Ergonomics user interface standards: are they more trouble than they are worth?

Area of Science:

• Human-System Interaction Ergonomics
• International Standardization

Background:

• Personal perspective from 17 years as Chairman of ISO/TC159/SC4.
• Review of the history, progress, and results of international standardization in human-system interaction ergonomics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the successes and failures of international standardization in ergonomics.
• To identify key challenges and lessons learned from the standardization process.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of standardization efforts.
• Analysis of personal experiences and committee work.
• Identification and discussion of problematic areas in the standardization process.

Main Results:

• Identified five areas where standardization could have been more successful.
• Discussed issues such as long development timelines, misunderstanding of standards, political influences, over-complexity, and information overload.
• Highlighted five positive outcomes including benefits of slow pace, structure, non-restrictive standards, broader outcomes, and international collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Standardization in human-system interaction ergonomics, while facing challenges, offers significant benefits.
• The international collaborative experience and structured outcomes are valuable despite perceived shortcomings.