Glossary

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M-Pesa(also: Mobile Money)

A mobile money transfer and financial services platform widely used in Kenya and other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, allowing users to deposit, withdraw, transfer money, and pay for goods and services via their mobile phones. M-Pesa is deeply embedded in daily life in Kenya and…

MAGic

A screen magnification software program developed by Freedom Scientific that enlarges on-screen content and enhances visibility for people with low vision. MAGic can magnify the screen up to 36x, offers multiple viewing modes (full screen, lens, split screen), includes color…

MIDI(also: Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

A technical standard for communication between electronic musical instruments, computers, and related audio devices. MIDI transmits digital messages representing musical events like note-on, note-off, velocity, and control changes rather than audio signals. Because MIDI data is…

MIDI Controller(also: MIDI Input Device)

A hardware device that generates MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) messages to control music software or sound modules without being a traditional musical instrument. MIDI controllers include keyboards, drum pads, wind controllers, joysticks, and purpose-built…

MLLM(also: Multimodal LLM, Multimodal Large Language Model)

A large language model extended to accept and reason over multiple input modalities — typically images and text, and sometimes audio or video — in addition to producing natural-language output. Examples include OpenAI's GPT-4o, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini. In…

MPEG-4 Facial Action Parameter(also: MPEG-4 FAP, FAP, Facial Action Parameter)

A standard for 3D face animation defined in ISO/IEC 14496-2 (MPEG-4), which parameterises a face through 68 feature points whose displacements (scaled relative to the character's own facial proportions) encode any facial expression. MPEG-4 FAP is proportion-invariant, so the…

Machine Embroidery(also: Computerized Embroidery, Automated Embroidery)

A textile production method using computer-controlled embroidery machines to stitch patterns onto fabric based on digital design files. Machine embroidery can produce a wide variety of stitch types, textures, and densities, making it a promising medium for creating tactile…

Machine Learning(also: ML)

A branch of artificial intelligence in which computer systems learn patterns from data to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed for each scenario. In accessibility contexts, machine learning is used for a wide range of applications: predicting…

Machine Teaching(also: Interactive Machine Teaching)

A paradigm in human-computer interaction where non-expert users guide the training of machine learning models through interactive feedback, such as providing examples, labels, or corrections. Unlike traditional machine learning where data scientists prepare datasets and tune…

Machine Translation(also: MT, Automated Translation)

Machine translation is the use of computer software to automatically translate text or speech from one language to another. In accessibility contexts, machine translation is particularly relevant to sign language accessibility, where translating written or spoken text into sign…

Macro-Navigation(also: Macro Navigation)

The process of navigating through the broader environment at the level of routes, streets, landmarks, and destinations — knowing where you are in a city, which direction to travel, and how to reach a distant goal. In contrast to micro-navigation (detecting immediate obstacles…

Macroglossia(also: Enlarged Tongue)

A condition characterized by an abnormally large tongue relative to the oral cavity, commonly associated with Down syndrome and certain other genetic conditions. Macroglossia affects speech production by altering articulation, particularly for sounds requiring precise tongue…

Macular Degeneration(also: AMD, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, ARMD)

A progressive eye condition that damages the macula — the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision — leading to loss of central vision while peripheral vision typically remains intact. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe…

Macular Degeneration(also: AMD, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, ARMD)

A progressive eye condition affecting the macula — the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over 50 in developed countries. Macular degeneration gradually destroys central vision while…

Macular Dystrophy(also: Macular Degeneration)

A group of inherited eye conditions that cause progressive damage to the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. Macular dystrophies, including Stargardt disease, result in reduced central vision while peripheral vision is typically…

Macular degeneration(also: AMD, Age-related macular degeneration, ARMD)

A progressive eye disease that damages the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, affecting central vision while typically leaving peripheral vision intact. This means people with…

Magnetic Prototyping

A prototyping technique that uses magnetic elements on magnetic boards to create quickly reconfigurable physical designs. In accessible design for blind users, magnetic prototyping is particularly effective because elements snap into place with satisfying tactile feedback, can…

Magnification(also: Screen Magnification, Visual Magnification)

