Glossary

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Markov Decision Process(also: MDP)

A mathematical framework for modelling decision-making in situations where outcomes are partly random and partly under the control of a decision-maker. In accessibility and assistive technology, Markov decision processes and their extension, partially observable Markov decision…

Markov Logic Networks(also: MLN, MLNs)

A machine learning framework that combines first-order logic with probabilistic graphical models to handle uncertainty in rule-based reasoning. In assistive technology contexts, MLNs enable context-aware systems to make intelligent decisions by weighing multiple factors—such as…

Markup Language

A system of annotations or tags embedded within text that define the structure, presentation, or semantics of content without being displayed as visible text themselves. In web accessibility, markup languages such as HTML, XML, ARIA, and SVG are fundamental because assistive…

Marrakesh Treaty(also: Marrakesh VIP Treaty, WIPO Marrakesh Treaty)

An international treaty adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2013 that requires signatory countries to create copyright exceptions allowing the production and distribution of published works in accessible formats for people with print disabilities.…

Mashup(also: Web mashup)

A web application or page that combines data, functionality, or presentation from two or more external sources to create a new service. Mashups use APIs or data feeds to seamlessly blend content from different sites, often without clear demarcation between sources. In…

Masking(also: Camouflaging, Social camouflage, Neurotypical passing)

The conscious or unconscious process by which neurodivergent individuals — particularly autistic people — suppress their natural behaviours, communication styles, and reactions to conform to neurotypical social expectations. Masking includes monitoring and adjusting facial…

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs(also: Maslow's Hierarchy, Hierarchy of Needs)

A motivational theory in psychology proposed by Abraham Maslow that organises human needs into a hierarchical pyramid, from basic physiological needs at the base through safety, social belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation at the top. The theory proposes that lower-level…

Matching Person and Technology(also: MPT Model)

A framework for understanding assistive technology adoption that considers the match between a person's characteristics (preferences, needs, lifestyle), the environmental context, and the technology's features. Developed by Marcia Scherer, the MPT model frames AT adoption as a…

Material Culture

The physical objects, artefacts, and environments that a community produces, uses, and inhabits, along with the meanings and practices embedded in them. In AI and accessibility research, material culture matters because computer vision systems trained on objects from one…

Material Experience(also: Material Aesthetics, Material Interaction)

The multidimensional way people perceive, interpret, and emotionally respond to the physical materials of objects they interact with. The materials experience framework categorizes these experiences into four levels: sensorial (immediate physical sensations from touching,…

Material Perception(also: Material recognition)

The perceptual processes by which people identify and characterize the materials that objects are made of — such as wood, metal, glass, leather, fabric, or stone — using visual, tactile, auditory, and sometimes thermal cues. Material perception goes beyond recognizing object…

Math Accessibility(also: Mathematical Accessibility, STEM Accessibility)

The practice of making mathematical content — including formulae, equations, graphs, and geometric representations — accessible to people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. Mathematical notation poses unique accessibility challenges because it is…

Math OCR(also: Mathematical OCR, Scientific Document Recognition)

Optical character recognition technology specifically designed to recognize and convert mathematical expressions, formulas, and scientific notation from printed or PDF documents into accessible digital formats such as LaTeX, MathML, or Microsoft Word. Standard OCR software…

Math-to-Speech(also: Mathematical Speech Generation, Math Speech)

The process of converting mathematical notation into spoken language that can be rendered by text-to-speech engines or read aloud by screen readers. Math-to-speech is significantly more complex than reading ordinary text because mathematical expressions are two-dimensional,…

MathJax

An open-source JavaScript display engine that renders mathematical notation written in LaTeX, MathML, or AsciiMath in web browsers. MathJax is significant for accessibility because it produces output that can be read by screen readers, supports keyboard navigation of…

MathML(also: Mathematical Markup Language)

A W3C standard XML-based markup language for describing mathematical notation and its structure, enabling mathematical content to be rendered visually in web browsers and read aloud by screen readers. MathML is essential for STEM accessibility because it encodes both the visual…

MathML(also: Mathematical Markup Language)

An XML-based markup language standardized by the W3C for describing mathematical notation and capturing both its structure and content. MathML enables screen readers and other assistive technologies to interpret and convey mathematical expressions to users with visual…

MathML(also: Mathematical Markup Language)

