ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 11581-2
First edition
2000-04-01
Information technology — User system
interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols
and functions —
Part 2:
Object icons
Technologies de l'information — Interfaces pour système utilisateur et
symboles — Symboles et fonctions d'icônes —
Partie 2: Icônes d'objet
Reference number
ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2000

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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Conformance.1
3 Normative reference .1
4 Terms and definitions .1
5 Conceptual construction of object icons.1
5.1 Metaphor.2
5.2 Function.2
5.3 Abstract object.2
5.4 Generic object.3
5.5 Specific object.3
5.6 Basic units.3
5.7 Components.3
5.8 Graphic .3
5.9 Presented icon .3
6 Object icon requirements and recommendations.4
6.1 Requirements.4
6.1.1 Graphic and function.4
6.1.2 Orientation.4
6.1.3 Opacity.4
6.1.4 Opening an object icon .4
6.1.5 State change.4
6.1.6 Sensitive region .4
6.2 Recommendations.5
6.2.1 Function and graphic .5
6.2.2 Consistent behaviour .5
6.2.3 Metaphor.5
6.2.4 Typeface .5
6.2.5 Visibility .5
6.2.6 Layered object icons .5
7 Icon specifications.5
7.1 Core object icons.6
7.1.1 Document .6
7.1.2 Folder .7
7.1.3 Filing cabinet.8
7.1.4 Mail .9
7.1.5 Printer .12
7.1.6 Telephone.13
7.1.7 Facsimile.14
7.1.8 Diskette .15
7.1.9 Waste paper can .16
7.2 Secondary object icons .17
7.2.1 Accessory object icons.17
7.2.2 System environment object icons .19
Annex A (informative) Minimum information to be given when submitting an icon.25
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
Draft International Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO/IEC 11581 may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO/IEC 11581-2 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information
technology, Subcommittee SC 35, User Interfaces.
ISO/IEC 11581 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology — User system
interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions:
— Part 1: Icons — General
— Part 2: Object icons
— Part 3: Pointer icons
— Part 4: Control icons
— Part 5: Tool icons
— Part 6: Action icons
Annex A of this part of ISO/IEC 11581 is for information only.
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
Introduction
Object icons are a subset of icons that represent the objects making up the domain of a system or application and
that users manipulate in doing their jobs. They are distinguished from other icons by the fact that they mediate user
interactions with software applications, and they may be moved and opened. Object icons are images that
represent functions by using associations with similar physical objects.
Besides representing a function an object icons can sometimes represent a similar physical object. For example a
printer icon image can represent a specific printer, rather than the generic concept of printing.
Figure 1 shows a model relating an icon on the screen, the way it is interpreted by the user, and the application
concept that it represents.
Figure 1 — User interpretation of object icons
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols —
Icon symbols and functions —
Part 2:
Object icons
1 Scope
ISO/IEC 11581 applies to icons that are shown on a screen, that users can manipulate and interact with, and that
represent data, or computer system functions. This part of ISO/IEC 11581 addresses only object icons. “Object
icons” is a term used in ISO/IEC 11581 to describe icons that represent functions by association with an object and
that can be moved and opened. Other types of icons are covered in other parts of the standard that are listed in the
Foreword.
Annex A describes the information to be given when submitting new object icons for inclusion in this part of
ISO/IEC 11581.
2 Conformance
A system, application, or set of one or more icon(s) conforms to this part of ISO/IEC 11581 if all icons available to
the user in the system, application, or set conform to clause 5 and subclause 6.1 of ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000 and all
object icons implemented by the system, application, or set conform to 6.1 of this part of ISO/IEC 11581.
3 Normative reference
The following normative document contains provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO/IEC 11581. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO/IEC 11581 are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of the normative document indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and
functions — Part 1: Icons — General.
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO/IEC 11581, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 11581-1 apply.
5 Conceptual construction of object icons
Figure 2 illustrates the conceptual construction of object icons for this part of ISO/IEC 11581. The framework is
particularly appropriate for developing object icons. It shows how the user interprets an implemented object icon
and deduces its function with the aid of the metaphor. However, if the purpose of the icon is to represent a physical
device (rather than a generic function), the abstract object is not necessarily relevant.
This clause provides descriptions and examples of the elements of the framework as applied to object icons.
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
Figure 2 — Framework used to specify object icons
5.1 Metaphor
An object icon is itself a metaphor for an object in the metaphoric environment. Many of the icons used in this part
of ISO/IEC 11581 reflect the office metaphor.
5.2 Function
When a function can be expressed by a metaphorical object, it can be represented in a graphical user interface by
an object icon that depicts that object. Object icons represent the computer functionality and also have their own
behavioural aspects.
5.3 Abstract object
Examples of abstract objects are:
� things that print and
� means of disposing of unwanted objects.
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
5.4 Generic object
The generic object is a subclass of the abstract object, for example:
� personal computer printer and
� objects used to contain garbage.
5.5 Specific object
The specific object is a specific realization of the generic object, corresponding to a certain physical object, for
example:
� a specific electromechanical printer with paper emerging and
� a specific instance of an object used to contain garbage.
NOTE Only the left-hand example uses the graphic in this part of ISO/IEC 11581.
Figure 3 — Examples of icons based on different specific instances of objects used to contain garbage
5.6 Basic units
Basic units are essential elements of the specific object. Each conceptual basic unit should be a meaningful object
by itself. For example:
� a printer and a sheet of paper and
� a trash can.
5.7 Components
Examples of components are:
� the printer body (rectangular, with the height less than the width, and a central horizontal slot not touching the
sides) and
� a sheet of paper (rectangular, with the height greater than the width, any one corner of the sheet is folded,
forming a triangular shape within the sheet of paper).
5.8 Graphic
The graphical representation of the object that is formed from the components. It is the graphical representation of
the specific instance (see 5.5).
5.9 Presented icon
The graphic object icon as it is displayed on the screen.
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ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000(E)
6 Object icon requirements and recommendations
6.1 Requirements
6.1.1 Graphic and function
If a system or application uses an object icon that has the appearance of the object icon graphic specified in clause
7 of this part of ISO/IEC 11581 within the specific variations given, and within the global variations specified in
ISO/IEC 11581-1, it shall serve the primary function specified in clause 7 of this part of ISO/IEC 11581.
6.1.2 Orientation
Unless otherwise specified all object icons represented in this part of the standard shall be used in the orientation
shown in clause 7. The interpretation of the meaning of an object icon may depend on its orientation and care
should be taken to avoid ambiguity. For example, a representation of an object (such as a folder) that is depicted
upside do
...