Standards relating to the accessibility of ICT systems

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

Richard Hodgkinson FISTC,
7th January 2008

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 a Working Draft is currently 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 for discussion at the next meeting of SC 35/WG 6 (User interfaces for people with special needs) in February 2008.

Standards currently being developed:

ISO 9241-20 – Accessibility guidelines for information communication/technology (ICT) 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	2007-11-23	2008-08-04

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 6 - Human-centered design processes for interactive systems.
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:

The new project proposal for this new standard was approved by international ballot (closed 2007-07-03) within ISO/TC 159/SC 4.
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 late 2007	Estimated mid 2008

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 – Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction.
Will also be published as a European standard (EN)
Started development as ISO 23973 – Ergonomic design of World Wide Web interfaces, and re-numbered for inclusion in the revised ISO 9241 series.
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 late 2007	Estimated mid 2008

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 5 – Software ergonomics and human-computer interaction
Will also be published as a European standard (EN)
Synchronised with the US Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (HFES) 200.2 guidelines which will be published as an ANSI standard.
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	2008-06-01	2009-06-01	TBD	2010

Comments:

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

ISO 9241-920 - Guidance on tactile and haptic 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 (2007-02-09)	2007-10-22	2008-12-22	2009-06-22

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 9 – Haptic and tactile interactions.
DIS ballot currently delayed whilst it awaits translation into French
The ISO 9241-9XX series is planned to include:

Part 900 – Introduction to tactile and haptic interactions
Part 910 – Framework for tactile and haptic interactions
Part 930 – Haptic and tactile interactions in multimodal environments
Part 940 – Evaluation of tactile and haptic interactions
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: The TR aims to provide human ability data and design considerations that are useful for standards developers to implement the principles of ISO/IEC Guide 71 into individual standards. The areas covered by the TR are three human abilities – sensory, physical, and cognitive abilities – and allergy, all of which are addressed in Guide 71.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	ISO (TR) Publication
Approved	Approved	Closed 2006-12 (Approved)	Early 2008

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/WG 2 - Ergonomics for people with special requirements
The DTR ballot was successful. However, with more than 800 comments submitted by national bodies considerable time and effort was required to process those comments.
Sent to ISO for publication following September 2007 meeting.
Work on a revised version due to commence at the March 2008 meeting of ISO/TC 159/WG 2.

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

Scope: Unknown

Current project plan:

WD	CD ballot	DIS ballot	FDIS ballot	ISO publication
Available	Expected 2008 -04	TBD	TBD	TBD

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5/WG 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment – People with special requirements

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

Current project plan:

WD	CD ballot	DIS ballot	FDIS ballot	ISO publication
Awaited	Expected 2009 -04	TBD	TBD	TBD

Comments:

Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5/WG 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment – People with special requirements

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:

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.
Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 5/WG 5 – Ergonomics of the physical environment – People with special requirements

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	2008-04-09	2008-10-09	2009-10-09	2010-04-09

Comments:

Standard proposed by the Japanese National Body.
The NP ballot was approved 2007-04.
Development by ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 10 – Accessible design for consumer products.
The establishment of WG 10was approved 2007-06.
The Japanese national body provides the convenor for WG 10.
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
Available	2007-10-04	TBD	TBD	TBD

Comments:

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

ISO/IEC TR XXXXX - Information technology - Accessibility considerations for people with disabilities

Structure and Scopes of individual parts:

Part 1: User Needs Summary. This part of ISO/IEC TR nnnnn identifies a collection of user needs of people with disabilities for standards developers to take into consideration when developing or revising their standards. These user needs are also useful for developers of information technology products and services and for accessibility advocates to consider.
Part 2: Standards inventory. This part of ISO/IEC TR nnnnn identifies a collection of documents (which it refers to as standards even though they encompass more than traditional ISO and ISO/IEC standards) that provide guidance on meeting the needs of people with disabilities. While its primary audience is standards developers, it can also be helpful for developers of information technology products and services, policy makers, procurers and for accessibility advocates to consider.
Part 3: Guidance on User Needs Mapping. This part of ISO/IEC TR nnnnn provides guidance on the mapping of the set of user needs with the provisions of a particular standard, technical report, or set of guidelines. It provides both basic guidance that should be used for all user needs mapping and optional guidance that may be added to the basic guidance. User Needs Mapping is a voluntary activity intended to help improve accessibility for all users and in particular for users with special needs that might otherwise be overlooked. User Needs Mapping is not intended to be used to evaluate, certify, or otherwise judge a given standard or set of guidelines.