A W3C standard XML-based markup language for describing mathematical notation and capturing both its structure and content. MathML comes in two forms: presentation MathML, which describes how a formula looks (layout and visual appearance), and content MathML, which describes…

MathPlayer

A software plugin developed by Design Science that enables the rendering and text-to-speech reading of mathematical expressions encoded in MathML within web browsers and other applications. MathPlayer works with screen readers and text-to-speech tools like Read & Write Gold to…

MathSpeak(also: MathSpeak Rules)

A set of rules and conventions for verbally describing mathematical notation in a standardized, unambiguous way that can be understood by people who cannot see the visual representation of formulas. MathSpeak provides consistent patterns for reading mathematical expressions…

Mathematical Accessibility(also: Math Accessibility, STEM Content Accessibility)

The practice of making mathematical content — including equations, formulas, graphs, and notation — perceivable, operable, and understandable by people with disabilities. Mathematical content poses unique accessibility challenges because it is inherently spatial and symbolic,…

Mathematical Accessibility(also: Math Accessibility, STEM Accessibility)

The practice of making mathematical notation, formulas, equations, and quantitative content accessible to people with disabilities, particularly blind and low-vision users. Mathematical notation poses unique accessibility challenges because it is inherently visual and…

Mathematical Braille(also: Braille Mathematics, Math Braille)

Specialised braille notation systems used to represent mathematical symbols, expressions, and equations. Because standard literary braille has only 64 possible characters (from 6-dot cells), mathematical braille codes use various strategies to extend the symbol set: multi-cell…

Mathematical Notation(also: Math Notation)

The system of symbols, conventions, and spatial arrangements used to represent mathematical concepts and relationships. Standard mathematical notation is inherently two-dimensional and visual, using spatial positioning (such as superscripts for exponents, horizontal lines for…

Mathematical Notation Accessibility(also: Math Accessibility, Accessible Mathematics)

The practice of making mathematical expressions, equations, and formulae perceivable and understandable by people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or have low vision. Mathematical notation is inherently two-dimensional and spatial — using superscripts,…

Mathematics Learning Disability(also: Math Disability, Mathematical Disability, Mathematics Disorder)

A specific learning disability that affects a person's ability to understand, learn, or perform mathematical operations. Mathematics learning disabilities can manifest as difficulty with number sense, memorisation of arithmetic facts, calculation fluency, mathematical reasoning,…

Matterhorn Protocol(also: PDF Association Matterhorn Protocol)

A comprehensive set of test conditions published by the PDF Association for verifying PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) conformance. The Matterhorn Protocol categorizes accessibility checks into those that can be performed by automated tools and those that require human judgment, providing a…

Meal Assistance Technology(also: Dining Assistance Technology, Food Accessibility Technology)

Assistive technologies designed to help people with disabilities identify, locate, and consume food independently during mealtimes. For people with visual impairments, these systems may use computer vision to recognize dishes, voice interfaces to provide information about food…

Mean Length of Utterance(also: MLU)

A measure of linguistic complexity calculated as the average number of words (or morphemes) per utterance in a language sample. Mean length of utterance is widely used in speech-language pathology to assess language development in children and to measure language production…

Mean Opinion Score(also: MOS, MOS Score)

A standardized measure of perceived audio or video quality, rated on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent). In telecommunications research, MOS is commonly used to assess speech quality as experienced by listeners. Participants rate samples, and scores are averaged to produce…

Mean Power Frequency(also: MPF, Mean Frequency)

Mean power frequency is a single-number summary of a signal's frequency content, computed as the power-spectrum-weighted mean of frequency. In surface-EMG-based accessibility input devices, MPF of each electrode channel is used to discriminate between contractions of nearby…

Means-End Chain(also: MEC, Means-End Theory)

A theoretical framework and analytical output from Laddering research that maps how product attributes lead to functional and psychosocial consequences, which in turn connect to personal values. A chain might show: "Nature scenery (attribute) → Feeling of calm (functional…

Meares-Irlen Syndrome(also: Irlen Syndrome, Visual Stress Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome)

Meares-Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder that affects how the brain processes visual information, causing symptoms of visual stress including pattern glare, perceptual distortions, eye strain, headaches, and discomfort when reading. Unlike dyslexia, it is not a…

Mechanoreceptor(also: Tactile Receptor, Touch Receptor)

