NISTIR 7889

Human Engineering Design Criteria 

Standards Part 1: Project 

Introduction and Existing Standards

DHS S&T TSD Standards Project

Susanne Furman

Mary Theofanos

Hannah Wald
NISTIR 7889 

Human Engineering Design Criteria 

Standards Part 1: Project 

Introduction and Existing Standards

DHS S&T TSD Standards Project

Susanne Furman 

Information Access Division 

Information Technology Laboratory 

Mary Theofanos 

Office of Data and Informatics 

Material Measurement Laboratory 

Hannah Wald

Booz Allen Hamilton

McLean, VA 

ASULO 201

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Patrick D. Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director
ii

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................................1

2 BACKGROUND ...............................................................................................................................................2

3 STANDARDS REVIEW ..................................................................................................................................2

3.1 MIL-HDBK-759C...................................................................................................................................3

3.2 ISO 9241..................................................................................................................................................6

3.3 SECTION 508 BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES .....................................................................................7

3.4 ISO/IEC TR 25060 ..................................................................................................................................8

3.5 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE STANDARD 00-250..............................................................................................9

3.6 NASA/SP-2010-3407............................................................................................................................11

3.7 ISO/IEC 25062 ......................................................................................................................................11

3.8 MIL-STD-1472G...................................................................................................................................12

3.9 ASTM F1166.........................................................................................................................................16

4 GUIDELINES, BEST PRACTICES, AND OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS...................... ERROR! 

BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.

4.1 W3C – MOBILE WEB BEST PRACTICES..................................................................................................17

4.2 W3C WEB ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE...................................................................................................18

4.2.1 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 ....................................................................19

4.2.2 User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0.......................................................................................21

4.2.3 Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines 1.0...............................................................................22

4.2.4 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 ....................................................................................22

4.2.5 Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 ..............................................................23

4.3 FAA HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN GUIDE (HFDG) FOR ACQUISITION OF COMMERCIAL-OFF-THE-SHELF 

(COTS) SUBYSTEMS, NON-DEVELOPMENTAL ITEMS (NDI) AND DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEMS: CHAPTER 8 –

COMPUTER HUMAN INTERFACE GUIDELINES ....................................................................................................25

4.6 OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS..............................................................................................................37

4.6.1 ASTM F1337-10 Standard Practice for Human Systems Integration Program Requirements for 

Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities...............................................................................37

4.6.2 ASTM E2350-07 Standard Guide for Integration of Ergonomics/Human Factors into New 

Occupation Systems...................................................................................................................................37

4.6.3 NUREG-0800 14.3.9 Human Factors Engineering – Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance

Criteria 38

4.6.4 NUREG-0800 18.0 Human Factors Engineering & Review Responsibilities...............................38

4.6.5 NUREG-0711, REV.2 ...................................................................................................................38

4.6.6 MIL-HDBK-46855A.....................................................................................................................38

4.6.7 ANSI/AAMI HE74:2001...............................................................................................................38

4.6.8 ASTM Standard Specification for Handheld Point Chemical Vapor Detectors (HPVCD) for 

Homeland Security Applications................................................................................................................38

5 COMPONENTS SELECTION PROCESS ..................................................................................................39

5.1 APPLICABLE STANDARD COMPONENTS CATEGORIES ............................................................................39

5.2 STANDARDS SUMMARIES .......................................................................................................................44

5.2.1 Accessibility ..................................................................................................................................44

5.2.2 Anthropometry...............................................................................................................................47

5.2.3 Audio Displays..............................................................................................................................47
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5.2.4 Communications............................................................................................................................49

5.2.5 Controls .........................................................................................................................................50

5.2.6 Data................................................................................................................................................53

5.2.7 Display...........................................................................................................................................54

5.2.8 Distinct Actions.............................................................................................................................55

5.2.9 Ergonomic Requirements for Office Work with VDTs – User Guidance .....................................56

5.2.10 Error Management.......................................................................................................................56

5.2.11 Feedback......................................................................................................................................56

5.2.12 Forms and Data Entry..................................................................................................................57

5.2.13 Glare & Reflection.......................................................................................................................58

5.2.14 Hazards and Safety ......................................................................................................................60

5.2.15 Help, Instruction, Tutorials, and Training ...................................................................................61

5.2.16 Human-Computer Interaction ......................................................................................................62

5.2.17 Information Displayed to Operator..............................................................................................63

5.2.18 Keyboard Requirements ..............................................................................................................64

5.2.19 Labels ..........................................................................................................................................64

5.2.20 Maintenance.................................................................................................................................66

5.2.21 Physical Accommodation ............................................................................................................67

5.2.22 Prompts........................................................................................................................................67

5.2.23 Software Elements.......................................................................................................................68

5.2.24 System Status...............................................................................................................................69

5.2.25 Toxicity and Substances Hazardous to Health.............................................................................70

5.2.26 User Interfaces with Automated Systems....................................................................................71

5.2.27 Windows......................................................................................................................................71

5.2.28 Workstation/Workspace Layout and Design ...............................................................................72

5.2.29 World Wide Web Interfaces........................................................................................................75

6 NEXT STEPS ..................................................................................................................................................76

7 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................79
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List of Tables

TABLE 1: STANDARDS BY CATEGORY REPRESENTATION......................................................................................40

List of Figures

FIGURE 1: HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS..................................................................................................78
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1 INTRODUCTION

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires general human systems integration 

(HSI) criteria for the design and development of human-machine interfaces for their 

technology, systems, equipment, and facilities. The goal of DHS Science and Technology 

(S&T) Human Factors and Behavioral Science Division Human Systems Engineering Project 

is to identify, develop, and apply a standard process to enhance technology and system 

design, system safety, and operational efficiency.

The project manager partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST) Visualization and Usability Group (VUG) in furtherance of this effort. As part of its 

mission, NIST performs research to develop the technical basis for standards related to 

measurement, equipment specifications, procedures, and quality control benchmarks for 

industrial processes (among others), while remaining objective and vendor-neutral for 

organizations and users in industry, academia, government, and other sectors. VUG, part of 

the NIST Information Technology Laboratory, conducts research in HSI and humancomputer interaction (HCI) technologies. Members of VUG are also active on the 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committees Working Groups 

in HCI.

NIST’s work on this project consists of three phases:

1. Identify and review the body of publicly available existing human factors and HSI 

standards, best practices, and guidelines for applicability to DHS. 

2. Apply a user-centered design (UCD) approach for the DHS organization in order to 

determine how existing HSI standards can be mapped to DHS needs, technology, and 

processes.

3. Determine where DHS may need to augment existing HSI standards and/or create 

new DHS HSI standards to meet organizational needs. 

Simply put HSI is the relationship between humans and their environment and in particular 

how systems are designed and used relative to that relationship with the goal of ensuring a 

safe and effective environment that meets the mission. In general, HSI includes the 

integration of hardware, software and processes (including the acquisition process and the 

design process).

HSI design criteria, principles, and practices will benefit DHS by:

• improving performance of personnel,

• reducing skill and personnel requirements and training time,
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• enhancing the usability, safety, acceptability and affordability of technology and 

systems, and

• achieving the required reliability and productivity of personnel-equipment 

combinations [15][16].

But most importantly for DHS, DHS HSI Design Criteria Standards will foster design 

standardization and interoperability within and among DHS systems.

2 BACKGROUND

Although numerous Federal standards exist that establish general HSI and human 

engineering criteria for design and development of systems, equipment, and facilities 

(including DOD MIL-STD-1472G Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard and 

NASA-STD-3000 Man-Systems Integration Standards, among others) each of these 

standards also contains very domain-specific information and focuses on specialized 

populations, types of systems, and system functions.

In contrast, the DHS user populations’ characteristics are varied. The populations encompass 

not only Federal civil servants who operate and maintain the department’s technology and 

systems, but also a variety of other personnel, including public health officials; state and 

local first responders; travelers to be screened; bystanders; and the general public. Therefore 

DHS must consider a much broader range of user dimensions, characteristics, abilities, and 

ages than those populations addressed by the existing standards. DHS operating 

environments are also very diverse, ranging from airports and border points of entry to 

subways and Coast Guard vessels. Thus the existing standards may not be applicable based 

on differences in the populations and specific domains or context of use. 

The goal of this first phase was to identify and review the body of existing human factors and 

HSI standards, best practices, and guidelines. Future phases will map the standards to DHS

needs, technology, and processes and identify where DHS may need to augment existing 

standards and/or create new HSI standards to meet organizational needs.

3 STANDARDS REVIEW

The NIST team had previous domain knowledge and an understanding of DHS end users 

from previous projects. To further our understanding of the end users, we spent time 

familiarizing ourselves on a higher level with end users task information obtained from the 

DHS website. In addition, the NIST team consists of several experienced user centered 

design (UCD) /HSI professionals with backgrounds in standards development as well as 

hands on experience as UCD practitioners for products and systems in both industry and 

government.
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From our previous collaborations with DHS, high level understanding of job roles within 

DHS, and our own HSI expertise and domain knowledge, we identified existing standards, 

guidelines, and best practices that we believed to be relevant to DHS devices and 

technologies. This review focused on broader more generally applicable standards in HSI, 

HCI, human factors, and usability, whose components would be appropriate in multiple 

domains. Note. there are many existing standards written to address technology, tools, 

interfaces, and processes in specific domains (such as ISO SC 37 standards specifically for 

biometrics) these were not specifically addressed in this review as they were too narrowly 

focused. The standards we identified included:

• MIL-HDBK-759C (07/31/1995)

• ISO 9241 (06/01/1997)1

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (08/07/1998)2

• ISO/IEC TR 25060 (09/01/2006)

• Ministry of Defence Standard 00-250 (05/23/2008)

• NASA/SP-2010-3407 (01/27/2010)

• ISO/IEC 25062 (07/15/2010)

• MIL-STD-1472G (01/11/2012)

• ASTM F1166 (06/28/2011)

In the following subsections we provide an overview of the identified HSI standards and a 

short synopsis of each. For consistency and accuracy we have directly quoted from the 

standards as referenced. 

3.1 MIL-HDBK-759C

MIL-HDBK-759C Handbook for Human Engineering Design Guidelines provides basic 

guidelines and data on human engineering design for military systems, equipment, and 

facilities. The handbook was designed to supplement MIL-STD-1472D, when the 

anthropometric data from MIL-STD-1472 was moved to MIL-HDBK-759 [11]. MILHDBK-759C consists of the following parts:

 

1

Updated 3/15/2010 with ISO 9241-210, Human-Centered Design for Interactive Systems.

2

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 

105-220) to include accessibility standards for electronic and information technology.
4

1. Scope

1.1.Scope

1.2.Applicability 

1.2.1 Application

1.2.2 Selection of hardware, 

materials, or processes

1.2.3 Gender considerations

1.2.4 Force limits

1.2.5 Manufacturing tolerances

2. Applicable Documents

2.1 General

2.2 Government Documents

 2.2.1 Specifications, standards, and 

handbooks.

 2.2.2 Other documents, drawings, and 

publications

2.3 Non-governmental publications

2.4 Order of precedence

3. Definitions

3.1 Battle-short switch

3.2 Inch-pound equivalents,

abbreviations, and prefixes

3.3 Primary controls

4. General Guidelines

5. Detailed Guidelines

5.1 Control-display integration

5.1.1 General Criteria

5.1.2 Position relationships

5.1.3 Movement relationships

5.1.4 Control-display movement ratio

5.2 Visual displays

5.2.1 General

5.2.2 Transilluminated displays

5.2.3 Scale indicators

5.2.4 Cathode ray tube (CRT) 

displays

5.2.5 Large-screen displays

5.2.6 Other displays

5.3 Audio displays

5.3.1 General

5.3.2 Audio signals

5.8 Environment

5.8.1 Heating, ventilating, and air 

conditioning

5.8.2 Illluminance

5.8.3 Acoustical noise

5.8.4 Vibration 

5.9 Design for maintainer

5.9.1 General

5.9.2 Mounting of items within units

5.9.3 Adjustment controls

5.9.4 Accessibility 

5.9.5 Lubrication 

5.9.6 Case and cover mounting

5.9.7 Cases

5.9.8 Covers

5.9.9 Access openings and covers

5.9.10 Fasteners

5.9.11 Unit design for efficient 

handling

5.9.12 Mounting and packaging

5.9.13 Conductors

5.9.14 Connectors

5.9.15 Test points

5.9.16 Test equipment

5.9.17 Failure indications and fuse 

requirements

5.9.18 Printed Circuit boards

5.9.19 Ignition equipment

5.9.20 Batteries

5.9.21 Climate effects

5.10 Design for remote handling

5.10.1 Characteristics of equipment to 

be handled remotely

5.10.2 Feedback

5.10.3 Manipulators

5.10.4 Viewing equipment

5.10.5 Illumination

5.11 Small systems and equipment

5.11.1 Portability and load-carrying

5.11.2 Tracking 

5.12.3 Optical instruments and related 
5

5.3.3 Characteristics of audio 

warning signals

5.3.4 Signal characteristics in relation 

to operational conditions and 

objectives

5.3.5 Verbal warning signals

5.3.6 Controls for audio warning 

devices

5.3.7 Speech transmission equipment

5.3.8 Speech reception equipment

5.3.9 Operator comfort and 

convenience

5.3.10 Operating controls for voice 

communication equipment

5.3.11 Speaker side tone

5.3.12 Speech intelligibility 

5.3.13 Communications

5.4 Controls

5.4.1 General criteria

5.4.2 Rotary controls

5.4.3 Linear controls

5.4.4 High-force controls

5.4.5 Miniature controls

5.4.6 Touch-screen controls for 

displays

5.4.7 Quickened and predictor 

controllers

5.4.8 Integral, handle-mounted

controls

5.5 Labeling

5.5.1 General

5.5.2 Orientation and location

5.5.3 Contents

5.5.4 Qualities

5.5.5 Label characteristics

5.5.6 Equipment labeling

5.5.7 Labeling for identification

5.6. Anthropometry 

5.6.1 General

5.6.2 Anthropometric data

5.6.3 Use of data

equipment 

5.12 Ground and shipboard vehicles

5.12.1 General

5.12.2 Seating

5.12.3 Controls

5.12.4 Operating instructions

5.12.5 Visibility 

5.12.6 Heating and ventilation

5.12.7 Trailers, vans, and 

intervehicular connections

5.12.8 Cranes, material handling and 

construction equipment

5.12.9 Automotive subsystems

5.13 Hazards and safety

5.13.1 General

5.13.2 Safety labels and placards

5.13.3 Pipe-, hose-, and tube-line 

identification 

5.13.4 General workspace hazards

5.13.5 General equipment-related 

hazards

5.13.6 Platforms

5.13.7 Electrical, mechanical, fluid, 

toxic, and radiation hazards

5.13.8 Trainers

5.13.9 Stealth and covert operations

5.14 Aerospace vehicle compartments

5.14.1 General

5.14.2 Crewstations and passenger 

compartments

5.14.3 Personnel ingress and egress

5.14.4 Emergency evacuation

5.15 User-computer interface (reserved)

5.15.1 General 

5.15.2 Data entry

5.15.3 Data display

5.15.4 Interactive control 

5.15.5 Feedback 

5.15.6 Prompts

5.15.7 Defaults

5.15.8 Error management and data 
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5.6.4 Special populations

5.6.5 Body movement

5.6.6 Human strength and handling 

capacity

5.7 Workspace design

5.7.1 General

5.7.2 Standing operations

5.7.3 Seated operations

5.7.4 Common working positions

5.7.5 Standard console design

5.7.6 Special-purpose console design

5.7.7 Stairs, ladders, and ramps

5.7.8 Ingress and egress

5.7.9 Surface colors

protection

5.15.9 System response time

5.15.10 Other requirements

5.15.11 Data and message 

transmission 

5.16 Visual Display Terminals (reserved)

5.17 Weapons systems

5.17.1 Ammunition 

5.17.2 Armament

6. Notes

3.2 ISO 9241

ISO 9241 covers ergonomics of human-computer interaction. It explains how to identify the 

information that is necessary to consider when specifying or evaluating usability in terms of 

user performance and satisfaction [4]. It consists of the following parts:

