ISO/IEC TS 20071-41:2026

Technical
Specification
ISO/IEC TS
20071-41
First edition
Information technology — User
2026-03
interface component accessibility —
Part 41:
Design and use of pictograms,
photos, and icons in augmentative
and alternative communication
(AAC)
Technologies de l'information — Accessibilité du composant
interface utilisateur —
Partie 41: Conception et utilisation de pictogrammes, de photos
et d'icônes en communication alternative et améliorée (CAA)
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2026
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© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative References . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conventions . 2
5 Introduction . 2
5.1 AAC .2
5.2 Pictograms .2
5.3 Photos .3
5.4 Icons .3
6 Requirements and recommendations on pictograms for AAC . 4
6.1 Use of pictograms within an AAC .4
6.1.1 The main vocabulary of an AAC .4
6.1.2 Selecting pictograms from a pictogram vocabulary .4
6.2 Design of pictograms for AAC .4
6.2.1 Focus on content .4
6.2.2 Focus on recognition .5
6.2.3 Focus on simplicity .5
6.2.4 Focus on clarity .6
6.2.5 Focus on consistency .7
6.2.6 Focus on respect .7
6.3 Organization of pictograms within a pictogram vocabulary.7
6.3.1 Categories in a pictogram vocabulary .7
6.3.2 Organization within categories in a pictogram vocabulary .8
6.3.3 Customization of pictogram vocabularies .9
6.4 Design of particular types of pictograms .10
6.4.1 Pictograms representing social words / expressions .10
6.4.2 Pictograms involving people .10
6.4.3 Pictograms representing locations .11
6.4.4 Pictograms representing things .11
6.4.5 Pictograms representing time . 12
6.4.6 Pictograms representing abstract concepts . 12
6.4.7 Pictograms representing activities . 13
6.4.8 Pictograms representing actions . 13
6.4.9 Pictograms representing modifiers . 13
7 Requirements and recommendations on photos for AAC . 14
8 Requirements and recommendations on icons for AAC .16
Bibliography .18

© ISO/IEC 2026 – 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
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,
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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).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
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responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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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 20071 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 2026 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) makes use of pictograms and other alternate forms of
communication to serve a variety of users not able to fully use available spoken or written language.
Pictograms, like early forms of writing in some natural languages, provide graphic representations of words
for communication with persons who cannot speak or use the written form of some natural language.
A set of pictograms provides the vocabulary to be used in a graphical language. There are requirements and
recommendations relating to the design and use of individual pictograms and sets of pictograms.
Photographs provide realistic visual representations of particular people, things, and locations. Photos can
be used to supplement a set of pictograms. There are requirements and recommendations relating to the
purpose, structuring, and use of photos to supplement a set of pictograms.
Icons provide control over the functions of a computer system or some application within a computer
system. Icons used by an AAC can come from the computer's operating system or from the AAC itself. There
are requirements and recommendations relating to the consistent use of icons within AAC and relating to
the differentiation between icons and pictograms.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
v
Technical Specification ISO/IEC TS 20071-41:2026(en)
Information technology — User interface component
accessibility —
Part 41:
Design and use of pictograms, photos, and icons in
augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations for the design and use of pictograms, photos,
and icons in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in the information and communication
technology (ICT) domain.
This document recognizes that AAC can be delivered on various sized devices including computer displays,
tablets, and smart phones. It applies to pictograms, photos, and icons that can be used on a range of devices.
It is not specific to particular devices or the particular software used.
This document focuses on the needs of those users who cannot use a natural language in written or spoken
form to communicate with a peer group or the community as a whole. In facilitating communication with
those other people, it also serves them.
2 Normative References
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC TS 20071-40, Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 40:
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC TS 20071-40 and the following
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
regular pictogram
pictogram that is selectable for use in composing an utterance
3.2
communication intent
thought process of an individual to communicate an idea

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
3.3
user-interface element
user-interface object
entity of the user interface that is presented to the user by the software
EXAMPLE Text, graphic, control.
