ISO 9241-151-2008 PDF

Full title and description

Ergonomics of human-system interaction — Part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web user interfaces. Provides user-centred guidance and recommendations for the design of Web user interfaces (content design, navigation, search, and presentation) intended to improve usability across a range of networked devices; it does not provide detailed technical implementation rules or guidance on aesthetic design.

Abstract

This part of ISO 9241 gives high-level, usability-focused guidance for designing Web user interfaces so they are effective, efficient and satisfying for their intended users. It covers strategy and high-level design decisions, content design, navigation and search, and presentation of information for Web applications and sites. The guidance is technology-agnostic and notes that mobile or smart-device interfaces may need additional, specific guidance beyond the scope of this document.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / withdrawn without replacement (document lifecycle: withdrawn).
• Publication date: May 2008 (1st edition, 2008).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.180 (Ergonomics); 35.240.99 (IT applications in other fields / internet applications classification).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2008).
• Number of pages: 49 (ISO bibliographic entry).

Core bibliographic details and lifecycle/status are taken from the ISO bibliographic entry and national standards catalogues.

Scope

ISO 9241-151:2008 addresses user-centred design guidance for Web user interfaces intended for broad public use or for closed user groups (e.g., organisational websites and intranets). It focuses on high-level design strategy, content design, navigation and search structures, and presentation of information; it explicitly does not address detailed implementation, the internal behaviour of user agents (browsers), or artistic/aesthetic design considerations. Mobile/smart-device-specific interface design may require additional guidance not covered in this part.

Key topics and requirements

• Human-centred design approach and usability objectives for Web interfaces (effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction).
• High-level content strategy and information architecture: organising content to support user tasks and findability.
• Navigation and search guidance to support discoverability and orientation across sites and Web applications.
• Presentation of information: layout, labelling, headings, and techniques to support comprehension and scanning.
• Consideration of different user groups and contexts of use, including accessibility concerns (design for a wide range of abilities).
• Recommendations are technology-agnostic; the standard does not prescribe specific technical or authoring implementations.

These topic highlights reflect the standard’s guidance areas as recorded in the ISO entry and national summaries.

Typical use and users

Primary users include UX and interaction designers, information architects, web/content strategists, accessibility specialists, product owners, usability evaluators and HCI researchers. Organizations may use the guidance for defining design requirements, reviewing Web usability, procuring Web projects, or aligning Web design work with ergonomics best practices and human-centred design principles. For lifecycle and process alignment, practitioners often pair this guidance with the human-centred design guidance in ISO 9241-210.

Related standards

ISO 9241-151 is part of the multi-part ISO 9241 series (Ergonomics of human-system interaction). Closely related parts include ISO 9241-110 (interaction/dialogue principles), ISO 9241-171 (software accessibility guidance), and ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design for interactive systems). Users commonly consult these parts together when creating or auditing interactive systems and Web interfaces.

Keywords

ISO 9241-151; Web user interface; usability; human-centred design; information architecture; navigation; content strategy; accessibility; ergonomics; ISO 9241 series.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 9241-151:2008 is a part of the ISO 9241 family titled "Ergonomics of human-system interaction — Part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web user interfaces", providing guidance for designing usable Web interfaces.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers high-level, user-centred guidance for Web interfaces: content design, navigation and search, information presentation and related usability considerations. It does not provide low-level technical implementation rules or detailed aesthetic guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: UX designers, information architects, web developers (for guidance), accessibility specialists, usability evaluators, procurement officers and HCI researchers use it as a reference for Web usability and design best practices.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The ISO bibliographic record shows ISO 9241-151:2008 as withdrawn; national catalogues note it has been withdrawn (some record it as withdrawn without replacement). Users should consult the ISO catalogue and current parts of the ISO 9241 series (for example ISO 9241-210, ISO 9241-110, ISO 9241-171) for the most up-to-date human-centred design and accessibility guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is one part of the ISO 9241 series (Ergonomics of human-system interaction), specifically in the software/web guidance sub-series of parts. Practitioners commonly use it alongside other ISO 9241 parts that address interaction principles, accessibility and human-centred design.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Web user interface, usability, human-centred design, information architecture, navigation, accessibility, ergonomics, ISO 9241.