ISO work in the field of eAccessibility – An Overview 12th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP) Vienna, Austria 14 July 2010 Reinhard Weissinger Manager, Research, Education and Strategy ISO Central Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland Outline of the presentation ISO and the ISO system Accessibility work in ISO: ‒ ISO/IEC Policy Statement 2000 ‒ Basics: ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001 & ISO/TR 22411:2008 eAccessibility ‒ Human-system interaction etc. (ISO/TC 159) ‒ User interface design, e-learning etc. (ISO/IEC JTC 1) ‒ Other work ISO/IEC/ITU Workshop, Geneva, 3-4 November 2010 Conclusions The ISO System 162 national members 98% of world GNI 97% of world population As of 1 June 2010 1 038 standards produced in 2009 Collection of 18 083 ISO Standards 195 active TCs 3 238 technical bodies 50 000 experts • IT tools • Standards development procedures • Consensus building • Dissemination Over 4200 current standards projects Central Secretariat in Geneva 153 FTE staff Distribution of ISO members per continent (as of 1 June 2010) MB distribution per continent MB+MC+MS distribution per continent 29 44 17 28 38 19 3 Total: 106 (95 in 2003) 43 43 Oceania Europe Americas Africa Asia 4 Total: 162 (147 in 2003) ISO’s international network WTO : TBT, SPS and GATS (services) agreements UN and UN agencies: CODEX, ILO, IMO, ITC, UN/ECE, UNIDO, WHO, WTO-OMT 591 liaisons with international organizations in technical work Links with six regional bodies (ACCSQ, AIDMO, ARSO, CEN, COPANT, EASC) and PASC Economic actors: Accreditation: IAF and ILAC, Consumers International, ICC, IFAN, World Economic Forum, etc… Working definitions accessibility usability of a product, service, environment or facility by people with the widest range of capabilities eAccessibility design of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services so that they can be used by people with disabilities, whether of a permanent or temporary nature, and by older people with age-related changes in functional capacities ISO/IEC Guide 71: Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities Before Guide 71: Standards on assistive technology (wheelchairs, walking aids, etc. – ISO/TC 173), built environment (ISO/TC 59), packaging (ISO/TC 122) etc. ISO/IEC Policy Statement 2000 – Addressing the needs of older persons and people with disabilities in standardization work Guide 71: First ISO document addressing accessibility and usability of products and services in a generic manner and as with general design concerns Primarily intended for use by standards developers ISO/IEC Guide 71: Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities – Key content Process: Describes a process to address accessibility needs during standards development Accessibility and standards content: Typical structure of a standard and mapping to accessibility factors Defines a set of 22 accessibility factors to be considered Classifies human abilities and describes the consequences of impairment on the basis of ‒ ‒ ‒ ‒ Sensory abilities Physical abilities Cognitive abilities Allergies ISO/IEC Guide 71: 22 Accessibility factors Alternative formats Expiration date marking Location and layout of information and controls and positioning of handles Content labelling and warnings of allergens Light levels and glare Surface temperature Colour and contrast Accessible routes Size and style of fonts and symbols Logical process Clear language Surface finish Graphical symbols and illustrations Non-allergenic/toxic materials Loudness and pitch of non-spoken communication Acoustics Slow pace of information presentation Fail-safe Distinctive from of product, control or packaging Ventilation Ease of handling Fire safety of materials ISO/IEC Guide 71: Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities Guide 71 gives only general and qualitative guidance, but no measureable criteria or reference data Was adopted as CEN/CENELEC Guide 6 ISO/TR 22411: Ergonomics data and guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71 [ISO/TC 159 - Ergonomics] ISO/Technical Report 22411: Built on the structure of Guide 71 and fully compatible. Gives details and quantitative reference data on how to implement Guide 71 Guide 71: Alternatives to visual information ISO/TC 159 Ergonomics Advisory Group on Accessible Design (AGAD) Standards and ongoing work in the areas of: Ergonomics of human-system interaction Human-centred design principles Software individualization and software ergononmics User interfaces Accessibility guidelines for equipment, software and ICT services ISO/IEC JTC 1 Information technology Special Working Group on Accessibility(SWG-A) Has produced an analysis and inventory of eAccessibility standards in ISO and beyond Standards and ongoing work in the areas of: User interface design Interoperability with Assistive technology Cultural & linguistic adaptability in IT products Icons & symbols in software products Accessibility functions for personal computers Office equipment accessibility guidelines for elderly persons and persons with disabilities E-learning: • “Access for all” personal needs and preferences • Individualized adaptability and accessibility in elearning, education and training Some other ISO committees related to eAccessibility ISO/TC 145 Graphical symbols Symbols of all types and applications ISO/TC 37 Terminology and other language and content resources Ongoing discussion to work on specialized languages, e.g. Bliss eAccessibility-related standards in ISO (see inventory in: ISO/IEC TR 29138-2:2009) Committee Committee titles No. of standards (in descending order) ISO/TC 159/SC 4 Ergonomics/ Ergonomics of humansystem interaction 59 JTC 1/SC 35 Information technology/User interfaces 40 ISO/TC 159/SC 3 Ergonomics/Anthropometry and biomechanics 12 JTC 1/SC 36 Information technology/Information technology for learning, education and training 8 ISO/TC 159 & SC 1 / 5 Ergonomics/General ergonomic principles / Ergonomics of the physical environment 12 JTC 1/SC 7 / 28 / 29 Information technology/Software and software engineering / Office equipment / Coding of audio, opicture, multimedia and hypermedia information 10 ISO/TC 145/SC 3 Graphical symbols/Graphical symbols for use on equipment 1 Total 142 Some key documents ISO/IEC Guide 71:2001: Guidelines for standards developers to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities ISO/TR 22411:2008: Ergonomics data and guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71 to products and services to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities ISO/IEC TR 29138-1:2009: Information technology – Accessibility for people with disabilities – Part 1: User needs summary ISO/IEC TR 29138-2:2009: Information technology – Accessibility for people with disabilities – Part 2: Standards inventory ISO/IEC TR 29138-3:2009: Information technology – Accessibility for people with disabilities – Part 3: Guidance on user needs mapping Challenges Accessibility is an important topic for ISO, but it is not yet in the mainstream of standards development Not enough product standards take into account accessibility aspects ISO/IEC/ITU Workshop -- Contribution of International Standard to Accessibility, 3-4 Nov. 2010, Geneva 3 key topics to be addressed: - Accessibility and everyday products - Accessibility and buildings - eAccessibility and eInclusion (Accessibility in Information and Telecommunication) Multi-stakeholder workshop Road map for future accessibility work in ISO, IEC and ITU ISO/IEC/ITU Workshop - Structure 3 November 2010 Plenary Introduction and Key notes Accessibility in: Break-out groups Everyday products Buildings eAccessibility 4 November 2010 Accessibility in: Break-out groups Everyday products Buildings eAccessibility Afternoon Plenary Reports of the three groups to the plenary & Discussion of findings Plenary Summary and conclusions Conclusions ISO standards result from an open process and present a consensus between key stakeholders, countries and many international organizations ISO standards are widely used and often adopted as national standards By reference in legislation, ISO standards provide technical requirements that become elements of legal frameworks ISO, with its partners IEC and ITU, moves towards further strengthening its engagement in accessibility Invitation to participate in the ISO/IEC/ITU-workshop on “Accessibility and the contribution of International Standards” in Geneva in November 2010 THANK YOU ! www.iso.org