ISO 15008-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Road vehicles — Ergonomic aspects of transport information and control systems — Specifications and test procedures for in-vehicle visual presentation (ISO 15008:2017). This International Standard specifies minimum requirements and test procedures for the image quality and legibility of dynamic visual information presented to the driver by on‑board transport information and control systems (TICS) used while the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract

ISO 15008:2017 provides minimum specifications for image quality and legibility of changeable visual displays intended for drivers of passenger cars. The standard focuses on perceptual (and some basic cognitive) aspects such as character legibility and colour recognition, and it gives test methods and measurements to assess compliance. Certain display types and information formats are excluded (for example head‑up displays, pictorial images such as rear‑view camera feeds, maps/topographic representations, symbols that integrate characters, and quasi‑static indicators). Requirements for contrast and font size reference vehicle‑specific visibility guidance (e.g. eyellipse/driver eye location standards) and are oriented primarily to passenger cars.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: 2017-09 (Edition published March–September 2017)
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 13.180 (Ergonomics); 43.040.15 (Car informatics / on‑board computer systems)
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (ISO 15008:2017)
• Number of pages: 25

Scope

ISO 15008:2017 applies to dynamic (changeable) visual information presented to the driver of passenger cars by on‑board transport information and control systems while the vehicle is in motion. It prescribes minimum image quality and legibility requirements and associated test procedures. The standard excludes heavy‑vehicle specific requirements for contrast and font size (the contrast/font size chapters reference passenger‑vehicle eye location guidance), and it is not intended for head‑up displays, pictorial camera images, maps/topographic navigation displays, symbols that embed characters, or quasi‑static readouts (e.g., simple on/off indicators, static units or stationary numeric values).

Key topics and requirements

• Minimum image quality and legibility criteria for dynamic in‑vehicle displays.
• Character legibility requirements including recommendations on font sizes, stroke widths and spacing for readable text under driving conditions.
• Contrast and luminance guidance to ensure readable foreground/background relationships in varying ambient light.
• Colour recognition and chromaticity considerations for signal and information elements.
• Test methods and measurement procedures for assessing compliance (metrics for luminance, contrast, angular subtended size, colour difference, etc.).
• Reference to driver eye‑location/eyellipse conventions for valid measurement / viewing angle definitions (vehicle eye‑location guidance is used where applicable).
• Explicit exclusions and limitations (HUDs, pictorial images, maps/topographic representations, quasi‑static information, and symbols containing characters).
• Requirements intended to be independent of display technology (applicable across LCD, OLED, TFT, etc.).

Typical use and users

ISO 15008 is intended for automotive OEMs, human‑factors and UX designers working on in‑vehicle interfaces, infotainment and cluster display suppliers, test laboratories conducting ergonomic/legibility assessments, regulatory and conformity assessors, and safety engineers concerned with driver information presentation and distraction mitigation. It is used during design, verification and validation phases to ensure on‑road readability and to support safety‑oriented ergonomic decisions.

Related standards

Standards commonly referenced together with ISO 15008 include ISO 15005 (dialogue management principles and compliance procedures for TICS), ISO 4513 (driver eye‑location / eyellipse guidance used for viewing geometry), parts of the ISO 9241 series (e.g., ISO 9241‑125 Guidance on visual presentation of information), and other automotive ergonomic/display standards and regional/adopted versions (EN/BS/UNI variants). ISO 15008:2017 replaces earlier editions of ISO 15008 (e.g., the 2009 edition) and is maintained under ISO/TC 22 (road vehicles) subcommittees.

Keywords

in‑vehicle display, legibility, image quality, transport information and control systems (TICS), driver displays, ergonomics, font size, contrast, luminance, colour recognition, test procedures, eye‑location, eyellipse

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 15008:2017 is an international standard that specifies minimum requirements and test procedures for the image quality and legibility of changeable visual information presented to passenger‑car drivers by on‑board transport information and control systems.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers perceptual aspects such as character legibility, contrast, luminance and colour recognition for dynamic displays used while driving, and provides measurement and test methods to verify compliance. It excludes HUDs, pictorial camera images, maps/topographic content, symbols that include characters, and quasi‑static indicators.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Automotive OEMs, display and infotainment suppliers, human factors and UX engineers, test labs, regulators and safety assessors use the standard during design and validation of in‑vehicle displays.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 15008:2017 is the current edition published in 2017 (Edition 3). It has been subject to periodic review and remains the published international standard for this subject as of its last confirmation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 15008 sits among other ISO/TC 22/SC 39 deliverables addressing ergonomic aspects of transport information and control systems (for example ISO 15005 on dialogue management). It also connects conceptually with human‑system interaction standards such as ISO 9241‑125 and with vehicle visibility/eye‑location standards like ISO 4513.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: in‑vehicle display, legibility, image quality, ergonomics, TICS, contrast, font size, luminance, colour recognition, test procedures.