ISO/IEC 11581-7:2024

International
Standard
ISO/IEC 11581-7
First edition
Information technology — User
2024-09
interface icons —
Part 7:
Icons for setting interaction modes
Technologies de l'information — Icônes d'interface utilisateur —
Partie 7: Icônes utilisées pour régler les modes d'interaction
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2024
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© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conformance . 2
5 Icons to indicate that accessibility is taken into account . 2
5.1 Accessibility icon .2
5.2 Icons for system generic optimizations .3
5.2.1 Generic icons .3
5.2.2 Common rules for generic icon design .3
5.2.3 Visual or audio perception optimizations .4
5.2.4 Manipulation or tactile optimization, or both .5
5.2.5 Understanding optimizations .6
5.2.6 Speech optimization .6
5.3 Icons for system preset usage modes and settings .7
5.3.1 Specific icons .7
5.3.2 Common rules for specific icon design .7
5.3.3 Specific icons for usage modes . .7
5.3.4 Specific icons for system output settings (display, vibration and vocalization) . 12
5.3.5 Specific icons for system input settings .14
5.3.6 Specific icons for specific content settings .16
5.3.7 Specific icons for communication modes .17
Bibliography . 19

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
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The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
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IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
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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 11581 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
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.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Many different user needs exist and many interaction modes have to respond to those needs. There is a need
to represent these interaction modes with icons. They can be used to indicate to a user which modes are
available to access the system and even which kind of adapted parameters a user can find inside the system.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
v
International Standard ISO/IEC 11581-7:2024(en)
Information technology — User interface icons —
Part 7:
Icons for setting interaction modes
1 Scope
This document provides requirements for the icons that are suitable for setting up interaction modes in all
kinds of devices. It gives guidance about their purpose, their function, and how they are designed in order to
be usable.
This document specifies two sets of icons:
a) icons that deal with global constraints that are taken into account by the product or service;
b) icons that are oriented to more specific functions.
Each icon is illustrated through a glyph, name, description and function.
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
accessibility
extent to which products, systems, services, environments and facilities can be used by people from a
population with the widest range of characteristics and capabilities to achieve a specified goal in a specified
context of use
Note 1 to entry: Context of use includes direct use or use supported by assistive technologies.
[SOURCE: ISO 9241-112:2017, 3.15]
3.2
icon
visual icon
user interface visual symbol representing either an object or a function, or both, of the computer system
Note 1 to entry: Within this part of ISO/IEC 11581, "icon" is also used to refer to the function or object represented
by the user interface symbol. An icon, which is generally rendered using an identifiable user interface symbol, is
much more than just a user interface symbol, it also includes functionality (either as the object it represents or as the
function that it represents).
© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Note 2 to entry: The concept of a symbol is used in the most generic of senses and can be rendered in various modalities.
Some renderings of these user interface symbols include: visual (graphical) icons, auditory icons, and tactile icons.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 11581-10:2010, 3.4, modified — Visual icon added as term, "visual" added to definition,
Note 2 to entry adjusted.]
3.3
earcon
auditory icon
user interface audio symbol representing either an object or a function of the computer system (feedforward
or feedback), or both
EXAMPLE 1 An earcon can be a "click" sound representing a click achievement on a button.
EXAMPLE 2 An earcon can be a "coins" sound representing a payment function.
3.4
graphical symbol
visually perceptible figure with a particular meaning used to transmit information independently of
language
[SOURCE: ISO 7001:2023, 3.1]
3.5
tacton
tactile icon
user interface tactile symbol representing either an object or a function of the computer system (feedforward
or feedback), or both
Note 1 to entry: A tacton can have several properties as a shape or dynamic properties (vibration).
EXAMPLE 1 A tacton can be a short vibration indicating to user that an item is focused.
EXAMPLE 2 A tacton can be a long vibration indicating to user that an item was activated.
4 Conformance
An icon for setting interaction mode is in conformance with this document if it meets the requirements of
Clause 5.