Note 1 to entry: User-interface elements can be interactive or not.
Note 2 to entry: Both entities relevant to the task and entities of the user interface are regarded as user-interface
elements. A user-interface element can be a visual representation or an interaction mechanism for a task object (such
as a letter, sales order, electronic part or wiring diagram) or a system object (such as a printer, hard disk or network
connection). It can be possible for the user to directly manipulate some of these user-interface elements.
Note 3 to entry: User-interface elements in a graphical user interface include such things as basic objects (such as
window title bars, menu items, push buttons, image maps, and editable text fields) or containers (such as windows,
grouping boxes, menu bars, menus, groups of mutually exclusive option buttons, and compound images that are made
up of several smaller images). User-interface elements in an audio user interface include such things as menus, menu
items, messages, and action prompts.
[SOURCE: ISO 9241-171:2025, 3.3.6]
4 Conventions
This clause is reserved for use by ITU-T in creating their version of this document.
5 Introduction
5.1 AAC
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provide or improve communications by diverse users
in diverse contexts utilizing symbols that have strong referents to the social word or phrase, person, thing,
location, concept, activity, action, or modifier and can thus, be the common format for reliable intent and
communication.
NOTE 1 An AAC use a pictogram vocabulary as the basis for constructing these communications.
NOTE 2 ISO/IEC TS 20071-40 provides an introduction to and basic guidance on AAC in the ICT domain. It also
provides common definitions and a framework for more detailed guidance relating to aspects of these AAC.
NOTE 3 An AAC can provide embedded vocalization of text or pictograms.
5.2 Pictograms
There are currently many different types of pictograms in use in AAC.
Pictograms are clear and concise highly contrasting images that constitute the general AAC vocabulary for
communication and social interaction.
The general vocabulary is used to construct communication intent in an AAC strategy and can be used as a
companion language to a natural spoken language.
Significantly designed pictograms encapsulate the communicative intent and transcend national languages
and cultural barriers by engaging globally recognized symbols as a means of communication.
Pictograms can have multiple interpretations and can be adapted to cultural and linguistic structures to
facilitate communication and social interaction.
A pictogram vocabulary is a set of pictograms that is intended to be able to construct all types of general
communications.
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
Pictograms serve the roles of:
— common nouns and pronouns for people;
— locations;
— things;
— activities;
— concepts;
— verbs for actions;
— modifiers for nouns and verbs;
— social words;
— negations and conjunction.
NOTE 1 However, a pictogram vocabulary does not attempt to serve the grammatical needs of any particular
language. There can be better organizations of the set of pictograms which are more focused on the needs of their
users than on the expectations of a particular grammar.
While pictograms representing specific people, things, or locations (that serve the role of proper nouns) can
be created, it is more suitable to use photos of the specific people, things, or locations.
NOTE 2 ISO/IEC TR 20071-42 provides a basic pictogram vocabulary that is consistent with the guidance in this
document.
5.3 Photos
Photos provide a specialized vocabulary that can supplement the set of pictograms in a customized AAC
strategy.
Photos provide specialized versions of the people, things, and locations they represent, similar to the way
proper nouns are used. They can be associated with pictograms that more generally represent the people,
things, and locations.
Due to the specialized nature, different photos will be meaningful to different users or sets of users.
While users can use an AAC without photos, the inclusion of photos can aid in the application and usability
of an AAC.
5.4 Icons
Icons provide the controls for the operations of an AAC, the same way as they can provide controls for other
applications.
While many of the icons and associated controls used for AAC will be common to other applications, there
are also some specialized controls that will involve new icons specific to AAC functionalities.
NOTE ISO/IEC 11581-10 provides general guidance on the design of accessible icons.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
6 Requirements and recommendations on pictograms for AAC
6.1 Use of pictograms within an AAC
6.1.1 The main vocabulary of an AAC
6.1.1.1 An AAC shall use a pictogram vocabulary to construct and transmit communication intent between
users (see 6.3 for guidance relating to pictogram vocabularies).