The enlargement of visual content to make it more readable for people with low vision. Magnification can be achieved through optical means (magnifying glasses, telescope magnifiers), electronic means (screen magnifiers, CCTV), or digital means (software zoom, pinch-to-zoom).…

Magnification Factor(also: Zoom Level, Magnification Level, Zoom Factor)

The ratio by which screen content is enlarged when using a screen magnifier. A magnification factor of 2x means the content appears twice its original size, but only one quarter of the original screen area is visible at any given time. Choosing an appropriate magnification…

Magnification inset(also: Magnified inset view, Zoom inset)

A user interface element that displays a magnified view of a specific region of content within a smaller window overlaid on the original view. Unlike full-screen magnification, an inset preserves the surrounding context while enlarging the area of interest. For low-vision users,…

Magnitude Estimation(also: Psychophysical Scaling, Stevens Method)

A psychophysics research method where participants assign numerical values to stimuli based on their perceived intensity or magnitude. In accessibility research, magnitude estimation is used to determine how users naturally interpret sensory mappings—for example, what…

Mainstream Classroom(also: Inclusive Classroom, Integrated Classroom)

An educational setting where students with disabilities learn alongside their non-disabled peers, typically with support services such as interpreters, captioning, or note-takers. For deaf and hard-of-hearing students, mainstream classrooms present unique accessibility…

Mainstream Education(also: Mainstreaming, Inclusive Education, Integrated Classroom)

The practice of educating students with disabilities in general education classrooms alongside non-disabled peers, rather than in separate special education settings. Mainstreaming emerged from disability rights legislation like the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education…

Mainstream inclusion(also: Educational inclusion, Inclusive education)

The practice of educating children with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers in general education classrooms, supported by appropriate accommodations, assistive technologies, and specialist personnel. Mainstream inclusion is both a rights-based educational philosophy…

Makaton

A language programme that uses a combination of speech, signs (borrowed from British Sign Language), and graphic symbols to support communication for people who have difficulty with spoken language. Unlike BSL, which is a complete natural language with its own grammar, Makaton…

Maker Culture(also: Maker Movement, DIY Culture)

A technology-influenced extension of DIY culture that emphasizes learning through hands-on making, often using digital fabrication tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and microcontrollers alongside traditional crafts. Makerspaces provide shared access to tools and community.…

Maker Education(also: Making, Maker Movement, Makerspace Education)

An educational approach that emphasizes hands-on learning through designing, building, and debugging physical artifacts using tools such as electronics, 3D printers, laser cutters, and microcontrollers. Maker education connects theoretical knowledge with practical skills by…

Maker Movement

A cultural trend emphasizing hands-on creation, DIY fabrication, and open sharing of designs and knowledge, often centered around community workshops and digital fabrication tools. The maker movement has significant implications for accessibility, as it enables individuals and…

Makers Making Change(also: MMC)

Makers Making Change is a Canadian non-profit program (part of the Neil Squire Society) that connects volunteer makers with people with disabilities to design, 3D-print, and distribute low-cost, open-source assistive technology. It hosts a library of freely downloadable AT…

Makerspace(also: Fab Lab, Fabrication Laboratory, Hackerspace)

A collaborative workspace equipped with tools and technology for designing and fabricating physical objects, typically including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and electronics workbenches. University and community makerspaces have become important sites for assistive…

Makey Makey

A small electronic invention kit that uses alligator clips to connect everyday conductive objects — fruit, foil, playdough, drawn pencil lines — to a computer, which sees them as keyboard presses or mouse clicks. Created by Jay Silver and Eric Rosenbaum at the MIT Media Lab,…

Making(also: Maker Movement, Maker Culture)

Making refers to the practice of creating, building, or fabricating physical objects, often using tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics. In accessibility contexts, making encompasses both creating accessible maker tools and developing do-it-yourself assistive…

Mandated Reporter(also: Mandatory Reporter)

A person who is legally required to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable individuals — including people with disabilities, older adults, and children — to the appropriate authorities such as Adult Protective Services or child protective agencies.…

Manifest V3(also: MV3)

The current version of the Chrome extension manifest format, introduced to improve security, privacy, and performance over Manifest V2 (which is being deprecated). MV3 replaces persistent background pages with service workers, restricts remote code execution, and changes how…