• Part 1: General Introduction

• Part 2: Guidance on task

• Part 3: Visual display

• Part 4: Keyboard

• Part 5: Workstation layout and postural 

• Part 6: Environmental 

• Part 7: Requirements for display with 

reflections

• Part 8: Requirements for displayed colors

• Part 9: Requirements for non-keyboard 

input devices

• Part 10: Dialogue principles

• Part 11: Guidance on usability

• Part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web 

user interfaces

• Part 171: Guidance on software 

accessibility

• Part 300: Introduction to electronic visual 

display requirements

• Part 302: Terminology for electronic 

visual displays

• Part 303: Requirements for electronic 

visual displays

• Part 304: User performance test methods 

for electronic visual displays

• Part 305: Optical laboratory test methods 

for electronic visual displays
7

• Part 12: Presentation of information

• Part 13: User guidance

• Part 14: Menu dialogues

• Part 15: Command dialogues

• Part 16: Direct manipulation dialogue

• Part 17: Form-filling dialogues

• Part 20: Accessibility guidelines for 

information/communication technology 

(ICT) equipment and services

• Part 110: Dialogue principles

• Part 400: Principles and requirements for 

physical input devices

• Part 410: Design criteria for physical input 

devices

• Part 306: Field assessment methods for 

electronic visual displays

• Part 307: Analysis and compliance test 

methods for electronic visual displays

• Part 308: Surface-conduction electronicemitter displays (SED)

• Part 309: Organic light-emitting diode 

(OLED) displays

• Part 920: Guidance on tactile and haptic 

interactions

In early 2010, ISO 9241 was updated with a new section: ISO 9241-210, Human-Centered 

Design for Interactive Systems. ISO 9241-210 provides requirements and recommendations 

for human-centered design principles and activities throughout the life cycle of computerbased interactive systems. The human-centered design approach aims to make systems 

usable and useful by focusing on the needs and requirements of end users. This approach 

applies human factors/ergonomics and usability knowledge and techniques. Human-centered 

design improves user effectiveness and efficiency; human well-being; user satisfaction; and 

accessibility and sustainability. It also counteracts possible adverse effects of use on human 

health, safety and performance [5]. Sections include:

1. Scope

2. Terms and definitions

3. Rationale for adopting human-centered design

4. Principles of human-centered design

5. Planning human-centered design

6. Human-centered design activities

7. Sustainability and human-centered design

8. Conformance

3.3 SECTION 508 BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to 

make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. 

section 508 of that act requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use 

electronic and information technology (EIT), they must ensure that persons with disabilities 
8

have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by 

individuals without disabilities. Section 508 includes a set of standards to assist agencies in 

complying with the law. The sections include:

Subpart A – General

 1194.1 Purpose

 1194.2 Application 

 1194.3 General exceptions

 1194.4 Definitions

 1194.5 Equivalent facilitation

Subpart B – Technical Standards

 1194.21 Software applications and 

operating systems 

 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet 

information applications

 1194.23 Telecommunications products

 1194.24 Video and multimedia products

 1194.25 Self-contained, closed products

1194.26 Desktop and portable computers

Subpart C – Functional Performance 

Criteria

 1194.31 Functional performance criteria

Subpart D – Information, Documentation, 

and Support

 1194.41 Information, documentation, and 

support

More information about section 508 the law and accompanying standards can be found at

Section508.gov. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Section 508 website 

provides tips for testing documents for Section 508 compliance, 508-compliant PDFs, 

checklists, and standards.

3.4 ISO/IEC TR 25060

Systems and software engineering – Systems and software product Quality Requirements and 

Evaluation (SQuaRE) – Common Industry Format (CIF) for usability: General Framework 

for usability-related information 

This Technical Report describes a potential family of International Standards – named the 

Common Industry Formats (CIF) – that document the specification and evaluation of the 

usability of interactive systems. It provides a general overview of the CIF framework and 

contents, definitions, and the relationship of the framework elements [12].

The Technical Report is applicable to software and hardware products used for predefined 

tasks. It focuses on documenting elements needed for design and development of usable 

systems, rather than prescribing a specific process. Sections include: 

1. Scope

2. Terms and definitions

3. A general framework for usability-related information 

3.1 Intended users and uses of usability-related information items

3.2 Situations in which the information items apply
9

3.3 Process independence

3.4 Relationship to human-centered design (HCD) as described in ISO 9241-210

3.5 Iteration and support for exploration 

4. Usability-related information items

4.1 General

4.2 Context of use description

4.3 User needs report

4.4 User requirements specification

4.5 User interaction specification

4.6 User interface specification

4.7 Evaluation report

4.8 Field data report

3.5 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE STANDARD 00-250

The British Ministry of Defence Standard 00-250 provides formal people-related 

requirements, design guidance, and supporting data for use in Ministry of Defence (MoD) 

defense acquisition contracts. The standard was devised for the use of the MoD and its 

contractors in the execution of contracts for MoD. The standard provides a structured 

presentation of Human Factors (HF) and Human Factors Integration (HFI) requirements, 

guidance, and data, arranged to meet the needs of different types of users [8]. The five parts 

include:

Part 0: Human Factors Integration

Part 1: Overarching People-Related 

Requirements

Part 2: Particular People-Related 

Requirements

• Contents

• Foreword

• Introduction

• Def Stan 00-250 Part 2 Scope

• Warning

• Definitions

• Abbreviations

• Particular People-Related 

Requirements

• People Characteristics – Particular 

People-Related Requirements

 Part 3: Technical Guidance (cont.)

Section 11: Training

1. Introduction 

2. Defence Manual of Training 

 Management

3. Individual Training

4. Collective Training

5. Contacts for Training 

 Development Advice

6. Training Support Requirements

7. Maintenance Checklists

Section 12: Operations, Maintenance & 

Support

1. Introduction

2. Operational Context

3. Maintainability 
10

• System Safety – Particular PeopleRelated Requirements

• Training – Particular People-Related 

Requirements

• Operations, Maintenance and Support 

– Particular People-Related 

Requirements

• The Workplace – Particular PeopleRelated Requirements

• The Environment – Particular PeopleRelated Requirements

• Work Equipment – Particular PeopleRelated Requirements

• Living Spaces

Part 3: Technical Guidance

Sections 1-7: Overall Contents/Scope

Section 8: People in Systems

1. Introduction

2. Recruitment and Selection

3. Manning

4. Job Analysis and Design

5. Social & Organizational 

 Considerations

Section 9: People Characteristics

1. Introduction

2. Physical Aspects

3. Strength

4. Stamina

5. Dexterity

Section 10: Systems Safety

1. Overview

2. Operating Scenarios

3. Safety Management Overview

4. Safety Management System 

Components

5. Integration of HFI activities and 

the Safety Management System

6. Design Outputs for System 

Operation

7. Solution Provider Human Factors 

4. Designing for Maintainability

Section 13: The Workplace

1. General HF Issues

2. Workspace Design

3. Workspace and Task Lighting

Section 14: The Environment 

1. Introduction 

2. Environmental Tolerance Issues

3. Environmental Stressors

4. Specific Military Environments

5. Hazard Logs

6. Sources of Advice

Section 15: Work Equipment 

1. Introduction

2. Visual Information Presentation

3. Auditory Information Presentation

4. Human-Computer Interaction

5. Discrete Displays

6. Discrete Controls

7. Alarms, Warning and Cautions

8. User Manuals

9. Hand Tools

10. Work Clothing 

11. Commercial-Off-the-Shelf 

 Equipment

Section 16:Living Spaces

1. Introduction

2. Factors Affecting Habitability 

3. Accommodation Size

4. Data Sources

Part 4: HFI Method, Tools and 

Techniques

Section 17: Contents

Section 18: Foreword

Section 19: Introduction

Section 20: Def Stan 00-250 Part 4 

Scope

Section 21:Warning

Section 22: Definitions Abbreviations

Section 24: HF & HFI Methods, Tools 
11

Manager/Coordinator 

Contribution to Safety 

8. Generic safety case argument –

Goal Structured Notation (GSN)

& Techniques

3.6 NASA/SP-2010-3407

The Human Integration Design Handbook (HIDH), NASA/SP-2010-3407, provides guidance 

for the crew health, habitability, environment, and human factors design of all NASA/SP2010-3407 human space flight programs and projects. Two primary uses for the handbook 

are: (1) Assist requirement writers to prepare contractual program-specific human interface 

requirements and (2) help designers develop designs and operations for human interfaces in 

spacecraft. The target audience consists primarily of human factors practitioners; engineers 

and designers; crews and mission/flight controllers; and training and operations developers

[6].

At first glance SP-2010-3407 may appear to be too narrowly focused or domain specific for 

this effort. However, after review, there appear to be relevant standard component sections 

on anthropometry, biomechanics, and strength; human performance capabilities; and crew 

interfaces. 

The chapters include:

1. Scope

2. Application Documents

3. General

4. Anthropometry, Biomechanics and Strength

5. Human Performance Capabilities

6. Natural and Induced Environments

7. Habitability Functions

8. Architecture

9. Hardware and Equipment

10. Crew Interfaces

11. Extravehicular Activity (EVA)

12. Operations

13. Ground Maintenance and Assembly

3.7 ISO/IEC 25062 

Software engineering – Software product Quality Requirement and Evaluation (SQuaRE) –

Common Industry Format (CIF) for usability test reports
12

Software usability is a key factor in predicting successful software deployment. Software 

manufacturers typically perform usability tests on software at various stages in the product’s 

development. Other companies purchasing software also test products for usability before 

making purchasing decisions. Testing involves (1) participants who are representative of the 

software’s target population; (2) representative tasks; and (3) measures of efficiency, 

effectiveness, and subjective satisfaction. The CIF for Usability Test Reports is intended for 

use by usability professionals to report the results of summative usability testing. 

The CIF standardizes the types of information captured with user testing. The level of detail 

allows an organization (or multiple, diverse organizations) to replicate the test procedure on 

different products. Major variables include: user demographics; task descriptions; test 

context (including the equipment used, the testing environment, and the participant and test 

administrator’s interaction protocol); as well as the metrics chosen to code the study findings. 

Advantages of using a standardized reporting format include: (1) a reduction in training time 

for usability staff, since an individual only needs to learn to use one form regardless of how 

many companies he works for; and (2) enhanced potential for increased communication 

between vendors and purchasing organizations, since readers of CIF-compliant reports will 

share a common language and expectations. The CIF is meant to be used by usability 

professionals within supplier organizations to generate reports that can be used by customer 

organizations in the CIF report [13]. Sections include:

1. Scope

2. Conformance

3. Normative references

4. Terms and definitions

5. Report Format

5.1. Title Page

5.2. Executive summary

5.3. Introduction

5.4. Method

5.5. Results

5.6. Appendices

3.8 MIL-STD-1472G

MIL-STD-1472 establishes general human engineering criteria for design and development 

of military systems, equipment and facilities. Its purpose is to present human engineering 

design criteria, principles and practices to be applied in the design of systems, equipment and 

facilities so as to: a) achieve required performance by operator, control, and maintenance 

personnel; b) minimize skill and personnel requirements and training time; c) achieve 
13

required reliability of personnel-equipment combinations; and d) foster design 

standardization within and among systems [14]. It consists of the following parts:

1. Scope

2. Applicable Documents

3. Definitions

4. General Requirements

4.1 Design objectives

4.1.1 Work environment

4.1.2 Performance degradation

4.1.3 User capabilities

4.1.4 Task performance

4.1.5 Personnel, training, and skill 

requirements

4.1.6 System manpower

4.2 Standardization

4.3 Off-the-shelf equipment

4.3.1 Selection

4.3.2 Modification

4.3.3 Redesign approval

4.4 Human engineering design

4.4.1 Compliance

4.4.2 Program requirements

4.4.3 Application

4.4.4 Accommodation

4.4.5 Human engineering 

requirements

4.4.6 Human engineering activities

4.4.7 Design factors

4.5 Fail-safe design

4.6 Simplicity of design

4.6.1 Equipment simplicity

4.6.2 Training

4.7 Interaction 

4.8 Safety 

4.8.1 System and personnel safety 

factors

4.8.2 Design of nonmilitary-unique 

5.6.6 Vehicle heating and ventilation

5.6.7 Automotive subsystems

5.6.8 Trailers, vans, and 

intravehicular connections

5.6.9 Vans and transportable 

enclosures

5.6.10 Ladders for trailers and vans

5.6.11 Cranes, materials handling, 

and construction 

5.7 Warnings, hazards, and safety

5.7.1 General

5.7.2 Display of warnings and 

hazards

5.7.3 Visual displays

5.7.4 Auditory warnings

5.7.5 Pipe, hose, and tube line 

identification

5.7.6 General workspace hazards

5.7.7 General equipment-related 

hazards

5.7.8 Platforms

5.7.9 Electrical, mechanical, fluid, 

toxic, and radiation hazards

5.7.10 Fire

5.7.11 Dust

5.7.12 Mud and water

5.7.13 Warnings for training systems

5.8 Safety barriers

5.9 Physical accommodation

5.9.1 General

5.9.2 Target populations

5.9.3 Design limits

5.9.4 Anthropometric design

5.9.5 Strength

5.9.6 Human strength and handling 

capacity
14

workplaces and equipment

4.9 Ruggedness

4.10 Chemical, biological, radiological, 

nuclear, and high-yield explosive 

(CBRNE) survivability 

4.10.1CBRNE compatibility

4.10.2CBRNE hardness and 

maintenance

4.10.3Susceptibility to reduction of 

inherent CBRNE hardness

4.10.4CBRNE hardness and 

maintenance personnel 

expertise

4.11 Electromagnetic pulse hardening

4.11.1Electromagnetic pulse 

hardening requirements

4.11.2Access to EMP-hardened 

facilities

4.11.3Electromagnetic barrier 

accessibility

4.12 Automation

4.12.1Automation of functions

4.12.2Human involvement

4.12.3Automated function 

characteristics

4.12.4 Indication of operating mode

4.13 Functional use of color

4.14 Design of aircrew systems

4.15 System integration 

5. Recycled, recovered, or environmentally 

preferable 

Detailed Requirements

5.1 Controls

5.1.1 General criteria

5.1.2 Control/display integration

5.1.3 Computer controls

5.1.4 Mechanical controls

5.1.5 Miniature controls

5.10 Maintenance accessibility 

5.10.1 General 

5.10.2 Mounting of items within 

units

5.10.3 Adjustment controls

5.10.4 Access and accessibility 

5.10.5 Lubrication 

5.10.6 Case and cover mounting

5.10.7 Cases

5.10.8 Covers

5.10.9 Access openings and covers

5.10.10 Fasteners

5.10.11 Unit design for efficient 

handling

5.10.12 Mounting

5.10.13 Lifting 

5.10.14 Conductors

5.10.15 Connectors

5.10.16 Test points

5.10.17 Test equipment

5.10.18 Failure indications and fuse 

requirements

5.10.19 Printed circuit boards

5.10.20 Stored energy devices

5.10.21 Diagnostics and 

troubleshooting

5.10.22 Hydraulic systems

5.11 Ship and marine structure valves

5.15.1 General design requirements

5.15.2 Valve criticality and location

5.15.3 Handwheel-operated valves, 

mounting heights, and 

orientations

5.15.4 Lever-operated valves, 

mounting heights, and 

orientations

5.15.5 Alternative valve orientations

5.12 Workspace design

5.12.1 General
15

5.1.6 Eye- and head-based controls

5.2 Visual displays

5.2.1 Installation of visual displays 

5.2.2 Displays – content

5.2.3 Displays – hardware

5.3 Speech and audio systems

5.3.1 Audio Displays

5.3.2 Speech recognition 

5.3.3 Alternative input device

5.4 Labeling 

5.4.1 General 

5.4.2 Orientation

5.4.3 Location 

5.4.4 Contents

5.4.5 Readability qualities

5.4.6 Design of label characters

5.4.7 Equipment labeling

5.4.8 Labeling for identification 

5.5 Environment

5.5.1 Environmental range

5.5.2 General workplace 

considerations

5.5.3 Illuminance

5.5.4 Acoustical energy and noise

5.5.5 Vibration and shock

5.5.6 Stealth and covert operations

5.5.7 G-loading materials

5.6 Ground vehicles

5.6.1 General

5.6.2 Vehicle seating

5.6.3 Vehicle controls 

5.6.4 Vehicle operating instructions

5.6.5 Vehicle visibility 

5.12.2 Workspace provision 

5.12.3 Workstation design

5.12.4 Special-purpose console 

design

5.12.5 Illumination

5.13 Physical environment design

5.13.1 Physical environment design

5.13.2 Passageways, ingress, and 

egress

5.13.3 Surface colors

5.14 Virtual environments, remotely 

handles systems, automated systems, 

telepresence, and teleoperations

5.14.1 Virtual environments (VE)

5.14.2 Design of equipment for 

remote handling

5.14.3 Automated systems

5.14.4 Telepresence

5.14.5 Teleoperations

5.15 Small systems, equipment, and 

weapons

5.15.1 Gunner tracking performance

5.15.2 Optical instruments and 

related equipment

5.15.3 Weapons systems

5.16 Peripherals

5.16.1 User authentication devices

5.16.2 Printers

5.16.3 Plotters and Recorders

6. Notes

6.1 Intended use

6.2 Acquisition requirements

6.3 Subject term listing

6.5 Changes from previous issue
16

3.9 ASTM F1166

ASTM F1166 provides ergonomic design criteria from a human-machine perspective for the 

design and construction of maritime vessels and structures as well as for equipment, systems, 

and subsystems, including vendor-purchased hardware and software. The standard focuses

on the design and evaluation of human-machine interfaces, including the interfaces between 

humans on one side and specific equipment and features within a ship or maritime structure 

on the other. This equipment includes controls and displays; physical environments;

structures; consoles; panels and workstations; layout and arrangement of ship spaces;

maintenance workplaces; labels and signage; alarms; computer screens; material handling; 

and valves [1].

The following list details the different standards topics in each of the above categories:

1. Scope

2. Referenced Documents

3. Terminology

4. Significance and Use

5. Controls

6. Displays

7. Alarms

8. Integration of Controls, Displays, and Alarms

9. Anthropometry

10. Workspace Arrangements

11. Access Aids: Stairs, Handrails, Railings, Vertical Ladders, Ramps, Doors, Lightening 

Holes, Hatches, Kick-Out Panels, Passageways and Walkways, and Work Platforms

12. Valve Placement, Orientation, and Location

13. Human-Computer Interface

14. Habitability 

15. Labeling

16. Material Handling

17. Maintenance

18. Hazards and Safety

19. Communications
17

4 GUIDELINES, BEST PRACTICES, AND OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS

In addition to standards, there are existing best practices and guidelines for user interface 

(UI) design that provides a broad range of useful information for Web design. This 

information is useful since a current trend in design is web-based applications for user 

interfaces. 

A best practice is a technique that has consistently shown superior results when compared to 

those achieved by other means. Guidelines are principles to set a course of action and are 

often described as a useful set of “Do’s” and “Don’ts.” Best practices are used to maintain 

quality and consistency and are an alternative to mandatory standards. Guidelines and best 

practices cover areas where there may not yet be standards and thus were considered in this 

review. 

In this section we provide an overview of World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Mobile Web 

Best Practices, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, FAA Human Factors Design Guide 

Chapter 8 – Computer Human Interface Guidelines, AAMI recommended practice for 

Human engineering – Design of medical devices, usability guidelines from Usability.gov, 

and other reference materials in general.

For consistency and accuracy we have directly quoted from these materials as referenced. 

4.1 W3C – MOBILE WEB BEST PRACTICES

This best practices document aligns with W3C’s promotion of “One Web” that is available 

on any mobile device. These best practices describe how to create content that provides a 

reasonable experience on a wide variety of devices, contexts, and locations. This set of best 

practices is primarily directed to creators, maintainers, and operators of Web sites. Note that 

these recommendations refer to delivered content and not to the processes by which it is 

created, or to the delivery devices or user agents [18]. Sections include:

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the Document

1.2 How the Best Practices are 

Organized

1.3 Audience

1.4 Scope

1.5 Relationship to other Best Practices 

and recommendations

1.6 Longevity and Versioning

2. Requirements

2.1 Presentation and Issues

2.2 Input

5.2.5 Link Target Identification

5.2.6 Image Maps

5.2.7 Refreshing, Redirection and 

Spawned Windows

5.2.8 Externally Linked Resources

5.3 Page Layout and Content

5.3.1 Page Content

5.3.2 Page Size

5.3.3 Scrolling

5.3.4 Navigation Bars

5.3.5 Graphics
18

2.3 Bandwidth and Cost

2.4 User Goals

2.5 Advertising

2.6 Device Limitations

2.7 Advantages

3. Delivery Context

3.1 One Web

3.2 Background to Adaptation

3.3 Adaptation Implementation Model

3.4 Assumptions about Adaptation

3.5 Establishing Context

3.6 Choice of User Experience

3.7 Default Delivery Context

4. Structure of Best Practice Statements

5. Best Practice Statements

5.1 Overall Behavior 

5.1.1 Thematic Consistency of 

Resource Identified by a URI

5.1.2 Exploit Device Capabilities

5.1.3 Work around Deficient 

Implementations

5.1.4 Testing

5.2 Navigation and Links

5.2.1 URIs of Site Entry Points

Navigation Bar

5.2.2 Balanced Structure

5.2.3 Navigation Mechanisms

5.2.4 Access Keys

5.3.6 Color

5.3.7 Background Images

5.4 Page Definition 

5.4.1 Title

5.4.2 Frames

5.4.3 Structural Elements

5.4.4 Tables

5.4.5 Non-Text Items

5.4.6 Image Size

5.4.7 Valid Markup

5.4.8 Measures

5.4.9 Style Sheets

5.4.10 Minimize

5.4.11 Content Types

5.4.12 Character Encoding

5.4.13 Error Messages

5.4.14 Cookies

5.4.15 Cache Headers

5.4.16 Fonts

5.5 User Input

5.5.1 Input

5.5.2 Tab order

5.5.3 Labels for Form Controls

6 Conformance and mobileOK

 6.1 Classes of Products

 6.2 Extensibility

More information may be found at W3C Mobile Best Practices or 

http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/.

4.2 W3C WEB ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE

The mission of the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) is to lead the Web to its full 

potential to be accessible, enabling people with disabilities to participate equally on the Web.

To that end, WAI brings together people from industry, disability organizations, government, 

and research labs from around the world to develop strategies, guidelines, and resources to 

help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities. 

WAI’s coverage of web accessibility includes Web content (i.e., information in a Web page 

or Web application, including text, images, forms, sounds, etc.); authoring tools (e.g., content 
19

management systems or blog software); browsers and other user agents (i.e., media players 

and assistive technologies); and W3C technical specifications (e.g., Media Accessibility User 

Requirements), including Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA). WAI-ARIA 

defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with 

disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls 

developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies.

The guidelines include Web content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, User Agent Accessibility 

Guidelines 1.0, Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0, and Web Content Accessibility 

Guidelines 1.0. A brief description of each set of guideline and content areas follows. 

4.2.1 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 includes guidelines for making Web 

content more accessible to people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision;

deafness and hearing loss; learning disabilities; cognitive limitations; limited movement;

speech disabilities; photosensitivity; and combinations of these [17]. Sections include:

Introduction

WCAG 2.0 Guidelines 

1. Perceivable – Information and user 

interface component must be 

presentable to users in ways they can 

perceive

1.1 Text Alternatives

1.1.1 Non-text Content

1.2 Time-based media 

1.2.1 Audio-only and Video-only 

(Prerecorded)

1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded)
20

1.2.3 Audio Description or Media 

Alternative (Prerecorded)

1.2.4 Captions (Live)

1.2.5 Audio Description 

(Prerecorded)

1.2.6 Sign Language (Prerecorded)

1.2.7 Extended Audio Description 

(Prerecorded) 

1.2.8 Media Alternative 

(Prerecorded)

1.2.9 Audio-only (Live)

1.3 Adaptable 

1.3.1 Info and Relationships

1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence

1.3.3 Sensory Characteristics

1.4 Distinguishable

1.4.1 Use of Color

1.4.2 Audio Control 

1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

1.4.4 Resize Text

1.4.5 Images of Text

1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced)

1.4.7 Low or No Background Audio

1.4.8 Visual Presentation

1.4.9 Images of Text (No Exception)

2. Operable – User interface component 

and navigation must be operable

2.1 Keyboard Accessible 

2.1.1 Keyboard

2.1.2 No Keyboard Trap 

2.1.3 Keyboard (No Exception)

2.2 Enough Time

2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

2.2.2 Pause, Stop, Hide

2.2.3 No Timing

2.2.4 Interruptions

2.2.5 Re-authenticating 

2.2.6 Link Purpose

2.2.7 Multiple Ways

2.2.8 Headings and Labels

2.2.9 Focus Visible 

2.2.10 Location

2.2.11 Link Purpose

2.2.12 Section Headings

2.3 Seizures

2.3.1 Three Flashes or Below 

Threshold

2.3.2 Three Flashes

2.4 Navigable

2.4.1 Bypass Block

2.4.2 Page Titled

2.4.3 Focus Order

3. Understandable – Information and the 

operation of user interface must be 

understandable

3.1 Readable 

3.1.1 Language of Page

3.1.2 Language of Parts

3.1.3 Unusual Words

3.1.4 Abbreviations

3.1.5 Reading Level

3.1.6 Pronunciation
21

3.2 Predictable

3.2.1 3.2.1 On Focus

3.2.2 3.2.2 On Input

3.2.3 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation 

3.2.4 3.2.4 Consistent Identification 

3.2.5 3.2.5 Change on Request

3.3 Input Assistance

3.3.1 Error Identification 

3.3.2 Labels or Instruction

3.3.3 Error Suggestion 

3.3.4 Error Prevention 

3.3.5 Help 

3.3.6 Error Prevention

4. Robust – Content must be robust 

enough that it can be interpreted 

reliably by a wide variety of user 

agents, including assistive technologies.

