ISO/IEC 9995-1:1994

INTERNATIONAL ISOJIEC
STANDARD
9995-l
First edition
1994-08-I 5
Information technology - Keyboard
layouts for text and office systems -
Part 1:
General principles governing keyboard layouts
Technologies de I’in forma tion - Disposition des claviers conGus pour la
bureautique -
Partie I: Principes g&Waux pour la disposition des claviers
Reference number
SO/I EC 9995-l : 1994(E)

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ISO/IEC 9995-l : 1994(E)
Contents
Page
Scope . 1
Conformance . 1
Normative reference . 2
Definitions . 2
Divisions of the keyboard . 3
Requirements . . 4
Key position numbering system . 5
General principles of key labelling and symbol positioning . 9
Key arrangement and distances .
10
Annex
11
A List of standards replaced (partly or entirely) by this standard
0 ISO/IEC 1994
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
lSO/l EC Copyright Off ice l Case Postale 56 l CH-1211 Geneve 20 l Switzerland
Printed in Switzerland
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0 lSO/IEC
ISO/IEC 99951:1994(E)
Foreword
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the Inter-
national Electrotechnical Commission) form the specialized system for
worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of IS0 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. IS0 and IEC technical com-
mittees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organ-
izations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with IS0 and IEC,
also take part in the work.
In the field of information technology, IS0 and IEC have established a joint
technical committee, lSO/IEC JTC 1. Draft International Standards adopted
by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for vot-
ing. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least
75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
International Standard lSO/IEC 9995-l was prepared by Joint Technical
Committee lSO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, Subcommittee SC 18,
Document processing and related communication.
This first edition supersedes all or part of
IS0 1090:1981
IS0 1091: 1977
IS0 1092:1974
IS0 1093:1981
IS0 2126:1975
IS0 2530: 1975
IS0 3243:1975
IS0 3244: 1984
IS0 4169:1979
IS0 8884: 1989.
For complete details, see annex A of this part of lSO/IEC 9995.
lSO/IEC 9995 consists of the following parts, under the general title In-
- Keyboard layouts for text and office systems:
formation technology
- Part 1: General principles governing keyboard layouts
- Part 2: Alphanumeric section
. . .
III

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0 ISOIIEC
ISO/IEC 9995=1:1994(E)
- Part 3: Complementary layouts of the alphanumeric zone of the al-
phanumeric section
- Part 4: Numeric section
- Part 5: Editing section
- Part 6: Function section
- Part 7: Symbols used to represent functions
- Part 8: Allocation of letters to the keys of a numeric keypad
Annex A of this part of lSO/IEC 9995 is for information only.
iv
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1
0 ISO/IEC
ISO/IEC 9995=1:1994(E)
Introduction
In the years prior to the existence of lSO/IEC 9995 the keyboard layout
of information technology equipment (ITE) such as personal computers,
workstations, and computer terminals was determined by standards which
were originally intended for typewriters, adding machines and the like.
This led to the fact that designers of office machine keyboards had to
choose from the sometimes inconsistent standards, which in turn led to
the existence of widely dissimilar keyboard layouts.
lSO/IEC 9995 defines a framework for the layout of keyboards for ITE. The
functions to be performed by keyboards are grouped into four categories
that correspond to the four physical sections of the keyboard.
Application of lSO/IEC 9995 in the design of keyboards will provide the
user with a unified, predictable interface between the user and office
machines by dividing the keyboard into functional areas and sections and
allocating functions to keys. One of the major tasks is to accommodate the
larger and/or multiple sets of characters required by the various appli-
cations for which keyboards are used today. This was achieved by per-
mitting the allocation of more than one graphic character or control
function to each of the keys of a keyboard, predominantly in the alphanu-
meric section.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD 0 IWIEC
ISO/IEC 9995=1:1994(E)
Information technology - Keyboard layouts for text
and office systems -
Part 1:
General principles governing keyboard layouts
The primary layout within the alphanumeric zone is
1 Scope
established in most countries by a national standard
or by national usage. Allocation guidelines are pro-
lSO/IEC 9995 specifies various characteristics of key-
vided in lSO/IEC 9995-2. Complementary layouts are
boards used by ITE e.g.
specified in lSO/l EC 9995-3.
a) personal computers, workstations, computer ter-
This part of lSO/IEC 9995 defines characteristics re-
minals, VDTs (visual display terminals), type-
lated to interface 1 in figure 1.
writers, etc, having an alphanumeric keyboard;
lSO/IEC 9995 specifies the allocation of functions
b) calculators, telephones and automated teller ma- (graphic characters and/or control functions) to keys.
The graphic characters and the control functions have
chines having a numeric keypad.
been given common names intended to be familiar to
the users of a keyboard. In general, keyboards are not
The keyboard defined in lSO/IEC 9995 is the conven-
tional linear keyboard, which is physically divided into expected to generate coded control functions, but the
sections and the sections into zones within which the operation of a control function key may cause a num-
keys are laid out. ber of coded control functions to appear in data inter-
change to achieve the desired effect.
In this part of lSO/IEC 9995, the sections of the key-
The effects of those keys that affect keyboard states
board are identified and the general shape and relative
are specified in other parts of lSO/IEC 9995.
placement of the sections are specified. Spacing of
keys and physical characteristics are covered in this
part of lSO/IEC 9995 as are the principles governing
2 Conformance
the placement of characters and symbols on keys.
2.1 Conformance with part 1
This part of ISO/IEC 9995 specifies a key numbering
system which applies to all types of numeric, alpha-
Equipment is in conformance with lSO/IEC 9995-l if
numeric and composite keyboards of ITE.
it meets the requirements of clauses 5 to 9. Depend-
ing on the intended purpose of the equipment not all
This part of lSO/IEC 9995 specifies the principles
of the described sections and zones need to be im-
governing the placement of characters and symbols
plemented.
on keys used on all types of numeric, alphanumeric
and composite keyboards of ITE. Although the key-
board defined by lSO/IEC 9995 may be used for dif-
2.2 General conformance requirement
ferent languages, the specifications are written as
applying to Latin languages with a character path from
A keyboard which claims conformance with
left to right and a line progression from top to bottom. lSO/IEC 9995 shall at minimum conform to this part
1