5 Icons to indicate that accessibility is taken into account
5.1 Accessibility icon
Many user needs exist as detailed in ISO/IEC 29138-1, and several interaction capacities can be available.
From an accessibility point of view, when a user wants to interact with a device, the user first needs to know
if the device takes into account accessibility.
An accessibility icon (design for all / universal design / handicap / assistive technology compliant) shall be
provided either on the packaging, the device or inside the settings, or all (see Table 1).
An iconic representation is an abstract representation of an element, a status or a function. It can be visually,
auditorily or tactilely displayed to the user. Visual icons shall have matching a tacton and earcon.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Table 1 — Accessibility icon
Generic icon Label / description Internal Icon function Icon state Icon Alternative
identifier modality text
1.1 Accessibility icon. Simple indicator Avail= graphic short alt.
Product or service that or navigation AVAILABLE text: Accessi-
takes into account di- function giving bility icon
versity of users. access to accessi-
long alt. text:
bility settings
To indicate the prod- Vitruve man
uct or service as being
optimized for several
perceptive, cognitive and
manipulation constraints.
The user interface
includes either many
parameters or user in-
teraction modes, or both,
that enable many kinds of
users to use it.
To indicate the control for
accessibility settings or
more generally interac-
tion settings (perceptive,
action-oriented and cog-
nitive settings).
NOTE "Accessibility" icon
is licensed under CC0 v1.0
1)
Universal.
5.2 Icons for system generic optimizations
5.2.1 Generic icons
Generic icons can help a user to be aware of product or service capacities to match the user’s abilities in
terms of perception, understanding, access and manipulation. Such icons describe the global constraints
that the product or service takes into account. Those situational constraints are due to user limitation
(unable to hear, to see, to manipulate) or due to system or contextual limitation (too noisy environment, no
screen available, pointing mouse not available). This is a generic level that only expresses that the product or
service is built in order to respond to such constraints.
5.2.2 Common rules for generic icon design
Generic icons shall be in the form of a circle.
Generic icons should have a deep blue background colour without any gradient effect (Figure 1).
Figure 1 — Deep blue generic icon
NOTE 1 Black background and white glyph is acceptable (Figure 2).
1) The CC0 Public Domain Dedication (CC0, or CC Zero) is a public dedication tool, which enables creators to give up
their copyright and put their works into the worldwide public domain. CC0 enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt and
build upon the material in any medium or format, with no conditions.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Figure 2 — Black background and white glyph icon
NOTE 2 White background and blue or dark glyph is acceptable (Figure 3).
Figure 3 — White background and a deep blue or dark glyph icon
Generic icons shall be flat, without any shadow.
Generic icons shall be without depth effect.
Generic icons shall be positive icons without any strikethrough.
5.2.3 Visual or audio perception optimizations
Table 2 provides generic icons for perception optimizations together with respective names and descriptions.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Table 2 — Generic icons for indicating product or service optimizations to visual or audio
perceptive constraints
Generic icons Label / description Internal Icon function Icon state Icon Alternative
identifier modality text
1.2 Product or service Simple indicator Avail= graphic optimized
optimized for vision or navigation AVAILABLE for vision
constraints function leading constraints
to specific vision
To indicate the prod-
constraint func-
uct or service as being
tions.
optimized for vision
constraints.
The user interface
includes a secured ma-
nipulation, vocalization,
Braille display, sequential
navigation, magnification
and colour optimizations.
NOTE "Accessibility icon"
is licensed under CC0 v1.0
Universal.
1.3 Product or service Simple indicator Avail= graphic optimized
optimized for hearing or navigation AVAILABLE for hearing
constraints function leading constraints
to specific hear-
To indicate the prod-
ing constraint
uct or service as being
functions.
optimized for hearing
constraints.
The user interface in-
cludes magnetic loops,
captioning, flash, sign
language or optimized
audio frequency levels.