4.1 Compatible 

4.1.1 Parsing

4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

Conformance

4.2.2 User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 provides guidelines for designing user agents that 

lower barriers to Web accessibility for people with disabilities. User agents include HTML 

browsers and other types of software that retrieve and render Web content [19]. Sections 

include:

Abstract

1 Introduction

1.1 Relation to WAI accessibility 

guidelines

1.2 Target user agents

1.3 Know limitations of this document

1.4 Relation to general software design 

guidelines and other specifications

1.5 Security considerations

1.6 User control 

2 The user agent accessibility guidelines

2.1 Support input and output deviceindependence

2.2 Ensure user access to all content

2.3 Allow configuration not to render 

some content that may reduce 

accessibility

2.4 Ensure user control of rendering

2.5 Ensure user control of user interface

2.6 Implement interoperable application 

programming interfaces

2.7 Observe operating environment 

conventions

2.8 Implement specifications that benefit 

accessibility

2.9 Provide navigation mechanisms

2.10 Orient the user

2.11 Allow configuration and 

customization

2.12 Provide accessible user agent 

documentation and help

3 Conformance 

3.1 Conformance profiles

3.2 Conformance claims

3.3 UAAG 1.0 requirements in other 

specifications

4 Glossary

5 References

5.1 How to refer to this document

5.2 Normative references

5.3 Informative references

6 Acknowledgments
22

4.2.3 Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines 1.0

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 provides guidelines for Web authoring tool 

developers. Its purpose is to assist developers in designing authoring tools that produce 

accessible Web content and in creating an accessible authoring interface. Authoring tools can 

enable, encourage, and assist users in the creation of accessible Web content through 

prompts; alerts; checking and repair functions; help files; and automated tools [20]. Sections 

include:

Abstract

Status of document

1 Introduction

1.1 How the Guidelines are organized

1.2 Checkpoint priorities

1.3 Conformance to these Guidelines

2 Guidelines

2.1 Support accessible authoring practices

2.2 Generate standard markup

2.3 Support the creation of accessible content

2.4 Provide ways of checking and correcting inaccessible content

2.5 Integrate accessibility solutions into the overall “look and feel”

2.6 Promote accessibility in help and documentation 

2.7 Ensure that the authoring tool is accessible to authors with disabilities

3 Glossary of Terms and Definitions

4 Acknowledgments

5 References

4.2.4 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 explains how to make Web content accessible to 

people with disabilities, superseded by WCAG 2.0 [21]. Sections include:

Abstract

Status of Document

1 Introduction

2 Themes of Accessible Design

2.1 Ensuring Graceful Transformation 

2.2 Making Content Understandable and Navigable

3 How the Guidelines are Organized

3.1 Document conventions
23

4 Priorities

5 Conformance

6 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

6.1 Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content

6.2 Don’t rely on color alone

6.3 Use markup and style sheets and do so properly

6.4 Clarify natural language usage

6.5 Create tables that transform gracefully

6.6 Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully 

6.7 Ensure user control of time-sensitive content changes

6.8 Ensure direct accessibility of embedded user interfaces

6.9 Design for device-independence

6.10 User interim solutions

6.11 Use W3C technologies and guidelines

6.12 Provide context and orientation information 

6.13 Provide clear navigation mechanisms

6.14 Ensure that documents are clear and simple

4.2.5 Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0

Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 provides ontology of roles, states, 

and properties that define accessible user interface elements and can be used to improve the 

accessibility and interoperability of Web content and applications [22]. Sections include:

1. Introduction 

1.1 Rich Internet Application 

Accessibility 

1.2 Target Audience

1.3 User Agent Support

1.4 Co-Evolution of WAI-ARIA and Host 

Languages

1.5 Authoring Practices

1.5.1 Authoring Tools

1.5.2 Testing Practices and Tools

1.6 Assistive Technologies

2. Using WAI-ARIA

2.1 WAI-ARIA Roles

2.2 WAI-ARIA States and Properties

2.3 Managing Focus

3. Normative Requirements for WAI7.2.1 Supported States and 

Properties

7.2.2 Inherited States and Properties

7.2.3 Required Owned Elements

7.2.4 Required Context Role

7.2.5 Accessible Name Calculation 

7.2.6 Presentation Children

7.3 Categorization of Roles

7.3.1 Abstract Roles

7.3.2 Widget Roles

7.3.3 Document Structure

7.3.4 Landmark Roles

7.4 Definition of Roles

8. Supported States and Properties

8.1 Clarification of States versus 

Properties
24

ARIA

4. Important Terms

5. The Roles Model

5.1 Relationships Between Concepts

5.1.1 Superclass Role

5.1.2 Subclass Role

5.1.3 Related Concepts

5.1.4 Base Concept

5.2 Characteristics of Roles

5.2.1 Abstract Roles

5.2.2 Required States and 

Properties

5.3 Taxonomy of WAI-ARIA States and 

Properties

5.3.1 Widget Attributes

5.3.2 Live Region Attributes

5.3.3 Drag-and-Drop Attributes

5.3.4 Relationship Attributes

6. Implementation in Host Languages

6.1 Role Attribute

6.2 State and Property Attributes

6.3 Focus Navigation 

6.4 Implicit WAI-ARIA Semantics

6.5 Conflicts with Host Language 

Semantics

6.6 State and Property Attribute 

Processing

7. Conformance

7.1 Non-interference with the Host 

Language

7.2 All WAI-ARIA in DOM

Informative References

8.2 Characteristics of States and 

Properties

8.2.1 Related Concepts

8.2.2 Used in Roles

8.2.3 Inherits into Roles

8.2.4 Value

8.3 Values for States and Properties

8.4 Global States and Properties

8.5 Assistive Technology Notifications 

Communicated to Web 

Applications

8.6 Conformance Checkers

9. References

9.1 Normative References

10. Appendices

10.1 Schemata

10.1.1 Roles Implementation

10.1.2 WAI-ARIA Attributes 

Module

10.1.3 XHTML plus WAI-ARIA 

DTD

10.1.4 SGML Open Catalog Entry 

for XHTML+ARIA

10.1.5 WAI-ARIA Attributes XML 

Schema Module

10.1.6 HTML 4.01 plus WAI-ARIA 

DTD

10.2 Mapping WAI-ARIA Value types to 

languages

10.3 WAI-ARIA Role, State, and 

Property Quick Reference

Acknowledgements
25

4.3 FAA HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN GUIDE (HFDG) FOR ACQUISITION OF 

COMMERCIAL-OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) SUBYSTEMS, NONDEVELOPMENTAL ITEMS (NDI) AND DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEMS: 

CHAPTER 8 – COMPUTER HUMAN INTERFACE GUIDELINES

The HFDG (January 1996) is a comprehensive reference tool that helps human factors 

professionals within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and contractor organizations 

to efficiently carry out FAA human factors policy. The HFDG was developed by the 

Aviation Simulation and Human Factors Division to consolidate and capitalize upon multiple 

sources of human factors design and evaluation guidelines. 

The original HFDG focused principally on the Airway Facilities environment with a strong 

emphasis in the area of maintenance. Since 1996 it has provided guidance not only for 

maintenance acquisitions but for acquisitions in other areas of FAA as well. Chapter 8 –

Computer Interface Guidelines was revised in April 2001 as an expanded set of userinterface guidelines developed to meet the needs of FAA missions and systems [23].

The revised chapter is limited in scope to human factor guidance related to computer-human 

interface software and includes: 

8.0 Computer-Human Interface 

Guidelines

8.1 Screen design

8.1.1 General principles

8.1.2 Context

8.1.3 Format

8.1.4 Consistency

8.1.5 Initial display 

8.2 Text entry and display 

8.2.1 General

8.2.2 Luminance

8.2.3 Date entry and editing

8.2.4 Text entry

8.2.5 Text display

8.2.6 Text coding

8.2.7 Numeric and date/time format

8.2.8 Paging

8.2.9 Lists

8.2.10 Tables

8.2.11 Forms

8.3 Graphical information

8.3.1 General

8.13 Transaction options

8.13.1 General

8.13.2 Stacked commands

8.14 Controls

8.14.1 General 

8.14.2 Display of controls options

8.14.3 Icons

8.14.4 Palettes

8.14.5 Push buttons

8.14.6 Radio buttons

8.14.7 Check boxes

8.14.8 List boxes

8.14.9 Special graphical controls

8.14.10 Cursors

8.15 Windows

8.15.1 General

8.15.2 Window components

8.15.3 Window types

8.15.4 Message windows

8.15.5 Window states

8.15.6 Window operations
26

8.3.2 Maps and tactical displays 

8.3.3 Graphs

8.3.4 Graphics entry and 

manipulation

8.4 Concealed information 

8.4.1 Information suppression

8.5 Dynamic information update

8.5.1 General 

8.6 Color

8.6.1 General 

8.6.2 Color selection 

8.6.3 Location

8.6.4 Meaning

8.6.5 Color relative to adjacent colors

8.6.6 Foreground/background

8.6.7 Number of colors

8.6.8 Keys/legends

8.6.9 User preferred color sets

8.6.10 Color-coded symbols 

8.7 Coding

 8.7.1 General

 8.7.2 Brightness/intensity coding

 8.7.3 Flash coding

 8.7.4 Line coding

 8.7.5 Symbol coding

 8.7.6 Shape coding

 8.7.7 Size coding

 8.7.8 Texture coding 

 8.7.9 Spatial coding

 8.7.10 Multidimensional coding

8.8 Interaction

8.8.1 Interaction method

8.8.2 Hierarchical levels

8.8.3 Question-answer

8.8.4 Form-filling

8.8.5 Menus

8.8.6 Menu interaction 

8.8.7 Function keys

8.9 General interactive techniques

8.9.1 General

8.15.7 Window navigation

8.16 Audio and verbal displays

8.16.1 Audio displays

8.16.2 Auditory coding

8.16.3 Verbal warning signals

8.17 Systems operations

8.17.1 General 

8.17.2 Screen saver

8.17.3 System access, log on and log off

8.17.4 Application – log on and log off

8.17.5 Data backup

8.17.6 System response time

8.17.7 Prompting

8.17.8 Feedback

8.17.9 Status information 

8.17.10 Routine message

8.17.11 Error management

8.18 Help 

8.18.1 On-line help 

8.18.2 General 

8.18.3 Access and return

8.18.4 Context sensitivity 

8.18.5 Wording and style

8.18.6 Content

8.18.7 Help windows

8.19 Data communication 

8.19.1 General 

8.19.2 Preparing messages

8.19.3 Sending messages

8.19.4 Addressing messages

8.19.5 Receiving messages

8.20 Accommodating people with disabilities

8.20.1 Accommodating people with 

moderate 

8.20.2 Accommodating people with 

visual difficulties

8.20.3 Accommodating people with 

hearing difficulties

8.21 Input devices

8.21.1 Keyboards
27

8.9.2 Command language

8.9.3 Queries

8.10 User-initiated interrupts

8.10.1 General 

8.10.2 Freeze frame

8.11 File management functions

8.11.1 General

8.11.2 Clipboard

8.11.3 File management commands

8.12 Selection methods

8.12.1 Selection options

8.12.2 Highlighting

8.21.2 Fixed-function keys

8.21.3 Pointing devices

8.21.4 Alternative input devices (nonkeyboard, non-pointing devices)

8.21.5 Interchangeability among input 

devices

8.21.6 Input devices to accommodate people 

with disabilities

4.4 ANSI/AAMI HE75:2009 HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING – DESIGN OF 

MEDICAL DEVICES

This recommended practice document covers general human factors engineering (HFE) 

principles, specific HFE principles geared towards certain user-interface attributes, and

special applications of HFE. The purpose of this document is to provide a relevant source of 

HFE information, design criteria, and guidelines for medical devices. 

These guidelines are meant to supplement the myriad of books, databases, and references 

that support HFE, with a particular emphasis on the design and evaluation of medical 

devices. This document should be used with participation by individuals with formal human 

factors training and expertise [24]. The guidelines include: 

1 Scope

1.1 General 

1.2 Inclusions

1.3 Exclusions

2 Normative references

3 Definitions and abbreviations

General Considerations and Principles

4 General principles

4.1 Introduction 

4.2 Seek user input

4.2.1 Involve users early and often

4.2.2 Refine designs through usability 

testing

4.3 Establish design priorities

15.4.9 Creating alarm signals for 

each signaling modality: other 

alarm signals 

15.4.10 Creating a simulated use 

environment

15.4.11 Testing prototype alarm 

systems with potential users

15.4.12 Refining alarm systems on 

the basis of testing results

15.5 References

16 Accessibility considerations

16.1 Introduction 

16.2 General considerations

16.2.1 User considerations
28

4.3.1 Keep it simple

4.3.2 Ensure safe use

4.3.3 Ensure essential communication

4.3.4 Anticipate device failures

4.3.5 Facilitate workflow

4.4 Accommodate user characteristics and 

capabilities

4.4.1 Do not expect users to become 

masters

4.4.2 Expect user errors

4.4.3 Accommodate diverse users

4.4.4 Maximize accessibility 

4.4.5 Consider external factors that 

influence task performance

4.5 Accommodate users’ needs and 

preferences

4.5.1 Prioritize user input

4.5.2 Do not rely exclusively on 

“thought leaders” 