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ISO/IEC 9995-l :1994(E) Q lSO/IEC
of lSO/IEC 9995 and to all other parts which are rel- form exists. National standards or usage may deter-
evant to that particular model of keyboard. mine which graphic characters are affected by this
state.
Conformance to lSO/IEC 9995-7 does not require
conformance to any other part of lSO/IEC 9995.
4.4 control function: An action that affects the re-
cording, processing, transmission, or interpretation of
Conformance to lSO/IEC 9995-8 does not require
data.
conformance to any other part of lSO/IEC 9995.
4.5 function key: A key whose primary purpose is
23 . Claims of conformance
the input of a control function. Function keys are
found in all sections of the keyboard.
Any claim of conformance with lSO/IEC 9995 shall list
the parts of lSO/IEC 9995 to which conformance is
4.6 graphic character: A character, other than a
claimed.
control function, that has a visual representation
normally handwritten, printed or displayed.
3 Normative reference
4.7 graphic key: A key whose primary purpose is
the input of a graphic character or of an element of a
The following standard contains provisions which,
graphic character. Certain of these keys may also
through reference in this text, constitute provisions
have a secondary purpose for input of a control func-
of this part of lSO/IEC 9995. At the time of publi-
tion.
cation, the edition indicated was valid. All standards
are subject to revision, and parties to agreements
4.8 graphic symbol: A visual representation of a
based on this part of lSO/IEC 9995 are encouraged to
graphic character, a control function, or a combination
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent
of one or more graphic characters and/or control
edition of the standard indicated below. Members of
functions.
IEC and IS0 maintain registers of currently valid In-
ternational Standards.
4.9 group: A logical state of a keyboard providing
IS0 9241-4:--J’,
Ergonomic requirements for office
access to a collection of graphic characters or el-
work with visual display terminals (VDTs) - Part 4:
ements of graphic characters. Usually these graphic
Keyboard requirements.
characters or elements of graphic characters logically
belong together and may be arranged on several
levels within a group. The input of certain graphic
4 Definitions
characters, such as accented letters, may require ac-
cess to more than one group.
For the purposes of this part of lSO/IEC 9995, the
following definitions apply.
4.10 group select: A function that, if activated, will
change the keyboard state to produce characters from
4.1 active position: The character position which is
a different group.
to image the graphic symbol representing the next
graphic character or relative to which the next control
4.11 key effect: The effect that results when a key
function is to be executed.
is actuated, depending on the level in force, and
possibly by the concurrent operation of a qualifier key
NOTE 1 In general, the active position is indicated in a
or keys. The key effect may be the generation of a
display by a cursor.
graphic character or of a control function.
4.2 associated system: The system to which the
keyboard is attached, probably consisting of a
4.12 level: A logical state of a keyboard providing
processor and software to handle the keyboard and
access to a collection of graphic characters or el-
to run application programs. ements of graphic characters. Usually these graphic
characters or elements of graphic characters logically
4.3 capitals lock state: A state that, if activated,
belong together, such as the capital forms of letters
will result in the generation of the capital form of all In certain cases the level selected may also affect
graphic characters on the keyboard for which such a function keys.
1) To be published.
2

