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How to Use Usability and Ergonomics Standards (and how to buy them)

ISO 9241 supports a wide variety of usability (HCI) design activities including:

Managing the human-centred design process
Analysing and defining system requirements
Designing user-system dialogues and interface navigation
Designing or selecting displays
Designing or selecting keyboards and other input devices
Designing physical workplaces for users
Supporting and training users
Designing jobs and tasks

The table below shows which parts of the current ISO9241 apply to these activities. It also provides a very brief description of what is in the standard and a direct link to allow you to buy it from BSI. (Note that the UK versions are generally identical to the International version with the addition of a national foreword and a number BS EN ISO 9241-x which shows that the standard is a British, European and International Standard.).

We have restricted this table to published standards. If you wish to know more about standards under development, please contact Tom Stewart on 020 7240 3388 or email contact us

Activity	Relevant part of ISO 9241	Brief Description
Managing the human-centred design process	ISO 9241-210:2010 Human centred design for interactive systems (supersedes ISO 13407 1999) Click on the link to buy this standard from ISO	This part provides guidance on and requirements for the human-centred design process and is aimed at those responsible for managing the design of interactive systems.
Analysing and defining system requirements	ISO 9241-1:1997/Amd 1:2001 General Introduction (supersedes ISO 9241-1: 1993) Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part introduces the multi-part standard ISO 9241 for the ergonomic requirements for the use of visual display terminals for office tasks and explains some of the basic underlying principles. It provides some guidance on how to use the standard and describes how conformance to parts of ISO 9241 should be reported.
	ISO 9241-11:1998 Guidance on usability Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Defines usability as “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” and provides guidance on how to address usability in design projects.
	ISO 9241-20:2008 Accessibility guidelines for information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and services Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	A high level overview standard covering both hardware and software. It covers the design and selection of equipment and services for people with a wide range of sensory, physical and cognitive abilities, including those who are temporarily disabled, and the elderly.
Designing user-system dialogues and interface navigation	ISO/TR 9241-100:2010 Introduction to standards related to software ergonomics Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Provides an introduction to the ‘100 series’ of ISO 9241 software parts. Published as a Technical Report (TR) which has a shorter development time than a full international standard (IS). This will allow it to be updated regularly to reflect the current content and structure of ISO 9241
	ISO 9241 110:2006 Dialogue principles (supersedes ISO 9241 10:1996) Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Sets out seven dialogue principles and gives examples. The dialogue should be suitable for the task (including the user’s task and skill level); self-descriptive (it should be obvious what to do next); controllable (especially in pace and sequence); conform to user expectations (ie consistent); error tolerant and forgiving; suitable for individualisation and customisable; and should support learning).
	ISO 9241-14:1997 Menu dialogues Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Recommends best practice for designing menus (pop-up, pull-down and text-based menus). Topics include menu structure, navigation, option selection and menu presentation (including placement and use of icons). One of the annexes contains a ten-page checklist for determining compliance with the standard.
	ISO 9241-15:1998 Command dialogues Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part provides recommendations for the ergonomic design of command languages used in user-computer dialogues. The recommendations cover command language structure and syntax, command representations, input and output considerations, and feedback and help. Part 15 is intended to be used by both designers and evaluators of command dialogues, but the focus is primarily towards the designer.
	ISO 9241-16:1999 Direct manipulation dialogues Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part provides recommendations for the ergonomic design of direct manipulation dialogues, and includes the manipulation of objects, and the design of metaphors, objects and attributes. It covers those aspects of ‘Graphical User Interfaces’ which are directly manipulated, and not covered by other parts of ISO 9241. Part 16 is intended to be used by both designers and evaluators of command dialogues, but the focus is primarily towards the designer.
	ISO 9241-17:1998 Form-filling dialogues Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part provides recommendations for the ergonomic design of form filling dialogues. The recommendations cover form structure and output considerations, input considerations, and form navigation. Part 17 is intended to be used by both designers and evaluators of command dialogues, but the focus is primarily towards the designer.
	ISO 9241-151:2008 Guidance on World Wide Web user interfaces Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Sets out detailed design principles for designing usable web sites – these cover: high-level design decisions and design strategy; content design; navigation; and content presentation.