4.5.3 Let users set the pace

4.6 Establish realistic expectations of users

4.6.1 Do not rely on training

4.6.2 Do not rely on instructions for use

4.6.3 Do no rely on warnings

4.6.4 Do not rely on users’ memory

4.6.5 Avoid information overload

4.6.6 Do not assign users tasks that are 

better suited to the device

4.7 Consider real-world demands

4.7.1 Consider context of use

4.7.2 Consider worst-case scenarios

4.7.3 Make devices rugged as 

necessary

4.7.4 Limit user workload

4.7.5 Consider the potential for device 

migration into other uses or use 

environments

4.8 Develop compatible designs

4.8.1 Accommodate mental models

4.8.2 Establish natural or conventional 

mappings 

16.2.2 Design considerations

16.3 Design guidelines based on 

legislative guidance documents

16.3.1 Overview

16.3.2 Users with lower extremity 

disabilities

16.3.3 Users with upper extremity 

disabilities

16.3.4 Users who are deaf or hard of 

hearing

16.3.5 Users who are blind or have 

visual impairments

16.3.6 User with limited tactile 

sensitivity

16.3.7 Users with cognitive or 

memory impairments

16.3.8 Users who could benefit from 

having more time for device 

operation

16.3.9 Users with speech 

impairments

16.4 Research-based design guidelines 

for patient-support surfaces

16.4.1 Overview

16.4.2 Width of device base

16.4.3 Clearance for lift equipment

16.4.4 Adjustability of surface height

16.4.5 Transfer paths

16.4.6 Hand-holds

16.4.7 Contact surfaces

16.4.8 Controls for support surfaces

16.5 Design guidelines for Web-based, 

mobile, and home-use health care 

products based on industry guidance 

documents

16.5.1 Overview

16.5.2 Existing guidelines and 

standards

16.5.3 Built-in multimodal 

capabilities

16.5.4 Devices that use home-based 
29

4.8.3 Follow industry conventions and 

consensus standards

4.9 Optimize user interactions to enhance 

safety and effectiveness

4.9.1 Make devices error-tolerant and 

fail in a safe manner

4.9.2 Avoid physical strain, repetitive 

motions, and cumulative traumas 

4.9.3 Help users anticipate future 

events

4.9.4 Confirm important actions

4.9.5 Make critical controls robust and 

guard them

4.9.6 Clarify operational modes

4.9.7 Employ redundant coding

4.9.8 Design to prevent user confusion

4.9.9 Don’t neglect device appeal

5. Managing the risk of use error

5.1 Introduction 

5.1.1 Overview

5.1.2 Use-related hazards vs. traditional 

device-failure hazards

5.1.3 Behavioral variability in human 

users

5.1.4 Definition of use error

5.2 Types of use error

5.3 General considerations for managing 

use-related hazards

5.3.1 Use-error consequences for 

managing risk 

5.3.2 General considerations for 

managing risk 

5.4 Methods of managing the risk of use 

errors

5.4.1 Overview

5.4.2 Risk, risk management, and use 

safety

5.4.3 Use-error risk management 

process

5.5 Definition of intended use, user, and 

the use environment

technologies

16.5.5 Existing laws related to use of 

hearing aids with 

telecommunication products

16.5.6 Training and informational 

materials

16.6 References

Design Elements

17 Connectors and connections

17.1 Introduction

17.2 General considerations

17.2.1 Overview

17.2.2 Critical design considerations

17.2.3 Key design criteria issues

17.2.4 Types of connection failures

17.3 Prioritizing types of connections

17.3.1 Overview

17.3.2 Direct patient connections for 

therapeutic purposes

17.3.3 Direct patient connections for 

diagnostic purposes

17.3.4 Connections between patient 

an device

17.3.5 Routinely connected nonpatient connections

17.3.6 Permanent exterior device 

connections

17.3.7 Permanent connections inside 

devices

17.4 Differentiating connectors

17.4.1 Overview

17.4.2 Active differentiators

17.4.3 Passive differentiators

17.5 Preventing disconnections

17.5.1 Overview

17.5.2 Rotating locking rings

17.5.3 Push-pull locking devices

17.5.4 Locking levers

17.5.5 Screw-captive devices

17.5.6 Capture clips

17.5.7 Friction fit
30

5.6 Identification of use-related hazards

5.6.1 Overview

5.6.2 Analysis of predecessor and 

similar devices

5.6.3 Analysis of device use tasks

5.6.4 Application of best practice for 

user-interface design

5.6.5 Consideration of user workload in 

device use

5.7 Estimation and prioritization of risk of 

use-related hazards

5.7.1 Overview

5.7.2 Failure of mode effects analysis

5.7.3 Fault tree analysis

5.7.4 Usability testing

5.8 Implementation of risk controls 

5.8.1 Overview

5.8.2 Most preferred use-related hazard 

mitigation strategies

5.8.3 Less preferred use-related hazard 

mitigation strategies

5.9 Validation of safety of use 

(effectiveness of risk controls)

5.10Decision on whether risks are 

acceptable

5.11Determination of whether new risks 

were introduced

5.12Documentation of the use-related risk 

management process

5.13Monitoring, identification, and control 

of use-related issues post-marketing

5.14Summary

5.15References

6 Basic human skills and abilities

5.4 Introduction

5.5 Design guidelines

5.5.1 Overview

5.5.2 Vision

5.5.3 Audition and speech

5.5.4 Other sensory modalities

5.5.5 Human information processing

17.5.8 Positive feedback

17.5.9 Engagement of the locking 

mechanism

17.5.10 Engagement indicators

17.6 Facilitating connections

17.6.1 Connector design (shape, fit, 

feature)

17.6.2 Receptacle design

17.6.3 Connector use and testing and 

user training

17.7 Preventing misconnections

17.8 Protecting connectors

17.9 User documentation

17.10 References

18 Controls

18.1 Introduction 

18.2 General considerations

18.2.1 Steps in specifying controls

18.2.2 Advantages and 

disadvantages of various 

types of controls

18.2.3 Control selection 

18.2.4 Human factors principles that 

apply to all controls

18.2.5 Design considerations for 

medical device controls vs. 

controls for consumer 

products

18.3 Design guidelines

18.3.1 Control-panel controls

18.3.2 Input devices

18.3.3 Large mechanical controls 

18.4 References

19 Visual displays

19.1 Introduction 

19.2 General considerations

19.2.1Overview

19.2.2Understanding and 

accommodating user 

population characteristics

19.2.3Accommodating the range of 
31

5.5.6 Human memory

5.5.7 Human response capabilities

5.5.8 Human vs. machine capabilities

5.6 References

6 Anthropometry and biomechanics

6.1 Introduction

6.2 General considerations

6.3 Anthropometric design guidance

6.3.1 Overview

6.3.2 Anthropometric data

6.3.3 One-dimensional measurements

6.3.4 Mobility and functional 

measurements 

6.3.5 Strength

6.3.6 Derivation of missing data

6.4 Biomechanical design guidance

6.4.1 Overview

6.4.2 Critical design considerations

6.4.3 Special considerations

6.4.4 Design guidelines for tasks 

involving lifting

7 Environmental considerations

7.1 Introduction

7.2 General considerations

7.3 Design guidelines

7.3.1 Interruptions and distractions

7.3.2 Acoustic noise

7.3.3 Lighting

7.3.4 Temperature and humidity 

7.3.5 Vibration 

7.3.6 Slipperiness and friction 

7.3.7 Atmospheric pressure

7.3.8 Ease of maintenance

7.3.9 Storage

7.3.10Mounting of devices

7.3.11Radiant energy

7.3.12Emergency environment

7.3.13Home environment

7.4 References

8 Usability testing

8.1 Introduction

user populations

19.2.4Determining typical 

mounting positions and 

variations in mounting

positions

19.2.5Examining the physical 

environmental conditions

19.2.6 Identifying the requirements 

for displayed information

19.2.7Performing objective display 

measurements

19.2.8Conducting usability tests

19.3 Guidelines for specifying visualdisplay performance 

19.3.1Overview

19.3.2Visual-display viewing 

conditions

19.3.3Spatial characteristics

19.3.4Temporal characteristics

19.3.5Luminance and color 

characteristics

19.4 Guidelines for display formatting 

19.4.1 Size and spacing of 

displayed characters or symbols

19.4.2 Font style

19.4.3Character, line, and word 

spacing

19.4.4Size of color objects and 

alphanumeric strings

19.5 Guidelines for displaying data 

19.5.1 Precision

19.5.2 Adequate signal 

duration

19.6 Guidelines for selecting electronic 

visual displays 

19.6.1 Comparison of major 

types of visual displays

19.6.2 Liquid crystal 

displays

19.6.3Active-matrix vs. passivematrix displays
32

8.2 General considerations

8.3 Design guidelines

8.3.1 Types of usability tests

8.3.2 Principles of good usability test 

design

8.3.3 Overview of usability testing

8.3.4 Content of the usability test plan

8.3.5 Logistics

8.3.6 Protocol-related activities

8.3.7 Supplemental usability 

evaluation methods

8.4 References

9 Signs, symbols, and markings

9.1 Introduction

9.2 General considerations

9.3 Design guidelines

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Labels for equipment 

identification

9.3.3 Descriptions of equipment 

functions

9.3.4 Hazard labels

9.3.5 Electrical receptacle and 

connector labels

9.3.6 Fuse and circuit-breaker labels

9.3.7 Labels on controls, keyboards, 

and keypads

9.3.8 Positioning and mounting of 

labels

9.3.9 Label orientation

9.3.10 Indications of functional 

relationships

9.3.11 Permanence and durability of 

labels

9.4 Specific design guidance

9.4.1 Consistency 

9.4.2 Label content

9.4.3 Use of symbols

9.4.4 Legibility

9.4.5 Coding

9.4.6 Application of color to mimics 

19.6.4Large-screen displays

19.6.5Scale indicators

19.7 References

20 Use of automation

20.1 Introduction

20.2 General considerations

20.2.1 Types of automated systems 

and common issues

20.2.2 Automation vs. human 

tradeoffs in medical systems

20.2.3 Automation status

20.2.4 User understanding of the 

automation

20.3 Design guidelines

20.3.1 Monitoring and alarm 

systems

20.3.2 Event-sequencing systems

20.3.3 Decision-support systems

20.3.4 Closed-loop physiological 

control systems

20.3.5 Hybrid or composite 

automation systems

20.4 References

21 Software-user interfaces

21.1 Introduction 

21.1.1 Overview

21.1.2 Sample software-user 

interfaces

21.1.3 Factors influencing softwareuser interface design

21.2 General considerations

21.2.1 Overview

21.2.2 Make the software-user 

interface easy to use

21.2.3 Factors influencing softwareuser interface design 

21.2 General considerations

21.2.1 Overview

21.2.2 Sample software-user 

interfaces

21.2.3 Focus on user tasks
33

and flow lines

9.4.7 Flow lines

9.4.8 Language

9.4.9 Package labels

9.4.10Hierarchical schemes

9.5 References

10User documentation

10.1 Introduction

10.2General considerations

10.2.1Overview

10.2.2Overall process for user 

documentation development

10.2.3Basic design principles for 

layout, comprehension, and 

organization 

10.2.4Control of user risks

10.2.5Documentation design for 

diverse environments

10.3Specific design guidelines for 

various types of user documentation

10.3.1Overview

10.3.2User guides, operator 

manuals, and owner’s 

manuals

10.3.3Quick-reference guides

10.3.4Electronic documentation

10.4 References

12 Packaging design

12.1 Introduction

12.2 General considerations

12.2.1 Overview

12.2.2 The user

12.2.3 The use environment

12.3 Principles of good medical 

packaging design

12.3.1 Overview

12.3.2 Opening packages

12.3.3 Assembling or sequentially 

using components

12.3.4 Labeling packages

12.3.5 Identifying devices

21.2.4 Provide user guidance

21.2.5 Safeguard against use error

21.2.6 Optimize interaction 

requirements

21.2.7 Improve software and 

hardware integration

21.2.8 Select the interaction style

21.2.9 Support product evolution 

21.3 Special considerations

21.3.1 Overview

21.3.2 Screen size

21.3.3 Compatibility

21.3.4 Information priority

21.3.5 Information legibility

21.3.6 User population

21.3.7 Standardization

21.3.8 System integration 

21.4 Design guidelines

21.4.1 Categories

21.4.2 Conceptual model

21.4.3 User-interface structure

21.4.4 Interaction style

21.4.5 Screen layout

21.4.6 Legibility

21.4.7 Aesthetics

21.4.8 Data entry

21.4.9 Color

21.4.10 Dynamic displays

21.4.11 Special interactive 

mechanisms

21.4.12 User support

21.4.13 Consistency

21.5 References

Integrated Solutions 

22 Hand tool design

22.1 Introduction

22.2 General considerations

22.2.1 Overview

22.2.2 Biomechanics

22.2.3 Hand grips and positions 

associated with tool use
34

12.3.6 Indicating sterilization status

12.3.7 Storing packaged devices

12.3.8 Handling packaged devices

12.3.9 Disposing of packaging

12.4 References

13. Design for post-market issues

13.1 Introduction

13.2 General considerations

13.2.1 Type of user: health care 

professional or home-use 

consumer

13.2.2 Type of use environment : 

health care facility or home

13.2.3 Device longevity

13.3 Design guidelines

13.3.1 Overview

13.3.2 Disposables

13.3.3 Single-use devices 

13.3.4 Labeling 

13.3.5 Setup and installation

13.3.6 Routine maintenance

13.3.7 Repair

13.3.8 Upgrades

13.3.9 Obsolescence

13.3.10 Disposal

13.4 References

14 Cross-cultural/cross-national design

14.1 Introduction

14.2 General considerations

14.2.1 Differences among nations 

and cultures

14.2.2 National issues

14.2.3 Cultural issues

14.2.4 Culture-specific or nationspecific user profiles

14.3 Guidelines for cross-cultural/crossnational design

14.3.1 Overview

14.3.2 Direct issues associated with 

the user-device interface

14.3.3 Indirect issues associated with 

22.2.4 Forces associated with the use 

of hand tools

22.2.5 Injuries and discomfort 

associated with tool use

22.2.6 Risk factors

22.2.7 Compensatory strategies and 

tradeoffs

22.3 Special considerations

22.3.1 Overview

22.3.2 Serve life-critical purposes

22.3.3 Accommodate evolving 

clinical practices

22.3.4 Accommodate a variety of 

user positions

22.3.5 Accommodate users with 

varying degrees of skill, 

training, and experience

22.3.6 Accommodate workstation 

use by individuals with 

disabilities

22.3.7 Accommodate patients who 

might be under stress

22.3.8 Accommodate caregivers who 

might be under stress

22.3.9 Anticipate potential migration 

from hospital to home use

22.3.10 Anticipate frequent or 

infrequent cleaning

22.3.11 Design for compactness

23.4 Design guidelines

23.4.1 Introduction 

23.4.2 Operational factors

23.4.3 Power supply 

23.4.4 Readiness

23.4.5 Security 

23.4.6 Privacy

23.4.7 Communication

23.4.8 Component configuration 

23.4.9 Physical interaction 

23.4.10 User accommodations

23.4.11 Environmental factors 
35

the user-device interface

14.3.4 Cross-cultural/cross-national 

design process

14.4 Summary

14.5 References

15 Alarm design

15.1 Introduction

15.2 General considerations

15.2.1 Overview

15.2.2 Goals

15.2.3 Verifying that the alarm 

systems works

15.2.4 Initializing alarm monitoring

15.2.5 Avoiding false alarms

15.3 Considerations regarding specific 

requirements from IEC 60601-1-8

15.3.1 Attended-use model

15.3.2 Distributed alarm systems

15.3.3 Alarm priority, urgency of 

response, and allowable 

latency

15.3.4 Distributed-alarm-system 

requirements of IEC 60601-1-

8 

15.3.5 “Latching” alarm signals

15.3.6 Initiation and termination of 

alarm signals

15.3.7 Default alarm limits and

alarm-limit adjustment

15.3.8 Alarm-system inactivation 

states

15.3.9 Simultaneous monitoring of 

multiple physiological states

15.4 Step-by-step guidelines for 

developing an alarm system

15.4.1 Developing an alarm system

15.4.2 Gathering information

15.4.3 Generating a list of alarm

 conditions that require alarm 

signals

15.4.4 Creating signal-processing 

23.5 References

24 Design of mobile medical devices

24.1 Introduction

24.2 General considerations

24.2.1 Overview

24.2.2 User considerations

24.2.3 Use-environment 

considerations

24.3 Design guidelines

24.3.1 General design guidance

24.3.2 Mechanical design

24.3.3 Electrical design

24.3.4 Display of information on 

computer-based medical 

devices

24.3.5 Controls and input devices

24.3.6 Connectors and cables

24.3.7 Security

24.3.8 Instruction manuals and other 

forms of device 

documentation

24.4 References

25 Home health care

25.1 Introduction 

25.1.1 Trends in medical device use

25.1.2 The home user

25.1.3 The home environment

25.2 General considerations

25.2.1 Overview

25.2.2 Adjustability 

25.2.3 Durability

25.2.4 Learnability and intuitiveness

25.2.5 Freedom from calibration, 

maintenance, and repair

25.2.6 Protection form unintended 

misuse and/or tampering

25.2.7 Portability and 

maneuverability 

25.2.8 Power requirements

25.2.9 Aesthetics and 

unobtrusiveness
36

algorithms

15.4.5 Identifying the information to 

communicate about alarm 

conditions

15.4.6 Allocating signaling 

modalities to alarm signals

15.4.7 Creating alarm signals for 

each signaling modality: 

