Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
Search results
- 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,…
- QWERTY Keyboard(also: QWERTY)
- A QWERTY keyboard is the dominant Latin-script keyboard layout, named for the first six letters on the top row, originally designed for mechanical typewriters and carried forward into computers and mobile devices. On mobile handsets, QWERTY has appeared in both hardware form…
- Quadriplegia(also: Tetraplegia)
- A condition involving paralysis or significant loss of motor function in all four limbs and the torso, typically resulting from spinal cord injury at the cervical level, neurological disease, or congenital conditions. Quadriplegia profoundly affects how individuals interact with…
- Quadriplegia(also: Tetraplegia)
- Paralysis affecting all four limbs and typically the torso, usually resulting from spinal cord injury at the cervical (neck) level, or from conditions like ALS or muscular dystrophy. The degree of impairment varies based on the level and completeness of injury—some individuals…
- QualWeb(also: QualWeb Evaluator)
- An open-source automated web accessibility evaluation tool developed at the University of Lisbon that tests web pages against WCAG success criteria and ACT Rules. QualWeb is notable for being among the first accessibility evaluation tools to incorporate semantic analysis…
- Qualitative Coding(also: Thematic Coding, Open Coding, Axial Coding)
- A systematic research method for analyzing qualitative data (such as interview transcripts, survey responses, or text outputs) by assigning labels or codes to segments of data that represent meaningful patterns, themes, or concepts. In accessibility research, qualitative coding…
- Qualitative Content Analysis(also: QCA)
- A systematic qualitative research method for interpreting the content of text, interview transcripts, or other communication data by coding recurring patterns and organizing them into categories. QCA can be inductive (categories emerge from data) or deductive (categories derived…
- Qualitative Data Analysis(also: QDA, Qualitative Analysis)
- A research methodology for systematically examining non-numerical data such as interview transcripts, field notes, audio recordings, images, and videos to identify patterns, themes, and meanings. The process typically involves coding data segments, categorizing codes into…
- 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 assurance(also: QA)
- In accessibility, the process of checking that the methods and practices used to create a product follow established guidelines and best practices. Quality assurance is largely qualitative — it asks whether the right processes were followed, whether accessibility was considered…
- Quality control(also: QC)
- In accessibility, the process of testing a product or its components against a defined specification to verify conformance. Quality control is quantitative — it measures specific outcomes, such as whether images have alt text, whether colour contrast meets WCAG thresholds, or…
- Quality of Communication Life Scale(also: QCL, ASHA QCL)
- A self-report assessment developed by ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) that measures how communication disorders affect an individual's quality of life. The QCL evaluates domains including socialization, confidence, roles and responsibilities, and independence…
- Quality of Life(also: QoL, WHOQOL)
- Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional construct used in disability, rehabilitation, and accessibility research to capture well-being across physical health, psychological state, social relationships, and environmental factors. The World Health Organization's WHOQOL…
- Quality of Life Framework(also: QoL Framework, WHOQOL)
- A structured approach to measuring and understanding an individual's overall well-being across multiple domains including physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, environment, independence, and personal beliefs. The WHO Quality of Life framework (WHOQOL)…
- 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…
- Quality of Perception(also: QoP)
- An evaluation framework from the multimedia-accessibility research literature for measuring how well a user can understand and use a media presentation, combining objective comprehension metrics (e.g., fact-recall or multiple-choice quiz accuracy) with subjective judgements…
- Quantified Self(also: Self-Tracking, Personal Informatics, Lifelogging)
- The practice of using technology to systematically track and analyse data about one's own body, health, behaviour, and daily activities. Common tools include fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and mobile apps that record metrics such as steps, sleep, calories,…
- Queer Theory in HCI(also: Queering HCI, Queer Design)
- The application of queer theory to human-computer interaction research and design, challenging heteronormative and binary assumptions embedded in technology. Queer theory in HCI questions how technologies enforce normative identities around gender, sexuality, and embodiment, and…
- Queer-crip(also: Queer-crip theory, Queer crip)
- A theoretical lens combining queer theory and crip theory to examine how queerness and disability co-produce experiences of marginalisation, care, and resistance. Queer-crip perspectives critique compulsory independence, heteronormativity, and ableist temporalities, instead…
- QuickDASH(also: Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand)
- A shortened version of the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) outcome measure, consisting of 11 items that assess a person's ability to perform upper extremity activities of daily living. The QuickDASH produces scores from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe…
- 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…
- Quorum(also: Quorum Programming Language)
- An evidence-based programming language designed with accessibility as a core principle, making it usable by people with and without visual impairments. Quorum provides audio input and output, screen reader compatibility, and an accessible debugger called SODBeans that uses…
24 results.