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Standards relating to the accessibility of ICT systems

Report on International ICT Accessibility Standards Proposed, Being Developed and Recently Published


Richard Hodgkinson FISTC,
2nd October 2007

Overview:

This report covers current international activities in the development of standards, technical reports and guidelines that include accessibility requirements and recommendations for ICT products.

Accessibility standards are developed globally by committees of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1 of the ISO & IEC, national standards bodies (e.g. the BSi, ANSI, AFNOR, DIN…) and many other organisations.

Proposed new standards and activities:

Note: The following “projects” are currently under discussion within various standards organisations. In due course Working Drafts and New Project proposals will be submitted for international ballot. If the balloting is successful (acceptance of the project, commitment of experts, offer of a project editor, etc) the projects will be assigned to the appropriate standards organisations or new organisations will be created.

ISO 9241-135 – Natural language dialogues

This potential standard is being discussed in ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 (Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction) and in due course a Working Draft will be prepared together with a New Project proposal for international ballot.

This standard would provide recommendations and guidelines for the user-centred design of software user interfaces for voice controlled dialogue systems to increase usability.

ISO 9241-136 – Voice/Auditory interaction

This potential standard is being discussed in ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 (Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction) and by the end of 2007 a Working Draft is expected, together with a New Project proposal for international ballot.

This standard would provide recommendations and guidelines for the user-centred design of software user interfaces for voice interaction systems to increase usability.

ISO 9241-152 – Interpersonal communication – Usability and accessibility of computer-based data and voice communication

This potential standard is currently being discussed and developed within ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 (Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction). In due course a Working Draft will be prepared together with a New Project proposal for international ballot.

Interoperability of assistive technologies and information technologies

This potential standard is currently being discussed and developed within ISO/IEC SC JTC 1/SC 35 (User interfaces). A Working Draft is currently being prepared together with a New Project proposal for international ballot.

CEN/BT WG 185 - Report on Conformance schemes (second report as requested by M/376 – Phase 1)

In parallel to the ETSI Specialist Task Force 333 (see below) CEN is preparing a project team to produce a report under Phase 1 which “will present an analysis on testing and conformity schemes of products and services meeting accessibility requirements.”

The first meeting of the CEN/CENELEC project team will take place on 2nd October 2007.

ISO/IEC JTC 1 - SWG-A (Special Working Group – Accessibility)

Scope/Background: The SWG-A was formed in 2004 to:

  1. Determine an approach, and implement, the gathering of user requirements, being mindful of the varied and unique opportunities (direct participation of user organizations, workshops, liaisons)
  2. Identify a mechanism to work proactively between meetings to make forward progress
  3. Gather and publish an inventory of all known accessibility standards efforts
  4. Identify areas/technologies where voluntary standards are not being addressed and suggest an appropriate body to consider the new work
  5. Track public laws, policies/measures and guidelines to ensure the necessary standards are available
  6. Through wide dissemination of the SWG materials, encourage the use of globally relevant voluntary standards
  7. Assist consortia/fora, if desired, in submitting their specifications to the formal standards process

Status of SWG-A work:
The SWG-A has proposed to JTC 1 the development of a three part Technical Report:

  1. ISO/IEC PDTR nnnnnn-1, Information Technology - Accessibility Considerations for People with Disabilities - Part 1:  User Needs Summary
  2. ISO/IEC PDTR nnnnnn-2, Information Technology - Accessibility Considerations for People with Disabilities - Part 2:  Standards inventory
  3. ISO/IEC PDTR nnnnnn-3, Information Technology - Accessibility Considerations for People with Disabilities - Part 3:  Guidance on User Needs Mapping

Standards currently being developed:

ISO/IEC XXXXX - Accessibility functions for personal computers/Information processing

Scope: This standard will provide requirements and recommendations for the design of accessibility functions regarding PCs.

This standard will specify accessibility requirements and recommendations for the designing of PCs that are implemented by hardware or combination of hardware and software.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Available

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. This proposed standard was approved in its New Work Item ballot which closed 2007-07.
  2. Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 (User interfaces for people with special needs)
  3. Based upon Japanese national standard JIS X8341-5 Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities - Information communication and services - Part 2: Information processing equipment.
  4. An ISO/IEC number has yet to be assigned.

ISO 9241-20 – Guidelines for the accessibility of information communication equipment and services

Scope: This Standard will address general guidelines for planning, designing and developing ICT products and services to ensure their accessibility for people with the widest possible range of abilities including older persons and persons with permanent or temporary disabilities (referred to as “people with special requirements”). This Standard is also intended to provide general guidelines for evaluating and purchasing ICT products and services. Information communication equipment and services include hardware and software aspects of information processing equipment, electrical communication facilities, office machines, the Internet, and others. It does not include buildings, offices or transportation.