visual alarm signals

15.4.8 Creating alarm signals for 

signaling modality: auditory 

alarm signals

25.2.10 User guidance and training

25.3 Design guidelines

25.3.1 Overview

25.3.2 Design guidance related to 

sensory capabilities and 

limitations

25.3.3 Design guidance related to 

cognitive capabilities and 

limitations

25.3.4 Design guidance related to 

physical capabilities and 

limitations

25.3.5 Design guidance related to the 

use environment

25.3.6 Medical device training 

materials and documentation 

for home users

25.4 References

4.5 USABILITY.GOV

Usability.gov is an official U.S. Government website, and the primary government source for 

information on usability and user-centered design. While the site is the result of is a 

collaborative effort involving many Federal agencies, it is managed by the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is a one-stop source for government web designers 

to learn how to make websites more usable, useful, and accessible [25].

The Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines were developed by the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in partnership with the U.S. General 

Services Administration and has a set of 209 guidelines. The Guidelines were developed to 

assist those involved in the creation of websites (primarily website managers and designers) 

so that they could base their decisions on the most current and best available evidence. The 

Guidelines are particularly relevant to the design of information-oriented sites, but can be 

applied across the wide spectrum of websites. A secondary audience is researchers who 

investigate Web design issues. This resource will help researchers determine what research 

has been conducted regarding human interface design, and where little or no research exists 

[26]. Topics include: 

• Design process and evaluation

• Optimizing the user experience

• Accessibility 
37

• Hardware and software

• The home page

• Page layout

• Navigation

• Scrolling and paging

• Headings, titles and labels

• Links

• Text appearance

• Lists

• Screen-based controls

• Graphics, images, and multimedia

• Writing Web content

• Content organization

• Search

• Usability testing

For more information, visit Usability.gov.

4.6 OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS

This section contains other reference materials that may not have general applicability like 

the standards described in Section 3. The materials identified below are domain specific, 

however, readers of this document may find the content useful for specific program areas or 

applications within DHS.

4.6.1 ASTM F1337-10 Standard Practice for Human Systems Integration Program 

Requirements for Ships and Marine Systems, Equipment, and Facilities

This document establishes and defines the processes and associated requirements for 

incorporating Human Systems Integration (HSI) into all phases of government and 

commercial ships, offshore structures, and marine system and equipment acquisition life 

cycle [27].

4.6.2 ASTM E2350-07 Standard Guide for Integration of Ergonomics/Human Factors 

into New Occupation Systems

This guide is intended to assist in the integration of ergonomic principles into the design and 

planning of new occupational systems from the earliest design stages through 

implementation [28].
38

4.6.3 NUREG-0800 14.3.9 Human Factors Engineering – Inspections, Tests, Analyses, 

and Acceptance Criteria

This SRP section addresses Tier 1 information including inspectors, tests, analyses, and 

acceptance criteria (ITACC) related to the human factors aspects of the nuclear power plant 

design [29].

4.6.4 NUREG-0800 18.0 Human Factors Engineering & Review Responsibilities

This chapter describes the process of evaluating (1) designs, (2) design processes, (3) design 

reviews, and (4) operator actions submitted by applicants and licenses for the broad range of 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) review responsibilities. 

The Review Responsibilities chapter is used by the NRC staff when performing safety 

evaluations of license applications submitted by applicants pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50 and 

10 CRF Part 52. This SRP chapter describes a process for evaluating (1) designs, (2) design 

processes, (3) design reviews, (4) operator actions submitted by applicants and licensees for 

the broad range of NRC review responsibilities [30].

4.6.5 NUREG-0711, REV.2

This document is used by the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to review the 

human factors engineering (HFE) programs of applicants for construction permits, operating 

licenses, standard design certifications, combined operating licenses, and for license 

amendments. The purpose of these reviews is to verify that accepted HFE practices and 

guidelines are incorporated into the applicant’s HFE program [31].

4.6.6 MIL-HDBK-46855A

This document provides guidance and criteria for (a) the procuring activity’s selection and 

use of this handbook for contract reference and, when used, (b) the tailoring of program task 

guidelines in Section 4 [32].

4.6.7 ANSI/AAMI HE74:2001

The purpose of this standard it to provide ergonomic information and human factors 

engineering guidance so that optimum user and patient safety, system safety and 

performance, and operator effectiveness will be reflected in medical device design. The 

document describes a recommended human factors engineering process for use in fulfilling 

user interface design requirements in the development of medical devices and systems, 

including hardware, software, and documentation [33].

4.6.8 ASTM Standard Specification for Handheld Point Chemical Vapor Detectors 

(HPVCD) for Homeland Security Applications 

In addition to these guidelines, best practices and other materials, there is a draft ASTM 

document that presents baseline performance requirements and additional capabilities for 
39

handheld point chemical vapor detectors (HPCVD) for homeland security applications. 

Standard Specification for Handheld Point Chemical Vapor Detectors (HPVCD) for 

Homeland Security Applications provides HPCVD requirements, including sensitivity and 

selectivity under specific environmental conditions, and system, environmental, and 

documentation requirements [34].

5 COMPONENTS SELECTION PROCESS

The NIST team had an understanding of DHS roles and tasks from previous projects. 

Additionally, we reviewed information sources including the DHS website to verify and 

deepen this understanding about the DHS directorates. Drawing on this domain knowledge, 

previous project experience, and our deep background in UCD processes, we began the 

process of identifying potentially relevant components from the identified standards. That

may meet the DHS needs.

We reviewed, categorized, and sorted the standards components that were potentially 

applicable to the DHS mission. We focused on standards that were generalizable to other 

domains and job roles outside of their intended use. 

We eliminated standards components that we believed were irrelevant to DHS job 

classifications or environments. For example, NASA/SP-2010-3407 7.3 Personal Hygiene

addresses general considerations for crewmembers on short-duration missions in zero

gravity. ASTM F1166-07 17.8 Hatches, Manways, and Lightening Holes for Maintenance 

Access addresses round, square, rectangular, or oval hatches, manways, and lightening holes 

used for access into fuel, oil or water ballast tanks, voids, cofferdams, HVAC ducting, etc. on 

Marine systems. And MIL-STD-1472G 5.6.11 Cranes, materials handling, and construction

addresses position of equipment and loads; control lever hatches; foot-operated controls; 

handholds and footholds; etc.

Given our current understanding of the role and operating environment of DHS end users, it 

is unlikely that these types of standards components would apply. With that in mind, we 

organized the selected standards components by categories found across standards. Phase II 

of the project will guide us in this iterative process and we may need to reconsider the 

relationship between identified components from this phase and DHS needs. 

5.1 APPLICABLE STANDARD COMPONENTS CATEGORIES

The table below cross-references the standards we reviewed with the specific categories 

relevant to DHS identified using the process described above . The key following the table 

defines the category labels we used to structure the standards. 
40

Table 1: Standards by Category Representation

NASA

2010-3407

ISO 

9241

MIL-STD 

1472G

MOD

00-250

ASTM 

F1166

ISO/IEC 

TR 20560

ISO/IEC 

25062

MIL-HDBK759CSection

508

Accessibility √ √ √

Anthropometry √ √ √ √

Audio Display √ √ √ √ √

Communications √ √ √ √

Controls √ √ √ √ √ √

Data √ √ √

Display √ √ √ √ √ √

Distinct Actions √

Ergonomic 

Requirements for 

Office Work 

VDTs

√ √

Error 

Management √ √ √ √

Feedback √ √ √ √ √ √

Forms and Data 

Entry √ √

Glare & 

Reflection √ √ √ √ √

Hazards and 

Safety √ √ √ √

Help, 

Instructions, 

Tutorials, 

Training

√ √ √ √ √

Human Computer 

Interaction √ √ √ √ √

Information 

Displayed to 

Operator

√ √

Keyboard 

Requirements √ √ √

Label √ √ √ √ √ √

Maintenance √ √ √ √

Physical 

Accommodation √ √ √

Prompts √ √ √ √

Software 

Elements √ √ √ √ √ √
41

NASA

2010-3407

ISO 

9241

MIL-STD 

1472G

MOD

00-250

ASTM 

F1166

ISO/IEC 

TR 20560

ISO/IEC 

25062

MIL-HDBK759CSection

508

System Status √ √ √

Toxicity √ √ √

UIs with 

Automated 

Systems

√ √ √ √

Windows √ √ √ √

Work 

Environment √ √ √ √

Workspace 

Layout & Design √ √ √ √ √ √

World Wide Web 

Interfaces √ √ √

• Accessibility – access to and use of information and data for people with disabilities 

are the same as individuals without disabilities [9].

3

Disabilities include: 

 Visual – complete loss of sight; low or limited vision; weak, dim, or tunnel 

vision; extreme near- or far-sightedness, and color blindness;

 Auditory – deaf or complete loss of hearing; hard of hearing; or high- and 

low-frequency loss);

 Mobility – limit the mobility of individuals where a person may require the 

use of wheelchairs, canes, crutches, braces, or prostheses. 

 Speech – reasons that affect a person’s ability to communicate verbally. May 

include: voice strength, fluency, aphasia, or complete voicelessness. 

 Cognitive – range from a serious mental impairment caused by disease or 

medications to non-organic disorders such as dyslexia, poor literacy, attention 

deficit disorder, or problems understanding basic information. At a basic 

level, these disabilities affect the mental process of knowledge, including 

aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment. 

 Dexterity – limited or no use of upper or lower extremities. Can effect 

coordination based on a person’s range of motion and ability to move the arm 

and hand forward, to the side and above the head, the find and gross dexterity 

of the fingers such as the ability to hold small and large items and ability to 

use writing and typing instruments. 

 

3

The definition of accessibility and related definitions of disability come from the Section508.gov website.
42

• Anthropometry – the study of the physical size, strength, and range of motion of the 

human body and the application of data to the design of systems, equipment, 

workspaces, and tools to maximize human performance and safety in a work setting; 

and (2) measurement of human variability of body dimensions and strength as a 

function of gender, race, and regional origin [1]. 

• Audio displays – device that provides readings, status, or condition of machinery, 

equipment, or system-operating parameters through the use of sound signals or 

spoken messages [1].

• Communications – method of requesting or providing information [2].

• Controls – (1) any switch, pushbutton, knob, level, keyboard, mouse, or other device 

manually manipulated by the operator/maintainer to alter or maintain the status of a 

particular piece of equipment or system; and (2) a device an operator or maintainer 

uses to input a signal, change the operating status of equipment or systems, or to 

manipulate displayed data [1].

• Data – factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation; 

information output by a sensing device or organ that includes that must be processed 

to be meaningful; information in a numerical form that can be digitally transmitted or 

processed [3]. 

• Display – type of display that uses numeric characters to provide an instantaneous 

value of a parameter; any gauge, light counter, printer, annunciator, sight glass, horn, 

siren, digital counter, cathode ray tube (CRT) screen, or any other device that 

provides visual or auditory information to the human operator/maintainer about the 

status of a piece of equipment or system [1].

• Distinct actions – are actions that can be differentiated by their spatial location, and 

physical controls and grouped by outcome results. For example, physical controls that 

actuate environmental systems can be grouped together and separately from controls 

that actuate propulsion systems [6]. 

• Ergonomic requirements for office work VDTs – the characteristics of a visual 

display terminal as it relates to other elements in the work system. These 

requirements insure that the VDTs are legible, readable, and comfortable in use [4]. 

• Error management – includes (1) error correction when users are required to make 

entries into a system, an easy means shall be provided for correcting erroneous 

entries. The system shall permit correction of individual errors without requiring 

reentry of correctly entered commands or data elements; and (2) data correction – that 

capability to facilitate the detection and correction of errors after keying in but before 

entering into the system. While it is desirable that errors be detected early, error 

checking shall occur at logical data entry breaks [1].
43

• Feedback – data provided to the operator that presents status information, 

confirmation, and verification through the interaction so that the subsequent or 

ongoing operations of a machine can be altered or corrected. Feedback can take many 

forms from tactile to auditory. It is the information about the gap between the actual 

level and the reference level of a system parameter which is used to alter the gap in 

some way [1].

• Forms and data entry – interactive control when data entry is required [1].

• Glare & reflection – glare is the luminance or amount of light-per-unit area emitted or 

reflected from a surface, within a specific area of personnel’s field of view, which is 

greater than the luminance to which the eye is adjusted compared to the remainder of 

the field of view. Reflection is the change in direction of a light wave away from the 

boundary the wave encounters [1].

• Hazards and safety – these standards involve reducing or eliminating danger and 

thereby increasing safety often by the use of warning labels [1].

• Help, instructions, tutorials, training – online information or guidance to assist the 

user in completing a task [1].

