Updates on standards
Ergonomics Standards & Legislation
Getting to grips with national and international standards in HCI is not easy. Standards are developed by many different people representing a wide range of interests. Experts outside the standardisation process have strong and valuable views, but often fail to contribute because the process of standardisation is confusing and bureaucratic. The purpose of these articles is to help you understand what is going on and keep up to date.
More specific information on standards can be obtained from Tom Stewart , Managing Director of System Concepts' who chairs various national and international standards committees. Send Tom a question by using the Ask the Expert form.
Where can I read ergonomics and usability standards on the web?
Standards bodies make money by selling standards, so you will not find the full text of any standard freely available on the web. Standards are also subject to copyright laws and so cannot be duplicated or photocopied. To buy a standard, contact your country's standards body; in the UK this is:
BSI
Standards House
389 Chiswick High Rd
London
W4 4AL
Tel: 020 8996 7000
Alternatively, you can buy ergonomics standards on-line from ISO
The following articles give more detail about standards.
Other SC4 standards under developmentThis table lists the other main standards under development by ISO/TC159/SC4 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction
Published SC4 standardsThis table lists the main standards published in recent years by ISO/TC159/SC4 Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction including amendments and revisions.
The revision of ISO 9241 - current statusFollowing the completion of the seventeen part ISO9241, work is underway on a major revision and restructuring to incorporate other relevant standards and make the ISO9241 series more usable. This article describes the new structure, the principles agreed for the revision process and gives the current status of the new parts (as at March 2008)
International Standards OrganisationThis link takes you to 'ISO Online' in a new window, for an introduction to international standards, the structure of ISO and a list of technical committees. And much more.
Special Report: Are Ergonomics user interface standards more trouble than they're worth?This special report reviews the history, progress and results of one area of international standardisation: the ergonomics of human-system interaction.
Guide to Display Screen Equipment RegulationsThis comprehensive and practical guide to the display screen regulations is written by Tom Stewart.