Current project plan:

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Approved

Approved

Expected 2008-02

2007

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 6 - Human-centered design processes for interactive systems.
  2. Based upon Japanese national standard, JIS 8341-1:2004 - Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities – Information communication equipment and services Part 1: Common guidelines.

ISO 9241-129 – Guidance on software individualisation

Scope: This International standard will address ergonomic requirements and recommendations for individualization of human-computer interactions and will provide support for the development, evaluation, and procurement of user interfaces that incorporate individualization

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Under preparation

To be decided

To be decided

To be decided

To be decided

Comments:

  1. The new project proposal for this new standard was approved by international ballot (closed 2007-07-03) within ISO/TC 159/SC 4.
  2. Development will be by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 – Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction.

ISO 9241-151 – Ergonomic design of World Wide Web interfaces

Scope: This International Standard will provide recommendations and guidelines for the user-centred design of World Wide Web user interfaces (in short: Web user interfaces) to increase usability. Web user interfaces address either all Internet users or closed user groups such as the members of an organisation (intranet), customers and/or suppliers of a company (extranet) or other specific communities of users.

Current project plan:

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Approved

Approved

Expected 2007-11

Estimated late 2007/early 2008

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 – Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction.
  2. Will also be published as a European standard (EN)
  3. Started development as ISO 23973 – Ergonomic design of World Wide Web interfaces, and re-numbered for inclusion in the revised ISO 9241 series.
  4. Though not originally intended to address Web accessibility, following comments on the CD ballot, guidance and references have been included. The reference will direct users to both the W3C WCAG WAI guidelines and ISO 9241 part 171.

ISO EN 9241-171 - Guidance on software accessibility

Scope: This part of ISO 9241 will provide requirements and recommendations for the design of accessible software for use at work, in the home, in education and in public places. It covers issues associated with designing accessible software for people with the widest range of physical, sensory and cognitive abilities, including those who are temporarily disabled, and the elderly. This part of ISO 9241 will address software considerations for accessibility that complement general design for usability covered by ISO 9241 part 110, ISO 9241 parts 11 to 17, ISO 14915 parts 1 to 3 and ISO 13407.

This part of ISO 9241 will be applicable to the accessibility of interactive systems. It addresses a wide range of software (e.g. office applications, web sites, learning support systems and library systems). It does not provide recommendations for the design of hardware.

Current project plan:

2nd CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Approved

Approved

Expected 2007-10

Estimated late 2007/early 2008

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 – Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction
  2. Will also be published as a European standard (EN)
  3. Synchronised with the US Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES) 200.2 guidelines which will be published as an ANSI standard.
  4. Revised version of (and will replace) ISO TS 16071:2003 – Guidance on accessibility for human-computer interfaces (also based upon earlier HFES guidelines).

ISO 9241-910 – Framework for tactile and haptic interactions

Scope: This standard will provide a framework for specifying, designing and evaluating various aspects of. It will also contain general information about tactile and haptic interactions.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Completed

TBD

TBD

TBD

2010

Comments:

  1. Passed New Work Item ballot (closed 2007-09)
  2. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 9 – Haptic and tactile interactions.

ISO 9241-920 - Guidance on haptic and tactile interactions

Scope: This standard will address ergonomic requirements and recommendations for haptic and tactile hardware and software interactions. It will provide guidance related to the design and evaluation of hardware, software and combinations of hardware and software interactions.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO Publication

Completed

Approved

2007-09

2007-12 (est.)

2008-06 (est.)

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 9 – Haptic and tactile interactions.
  2. The ISO 9241-9XX series is planned to include:
    1. Part 900 – Introduction to tactile and haptic interactions
    2. Part 910 – Framework for tactile and haptic interactions
    3. Part 930 – Haptic and tactile interactions in multimodal environments
    4. Part 940 – Evaluation of tactile and haptic interactions
    5. Part 971 – Haptic and tactile interfaces to publicly available devices

ISO TR 22411 - Ergonomic data and ergonomic guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71 to products and services to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities

Scope: This Technical Report will provide standards developers with ergonomic data and design techniques on how to take into account the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities, in accordance with the factors described in ISO/IEC Guide 71.

Current project plan:

WD

PDTR ballot

DTR ballot

FDIS

ISO (TR) Publication

Approved

Approved

Closed 2006-12

Expected 2007-09

Plan unknown

Comments:

    1. ISO/TC 159/WG 2 - Ergonomics for people with special requirements
    2. No information currently available on DIN or BSI web sites.

ISO 24500 - Guidelines for all people, including elderly persons and persons with disabilities - Auditory signals on consumer products.

