EN ISO 9241-125:2017

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2018
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN ISO 9241-12:2001
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SULND]LQIRUPDFLM,62
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 125: Guidance on visual presentation of
information (ISO 9241-125:2017)
Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 125: Anleitung zur visuellen
Informationsdarstellung (ISO 9241-125:2017)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie 125: Lignes directrices relatives à la
présentation visuelle de l'information (ISO 9241-125:2017)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 9241-125:2017
ICS:
13.180 Ergonomija Ergonomics
35.180 Terminalska in druga IT Terminal and other
periferna oprema IT peripheral equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 9241-125
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2017
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.180; 35.180 Supersedes EN ISO 9241-12:1998
English Version
Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 125:
Guidance on visual presentation of information (ISO 9241-
125:2017)
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système - Partie Ergonomie der Mensch-System-Interaktion - Teil 125:
125: Recommandations relatives à la présentation Anleitung zur visuellen Informationsdarstellung (ISO
visuelle d'informations (ISO 9241-125:2017) 9241-125:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 August 2017.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 9241-125:2017 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 9241-125:2017) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 159
“Ergonomics” in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics” the secretariat of
which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2018, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2018.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 9241-12:1998.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 9241-125:2017 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 9241-125:2017 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 9241-125
First edition
2017-09
Ergonomics of human-system
interaction —
Part 125:
Guidance on visual presentation of
information
Ergonomie de l'interaction homme-système —
Partie 125: Recommandations relatives à la présentation visuelle
d'informations
Reference number
ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
©
ISO 2017
ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
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CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 749 09 47
copyright@iso.org
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .vii
Introduction .viii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Application of ISO 9241-125 . 7
4.1 Accessibility . 7
4.2 General guidance for presentation of information . 7
4.3 Guidance on the presentation of visual information . 7
4.4 General issues for the display of visual information . 8
4.4.1 Legibility of characters and symbols . 8
4.4.2 Character height . 8
4.4.3 Scaling visually presented information . 8
5 Visual structuring of information . 8
5.1 Arranging and labelling information . 8
5.1.1 Information location . 8
5.1.2 Required information . 8
5.1.3 Consistent location of areas . 8
5.1.4 Density of displayed information . 9
5.1.5 Distinction of groups . 9
5.1.6 Sequencing .10
5.1.7 Use of conventions .11
5.1.8 Functional grouping .11
5.1.9 Arrangement of groups for rapid detection and discrimination .11
5.1.10 Consistency with paper forms .11
5.1.11 Labelling user interface elements .11
5.1.12 Label designation .11
5.1.13 Grammatical construction of labels .11
5.1.14 Label position .11
5.1.15 Label position for individual check boxes or radio buttons .12
5.1.16 Separation of labels and associated information .12
5.1.17 Label format and alignment .12
5.1.18 Labels for units of measurement .12
5.1.19 Differentiating objects of identical type .12
5.2 Using windows to present information .12
5.2.1 Appropriateness of windows .12
5.2.2 Multiple windows .13
5.2.3 Selection of window format .13
6 Using user interface elements to organize information .14
6.1 Lists .14
6.1.1 List structure .14
6.1.2 Item separation .14
6.1.3 Alphabetic information .14
6.1.4 Numeric information.14
6.1.5 Fixed font size .14
6.1.6 Item numbering .15
6.1.7 Indication of relative position of displayed information .15
6.1.8 Indication of list continuation .15
6.2 Tables .15
6.2.1 List organization in tables .15
6.2.2 Maintaining column and row headings .16
6.2.3 Spacing as a visual technique for grouping information .16
ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
6.2.4 Column spacing .16
6.3 Entry fields .16
6.3.1 Entry field format .16
6.3.2 Entry field length .17
6.4 Windows .17
6.4.1 Unique window identification .17
6.4.2 Application information .17
6.4.3 Default window parameters .17
6.4.4 Consistent window appearance within an application .17
6.4.5 Consistent window appearance within a multi-application environment .17
6.4.6 Indication of primary/secondary window relationships .18
6.4.7 Identification of window control elements.18
6.4.8 Location of window control elements .18
6.4.9 Size and location across sessions .18
6.4.10 Duplicate or split windows .18
6.4.11 Resizing windows .18
6.4.12 Resizing window panes.18
6.4.13 Predictable new window location .18
6.4.14 New windows offset . .18
6.4.15 New window on top .18
6.4.16 Placement and size of new window .19
6.4.17 Placement of secondary windows .19
6.4.18 Warning for application termination .19
6.4.19 Restoring hidden windows .19
6.4.20 Identification cues for iconified window .19
6.4.21 Predictable position of an icon representing a window .19
6.4.22 Visual cue in icon for important events .19
6.4.23 Discriminable cue for application status .19
6.4.24 Discriminable cue for restored windows .20
6.4.25 Identification cues for restored window .20
6.4.26 Input cursor location . .20
6.4.27 Visual cues for window with focus .20
6.4.28 Manipulation of the size of windows .20
6.4.29 Feedback provided during resize .20
6.4.30 Original size indicator during resize .20
6.4.31 Independence of resize dimensions .20
6.4.32 Scaling .21