	ISO 9241-171:2008 Guidance on software accessibility Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Aimed at software designers and provides guidance on the design of software to achieve as high a level of accessibility as possible. Replaces the earlier Technical Specification ISO TS 16071:2003 and follows the same definition of accessibility - ‘usability of a product, service, environment or facility by people with the widest range of capabilities’. Applies to all software, not just web interfaces.
Designing or selecting displays	ISO 9241-300: 2008 Introduction to electronic visual display requirements (The ISO 9241-300 series supersedes ISO 9241 parts 3, 7 and 8) Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	A very short (4 pages ) introduction to the ISO 9241-300 series which explains what the other parts contain.
	ISO 9241-302: 2008 Terminology for electronic visual displays Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Definitions, terms and equations that are used throughout ISO 9241:300 series.
	ISO 9241-303: 2008 Requirements for electronic visual displays Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Sets general image quality requirements for electronic visual displays. The requirements are intended to apply to any kind of display technology.
	ISO 9241- 304: 2008 User performance test methods for electronic visual displays This standard is not yet available on line.	Unlike the other parts in the subseries which focus on optical and electronic measurements, this part sets out methods which involve testing how people perform when using the display. The method can be used with any display technology.
	ISO 9241 – 305: 2008 Optical laboratory test methods for electronic visual displays Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Defines optical test methods and expert observation techniques for evaluating a visual display against the requirements in ISO 9241-303. Very detailed instructions on taking display measurements.
	ISO 9241 – 306: 2008 Field assessment methods for electronic visual displays Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Provides guidance on how to evaluate visual displays in real life workplaces.
	ISO 9241-307: 2008 Analysis and compliance test methods for electronic visual displays Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Supports ISO 9241-305 with very detailed instructions on assessing whether a display meets the ergonomics requirements set out in part 303.
	ISO/TR 9241- 308: 2008 Surface-conduction electron-emitter displays (SED) This standard is not yet available on line.	Technical report on a new eco friendly display technology called "Surface-Conduction Electron-Emitter Displays" (SED).
	ISO/TR 9241- 309: 2008 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays This standard is not yet available on line.	Technical report on another new display technology called "Organic Light Emitting Diode Displays" (OLED) which are better for fast moving images than LCDs.
	ISO 9241-12:1998 Presentation of information Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part contains specific recommendations for presenting and representing information on visual displays. It includes guidance on ways of representing complex information using alphanumeric and graphical/symbolic codes, screen layout, and design as well as the use of windows.
Designing or selecting keyboards and other input devices	ISO 9241-4:1998 Keyboard requirements. (some clauses in this standard have been superseded by ISO 9241-400 and ISO 9241-410 Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part specifies the ergonomics design characteristics of an alphanumeric keyboard which may be used comfortably, safely and efficiently to perform office tasks.
	ISO 9241-400:2007 Principles and requirements for physical input devices Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Sets out the general ergonomics principles and requirements which should be taken into account when designing or selecting physical input devices.
	ISO 9241-410:2008 Design criteria for physical input devices (supersedes ISO 9241-9: 1998) Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Describes ergonomics characteristics for input devices, including keyboards, mice, pucks, joysticks, trackballs, touchpads, tablets, styli and touch sensitive screens. The standard is aimed at those who designing such devices and is very detailed.
Designing workplaces for display screen users	ISO 9241-5:1998 Workstation layout and postural requirements Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part specifies the ergonomics requirements for a Visual Display Terminal workplace which will allow the user to adopt a comfortable and efficient posture.
	ISO 9241-6:1998 Guidance on the work environment. Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part specifies the ergonomics requirements for the Visual Display Terminal working environment which will provide the user with comfortable, safe and productive working conditions.
Supporting and training users	ISO 9241-13:1998 User guidance Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	This part provides recommendations for the design and evaluation of user guidance attributes of software user interfaces including Prompts, Feedback, Status, On-line Help and Error Management.
Designing jobs and tasks	ISO 9241-2:1992 Guidance on task requirements Click on the link to buy this standard from BSI	Deals with the design of tasks and jobs involving work with visual display terminals. It provides guidance on how task requirements may be identified and specified within individual organizations and how task requirements can be incorporated into the system design and implementation process.