Current project plan:

WD	PDTR ballot	DTR ballot	ISO (TR) Publication
Approved	2007-10-31	2008-06-01 (est.)	TBD

Comments:

Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1 - SWG-A (Special Working Group – Accessibility).
Drafts approved for ballot by resolution 36 at October 2007 JTC 1 Plenary.
PDTR ballot comments will be addressed at SWG-A meeting planned for 2008-06-16 to 20 in Japan.
DTR ballot comments will be addressed at SWG-A meeting tentatively planned for week of 2008-12-15.
ISO/IEC JTC 1 – SWG-A was formed in 2004 to:

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)
Identify a mechanism to work proactively between meetings to make forward progress
Gather and publish an inventory of all known accessibility standards efforts
Identify areas/technologies where voluntary standards are not being addressed and suggest an appropriate body to consider the new work
Track public laws, policies/measures and guidelines to ensure the necessary standards are available
Through wide dissemination of the SWG materials, encourage the use of globally relevant voluntary standards
Assist consortia/fora, if desired, in submitting their specifications to the formal standards process

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:

This proposed standard was approved in its New Work Item ballot which closed 2007-07.
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 (User interfaces for people with special needs)
Based upon Japanese national standard JIS X8341-2 Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities - Information communication and services - Part 2: Information processing equipment.
An ISO/IEC number has yet to be assigned.
At the most recent WG 6 meeting (2007-09) the project editor was requested to make a number of revisions and prepare a new Working Draft by 2008-02.

ISO/IEC 10779 – Accessibility guidelines for office equipment

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:

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

ISO/IEC 24752 - Universal Remote Console

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

Structure and Scopes of individual parts:

Part 1: Framework. The purpose of part 1 is to provide a framework of components that combine to enable remote User Interfaces and remote control of network-accessible electronic devices and services through a Universal Remote Console (URC). Part 1 provides an overview of the URC framework and its components.
Part 2: User Interface Socket Description. A User Interface Socket is an abstract concept that describes the functionality and state of a device or service (target) in a machine interpretable manner. The purpose of part 2 is to define an extensible Markup Language (XML) based language for describing a User Interface Socket. The purpose of the User Interface Socket is to expose the relevant information about a Target so that a user can perceive its state and operate it. This includes data presented to the user, variables that can be manipulated by the user, commands that the user can activate, and exceptions that the user is notified about. The User Interface Socket Specification is applicable to the construction or customization of user interfaces.
Part 3: Presentation Template. The purpose of part 3 is to define a language (Presentation Template Markup Language) for describing modality-independent user interface specifications, or Presentation Templates associated with a User Interface Socket Description, as defined by ISO/IEC 24752-2. The purpose of a Presentation Template is to provide the URC with hints as to how to build a usable and consistent user interface for a Target device or service that is described in a User Interface Socket Description as referenced above. The hints are of an abstract nature, and are intended to apply to any delivery context. These hints primarily provide information on structuring, grouping and linearization of the Socket elements. Elements within a Presentation Template may be referenced by Atomic Resources whose format is given by ISO/IEC 24752-5. Taken together, a Presentation Template, Socket Description, and appropriate Atomic Resources can be used to construct a user interface in any modality (e.g. visual, auditory, tactile, multimodal), through which a user can access and control a Target.
Part 4: Target Description. The purpose of part 4 is to define an extensible Markup Language (XML) based language for the description of Targets and their Sockets, as used within the URC framework for discovery purposes. A document conforming to this language is a Target Description.
Part 5: Resource Description. The purpose of part 5 is to define a syntax for describing Atomic Resources, Resource Sheets, User Interface Implementation Descriptions, Resource Services, and Resource Directories relevant to the user interface of a device or service ("Target").

Current project plan:

	WD	CD ballot	DIS ballot	FDIS ballot	ISO publication
Part 1	Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-11-08	2008-03
Part 2	Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-11-08	2008-03
Part 3	Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-11-08	2008-03
Part 4	Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-11-08	2008-03
Part 5	Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-11-08	2008-03

Comments:

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

ISO/IEC 24756 - Framework for specifying a Common Access Profile (CAP) 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	2nd FCD ballot	FDIS ballot	ISO publication
Completed	Approved	Approved	2007-10	2007-03	2007-09

Comments:

Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 6 – User interfaces for people with special needs
Whilst the FCD was approved by national body ballot in February 2007, further discussions within WG 6 have identified the need to conduct a 2nd FCD ballot.

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.

Current project plan:

WD	CD ballot	FCD ballot	FDIS ballot	ISO publication
Completed	Approved	2007-10	2008-11	2009-05

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	2008-06	2008-12	2009-06	2009-12

Comments:

Will include guidance on planning, developing and writing accessible software documentation.
Will replace primarily ISO/IEC 15910:1999 – Systems and software engineering – Software user documentation process.
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 2 – Software and systems documentation

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	2008-06	2008-12	2009-06	2009-12

Comments:

Will include guidance on accessible software documentation.
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 2 – Software and systems documentation

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	2008-01	2008-06	2008-12	2009-06

Comments:

Will include guidance on testing and assessing software documentation for accessibility.
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 2 – Software and systems documentation

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	2007-11	2008-05

Comments:

Will include guidance on planning, developing and writing accessible software documentation.
Will replace ISO/IEC 18019:2004 – Systems and software engineering – Guidelines for the design and preparation of user documentation for application software.
Development by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7/WG 2 – Software and systems documentation

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

Scope and field of application: This ETSI Guide It will provide detailed user experience and user interface guidelines, applicable to a wide range of telecare solution elements, addressing key characteristics and the interactions between them and the primary (client) and secondary (carer) users. Consumers (clients) of telecare services and devices expect these to be easy to install, learn and use; reliable and consistent in quality, durability, safety, security and ease of use and ensure the integrity of personal data. It will be based on the recommendations developed by STF264, provided in TR 102 415
Being developed by ETSI HF STF 299 for publication in December 2007
More information and draft at : http://portal.etsi.org/STFs/STF_HomePages/STF299/STF299.asp

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

Scope and field of application: The ETSI Technical Specification will establish and set out guidance for providers and operators of Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs). A "Design for All" approach will be followed to ensure that PIAPs will be more readily accessible to all people, including elderly or disabled users and users from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
Development by ETSI HF STF 324 for publication in July 2008
More information and draft currently available from: http://portal.etsi.org/STFs/STF_HomePages/STF324/STF324.asp

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

Scope and field of application: This ETSI Technical Specification sets out the requirements for a number of AT command protocol stacks that can be used to enable assistive devices to interwork satisfactorily with mobile terminals over a range of suitable interfaces. The work specifies those amendments of existing AT commands and new AT commands that are needed for effective communication between mobile terminals and the widest possible range of assistive devices
ETSI TS 102 511was published in August 2007.
More information and to obtain a copy from: http://portal.etsi.org/STFs/STF_HomePages/STF304/STF304.asp

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

Scope and field of application: This ETSI Standard will specify a minimum set of spoken commands required to control the generic and most common functions of ICT devices and services that use speaker independent speech recognition, developed in a Design for All approach. It will specify the necessary and most common vocabularies to be supported by ICT devices and services for voice input, including command, control and editing and will be applicable to the functions required for navigation, information retrieval, basic call handling and configuration of preferences.
Development by ETSI HF STF 326 for publication in January 2009
More information and draft from: http://portal.etsi.org/STFs/STF_HomePages/STF326/STF326.asp

ETSI - Human Factors: Harmonised relay services

Scope and field of application: The standard will set out the requirements for the provision of all kinds of relay services in all networks. It will identify those new types of text phone services that are IP based and make recommendations on how they should be handled. The provisions in this standard will directly assist users who are unable to hear and/or speak. This work will convert and update ETSI TR 101 806 (Guidelines for relay services) into an ETSI Standard.
Development by ETSI HF STF 325 for publication in January 2009
More information from: http://portal.etsi.org/stfs/STF_HomePages/STF325/STF325.asp

ETSI TR 102 612 - 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 is being co-ordinated between ETSI, CEN and CENELEC.

Scope and field of application: The ETSI STF will produce:
An inventory of ICT products and services that are usually bought by public procurers.
A list of existing functional accessibility requirements in Member States and internationally for those ICT products and services.
In each technical area gaps will be identified where no accessibility requirements exist and suggestions will be provided for developing missing or additional requirements.
A list of existing national, European and international standards and technical specifications will be identified which might comply with those requirements
A proposal will be made for a standardization work programme for the development of requirements and award criteria that still do not exist or that are not yet standardized.

Current plan:

Public draft release date:	Commenting deadline:
20 November 2007	10 January 2008
28 January 2008	25 February 2008
10 March 2008	24 April 2008
15 May 2008	June 2008 - Open workshop

Comments:

Development by ETSI HF STF 333 for publication in 2009
More information and the first public draft of ETSI Technical Report (TR) 102 612 is available from: http://portal.etsi.org/STFs/STF_HomePages/STF333/STF333.asp

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 above) CEN has established 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.”
Comments:

The first meeting of the CEN/CENELEC project team took place on 2nd October 2007.
An initial report has been prepared.
The next meeting is planned for 16th January 2008 in Brussels.
More information from: http://www.verva.se/english/it-procurement/accessibility-conformance/

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

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

Objectives:

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
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.
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

Comments:

Following the 14th November meeting, the final text for the CWA has now been agreed.
The final version of the CEN Workshop Agreement (with a CWA number) will be available shortly.

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

BS PAS 124 – Guidance on Web Standards

The British Standards Institution (BSi) have recently announced the commissioning of the development of this Publicly Available Standard (PAS) to help protect the significant investment organizations are making in their web presence and online brands by establishing a best practice for “defining, implementing and managing organizational web standards”. It will provide a clear framework to help organizations apply standards effectively to significantly improve online performance and protect the integrity of their brands.

Comments:

An initial draft is now available for review and comment.
For accessibility, the references include the W3C WAI guidelines
The new ISO 9241 part 151 (Ergonomic design of World Wide Web interfaces)is not currently referenced.
Publication of BS PAS 124 is planned for early 2008.

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:

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