Terms and definitions for CEN Guide 6

CEN Guide 6 - Guidelines for standard developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this Guide, the following terms and definitions apply.

NOTE This clause is designed to provide clarification of some of the terms used in the fields of ergonomics, accessibility and standardization. It does not provide descriptions of body functions and impairments. This information is provided in clause 9. (See also Introduction, footnote 1)

3.1
ergonomics
human factors
that branch of science and technology that includes what is known and theorized about human behavioural and biological characteristics that can be validly applied to the specification, design, evaluation, operation and maintenance of products and systems, to enhance safety, and effective and satisfying use by individuals, groups and organizations

3.2
accessible design
design focussed on principles of extending standard design to people with some type of performance limitation to maximize the number of potential customers who can readily use a product, building or service which may be achieved by

designing products, services and environments that are readily usable by most users without any modification,
by making products or services adaptable to different users (adapting user interfaces), and
by having standardized interfaces to be compatible with special products for persons with disabilities.

NOTE 1 Terms such as design for all, barrier-free design, inclusive design and transgenerational design are used similarly but in different contexts.

NOTE 2 Accessible design is a subset of universal design where products and environments are usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

3.3
assistive technology
assistive device
piece of equipment, product system, hardware, software or service that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities

NOTE This can be acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized. The term includes technical aids for persons with disabilities. Assistive devices do not eliminate an impairment but may lessen the difficulty an individual has in carrying out a task or activity in specific environments.

3.4
impairment
problem in body function or structure such as a significant deviation or loss which can be temporary due, for example, to injury, or permanent, slight or severe and can fluctuate over time, in particular, deterioration due to ageing

NOTE 1 Body function can be a physiological or psychological function of a body system; body structure refers to an anatomic part of the body such as organs, limbs and their components (as defined in ICIDH-2 of July 1999). See also footnote 1.

NOTE 2 This definition differs from that in ISO 9999:2001 and, slightly, from ICIDH-2/ICF: May 2001, WHO.

3.5
activity limitation
difficulty an individual may have in executing taks or actions

3.6
user
person who interacts with the product, service or environment

NOTE Adapted from ISO 9241-11:1998.

3.7
usability
extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use [ISO 9241-11:1998]

3.8
alternative format
different presentation which may make products and services accessible by the use of another mobility or sensory ability

3.9
working dog
guide dog, hearing and seizure, service (usually assisting with mobility needs) and social therapy dog, or any combination of these

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