ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 17549-1
First edition
2022-05
Information technology — User
interface requirements and
recommendations on menu
navigation —
Part 1:
Framework
Technologies de l'information — Exigences et recommandations
d’interface portant sur la navigation dans les menus —
Partie 1: Cadre
Reference number
ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
© ISO/IEC 2022

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ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
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© ISO/IEC 2022
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Published in Switzerland
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ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conformance . 2
5 Framework of the ISO/IEC 17549 series . 2
5.1 Software interfaces . 2
5.2 Menus heterogeneity . 2
5.2.1 Manipulation of menus . 2
5.2.2 Several menus on different devices . 3
5.2.3 Same menu for different users . 3
5.2.4 Hardware interfaces (devices) . 3
5.3 Menu accessibility . . 3
5.3.1 General requirements . 3
5.3.2 Cognitive aspect . 3
5.3.3 Perceptual aspect . 4
5.3.4 Motor and speech ability aspect . 4
5.4 Displays and commands coherency . 4
5.4.1 Global coherency . 4
5.4.2 Coherency between interface rendering and navigation commands . 5
5.4.3 Horizontally displayed menus . . 5
5.4.4 Vertically displayed items . 6
5.4.5 Items horizontally organized in a tile menu . 6
5.4.6 Items vertically organized in a tile menu . 7
5.5 Interface action means . 8
5.5.1 Minimal requirement about interface action means . 8
5.5.2 Direct action (pointing, gesture shortcut, key shortcut, vocal shortcut) . 8
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ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance
are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria
needed for the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in
accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or
www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents) or the IEC
list of patent declarations received (see https://patents.iec.ch).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html. In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 17549 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.
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ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
Introduction
Menus are frequently used for human–machine interface navigation of functions and contents. But
many different types of menus exist and many different manipulation procedures occur. Such a variety
of procedures often disturbs the user.
Menus and associated means of action should offer users an easy and continuous ergonomics experience.
The ISO/IEC 17549 series defines menu navigation logic associated to a set of directional devices. It
provides descriptions of functions for supporting navigation and activation.
The ISO/IEC 17549 series consists of three parts:
— This document provides an overview of the design of navigation methods based upon menu selection
for human–machine interfaces. It provides a framework of the “menu” user-interface element to
help design an effective, efficient and satisfactory interactive system.
— ISO/IEC 17549-2, provides guidelines on the design of navigation methods for selection menus with
use of a 4-direction device. It also provides recommendations for parameters to display screen
settings, character sets and languages in use.
— ISO/IEC 17549-3 provides requirements and recommendations on the design of navigation
methods for selection menus with use of a 1-direction device. It also provides recommendations for
parameters to display screen settings, character sets and languages in use.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
Information technology — User interface requirements
and recommendations on menu navigation —
Part 1:
Framework
1 Scope
This document provides a framework for the ISO/IEC 17549 series describing user interface guidelines
on menu navigation. It specifies requirements and recommendations on how to design usable and
consistent navigation through the interface component called a “menu”. This document specifies how to
select and validate elements displayed on menus.
This document covers design-consistent navigation inside menus. It does not include testing or
organization of menus.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
navigation command
action means that enables the user to operate navigation function(s), such as selecting the next item,
the previous one, activating the focused item, or going back in the menu hierarchy
Note 1 to entry: It can be operated through a key press, a gesture, a vocal command, a click on a pointed item.
3.2
direct action command
action means that enables the user to operate navigation or activation function(s) directly through a
shortcut
Note 1 to entry: It can be operated through a key press, a gesture, a vocal command, a click on a pointed item.
3.3
menu
set of selectable options giving access to objects or actions
Note 1 to entry: A menu primarily provides access to functions and/or specified locations within an interactive
system.
Note 2 to entry: A menu can be displayed vertically and/or horizontally.
Note 3 to entry: A menu can be in a loop.
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ISO/IEC 17549-1:2022(E)
Note 4 to entry: A menu can be visually displayed, audibly played and/or displayed in a tactile manner.
3.4
ladder menu
set of options displayed vertically or horizontally
3.5
tile menu
set of options displayed with a number of rows and columns, one of which is to be selected
3.6
tab menu
set of options displayed vertically or horizontally enabling the sublevel of the selected tab to be
displayed at the same time
3.7
drop-down menu
set of options displayed that can be coiled or uncoiled vertically and/or horizontally
Note 1 to entry: It needs to be manipulated continuously in order to be displayed.
3.8
contextual menu
set of options displayed vertically or horizontally that are contextualized to the pointing or focus area
3.9
pie menu
set of options displayed in a circle
4 Conformance
A menu is in conformance with this document if it meets the requirements of Clause 5.
5 Framework of the ISO/IEC 17549 series
5.1 Software interfaces
Interface objects that are addressed in the ISO/IEC 17549 series are menus. Most menus are explored
as ladder menus, tabs menus, pie menus, tile menus, drop-down menus or contextual menus.
Menus are the main component of human–machine interaction. They are useful for freeing screen
space, as an alternative to place functionality in buttons or other user controls in the content area of
the application. Menus provide a means for performing operations and for navigating to other parts of
the application or even to other applications. A menu is a list of items; several menus are hierarchical
trees of item lists. Navigation inside such menus depends upon available device keys and the kind of
operating system used.
This document focuses on guidelines regarding the design of navigation menus, taking into account
coherency and adequate adjustment between commands and displays.
5.2 Menus heterogeneity
5.2.1 Manipulation of menus
There are various ways to manipulate menus and it can be a source of trouble for some users.
Sometimes, the device includes several ways to manipulate similar menus through several input
peripherals. The options of a ladder menu can be directly pointed at with a mouse or on a touchscreen
and can also be selected from the
...