed or displayed text. Reading assistants may use optical character recognition to convert text images to speech, magnification to enlarge text, or…

Reading Support Technology(also: Reading Assistive Technology, Reading Aid)

Any technology designed to make reading more accessible for people with disabilities, encompassing tools that support decoding, comprehension, readability, navigation, and literacy development. Reading support technologies range from visual augmentations and text simplification…

Real Word Error(also: Real-Word Spelling Error)

A spelling error that results in a correctly spelled but unintended word, such as typing "hear" instead of "here" or "their" instead of "there." Real word errors are particularly common among people with dyslexia and pose a significant challenge because standard spellcheckers…

Real-Time Captioning(also: Live Captioning, Live Transcription)

The process of converting spoken language into text simultaneously as it is being spoken, displayed with minimal delay. Real-time captioning is essential for deaf and hard of hearing individuals to participate in live events, meetings, lectures, and conversations. Methods…

Real-Time Captioning(also: CART, Communication Access Realtime Translation, Live Captioning)

The instant conversion of spoken language into text displayed simultaneously as speech occurs, provided either by a trained human captioner or through automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology. Real-time captioning is a critical accessibility service for Deaf and…

Real-Time Captioning(also: Live Captioning, CART, Communication Access Realtime Translation)

The process of converting spoken language into text display in real time, typically with only a few seconds of delay. Professional real-time captioning (CART) uses stenographers with specialised shorthand keyboards who can type at speaking rates of 170+ words per minute,…

Recipe Progress Tracking(also: Cooking Progress Monitoring)

The specific application of procedural task tracking to cooking, where a system monitors which recipe steps have been completed and what remains. For BLV cooks, recipe progress tracking addresses a critical gap: existing voice-based recipe tools can read steps but cannot verify…

Refreshable Braille Display(also: Braille Display, Braille Terminal, Refreshable Tactile Display)

An electromechanical device that renders Braille characters by raising and lowering small pins through a flat surface, allowing blind users to read digital text output by touch. These devices connect to computers or mobile devices and work alongside screen readers to provide…

Refreshable Braille Display(also: Refreshable Braille, Dynamic Braille Display, Electronic Braille Display)

An electromechanical device that renders Braille characters by raising and lowering pins dynamically, allowing blind users to read digital text through touch. Conventional refreshable Braille displays present a single line of text (typically 20-80 characters) using piezoelectric…

Refreshable Graphics Display(also: Tactile Graphics Display, Dynamic Tactile Display)

A device that presents tactile graphics and diagrams through an array of pins that can be individually raised or lowered to create dynamic, changeable tactile patterns. Unlike static tactile graphics (embossed paper or thermoform), refreshable displays can show sequences of…

Refreshable Tactile Display(also: RTD, Refreshable Braille Display, Dynamic Tactile Display)

An electronic device that presents tactile graphics and content through an array of small pins that can be independently raised or lowered to create dynamic, changeable tactile surfaces. Unlike traditional static tactile graphics produced on paper through embossing or…