Thread Subject: ISO Standards Related to Documentation

From: Lybarger, Barbara (MOD)
Date: Fri, Dec 08 2006 2:35 PM

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In looking for the ISO references to Documentation, I found three
references.

First, the good news. The working draft of ISO Standards available at:
http://teitac.org/docs/9241-20dis.doc
<http://teitac.org/docs/9241-20dis.doc> includes two sections relevant
to documentation and support. They are:

Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 20; Accessibility
guidelines for information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and
services, ISO/CD 9241-20 2006-02-10

6.4.17 Information disclosure

Information about the accessibility of ICT equipment or services
should be available in formats that can be used by people with widest
range of capabilities.

NOTE When users are purchasing and using ICT equipment
and services, it is important that they have information that is readily
available about the accessibility of the ICT equipment and/or service so
they can determine if it meets their needs.


6.4.18 User guidance

a) User guidance should be as accessible as other ICT
equipment and service functions.

b) Where possible information about the range of
contexts of use for which the ICT equipment or service is designed
should be included in the on-line help of the equipment or service.

c) Where it is not possible to include information about
the range of contexts of use for which the ICT equipment or service is
designed in the on-line help, then this information should be provided
in the printed and other forms of documentation for the equipment or
service.

NOTE User guidance includes: prompts, feedback, status
information, error management, and on-line help. ISO 9241-13 makes
recommendations on user guidance.


Second, the bad news -- What appears to be the detailed references cost
about $19,900.

*
"Guidelines for the documentation of computer-based application
systems" - ISO-IEC 6592, is a major document of several hundred pages
is not available in the public domain and cost (120,00 CHF, roughly
$9,900).
*
The working draft above makes reference to ISO 9241-13
"Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals
(VDTs) -- Part 13: User guidance, which may also be of use" (also 120,00
CHF, or $9,900).

I've checked the usual free sources and the IT sources in Massachusetts
government -- no one has them. I've also e-mailed the Access Board
staff to see if they can help. My director wouldn't be thrilled to just
get me copies :). So if any one has a copy of either of these ISO
standard and can check if they say anything relevant to the
subcommittee's work, or if anyone has any other ideas about how to get
at the standards, please advise.

Barbara E. Lybarger, General Counsel
Massachusetts Office on Disability
One Ashburton Place, #1305
Boston, MA 02108
[617] 727-7440
[800] 322-2020
[617] 727-0965 FAX

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