Scope: Unknown

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Available

Expected 2008 -04

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment

ISO 24501 - Guidelines for all people, including elderly persons and persons with disabilities - Auditory signals on consumer products - Sound pressure levels of signals for the elderly and in noisy conditions

Scope: Unknown

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Awaited

Expected 2009 -04

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4 – Ergonomics of the physical environment

ISO 24502 - Guidelines for all people, including elderly persons and persons with disabilities - Visual signs and displays - Specification of age-related relative luminance and its use in the
assessment of light

Scope: Unknown

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Awaited

Expected 2010 -04

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. This new project was proposed by the Japanese National Body and is based upon Japanese standard JIS S 0031:2004 - Guidelines for all people including elderly persons and persons with disabilities – Visual signs and displays – Specification of age-related luminance and its use in assessment of light.
  2. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment
  3. The new project was approved by international ballot (2007-04),

ISO 24503 - Guidelines for all people, including elderly persons and persons with disabilities - Marking tactile dots on consumer products

Scope: This standard will specify the guidelines for marking tactile dots to be put on the
operating parts of various consumer products that have electrically-operated switches. The purpose is to enhance usability for all people including visually handicapped people and elderly people with declining of visual acuity.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Available

Expected 2008-04

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. Standard proposed by the Japanese National Body.
  2. The NP ballot was approved 2007-04.
  3. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 10 – Accessible design for consumer products.
  4. The establishment of WG 10was approved 2007-06.
  5. The Japanese national body will provide the convenor for WG 10.
  6. Based upon Japanese standard JIS S 0011-2000.

ISO 28803 - Ergonomics of the physical environment - Application of international standards to people with special requirements

Scope: Unknown

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Awaited

Expected 2010-04

TBD

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment
  2. Project registered 2007-08

ISO/IEC 10779 – Office equipment accessibility guidelines for elderly persons and persons with disabilities

Scope: This guideline is intended to improve information accessibility required when primarily elderly persons, persons with disabilities and persons with temporary disabilities use office equipment. This guideline will specify a guideline to be considered for planning, developing and designing office equipment.

Current project plan:

WD

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Available

Current

TBD

TBD

Comments:

  1. Developed from Japanese standard JIS X8341-5 Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities - Information communication and services - Part 5: Telecommunications equipment.
  2. Currently undergoing ISO/IEC JTC 1 Fast Track Procedure ballot for adoption as an ISO standard from the original Japanese version.
  3. Proposed for assignment to ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC/28 – Office equipment, if the ballot is successful.

ISO/IEC TR 19765 - Survey of icons and symbols that provide access to functions and facilities to improve the use of IT products by the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Scope: This Technical Report results from a survey of icons and symbols currently used to provide access to facilities and tools to support the needs of disabled users of Information Technology products. The icons and symbols have been collected from a variety of sources including other standards, contemporary software products, web sites and hardware devices. Those sources are cross-referenced and listed in the Bibliography. The icons and symbols presented are categorised by modality and method of use.

Current project plan:

PDTR

DTR ballot

ISO (TR) publication

Completed

Approved

Published 2007

Comments:

    1. Developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 – User interfaces for people with special needs.
    2. This will be published as a Technical Report and the current draft contains approximately 60 icons and symbols “harvested” from a variety of sources.
    3. TRs are cancelled after a maximum of 6 years and can be used as the basis of a full standard.

ISO/IEC TR 19766 - Guidelines for the design of icons and symbols for the use of the elderly and disabled

Scope: This Technical Report will provide recommendations relating to the design of icons to support accessibility by the elderly and people with disabilities. These recommendations assist accessible design of all icons for users. While these recommendations were developed to meet the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities, they can also provide greater accessibility to a wider range of users in a variety of different contexts.

Current project plan:

PDTR

DTR ballot

ISO (TR) publication

Completed

Approved

Published 2007

Comment:
Developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 – User interfaces for people with special needs.

ISO/IEC 24752  - Universal Remote Console

Scope: This multi-part standard will facilitate operation of information and electronic products through remote and alternative interfaces and intelligent agents.

Structure:
Part 1: Framework
Part 2: User interface socket description
Part 3: Presentation template
Part 4: Target description
Part 5: Resource description

Current project plan:

 

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Part 1

Completed

Approved

Approved

Delayed

2008-03

Part 2

Completed

Approved

Approved

Delayed

2008-03

Part 3

Completed

Approved

Approved

Delayed

2008-03

Part 4

Completed

Approved

Approved

Delayed

2008-03

Part 5

Completed

Approved

Approved

Delayed

2008-03

Comments:

    1. Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 8 – User interfaces for remote interactions.
    2. Proposed by US INCITS V2 group
    3. FDIS ballot delayed due to editorial issues

ISO/IEC 24756 - Framework for specifying a Common Access Profile of needs and capabilities of users, systems and their environments

Scope:This standard will define a framework for selecting and supporting computer related accessibility including accessibility supported by assistive technologies. It will provide a basis for identifying and dealing with accessibility issues in a standardized manner across multiple platforms. It can be used to evaluate accessibility of existing systems in particular environments for particular users.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

FCD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Completed

Approved

Approved

TBD

2007-03

2007-09

Comment:
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 – User interfaces for people with special needs

ISO/IEC 24786 – Accessible user interface for accessibility setting on information devices

Scope: This standard will describe requirements to make the user interface of the accessibility setting accessible. It mentions about the accesses to open the accessibility setting mode where the user set up the various accessibility functions, and also describes about the accesses to enable the accessibility functions directly without open the accessibility setting mode. It also mentions about items to set up the accessibility functions in the accessibility setting mode.