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0 lSO/IEC
ISO/IEC 9995-l : 1994(E)
4.13 level select: A function that, if activated, will and an information processing system. The keyboard
change the keyboard state to produce characters from is specifically intended as a means for input of infor-
a different level. mation by a human being, see figure 1.
Simply stated, the keyboard functions as follows:
4.14 level lock state: A state that, if activated, will
result in the generation of the characters assigned to
the user actuates one or more keys (event at
a specific level.
interface 1)
4.15 lock state: The state set by actuating a lock
corresponding signals are sent to the information
key, singly or in combination with a qualifier key.
processing system (event at interface 2)
4.16 primary group layout: The allocation of the
t-or the purpose of this International Standard the
graphic characters of group 1 to the keys of a par-
keyboard is considered to be divided logically into
ticular keyboard, defined by a national standard or es-
groups and levels and physically into sections and
tablished by common usage in a particular country or
zones.
group of countries.
4.17 qualifier key: A key the operation of which has
5.1 Logical division of keyboard into groups
no immediate effect, but which, for as long as it is
and levels
actuated, modifies the effect of other keys. A qualifier
key may be, for example, a level select key or a con-
The graphic characters or control functions which may
trol key.
be accessed by one key are logically arranged in
groups and levels. The traditional shift function has
4.18 secondary group layout: The allocation of the
been extended to permit access to these different
graphic characters of group 2 to the keys of a par-
groups and levels. The selection among the available
ticular keyboard.
groups and levels is controlled by the user by means
of one or more select mechanisms (see table I).
4.19 section: A block of keys, mostly with some
functional relationship.
Two kinds of select mechanisms are recognized here:
4.20 zone: A part of a keyboard section defined in
- Group select: enables selection among groups
ISO/I EC 9995.
- Level select: enables selection among levels
5 Divisions of the keyboard
The two functions can apply simultaneously. In a hi-
For the purpose of this standard the keyboard is con- erarchical sense the group is higher than the level;
sidered as an intermediate element between a user within a group several levels may be defined.
Not drawn to scale - all lines are only indicative
w--
Associated
USER
system
Interface I Interface 2
Figure 1 - Keyboard interfaces
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0 lSO/IEC
ISO/IEC 9995=1:1994(E)
5.2 Physical division of keyboard into
- Logical division into groups and levels
Table 1
sections and zones
Active Group
This subclause introduces the concept of sections and
Group Select Level Select
and Level
r-
zones. The details of sections and zones are defined
in subsequent parts of lSO/IEC 9995.
None None Group 1, Level 1
I I I
The various functions that can be performed by a
(default = Group 1) Level 2 select Group 1, Level 2
keyboard are grouped into four categories, arranged
Level 3 select Group 1, Level 3
in four keyboard sections as follows:
Yes None Group n, Level 1
- alphanumeric section, zones ZAO - ZA4;
(To group n) Level 2 select Group n, Level 2
I I I
- editing section, zones ZEO - ZE2;
Level 3 select Group n, Level 3
I I
- function section, zones ZFO - ZF4;
Groups are likely to contain complete or distinctive
- numeric section, zones ZNO - ZN6.
sets of functions. A keyboard could have any number
Each of the sections may be regarded as consisting
of groups, practicality of use being a limiting factor.
of a central core (zone 0) surrounded by other zones
which may be used for supporting function keys or
Within each group, functions (graphic characters
other related keys.
and/or control functions) are arranged on up to three
levels.
In figure2 the general arrangement of sections and
zones is shown.
Groups beyond group 1 are accessed via a group se
...