Overview
ISO/IEC 30122-1:2016 - "Information technology - User interfaces - Voice commands - Part 1: Framework and general guidance" defines a practical framework and general guidance for standardized voice commands used to control information and communication technology (ICT) devices. The standard targets a small, memorable set of essential commands for devices such as computers, PDAs, tablets, mobile phones, car navigation systems and business machines. It focuses on command form, registration and management, and explicitly excludes free-form natural sentence recognition using NLP.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and conformance: A voice command conforms to ISO/IEC 30122-1 if it satisfies the requirements in Clause 5 (attributes, uniqueness, start/end signals, feedback, and database registration).
- Command attributes (each command in the standard should include):
- Title (unique)
- Function (purpose, “To …”)
- Phrase of command (spoken text, unique)
- Pronunciation (e.g., IPA/SAMPA where needed)
- Note, Keywords, Date of release, Version, History, Relevant TCs/SCs/publications
- Uniqueness rules: Different functions must not share the same Title or Phrase of command.
- Start and end signals: Systems must support explicit start and end signals (e.g., activation keyword “Computer!”, clapping, or a button), and identify target devices when needed.
- Feedback of acceptance: Devices must provide accessible acceptance/rejection feedback while preserving user privacy.
- Voice command database: Standardized commands are to be registered in a web-accessible database (see Part 4), with language codes (ISO 639-2/3 alpha-3), and entries for Title, Function, Phrase, Pronunciation, Keywords, versioning and history. Commands should be registered in at least one (ideally two) official ISO/IEC languages, with provisions for additional localizations (see Part 3).
- Parts 2–4: Complementary parts provide testing/constructing procedures (Part 2), translation/localization guidance (Part 3), and database management/registration procedures (Part 4).
Practical applications and who uses it
- Voice user interface (VUI) designers and UX teams use the standard to define consistent, memorable commands across products.
- Accessibility specialists apply the guidance to support hands-free operation and improve usability for users with limited mobility.
- Device manufacturers and software developers implement unique voice commands, activation signals, and feedback that conform to the standard.
- Standards managers and localization teams use Parts 3 and 4 to register, translate and manage voice command sets in multilingual products.
Related standards and references
Keywords: ISO/IEC 30122-1, voice commands, voice user interface, VUI, voice command framework, voice command database, ICT devices, speech recognition, localization.