The ISO document is intended to provide a road map to software design that takes into account the varying physical and sensory capabilities of users to ensure that it can be used not only by people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive disabilities, but also by the elderly, the temporarily disabled - and by those with no disability at all.
"This standard is part of a series of standards aimed at making systems more usable, in particular, more effective, more efficient and more satisfying for all users - with either permanent or temporary disabilities," said Tom Stewart, Chair of the committee that developed the new standard. "We are not solely concerned with ensuring that users with disabilities are treated the same as other users. We want all users to be able to live and work in harmony with their computer systems."
The new technical specification ISO/TS 16071, "Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Guidance on accessibility for human-computer interfaces," provides guidance on the design of software that is accessible and connects and interacts with supporting tools such as screen readers, Braille displays and screen magnification software.
It is designed to improve the interface between the disabilities of users and the software they use, as well as to make optimal use of resources by incorporating those accessibility features for which there is a clear user requirement into the design early.
For example, increasing the size, contrast and overall visibility of screen displays or integrating features such as oversized monitors or large character display fonts as part of product design can greatly help people with visual problems.
Web sites should be accessible to the disabled, a legal obligation under the UK's Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has drafted standards that overlap with ISO's new software standards.
However, software is generally not caught by the 1995 Act – so while making software accessible to the disabled makes ethical and commercial sense, it is not currently a legal obligation, according to the Disability Rights Commission.
The commercial sense is evidenced by a United Nations statistic: more than half a billion people in the world are disabled as a result of mental, physical or sensory impairment and whose lives, as a consequence, are often limited by physical or social barriers.
ISO/TS 16071 is expected to benefit people with a wide range of disabilities by removing barriers that prevent them from using or getting the best out of software and, in so doing, contributing to their overall effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction.
ISO/TS 16071 can be purchased from the British Standards Institution for £85 (plus £3.70 P&P) or £42.50 for members of BSI. To order, call: +44 (0)208 996 90 00