A sensory receptor in the skin that responds to mechanical pressure or distortion, enabling the sense of touch. Different types of mechanoreceptors detect various tactile qualities: Meissner corpuscles sense light touch and low-frequency vibration (10-65 Hz), Pacinian corpuscles…

Media Accessibility(also: Accessible Media)

The practice of ensuring that media content — including images, videos, audio, GIFs, memes, and other multimedia formats — is perceivable and understandable by people with diverse abilities. Media accessibility encompasses providing alternative text for images, captions and…

Media Fragments(also: Media Fragments URI, Media Fragment Identifier)

Media Fragments is a W3C specification that defines a standard syntax for addressing specific portions of audio and video resources on the web using URI fragment identifiers. It allows users and applications to reference temporal segments (e.g., a specific time range within a…

MediaPipe

An open-source framework by Google for building multimodal machine learning pipelines, commonly used for real-time face, hand, and body tracking. In accessibility applications, MediaPipe Holistic extracts 3D landmarks from the user's body and hands via webcam, while MediaPipe…

Mediated Communication(also: Proxy Communication, Supported Communication)

Communication that is facilitated or interpreted through a third party, such as a caregiver, support worker, family member, or communication partner who knows the person well. In research involving people with intellectual disabilities or complex communication needs, mediated…

Mediated Instruction(also: Mediated Learning, Interpreted Instruction)

An educational approach where content is delivered to students through an intermediary, such as a sign language interpreter, rather than directly from the instructor. Research shows that while mediated instruction can be as effective as direct instruction when classes are…

Mediated Social Touch(also: Remote Touch, Tele-touch, Haptic Telepresence)

The use of haptic technology to simulate or communicate social touch gestures — such as stroking, squeezing, patting, or hugging — between people who are physically separated. Mediated social touch systems encode touch from one person and reproduce it on a remote partner's body…

Medical Gaslighting

The dismissal, minimization, or invalidation of a patient’s reported symptoms or experiences by healthcare providers, often leading patients to doubt their own perceptions. The phenomenon disproportionately affects women, people of colour, disabled people, and neurodivergent…

Medical Maker(also: Clinician-Maker)

A healthcare professional who also engages in fabrication and making activities, bridging the gap between clinical expertise and maker culture. Medical makers combine knowledge of patient safety, rehabilitation, and medical requirements with hands-on skills in 3D printing,…

Medical Making(also: Clinical Making)

The practice of clinicians — particularly occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physicians — creating custom assistive devices for their patients using digital fabrication tools such as 3D printers and CAD software. Medical making extends traditional splinting and…

Medical Model of Disability(also: Individual Model of Disability)

A framework that views disability as a deficit or pathology within an individual that should be treated, cured, or rehabilitated. Under the medical model, disability is seen as a personal health problem, and the primary response is medical intervention to make the individual…

Medical Model of Disability(also: Medical Model, Deficit Model)

The medical model of disability is a framework that views disability primarily as a problem located within the individual, a biological deficit or impairment that needs to be fixed, cured, or compensated for through medical intervention or assistive technology. Under this model,…

Medical Model of Disability(also: medical model, individual model of disability)

A framework that views disability as a problem located within the individual, caused by disease, injury, or health condition, that requires medical intervention or rehabilitation to "fix" the person. Under this model, disabilities are deficits to be cured or managed. The medical…

Medical model of disability(also: Medical model)

A framework that views disability as a problem residing in the individual, caused by disease, trauma, or health condition, and requiring medical intervention to "fix" the person. In this model, a blind person is defined by their lack of sight, and solutions focus on treating or…

Medicalised Aesthetic(also: Medical Model Design, Clinical Aesthetic)

A design approach in assistive technology that prioritises clinical functionality over personal style, resulting in devices that visually signal disability through neutral, institutional-looking form factors such as plain plastic casings and uniform designs. Research with AAC…

Medicalization(also: Medical gatekeeping)

The process by which human conditions and differences are defined, categorized, and treated as medical problems requiring clinical intervention. In disability and AI contexts, medicalization is reinforced when technologies institutionalize diagnostic authority (e.g., AI autism…

Medication Adherence(also: Treatment Adherence, Medication Compliance)

Medication adherence is the degree to which a patient takes medication as prescribed — at the correct dose, frequency, and duration. It is a significant challenge in chronic disease management, with non-adherence rates estimated at 50% globally. Poor adherence contributes to…