6.4.33 Sizing effects on window contents .21
6.4.34 Scrolling and paging . .21
6.4.35 Moving window contents in multiple units .21
6.4.36 Provide scrolling by smallest meaningful unit .21
6.4.37 Provide scrolling by large units.21
6.4.38 Consistent direction of scrolling.21
6.4.39 Visual cue for group membership .22
7 Graphical objects .22
7.1 Cursors and pointers .22
7.1.1 Designation of cursor and pointer position .22
7.1.2 Cursor occlusion of characters .22
7.1.3 Cursor and pointer location .22
7.1.4 Cursor “home” position .22
7.1.5 Initial position for entry fields .22
7.1.6 Point designation accuracy .22
7.1.7 Different cursors/pointers .22
7.1.8 Active cursor/pointer .23
7.1.9 Multiple cursors and pointers .23
7.2 Icons .23
7.2.1 Guidance on design and use of icons .23
7.2.2 Text alternative for icons .23
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
7.2.3 Neutral icons .23
7.2.4 Cross-cultural icons .23
7.2.5 Ease of learning .24
7.2.6 Icons containing consistent cues .24
7.2.7 National or international graphics .24
7.2.8 Reuse of existing icons .24
7.2.9 User guidance for icons .24
8 Coding techniques .24
8.1 General recommendations for codes .24
8.1.1 Introduction .24
8.1.2 Meeting user expectations.25
8.1.3 Explaining codes .25
8.1.4 Distinctiveness of codes.25
8.1.5 Consistent coding .25
8.1.6 Meaningfulness .25
8.1.7 Access to meaning of code .25
8.1.8 Use of standards or conventional meaning .26
8.1.9 Rules of code construction .26
8.1.10 Codes for missing information .26
8.1.11 Partitioning long information items .26
8.2 Alphanumeric coding .26
8.2.1 Length of character strings .26
8.2.2 Alphabetic vs. numeric codes .26
8.2.3 Same meaning for upper and lower case characters .26
8.2.4 Visually similar alphanumeric characters .27
8.2.5 Length of abbreviations .27
8.2.6 Abbreviations of different length .27
8.2.7 Truncation .27
8.2.8 Deviation from the rules of code construction for abbreviations .27
8.2.9 Conventional and task related abbreviations .27
8.3 Graphical coding .27
8.3.1 Distinctive states of user-interface elements .27
8.3.2 Levels of graphical codes .27
8.3.3 Three-dimensional coding .28
8.3.4 Coding with geometric shapes .28
8.3.5 Coding with different types of lines .28
8.3.6 Line orientation .28
8.4 Colour coding .28
8.4.1 Redundant colour coding .28
8.4.2 Colour coding for people with colour deficits .28
8.4.3 Legend showing colour codes .29
8.4.4 Redundant codes displayed in legends .29
8.4.5 Different use of one colour .29
8.4.6 Limiting the number of colours .29
8.4.7 Colour assignment to categories of information .29
8.4.8 Colour coding conventions .30
8.4.9 Number of colours used .30
8.4.10 Assignments based on cultural conventions .30
8.4.11 Cross-cultural design .30
8.4.12 Colour assignments for special and temporary states .30
8.4.13 Continuous scales.30
8.4.14 Coding differences .31
8.4.15 Coding relative values .31
8.4.16 Ordered coding .31
8.4.17 Consistency of colour codes .31
8.4.18 Change of state.31
8.4.19 Additional guidance on the use of colour .31
8.5 Markers.32
ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
8.5.1 Special symbols for markers . .32
8.5.2 Markers for multiple selection .32
8.5.3 Unique use of symbols for markers .32
8.5.4 Positioning of markers . .32
8.6 Other coding techniques .33
8.6.1 Blink coding .33
8.6.2 Highlighting by blinking .33
8.6.3 Size coding .33
8.6.4 Luminance (brightness) coding .33
8.6.5 Relative Lightness Levels .33
8.6.6 Image polarity reversal .33
8.6.7 Underlining .33
8.6.8 Coding of areas using different coding techniques .34
9 Use of Colour .34
9.1 General recommendations.34
9.2 Specific guidance on using colour .34
9.2.1 Avoiding presentation of information by colour alone .34
9.2.2 Overuse of colours .34
9.2.3 Colour interpretation from memory colour .35
9.2.4 Colour limits for visual search .35
9.2.5 Use of focal colours when accurate colour identification is needed .35
9.2.6 Size of character strings, data fields, and symbols when presented with colour .35
9.2.7 Accurate colour discrimination .36
9.2.8 Events in the visual periphery .36
9.2.9 Object separation .36
9.2.10 Background colours .36
9.2.11 Foreground and background colours for text .36
9.2.12 Continuous reading .37
9.2.13 Unintended depth effects .37
9.2.14 Size and the use of blue .37
9.2.15 Blue and red on dark backgrounds .37
9.2.16 Spectrally extreme colours .37
9.2.17 Improved colour identification .38
9.2.18 Contrast .38
9.2.19 Contrast enhancement .38
9.2.20 Realistic colours .39
9.2.21 Drawing attention .39
9.2.22 Restricted use of warning colours .39
Bibliography .40
vi © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
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 ISO documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the WTO
principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary
information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 159, Ergonomics, Subcommittee SC 4, Ergonomics
of human–system interaction.
This first edition of ISO 9241-125, together with ISO 9241-112, cancels and replaces ISO 9241-12:1998,
which has been technically revised with the following changes:
— specific guidance relating to the presentation of visual information has been updated and extended
(recommendations for presentation of information in other modalities will be addressed in future
parts of ISO 9241);
— the characteristics of presented information have been elaborated with respect to ISO 9241-112;
— textual descriptions of the figures (alt text) have been added to enhance accessibility for sight-
impaired users (in PDF, these are “pop-ups” which appear when the cursor is passed over the figure).
A list of all parts in the ISO 9241 series can be found on the ISO website.
ISO 9241-125:2017(E)
Introduction
ISO 9241 is a multi-part International Standard that deals with both the hardware and software
ergonomic aspects of human-system interaction.
ISO 9241-125 is intended for use by the following types of users:
a) the user interface designer, who will apply it during the development process.
b) the buyer, who will reference it during the product procurement process, and whose end users will
gain from the potential benefits it provides.
c) project managers who are responsible for managing de
...