Glossary

ASCII art

Images created with text characters and symbols, including emoticons, e.g., the smiley face :)

Assistive technology

Software or hardware created or modified to enable people with disabilities to use computers.

Examples of assistive technologies that may be used while surfing the Web include the following:

Alternative keyboards and switches/pointing devices: A variety of input methods used in place of the standard keyboard and mouse. Used by individuals with limited hand function or severe mobility impairments.
Refreshable Braille display: Hardware in which pins raise and lower to display Braille, a tactile system using raised dots to represent letters and numbers. Used by individuals with visual impairments.
Scanning software: Software that highlights selection choices (e.g., letters, to menu items, links, phrases) one at a time. User selects desired item by hitting a switch when the desired item is highlighted or announced. Used by individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Screen magnifier: Software that magnifies a portion of the screen for easier viewing. Used by individuals with low vision.
Screen reader: Software that interprets what is displayed on screen and directs it to either speech synthesis for audio output or refreshable Braille for tactile output. Used by individuals who are blind or have reading disabilities.
Speech recognition software: Software that allows input using voice for data entry and limited software commands. Used by individuals with limited or no hand function, or with learning disabilities.

Auditory description

A verbal description providing information about actions, body language, graphics, and scene changes in a video. Must be synchronized with the auditory track of the video, usually during natural pauses in the auditory track. Used by people who are blind or have low vision; may also be used as a low-bandwidth equivalent on the Web.

Deprecated elements

HTML elements or attributes replaced by newer ones. Web developers should avoid using these elements as they may become obsolete in future versions of HTML. Refer to http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-html40-19980424/appendix/ changes.html#h-A.1.1.2 for a complete listing of changes from HTML 3.2 to HTML 4.0.

Device independent

User may interact with the Web page or browser with a preferred input or output device (e.g., mouse, keyboard, Braille, voice, head pointer, or other assistive technology). For example, if a form control can only be activated with a mouse or other pointing device, someone who is using the page without sight, with voice input, with a keyboard, or who is using some other non-pointing input device will not be able to use the form.

Dynamic content

Content that changes over time or in response to user actions.

Equivalent information (or Equivalent alternative)

Essential in accessible Web design since certain types of content may not be accessible to all users (i.e. video, images, audio, etc.). Content is equivalent to other content when both fulfill essentially the same function or purpose. For example, ALT="Canadian flag" conveys the same information as an image of the Canadian flag when presented to users.

Linearized table

Table contents unstacked or extracted from the row/column layout and presented in simple order as a block of text.

Natural language

Spoken, written, or signed human language such as English, French, or American Sign Language.

Screen reader

Software that interprets what is displayed on screen and directs it to either speech synthesis for audio output or refreshable Braille for tactile output (see also assistive technology).

Text equivalent

Provides a written substitute for graphic and audio information.