international standards in usability and user-centred design
Usability and user-centred design standards can be divided up
into three main categories:
- The product development process
- The use of a product (how well users perform when using it
and how satisfied they are when using it)
- The design of the user interface and interaction
1. The main standard affecting the product development process
is ISO 13407: Human-centred design processes for interactive
systems. This standard provides guidance on human-centred
design activities throughout the life cycle of interactive computer-based
systems. It is a tool for those managing design processes and provides
guidance on the human-centred approach.
The standard outlines four essential user-centred design activities:
- understand and specify the context of use
- specify the user and organisational requirements
- produce designs and prototypes
- carry out user-based assessment
The activities are carried out in an iterative fashion, with the
cycle being repeated until the particular usability objectives have
been attained. The recommended process is shown below:
UsabilityNet recommends the usability
methods that should be used during this process.
2. The main standard dealing with product usage characteristics
is ISO 9241:
Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals,
11, which provides guidance on usability and the definition
Usability: the 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 explains how to identify the information that is necessary
to take into account when specifying or evaluating usability in
terms of measures of user performance and satisfaction. It includes
an explanation of how the usability of a product can be specified
and evaluated as part of a quality system, for example, one that
conforms to ISO 9001. 3.
3. The main standard for design of the user interface and interaction
is ISO 9241. Parts 12-17 provide detailed guidance on the design
of user interfaces.
The tools and methods section has a complete
list of standards related to usability.
Where to get international standards
ISO standards have to be purchased. They can be obtained direct
or from a national
standards body (including BSI:
British Standards Institute and ANSI:
American National Standards Institute). NSSN:
A National Resource for Global Standards also has a comprehensive
list of standards, some of which can be purchased as pdf files.