• Human-computer interaction – systems engineering discipline is concerned with the 

understanding of interactions among humans and the elements of a system and the 

profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design to optimize 

human well-being and overall performance [5]. 

• Information displayed to operator – Data or information displayed to an operator of a 

device or system [1].

• Keyboard requirements – the requirements for any device that includes a set of keys

[4].

• Labeling – any type of plate, sign, placard, inscription, legend, marking, or 

combination of these, that is used for purposes of identification or to impart visual 

information or instructions to the reader. Labels are used to (1). Identify, and be place 

on, all individual equipment or components; (2) identify spaces; and (3) identify 

individual controls, displays, alarms, or groups thereof. An instruction label provides 

step-by-step instructions for accomplishing a specific task along with hazard and 

safety information related to performing the task [1].

• Maintenance – all actions necessary for retaining material in (or restoring it to) a 

condition capable of a specified level of performance. An on-screen symbol that 

indicates the operating system is ready for a command [1].

• Physical accommodation – design of a system by taking into account the physical 

limitations of the human(s) in the system [8].
44

• Prompts – indicate that the system is available for input. Prompts can be generic or 

specific. Generic prompts indicate that the system is waiting for user input, but do not 

explicitly indicate the type of input expected [1].

• Software elements – a sequence of abstract program statements that describe 

computations to be performed by a machine. Elements may include: scrolling, 

navigation, selection, menus, toolbars and status bars, and dialog boxes [4].

• System status – state of system processes that provide information for the next course 

of action [6].

• Toxicity – the degree to which a substance is toxic [7].

• UIs with automated systems – Automation is the replacement of manual operations 

by automatic, computerized, methods that take the place of, the mediate, human 

observation, action, or decision-making. The user interface provides information to 

the operator to understand exactly how and what was done by the automation and 

how successfully the task was accomplished [5][6].

• Windows – In computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind of user 

interface. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other 

windows. It displays the output of and may allow input to one or more processes. 

Windows are primarily associated with graphical displays, where they can be 

manipulated with a pointer [10].

• Work environment – the surroundings of a physical system and the human operator 

that may interact with the system [1].

• Workspace layout & design – the layout or design of the contained or otherwise 

defined area occupied by the human operator/maintainer to monitor, operate, 

maintain, repair, calibrate, or replace a piece of equipment or total system to complete 

any task required as a part of the person’s assigned duties [1].

• World Wide Web interfaces – the interface that allows user to communicate with a 

vast network of linked hypertext files, stored on computers throughout the world and 

made available by the HTTP protocol [4]. 

5.2 STANDARDS SUMMARIES

The following section provides a more in-depth look at the standards selected for relevancy. 

The following describes the category, identified standards, and standards sections. Phase II 

will further refine the relationship between these components and DHS needs.

5.2.1 Accessibility 

Two of the standards documents address accessibility: ISO 9241 and Section 508.
45

ISO 9241 includes two relevant parts, Part 20 Accessibility guidelines for 

information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and services and Part 171 

Guidance on software accessibility.

Part 20 Accessibility guidelines for information/communication technology (ICT) 

equipment and services includes the following relevant sections:

• 5.2 Context of use and accessibility addresses the importance of identifying 

the context(s) of use involving users, tasks, social, and physical and technical 

environments. 

• 5.3 Process addresses the activities that should be performed to ensure 

accessibility. 

• 6 Recommendations related to managing development includes 6.1 

Information accessibility policy that addresses the need for an information 

accessibility policy; and 6.2 Development accountability addresses the need to 

follow the information accessibility policy during planning, design, 

development, and evaluation of ICT equipment and services. 

• 7 Recommendations related to user characteristics addresses 7.1 General

including: supporting a range of user characteristics, multiple interaction 

mechanisms, simultaneous use of alternate interaction mechanisms, 

individualization, changing configurations, saving and retrieving customized 

configurations, supporting assistive technologies, and avoiding user fatigue;

7.2 Vision addresses users without vision, providing information using sound, 

supporting navigation in audible environments, providing location and 

function information by auditory and/or tactile means, providing control using 

non-visual mechanisms, users with limited vision, adjusting contrast of 

displayed objects, adjusting size of displayed objects, magnifying contents of 

display, users with limited color vision, users who react to flicker; 7.3 

Hearing addresses avoiding harmful audio, providing verbal information 

visually, users that cannot hear, providing visual versions of alarms, providing 

tactile versions of alarms, supporting sign language, users with limited 

hearing, providing volume control, managing sound frequencies, and 

providing independent controls for different channels; 7.4 Speech addresses 

supporting text entry of inputs, supporting alternative to voice input, users that 

cannot speak, users with limited speech capabilities, controlling the speed of 

voice input, providing speech input enhancement; 7.5 Physical capabilities

addresses limited physical movement, providing adjustable location of 

controls, supporting either or only one hand, limiting physical force 

requirements, limiting motor control requirements, compensating for 

limitations in fine motor control capabilities, and providing user control of 

response timing; and 7.6 Cognitive addresses limitations of cognitive 
46

capabilities, avoiding unnecessarily high cognitive demands, aiding 

understanding, using understandable vocabulary, providing information 

pictorially, providing appropriate cues, adjusting speed interaction, enabling 

pausing and stopping, minimizing the need for training, and supporting 

cultural and linguistic differences. 

• 8 Recommendations related to task characteristics including: 8.1 Performing 

tasks based on context of use and 8.2 Providing alternative ways of 

performing tasks.

• 9 Recommendations related to equipment and service characteristics

addresses supporting basic and auxiliary functions, maintaining consistency, 

providing user guidance, providing safety information, providing 

interoperability, providing error tolerance, providing undo or confirm, 

safeguarding features, and biometric data. 

• 10 Recommendations related to environmental characteristics

Part 171 Guidance on software accessibility includes: 

• 4 Rationale and benefits of implementing accessibility addresses the 

importance of considering accessibility in design of products, systems, 

environments, and facilities. 

• 5 Principles of designing accessible software addresses complementary 

principles to existing design methods and provides a human-centered 

accessibility perspective that can be applied to the specific design process or 

particular context of use. 

• 6 Sources of variation in user characteristics addresses the differences in the 

characteristics, capabilities, and preferences of the user population. 

• 8 General guidelines and requirements addresses: names and labels for userinterface elements; user preference settings; special considerations for 

accessibility adjustments; general control and operations guidelines; 

compatibility of assistive technology; and closed systems.

• 9 Inputs addresses: alternative input options; keyboard focus; keyboard input; 

and pointing devices.

• 10 Outputs addresses: visual output; text/fonts; color; window appearance and 

behavior; audio output; text equivalents of audio (captions); media; and tactile 

output.

• 11 On-line documentation, help, and supportive services addresses 

documentation and “Help” and support services. 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that when Federal Agencies 

develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), they 
47

must ensure that they provide persons with disabilities access to and use of 

information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of that information 

and data by individuals without disabilities. Section 508 includes a set of standards to 

assist agencies in compliance with the law.

5.2.2 Anthropometry

Anthropometry is the measurement of physical characteristics of the human individual (e.g., 

height, weight, size). It plays an important role in fields such as ergonomics and industrial 

design. Four of the standards documents address anthropometry: MIL-HDBK-759C, 

Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, and ASTM F1166. 

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.6 Anthropometry includes: 5.6.1 General that describes the 

application of anthropometric data; 5.6.2 Anthropometric data addresses highcorrelated measurements, relationship between measurements, bivariate tables ; 5.6.3 

Use of data addresses interrelationships, multiple dimensions, variability of 

relationships, clothing, posture, slump factor, human subjects, and information 

sources; 5.6.5 Body movement addresses range of motion, and human strength and 

handling capacity; and 5.6.6 Human strength and handling capacity addresses 

exerted forces, and lifting. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 addresses anthropometry in part 3 Technical Guidance

section 9 People Characteristics subsection 9.2 Physical Aspects that addresses body 

size, access in confined spaces and the subsection 9.2.4 Anthropometric Movement of 

Body Members that addresses body linkages, dynamic range of movement, movement 

range, working posture, a design procedure checklist, and use of manikins. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 section 4 Anthropometry, Biomechanics, and Strength includes 

content on anthropometry data; application to designs; factors that affect 

anthropometry; age and gender effects; clothing effects; pressurization effects; hypergravity effects; research needs; and anthropometric data collection. 

ATSM F1166 section 9 Anthropometry includes 9.1 General design requirements

addresses data limitations, design range, special user populations; and 9.2 Static 

anthropometric data addresses static body dimensions, how to use anthropometric 

tables, static body dimensions, standing heights, seated eye heights, forward 

functional reach, and both male and female anthropometric data. 

5.2.3 Audio Displays

Five of the standards documents address some form of audio displays: MIL-HDBK-759C, 

Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166. Of 

those, ASTM F1166 provides the most extensive guidance for audio displays. 
48

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.3 Audio Displays addresses voice communications from 

another source and includes: 

5.3.1.1.1 Voice communication; 5.3.1.1.2 Individual speaker recognition; 

5.3.1.1.3 Speech recognition for information retrieval and computer control; 

5.3.1.1.4 Audio displays; and 5.3.1.1.5 Sensor applications.

5.3.2 Audio signals addresses audio signals and includes: 5.3.2.1 Warning 

signals; 5.3.2.2 Caution signals; 5.3.2.3 Alerting signals; 5.3.2.3.2 

Differentiation from routine signals; 5.3.2.4 Advisory signals; 5.3.2.5 Cueing 

signals; and 5.3.2.6 Prioritization.

5.3.3 Characteristics of audio warning signals includes: 5.3.3.1 Warning 

recognition time; 5.3.3.2 Control of warning signals; 5.3.3.3 Compatibility 

with existing signal codes; and 5.3.3.4 Compatibility with other critical 

signals. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance includes two sections 

addressing audio displays: 15.3 Auditory Information Presentation and 15.7 Alarms, 

Warning and Caution. 15.3 Auditory Information Presentation includes valid use of 

auditory signals; valid use and inappropriate use for auditory signals; signal 

audibility; signal recognition; gaining attention; signal discrimination; signal 

meaning; requirements for specific auditory signals; training aids; and evaluation of

auditory signals. 15.7 Alarms, Warning and Cautions includes system design issues, 

alarm displays, and alarm system design process.

NASA/SP-2010-3407 section 10.8 Audio Displays includes standards regarding when 

to use an audio display; selection of signal type; signal design; design for audio and 

output equipment; operator interface; and auditory alarms. Section 5.3.4.4 

Countermeasures includes standards regarding caution and warning displays. Also, 

10.2.5.1 Visual and Auditory Distinction provides information on criticality of an 

auditory warning. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.3.1 Audio Displays includes 5.3.1.2 Audio signals; 5.3.1.3 

Characteristics of audio warning signals; 5.3.1.4 Signal characteristics of audio 

warning signal; 5.3.1.5 Verbal warning signals; 5.3.1.6 Speech-transmission 

equipment; 5.3.1.7 Audio displays as part of the user interface; and 5.3.1.8 Speech 

displays. 5.7 Warnings, Hazards and Safety addresses the displays of warnings and 

hazards; visual displays; and auditory warnings. 

ASTM F1166 Section 6.5 Audible Displays addresses use, false alarms or 

interference, failure, circuit tests, use with several visual displays, signal 

characteristics, signal type, signal meaning, number of coded signals, and location of 
49

signal source, speech supplements, and silent operations at night, manual overrides, 

and supportive function. ASTM F1166 section 7 Alarms also includes a number of 

relevant subsections:

• Section 7.1 General Alarm Requirements addresses: overall design strategy; 

types of alarms; alarm response requirement; alarm acknowledge requirement; 

alarm rates; set points; false alarms; simultaneous alarms; alarm priorities; 

alarm integration; master silence control; subsequent alarms; repetitive 

alarms/controls; alarm test; temporary disconnection of alarms; navigation 

bridge alarms; loss of redundant backup; alarms for computer displays; alarm 

filtering; and suppression. 

• Section 7.2 Visuals Alarms addresses: types of visual alarms; flash rate; 

alarms and normal operations; priority coding; flasher failure; contrast 

detection; text visibility and legibility; text wording; color coding; 

visual/auditory alarms; visual alarm panels; supplemental alarm information; 

and alarm/display integration.

• Section 7.3 Audible Alarms addresses: audible alarms for emergency 

response; content; sound character; number of distinct tones for alarms; 

number of distinct tones for relative identification; single audio signal; 

differing signals; selection of sounds; audible alarms of console/panel; 

headsets; sounds loudness; detection of level of alarm; automatic reset; 

cleared alarms; priority coding of alarm signals; caution signal design; 

location of alarm signal generators; and public address systems. 

• Section 7.5 Alarm Initiation Stations addresses location and design. 

• Section 13.10 Audio Displays addresses: use; audio supportive function; 

signal characteristics; and additional criteria. 

• Section 13.17 Alarms addresses: display types; alarms integrated into other 

displays; printed alarm messages; simultaneous display; notice of hidden 

alarms; combining alarms; alarm content; alarm color; alarm organization; 

and user-selectable configurations. 

5.2.4 Communications

Four of the standards documents address communications: MIL-HDBK-759C, Ministry of 

Defence 00-250, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.3.13 Communications addresses voice communications and 

includes: 5.13.3.1.1 Masking of speech by noise; 5.3.13.1.2 Power addressing the 

power output of the communication system; 5.3.13.1.3 Audible signals addressing the 

distinctiveness of signals when two or more items of communication are in the same 
50

area; and 5.3.13.4.1 Warning signals addresses the presentation of auditory warning 

systems through the operator’s headset. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance includes three relevant 

sections: section 9.7.6 Categories of Communication addresses categories of 

communication; section 9.8 Verbal Communications addresses verbal 

communications and contains content on improving verbal communications and 

voice procedure; and section 9.9 Non-verbal Communications includes sections on 

person-to-person and person-to-machine non-verbal communications. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.3.1.5.15 Communications has these requirements masking of 

speech by noise, power, sound pressure level, audible signals, receiver and headset, 

radio antenna, and audio accessories. 

ASTM F1166 19 Communications includes the following relevant subsections:

• Section 19.1 Communication Systems Requirements addresses: general 

requirements, operating range, and speech intelligibility.

• Section 19.2 Microphones addresses: dynamic range, noise-canceling 

microphones, microphone noise shields, and directional microphones. 