NOTE 1 “Product
optimized for hearing
constraint” icon is linked
to the graphical sym-
bol defined in ISO 7000
/ IEC 60417-PI AC 015
that indicates "Loop for
hearing impaired" and
to ISO 7001-PI AC 007
that indicates "Hard of
hearing".
NOTE 2 "Product for
hearing constraints" icon
is licensed under CC0 v1.0
Universal.
5.2.4 Manipulation or tactile optimization, or both
Table 3 shows a generic icon for either manipulation or tactile optimization, or both, together with the
respective name and description.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Table 3 — Generic icon for indicating product or service optimization to manipulation constraints
Generic icon Label / description Internal Icon function Icon state Icon Alternative
identifier modality text
1.4 Product or service Simple indicator Avail= graphic optimized for
optimized for either or navigation AVAILABLE manipulation
manipulation or tactile function leading constraints
constraints, or both to either specific or tactile
manipulation or perception
To indicate the prod-
tactile constraint, constraints
uct or service as being
or both functions.
optimized for constraints
manipulation.
The user interface has
specific settings that deal
with limited manipula-
tions, or other kinds of
“manipulation” as gaze
command, gesture com-
mand or vocal command,
or tactile perception
constraints.
NOTE  "Manipulation"
icon is licensed under CC0
v1.0 Universal.
5.2.5 Understanding optimizations
Table 4 shows a generic icon for understanding optimization together with the respective name and
description.
Table 4 — Generic icon for indicating product or service optimization to understanding constraints
Generic icon Label / description Internal Icon function Icon state Icon Alternative
identifier modality text
1.5 Product or service Simple indicator Avail= graphic optimized
optimized for cognition or navigation AVAILABLE for cognition
constraints function leading and mental
to specific cog- constraints
To indicate the prod-
nition constraint
uct or service as being
functions.
optimized for cognitive
constraints (lack of short-
term memory, low IQ,
psycho disease).
The user interface is
simple in use and under-
standable. It has either
optimized wording or
many tips and helps, or
both.
NOTE : "Cognition" icon is
licensed under CC0 v1.0
Universal.
5.2.6 Speech optimization
Table 5 is a generic icon for speech optimization together with respective name and description.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Table 5 — Generic icon for indicating product or service optimization to speech constraints
Generic icon Label / description Internal Icon function Icon state Icon Alternative
identifier modality text
1.6 Product or service Simple indicator Avail= graphic optimized
optimized for speech or navigation AVAILABLE for speech
constraints function leading constraints
to specific speech
To indicate the prod-
constraint func-
uct or service as being
tions.
optimized for speech
impairment.
The user interface has
specific settings that
enable speaking, or
correcting the user voice,
or typing on a keyboard
instead of speaking.
NOTE  "Speech" icon is
licensed under CC0 v1.0
Universal.
5.3 Icons for system preset usage modes and settings
5.3.1 Specific icons
Specific icons can help a user to interact in a way that best suits the specific needs of the user. It enables the
user to be aware of interface capacity to be adapted to the user’s own specific interaction abilities. It can
be centred on specific parameters such as vocalization, tips, language level or on preset parameters called
usage modes. Specific icons describe the specific constraints that are taken into account inside the product
or service and which kinds of solutions solve those constraints at the interface level. They are very specific
in a sense that they are enlightening how the interface is built to facilitate interaction.
Interface can solve audio constraints through tactile and visual enhancements such as captioning or blinking
or vibrations. Interface can solve visual constraints through tactile and audio enhancements such as braille
display or interface vocalization.
5.3.2 Common rules for specific icon design
They should be dark on white background, or white on dark background and should provide a high contrast.
They should be flat, without 3D effect.
5.3.3 Specific icons for usage modes
Table 6 describes accessibility settings and usage interaction modes icons together with respective names
and descriptions.
NOTE A usage interaction mode is a set of predefined settings that are optimized either for some perceptive,
cognitive or motor constraints, or both.

© ISO/IEC 2024 – All rights reserved
Table 6 — Specific icons for indicating accessibility settings
Specific icon Lab
...