VNES07

ISO 9241-300 to -307 and its authors: the members of ISO WG 'Visual Display Requirements' : ISO 9241-300 to -307 and its authors: the members of ISO WG 'Visual Display Requirements' BAM-DIN Workshop on Image Technology, 3 December 2007 Floris L. van Nes, ErgoNes and TU/e


Why are international visual display standards important ? : Why are international visual display standards important ? Visual displays are in all ICT systems, mostly because humans rely heavily on vision International standards can warrant the image quality of these displays, whatever their origin


How are such standards written and approved ? : How are such standards written and approved ? Written in ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 2: 'Visual Display Requirements' Approved in a voting process by 26 countries, being P-Members of ISO/TC 159/SC 4, 'Ergonomics of Human-System Interaction'


The new ISO visual display standards : The new ISO visual display standards ISO 9241-300: Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Introduction to electronic visual displays ISO 9241-302: Terminology ISO 9241-303: Requirements ISO 9241-304: User performance test methods ISO 9241-305: Optical laboratory test methods ISO 9241-306: Field assessment methods ISO 9241-307: Analysis & compliance methods


Properties of these new standards : Properties of these new standards Cover most indoor applications and many display technologies Separation of: ergonomic requirements, optical lab test methods, usability lab test methods, field assessment methods and analysis and compliance methods Modular structure: easily amendable


Eight major areas of requirements : Eight major areas of requirements Viewing conditions Luminance Special physical environments (outdoors) Visual artefacts Legibility and readability Legibility of information coding Legibility of graphics Fidelity of the displayed images


ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 2  'Visual Display Requirements' : ISO/TC 159/SC 4/WG 2 'Visual Display Requirements' Active members from seven countries in Asia, Europe and North America Mainly engineers, physicists and psycho-logists from industry, government and academia Different backgrounds lead to different positions as to 'tough' requirements


Recent case in point: gloss and glare : Recent case in point: gloss and glare Part 303, clause 6.2.3b: "The design of the visual display screen and surrounding area of the product housing shall/should not contribute to disturbing glare by the environmental lighting" 'Shall': becomes a requirement 'Should': becomes a recommendation


Choice of 'shall' or 'should' : Choice of 'shall' or 'should' European Council Directive 'for work with display screen equipment' (90/270/EEC)  laws in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, ........ : shall ! American and Japanese PC and display manufacturers/marketeers: should ! Compromise must be found; 'NOTES'


NOTES to Clause 6.2.3b : NOTES to Clause 6.2.3b 1: CIE definition of 'glare' (845-02-52) 2: 'Matte surfaces typically do not produce glare, whereas glossy surfaces may do so, depending on design aspects such as shape, colour, size, and lighting conditions' 3: 'Gloss may be advantageous; on printed paper and for some mobile reflective displays, to obtain high colour fidelity' 4: For prolonged viewing at work: strive for harmonization of screen & surrounding area of housing with their environment and its lighting, by ISO/IEC 8995-1:2002 and ISO 9241-6


Does display standardization stifle innovation ? : Does display standardization stifle innovation ? Not really; it only presents boundaries within which technical and design ingenuity may develop freely Such boundaries are an ergonomic necessity The multiplicity in backgrounds of the standards writers prevents extreme views, of whatever kind, to prevail


Does display standardization advance the state of the art ? : Does display standardization advance the state of the art ? It could indeed, since it involves much interaction between experts from different countries, companies and organizations It may enlarge the view of specialists through their acquaintance with other fields while writing the standard


Concluding remarks : Concluding remarks Standardization is a process such as legislation; an essential part of interwoven societies Global standards remove trade barriers Standards need to be widely known and supported to be really effective ! “Those who make the standards make the rules of the game” (Jim Greeson)