ISO 9241-151:2008 Ergonomics of human-system interaction – part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web user interfaces

Summary

Usability is crucial for successful website design, but until now, no international standard specifically addressed Web user interfaces. Web interfaces face unique usability challenges due to the diversity of users, varying user goals, and differences in how browsers render content. Inconsistencies within and between websites complicate user experiences. Although many guidelines exist, they often conflict and are hard to implement.

ISO 9241 provides ergonomic guidance for software interfaces, but it didn’t specifically target Web interfaces. The revised ISO 9241 series, “Ergonomics of human-system interaction,” now includes standards for Web content design, navigation, interaction, and presentation, while excluding technical implementations. It aims to make Web interfaces accessible to a broad range of users, including those with disabilities, but does not comprehensively cover accessibility.

ISO 9241’s restructuring broadens its scope and aligns with Technical Committee ISO/TC 159, SC 4. The series is divided into subparts: the 100 series for software interfaces, 200 for human-centered design, 300 for visual displays, 400 for physical input devices, and more. This structure aims to provide comprehensive and practical usability standards for various human-system interactions.