6.1.1.2 An AAC shall use one or more terms associated with each pictogram internally to identify and
organize the pictograms.
NOTE This is due to the nature of computer systems relying on text to organize and access information.
6.1.1.3 An AAC shall be able to be used without presenting any associated terms for pictograms to the
user.
6.1.1.4 Each pictogram shall have a text alternative.
NOTE 1 This can allow persons who are not able to look at a screen to use assistive technologies to interact with the
AAC.
NOTE 2 These alternative representations could present distractions to persons focusing on the pictograms if
individual users cannot disable their presentation.
NOTE 3 While ISO/IEC 20071-11 provides guidance on the creation of text alternatives, text alternatives for
pictograms can be limited to contain only a term that is associated with the pictogram.
6.1.2 Selecting pictograms from a pictogram vocabulary
6.1.2.1 An AAC shall be able to navigate the structure of the pictogram vocabulary to find a pictogram in
the context of pictograms with similar meanings.
6.1.2.2 An AAC shall be able to use simple actions to navigate the structure of its pictogram vocabulary
and to select a pictogram to use.
NOTE ISO/IEC 22121-3 provides guidance on using single switch access to select visual images (including
pictograms) from a virtual keyboard, including virtual keyboards that can be composed of sets of pictograms.
6.2 Design of pictograms for AAC
6.2.1 Focus on content
6.2.1.1 Pictograms shall provide a clear representation of the social word/expression, person(s), thing,
location, concept, activity, action, or modifier that they represent.
NOTE It is more effective to avoid minor variations in pictograms. Including minor variations bloats the set of
pictograms, making finding which pictogram to use much more difficult for all users.
6.2.1.2 Images on pictograms should be realistic.
EXAMPLE 1 Images of things include the typical characteristics used to identify the things.
EXAMPLE 2 Images of human characteristics make use of the natural human forms they represent.
NOTE While cartoon or caricature images can contain typical characteristics, they are not realistic and can
distract from the content that they are intended to convey and have a negative impact on the user.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
6.2.2 Focus on recognition
6.2.2.1 Pictograms shall be designed to fit easily into square-shaped user-interface elements.
6.2.2.2 Images on a pictogram shall be readily recognized and understood.
NOTE This avoids the need for learning the meaning before using pictograms.
6.2.2.3 Images should be consistent with traditional symbols, where such exist.
NOTE This does not preclude adapting the traditional symbol to be rendered in white on a black background.
6.2.2.4 Lines in an image should be limited to three distinguishable thicknesses:
a) thick lines can be used as major components of a pictogram;
b) medium lines are used for outlining a major component of a pictogram;
c) thin lines are used for essential details of a component of a pictogram.
6.2.3 Focus on simplicity
6.2.3.1 The pictograms in a pictogram vocabulary shall be limited to those that are needed for basic
communications of typical users.
NOTE 1 More detailed vocabulary can be created as desired by adding photos.
EXAMPLE 1 While it is useful to have various pictograms for major types of soup, it would be excessive to have
various pictograms for various styles of soup bowls.
EXAMPLE 2 The same pictogram can be used for "small" and "little".
EXAMPLE 3 The same pictogram can be used for "no" and "not".
NOTE 2 Since AAC can be used by people who use different natural languages as well as people who do not use any
natural language, a single pictogram can be used to represent various forms of a concept (e.g. a pictogram for an action
serves to represent all verb forms/tenses of the action).
6.2.3.2 The number of individual components or details of a component illustrated in a pictogram shall be
minimized to those that are essential for immediate recognition of the intended meaning.
EXAMPLE The pictogram of a family group contains only 2 parents and 2 children. However, it can be used to
represent all types of family compositions.
