Page 10 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

xx Glossary

endure while still functioning (with emphasis on the capacity; for example, larger brains or those with
more neuronal connections can suffer more damage before reaching a threshold, below which func-
tioning becomes impaired). Factors such as higher childhood cognition, higher educational attain-
ment, and increased involvement in activities have been shown to contribute positively to cognitive
reserve.
Compensatory strategies In neuropsychological rehabilitation, this phrase means strategies used to
compensate for functional abilities reduced as a consequence of neurological disability (e.g., use of
a diary or calendar to help people organise their lives and remember activities). This is contrasted to
remediation or training that aims to restore cognitive abilities to allow the patient to function indepen-
dently of compensatory guidance (e.g., goal management training to help people stop and think about
what they need to do).
Computer accessibility Field and practice of making computing devices more accessible to those with
disabilities.
Computed tomography (CT) CT scan uses combinations X-ray measurements taken from different
angles to provide cross sectional slices of areas of the scanned area. It provides details images of organs
bones, soft tissue and blood vessels.
Concreteness Impaired abstraction; a patient who meets this description in clinical neuropsychology
may have difficulty detaching from the immediate stimuli or environment.
DECT Digital enhanced cordless telecommunications.
Disinhibition Inability to stop oneself from behaving in a certain way, usually impulsively and in a way
that disregards social conventions. This is a common symptom of executive dysfunction after brain
damage.
Dorsiflexion Flexion movement that occurs at the ankle and is a movement of the toes toward the shin.
Dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex Top of the frontal part of the human brain; important in executive func-
tioning (e.g., planning, inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory).
Dwell select Selection of an item on computer screen, by means of moving the cursor to rest or hover over
it for a predetermined, but adjustable, time period.
Dysexecutive symptoms These include cognitive symptoms (e.g., poor short-term memory and atten-
tion span), emotional symptoms (e.g., difficulty inhibiting or interpreting emotions), and behavioural
symptoms (making poor judgements, breaking social conventions).
EADL Electronic aids to daily living; an alternative term for environmental controls.
EC Environmental control.
Echelon American company responsible for design of LonWorks.
Electroencephalography (EEG) Detection of electrical signals arising from brain activity.
Electromyography (EMG) Detection of electrical signals arising from muscle activity.
EnOcean Energy-harvesting wireless technology used primarily in building automation systems.
Environmental control system (ECS) Form of electronic assistive technology that enables people with
significant disabilities to independently access equipment in their environment.
Errorless learning Rehabilitation technique that ensures the person always responds correctly. As each
skill is taught, a prompt or cue is provided immediately following an instruction with the aim of pre-
venting incorrect responses. This technique reduces the possibility of mistakenly learning incorrect
responses in people with memory impairment.
European Home Systems (EHS) Protocol aimed at home appliances control and communication using
power line communication. It is one of the smart home systems that converged to form the KNX
standard.
European Installation Bus (EIB) One of the smart home systems that converged to form the KNX
standard.
Executive functioning Functioning of the various fractionated cognitive processes that contribute to cog-
nitive control; includes inhibition, self-monitoring, cognitive flexibility, and working memory capacity.