Structure:
Part 1: General
Part 2: Method to open

Current project plan:

 

WD

CD ballot

DIS ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Part 1

Completed

2007-05

2007-11

2008-11

2009-05

Part 2

NP in preparation

 

 

 

 

Comment:
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 – User interfaces for people with special needs

ISO/IEC 26511 – Software and systems engineering - Requirements for managers of user documentation

Scope: This standard will support the interests of software users in consistent, complete, accurate, and usable documentation.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

FCD ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Completed

2007-10

2008-06

2008-11

2009-05

Comments:

ISO/IEC 26512 – Software and systems engineering - Requirements for acquirers and suppliers of user documentation

Scope: This standard will support the interests of software users in consistent, complete, accurate, and usable documentation. It is addressed to acquirers and suppliers of software user documentation.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

FCD ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

2007-09

2007-12

2008-10

2009-05

2009-10

Comments:

ISO/IEC 26513 - Software and systems engineering - Requirements for testers and assessors of user documentation

Scope: This standard will support the interests of software users in consistent, complete, accurate, and usable documentation. It is addressed to testers and assessors of software user documentation.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

FCD ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Completed

2007-12

2008-10

2009-05

2009-10

Comments:

ISO/IEC 26514 – Software and systems engineering - Requirements for designers and developers of user documentation

Scope: This standard will support the interests of software users in consistent, complete, accurate, and usable documentation. It includes both approaches to standardization: a) process standards, which specify the way in which documentation products are to be developed; and b) documentation product standards, which specify the characteristics and functional requirements of the documentation. It is addressed to designers and developers of software user documentation.

Current project plan:

WD

CD ballot

FCD ballot

FDIS ballot

ISO publication

Completed

Approved

Approved 2007-05

2007-09

2008-05

Comments:

ETSI EG 202 487 – Human Factors: User experience guidelines for telecare solutions (e-Health)

ETSI TS 102 577 – Human Factors: Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs)

ETSI TS 102 511 - Human Factors: AT Commands for assistive mobile device interfaces

ETSI ES 202 076 - Human Factors: Generic spoken command vocabulary for ICT devices and services

ETSI - Human Factors: Harmonised relay services

ETSI - Human Factors: EC Mandate 376 – European accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the ICT domain - Phase 1

ETSI has now established Specialist Task Force (STF) 333 in response to Phase 1 of Mandate M/376 on European accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the ICT domain. The activity will be co-ordinated between ETSI, CEN and CENELEC.

CEN Workshop on Document Processing for Accessibility (WS/DPA)

This activity is supported by the EUAIN (European Accessible Information Network) who are funding the chairman and technical secretariat.

Objectives:

  1. To bring together all the players in the information provision and e-publishing chain in order to achieve the critical mass significantly to enhance the provision of accessible information at a European level 
  2. To provide guidelines (a CWA = CEN Workshop Agreement) on integrating accessibility components within the document management and publishing process rather than as just a specialised, additional service.
  3. To raise awareness and stimulate the adoption at local, regional, national and European levels of the emerging formats and standards for the provision of accessible information and to find ways of ensuring that technological protection measures do not inadvertently impede legitimate access to information by people with print impairments

Schedule:

  1. 18 July 2007 – Distribution of final draft for 60 day public consultation
  2. 18 September 2007 – Meeting to review public comments
  3. 14 November 2007 – Final workshop meeting to approve the CWA before publication.

More information: http://www.cen.eu/cenorm/businessdomains/businessdomains/isss/activity/ws-dpa.asp

ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001 - Guidelines to address the needs of older persons and people with disabilities when developing standards

Scope: This Guide provides guidance to writers of relevant International Standards on how to take into account the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities. Whilst recognizing that some people with very extensive and complex disabilities may have requirements beyond the level addressed in this Guide, a very large number of people have minor impairments which can be easily addressed by relatively small changes of approach in standards, thereby increasing the market for the product or service

Comments:

  1. This standard is not under current development, however, it will be revised and updated as required.
  2. CEN/CENELEC Guide 6 has been created from ISO/IEC Guide 71 for use by developers of European standards that address accessibility issues.

Key to abbreviations and acronyms used in this report

 


 

 

Last updated: 19.02.2008   © Copyright reserved