6.2.3.3 Pictograms shall be drawn simply conveying the essential features of the components being
represented without artistic embellishments.
NOTE 1 Simplicity aids in identification and avoids unnecessary distractions. This is especially important
considering the small size of pictograms on most devices.
NOTE 2 Simplicity involves using a minimum number of lines to focus on the intended component in the pictogram.
6.2.3.4 Each pictogram should focus on a single major component (e.g. a person or group of people, a thing,
a location, a time, a concept, an activity, an action, a modifier, a social word/expression, a negation, or a
conjunction).
NOTE 1 Other component can be added to a pictogram to put the component of focus in context, as long as the focus
of the pictogram is clear.
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
NOTE 2 A proliferation of pictograms for complex sets of components (e.g. for commonly used phrases) makes
it more difficult to organize, find, and interpret such pictograms, with the exception of social expressions that are
always used as a single idea.
6.2.3.5 Pictogram vocabularies should recognize that a single pictogram can represent multiple forms of a
word (e.g. Mom, Mother, Mama) or multiple similar words (e.g. wife or bride).
NOTE 1 While pronouns are used in written and spoken language to avoid repetition of nouns, they are also useful
to refer to particular relationships with certain people. As such, they can be included within the set of nouns in a
pictogram vocabulary.
EXAMPLE I/me, my/mine, you, your, them, their.
NOTE 2 While contractions are used in written and spoken language to combine words, their use in communication
is not necessary.
6.2.4 Focus on clarity
6.2.4.1 Pictogram images shall be consistent and clearly drawn.
6.2.4.2 Pictograms shall be drawn in a two-tone high contrast.
6.2.4.3 Pictograms should preferably be drawn in white (or some light colour if white would be too bright
in the situation) on a black background.
NOTE This helps the pictogram image to be highly visible, avoid visual colour disturbances, and deemphasizes
the background. It also helps to distinguish pictograms from other graphical elements such as icons (which typically
do not have black backgrounds).
6.2.4.4 Pictograms should be produced in a graphical format that supports easy magnification and colour
individualization.
6.2.4.5 The use of colour (other than where a light colour is used instead of white as stated above) in a
pictogram, should be reserved for:
a) pictograms representing colours in a separate pictogram that modifies another pictogram (e.g. a
pictogram for "blue" or a pictogram for "colours");
b) pictograms where colour is essential in conveying important information (e.g. a traffic light).
NOTE It is preferable to apply case a) wherever possible and case b) only in very limited circumstances (i.e. to
illustrate the state of a traffic light in the traditional way of understanding it).
6.2.4.6 The colours used in pictograms should be limited.
6.2.4.7 Each colour used in a pictogram should have a different grey scale equivalent.
NOTE Having a different grey scale equivalent provides a means of differentiating between colours for persons
with colour deficiencies.
6.2.4.8 Abstract symbols and symbols including text characters should be avoided, wherever possible.
NOTE The question mark symbol is widely used and is very important for clarifying some pictograms.
EXAMPLE The pictograms for salt and pepper do not use “S” and “P”, but rather use white and black dots to
distinguish between them.
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
6.2.5 Focus on consistency
6.2.5.1 Related pictograms shall share the same symbolism.
EXAMPLE Different rooms in a building are all represented within a generic building outline.
6.2.5.2 Where different pictograms are used to show variations in some characteristic of a major
component of a pictogram (e.g. a person standing vs a person standing and waving) the variations shall
be based on the same basic form with the only differences being in the components that are essentially
different.
6.2.5.3 Where a pictogram contains multiple images, those images that are the focus of the intended
meaning shall be illustrated as solid images, while those images that support or provide context to those
images are illustrated in outline.
EXAMPLE 1 Where two or more components are used together to represent a group, all components are illustrated
in solid white.
EXAMPLE 2 The mother in a family grouping is in solid white, while the father and children are in white outline.
EXAMPLE 3 When illustrating the concept small, two copies of the same type of component are used with each
...