Manipulable UI Component(also: Interactive UI Component, Actionable UI Element)

An on-screen user-interface element that can be acted upon by the user — tapped, clicked, toggled, dragged, or typed into — as distinct from purely informational elements such as static text or images. Common examples include buttons, icons, text buttons, checkboxes, switches,…

Manipulative(also: Math Manipulative, Educational Manipulative, Tactile Manipulative)

A physical object used in education to help students learn abstract concepts through hands-on exploration and manipulation. In mathematics, common manipulatives include blocks, counters, fraction tiles, and geometric shapes. For students who are blind or have low vision,…

Manual Accessibility Testing(also: Manual Testing, Manual Evaluation, Human Testing)

The process of evaluating web content accessibility through direct human inspection rather than automated tools. Manual testing is essential because many WCAG success criteria cannot be fully evaluated by automated means — they require human judgment about whether content is…

Manual Dexterity(also: Fine Motor Skills, Hand Dexterity)

The ability to use hands and fingers to perform precise, coordinated movements. Reduced manual dexterity can result from conditions such as arthritis, neurological disorders, injuries, or aging, and affects the ability to use keyboards, mice, touchscreens, and other input…

Manual Muscle Testing(also: MMT, Muscle Strength Testing)

Manual muscle testing (MMT) is a clinical assessment technique used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals to evaluate the strength of individual muscles or muscle groups. The examiner applies resistance to the patient's movement and…

Manual Sign(also: MS, Hand Sign)

The hand shapes, movements, and locations that form the primary visible component of sign language vocabulary. Manual signs are what most hearing people think of as "sign language," but they represent only one channel of a multi-channel visual communication system. In ASL,…

Manual Signs(also: Hand Signs)

The hand-based components of sign language communication, consisting of four parameters: hand shape (configuration of fingers), location (where the sign is made relative to the body), movement (how the hands move through space), and palm orientation. Manual signs form the core…

Manual Wheelchair(also: Self-propelled wheelchair)

A wheelchair propelled by the user pushing on handrims attached to the rear wheels, or by an attendant pushing from behind. Manual wheelchairs are the most common type of wheelchair used for personal mobility and become deeply integrated into users' identities and daily…

Map Accessibility(also: Accessible maps)

The practice and field of making maps — digital geovisualizations, online navigation maps, tactile maps, and physical signage — perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities. Map accessibility spans multiple modalities: tactile maps with raised…

Map-less Navigation(also: Mapless navigation, Infrastructure-free navigation)

A class of robotic and assistive navigation techniques that do not require a pre-built environmental map or installed infrastructure such as Bluetooth Low Energy beacons, ultra-wideband anchors, or visual fiducials. Map-less systems instead rely on on-board sensors (LiDAR, RGB-D…

Mapping by Demonstration

A personalisation technique for gestural and sensor-based interfaces in which the system learns the relationship between user input (movement, breath, gaze) and output (sound, visuals, commands) from examples the user provides, rather than from designer-authored rules. The…

Marburg Notation(also: Marburg Mathematical Notation, Marburg Braille)

A Braille-based mathematical notation system developed at the Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt (German Institute for the Blind) in Marburg, Germany, and widely used in German-speaking countries for reading and writing mathematics. Marburg notation is a 6-dot Braille code optimized…

Marginalization(also: Social Marginalization, Social Exclusion)

The process by which individuals or groups are pushed to the edges of society, denied equal access to resources, opportunities, and power. People with disabilities, particularly those with communication disabilities, face compounded marginalization — excluded from education,…

Marginalized Communities(also: Marginalized Populations)

Groups of people who are systematically excluded from full participation in society due to factors such as disability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or other characteristics. In accessibility research, understanding…

Mark

An elementary entity capable of perception within a spatial substrate. In the visual design space, marks include points, lines, circles, and areas — the basic building blocks from which all visual representations are composed. A bar chart is constructed from rectangular marks…

Marking Menu(also: Pie Menu, Radial Menu)

A marking menu is a radial (pie-shaped) menu that can be operated in two modes: a beginner mode that displays labelled wedges around the cursor for the user to aim at, and an expert mode that lets an experienced user draw the directional stroke toward the desired item without…