• Section 19.3 Headsets addresses: binaural headsets, when not to use headsets, 

multiple channel feeds to headphones, volume/gain controls, squelch control, 

dichotic presentation, and separate channels. 

• Section 19.4 Loudspeakers addresses general requirements. 

• Section 19.5 Telephone systems addresses: band pass, cords, handset cradles, 

multiple telephone handsets, press-to-talk, noisy environments, and phone 

booths. 

5.2.5 Controls 

Six of the standards documents address controls: MIL-HDBK-759C, ISO 9241, Ministry of 

Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

MIL-HDBK-759C contains a number of relevant subsections, including:

• 5.1 Control Display Integration addresses: general criteria; position 

relationships; control/display movement ratio; and signal precedence.

• 5.3.6 Controls for Audio Warning Devices addresses: automatic or manual shutoff; automatic reset; redundant visual warning; volume control; duration; and 

duration limitation.

• 5.3.7 Speech Transmission Equipment addresses: frequency; dynamic range; 

high-pass filtering; pre-emphasis; peak-clipping of speech signals; noise 
51

shields; automatic loudness control; binaural asynchronous delay; and 

speaker/side tone.

• 5.3.10 Operating Controls for Voice Communication Equipment addresses: 

volume control; squelch control; and foot-operated controls.

• 5.4 Controls addresses: general criteria; rotary controls; key-operated switches; 

discrete thumbwheel controls; continuous adjustment rotary controls; cranks; 

hand wheels; linear controls; foot-operated switches; keyboards; toggle switch 

controls; legend switches; rocker switches; slide switch controls; discrete pushpull controls; printed circuit switch controls; continuous adjustment linear 

controls; displacement joysticks; finger operated joysticks; thumb tip/fingertip 

operated displacement joysticks; isometric joystick; thumb tip/fingertip 

operated; ball control; grid-and-stylus devices; mouse; light pens and other 

styli; buttons; pucks; pedals; high-force controls; miniature controls; touchscreen controls for displays; speech recognition; eye- and head-based controls; 

and handles.

ISO 9241 Part 12 Ergonomic requirements for work with VDTs – Presentation of 

information section 6.2 Cursors and Pointers includes standards for designation of 

cursor and pointer position; cursor occlusion of characters; cursor and pointer 

location; cursor “home” position; initial position for entry fields; point designation 

accuracy; different cursors/pointers; active cursor/pointer; and multiple cursors and 

pointers. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 includes standards addressing discrete controls such as:

• Selection for specific application

• Preferred physical specifications for continuous variable operation: rotary, 

knob, thumbwheels, cranks, hand wheels

• Preferred physical specification for continuous variable operation: multi-axis, 

joystick

• Preferred physical specification for discrete operation: rotary, selector 

switches, thumbwheels, key operated switches, key locks

• Preferred physical specifications for discrete operation: linear, toggle 

switches, selection levers, push-pull control, slide switches

• Preferred physical specifications for discrete operation: push button, push 

buttons, legend switches, foot-operated switches, rocker switches

• Preferred physical specifications for data entry: keypad, keyboards/membrane 

keys, keypads, keysets

• Preferred physical specifications for data entry: voice-activated, voice 

recognition system
52

• Preferred physical specifications for data entry: on screen spatial, touch 

displays, light pens

• Preferred physical specifications for data entry: off-screen spatial, digitizing 

tablet, mouse, roller ball/tracker ball

NASA/SP-2010-3407 includes two relevant sections: 

• Section 9.3 Controls addresses: control design considerations; control design 

requirements; computer input devices; speech transmission equipment design 

requirements; operating controls for voice communication equipment design; 

and speech recognition design requirements. 

• Section 10.6.3 Controls Devices addresses: push buttons; toggle switches; 

rocker switches; slide switch controls; discrete push-pull controls; printed 

circuit switch controls; levers; joysticks; isometric joysticks; touch screens; 

pedals; rotary selector switches; discrete thumbwheel controls; continuousadjustment thumbwheel controls; knobs; cranks; and hand wheels. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5 Detailed Requirements for Controls and Displays includes five 

relevant subsections:

• Section 5.1 Controls addresses: general criteria; direction of movement; 

grouping and arrangement; coding; labeling of controls; prevention of 

accidental actuation; feedback; error management; control/display integration;

computer controls (touch-screen controls for displays, keyboards, 

mouse/trackball/joysticks, data entry and interactive controls); mechanical 

controls (rotary controls, linear controls, high-force controls, J-handles, pedals, 

switches, and levers); miniature controls; and eye and head-based controls. 

• Section 5.3.6 Controls for Audio Warnings Devices addresses: automatic or 

manual shut-off; automatic reset; redundant visual warning; volume control; 

duration; and duration limitation.

• Section 5.3.7 Speech Transmission Equipment addresses: frequency; dynamic 

range; high-pass filtering; pre-emphasis; peak-clipping of speech signals; noise 

shields; automatic loudness control; binaural asynchronous delay; and 

speaker/side tone.

• Section 5.3.10 Operating Controls for Voice Communication Equipment

addresses: volume control; squelch controls; and foot-operated controls. 

ASTM F1166 section 5 Controls includes six relevant subsections: 

• 5.1 Principles of Control Design addresses: labeling, feedback, users, right 

vs. left-hand operation, multi-rotational control, detent control, simultaneous 

operations of controls, controls for maintenance, prevention of accidental 

activation, clothing/PPE, consistent arrangement
53

• 5.2 General Design Guidelines addresses: selecting controls.

• 5.3 Control Movement addresses: direction.

• 5.4 Control Spacing addresses: control spacing and blind operation.

• 5.5 Coding of Controls addresses: control coding; color coding; shape coding; 

size coding; texture coding; and location coding.

• 5.6 Control Use and Design addresses: foot-operated controls; foot-operated 

switches; foot-operated pedals; discrete rotary controls; continuous 

adjustment rotary controls; hand cranks; pushbuttons; legend switches; toggle 

switches; rocker switches; discrete slide switch controls; continuous slide 

controls; levers; hand-operated displacement joysticks; hand-operated 

isometric joysticks; and push-pull controls.

13 Human-Computer Interface also contains two relevant subsections:

• 13.12 Interactive controls addresses: response-time general; simplicity; 

accidental actuation; compatibility with user skill; availability of information; 

concurrent display; hierarchical process; memorization requirements; dialogue 

type; numbering system; data manipulation; processing constraints; feedback 

for correct input; control of input data display; and originator identification.

• 13.28 Cursors addresses: control; display; home position; explicit actuation; 

consistent positioning; keyboard cursor control; movement relationships; head 

and foot of file; and cursor as a status indicator.

5.2.6 Data

Three of the standards documents address data security, data entry information management, 

and data transmission: NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

NASA/SP-2010-3407 Section 10 Crew Interfaces subsection 10.9 Information 

Management includes standards for types of information, crew operability, data 

availability, data distribution, data backup, and electronic information management. 

MIL-STD-1472G contains a number of relevant sections. 5.1.3.4 Data entry includes 

consistency of data entry, compatibility of data entry with data display, flexibility of 

user control of data entry, validation; change of data; 5.1.3.4.2 Data entry using 

keyboard; 5.1.3.4.3 Data entry using fixed function (dedicated) keys; 5.1.3.4.4 Data 

entry using variable function keys; 5.1.3.4.5 Data entry using light pen; 5.1.3.4.6 

Data entry using directional controllers; 5.1.3.4.7 Data entry using touch screen; 

5.2.2.1.4 Data entry and display consistency; and 5.2.2.9 Data and message 

transmission, which includes functional integration, consistent procedures, minimal 

memory load on users, and messages.
54

ASTM F1166 section 13.23 Data Security has standards for automated measures, 

segregating real vs. simulated data, security classification of display, and user 

identification. Section 13.26 Data Transmission and Messaging includes standards 

for functional integration, consistent procedures, message formats, interruption, 

incorporating existing files, user initiation, transmission notification, address entry 

prompt, incoming message control, data presentation, and data display consistency. 

5.2.7 Display

Five of the standards documents address display: ISO 9241, Ministry of Defence 00-250,

NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166. 

ISO 9241 Part 3 Visual Display Requirements addresses: design viewing distance; 

line of sight angle; character height; stroke width; character width-to-height ratio; 

character format; character size uniformity; between-character spacing; betweenword spacing; between-line spacing; linearity; orthogonality; display luminance; 

luminance contrast; luminance balance; glare; image polarity; luminance uniformity; 

luminance coding; blink coding; temporal instability; spatial instability; and screen 

image color. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 includes two relevant subsections in part 3 Technical 

Guidance: 

• Section 15.2 Visual Information Presentation addresses: clarity; 

meaningfulness; consistency; legibility; discrimination; indentifiability; 

structure layouts; critical tasks; screen layout; use of screen areas; information 

density; density of alphanumeric displays; density of non-alphanumeric 

displays; information filtering; summary views; alternate views; display 

integration and grouping; visual displays; quantitative displays; qualitative 

displays; representational displays; graphical user interfaces; multi-media 

displays; symbols; symbols for maps and charts; signs; evaluating symbol 

meaning; and symbols: design checklist. 

• Section 15.5 Discrete Displays addresses: context of use; viewing position; 

size of displayed information; parallax; contrast; glare and reflections; 

displayed color; electronic display characteristics; display standards; selection 

of display technology; lifetime maintenance and replacement; considerations 

for specialized display devices; head-up displays; night vision; and electronic 

display characteristics: design checklist and recommendations. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 includes four relevant sections:

• 9.4 Displays addresses: standards for visual and audio displays
55

• 10.3 Layout of Displays and Controls addresses: locations and arrangements; 

groupings; and display-control relationships.

• 10.4 Visual Acquisition of Display addresses: display content; minimal 

information; effective and consistent verbiage; data density; information 

access; and graphics;

• 10.5 Standards for Display Metrics. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.2 Visual Displays includes standards regarding 5.2.1 Installation 

of visual displays, displays content, and displays hardware. 5.2.2 Displays – content 

includes current modes, overlays, chromatic misregistration, data entry and display 

consistency, CRNE contamination, maintenance displays, information architecture, 

information density, presentation of information, format, grouping – multiple 

displays, and grouping within a display. 5.2.3.1 Electronic displays applies to direct 

view electronic displays, plasma displays, light emitting diode, cathode ray tube, and 

Electroluminescent displays. 5.10.3.1.3 Display placement, normal addresses visual 

displays mounted on vertical panels. 

ASTM F1166 includes two sections that address displays:

• Section 6 Displays includes: 6.1 Visual Displays; 6.2 Location, Orientation, 

Lighting, and Arrangement of Displays; 6.3 Display Illumination; and 6.4 

Display Types.

• Section 8 Integration of Controls, Displays and Alarms includes: 8.1 

Principles of Design; 8.2 Grouping of Relationships; 8.3 Separating 

Groupings; 8.4 Position Relationships of Displays and Alarms; 8.5 Position 

Relationships of Controls to Associated Displays and Alarms; 8.6 Control and 

Display Movement Relationships; 8.7 Spatial Relationship between Controls, 

Displays, and Equipment; 8.8 Alternative Approach to Grouping Design; and 

8.9 Special Requirements for Control and Display Integration on Bridges.

5.2.8 Distinct Actions

Distinct actions include user actions, feedback, and system status indications that have 

different purposes or functions and must be distinct to avoid confusion and to facilitate 

identification.

NASA/SP-2010-3407 10.2.5 Distinction is the only standard to address distinct 

actions. 10.2.5 Distinction includes visual and auditory; operational; syntax; and 

spatial and grouping standards. 
56

5.2.9 Ergonomic Requirements for Office Work with VDTs – User Guidance

Two of the standards documents address ergonomic requirements for work with visual 

display terminals (VDTs): MIL-HDBK-759C, and ISO 9241.

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.2 Visual displays addresses conformity of visual displays and 

includes display illumination and light distribution, display luminance and visibility, 

legend lights, simple indicator lights, cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, large-screen 

displays, and other displays. 

ISO 9241 Part 5 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display 

terminals, establishes image quality requirements for the design and evaluation of 

single- and multi-color VDTs. The sections address viewing distance, angle of view, 

line-of-sight angle, character format, etc. 

5.2.10 Error Management 

Four of the standards documents address error management: ISO 9241, NASA/SP-2010-

3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

ISO 9241 includes Part 13 User Guidance section 9 Error Prevention, which 

addresses error prevention and minimization; error correction by the system; error 

management by the user; and error messages. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 addresses the issue of error management in 10.2.8 Inadvertent 

Operation and addresses the prevention of inadvertent operation for both minor and 

significant consequences. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.1.2.1.5 Error management addresses error correction, early 

detection, critical entries, error message content, error recovery, diagnostic 

information, correction entry and confirmation, spelling errors, errors in stacked 

commands, display of erroneous entries, and simultaneous access.

ASTM F1166 13.22 Error Management and Data Protection includes standards on 

error correction; error detection; internal software checks; critical errors; error 

message content; error recovery; diagnostic information; entry correction and 

confirmation; spelling errors; errors in stacked commands; and file management. 

5.2.11 Feedback 

Six of the standards documents include sections on system feedback: MIL-HDBK-759C, ISO 

9241, Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM 

F1166.
57

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.1.1.3 Feedback specifies that Control-display systems should 

be designed to provide feedback on control input and system state as rapidly as 

possible. Other relevant sections include 5.1.4.1.1 Coarse vs. fine setting feedback; 

5.4.3.1.3.4.4 Feedback should be provided to inform the operator whether or not the 

pressed key was, in fact, actuated; and 5.4.3.1.3.5.4 Item labeling and feedback.

ISO 9241 Part 13 User Guidance section 7 Feedback addresses feedback provided in 

response to the user’s input and includes a section on feedback recommendations.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 15.2.7 Use of Text in Presenting Information includes 

standards regarding format, character typeface, typographical cueing, continuous text, 

emphasizing text, and instructions. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 10.2.6 Feedback addresses system feedback for user actions 

and system changes and covers types and timing of feedback. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.1.10 Feedback includes 5.1.1.10.1 Use; 5.1.1.10.2 Systemstatus; 5.1.1.10.3 Computer response after input by a user; 5.1.1.10.9 Start-up

feedback when system is not immediately available; 5.1.1.10.11 User input rejection

for feedback about the reason for rejection; 5.1.1.10.14 Feedback message content; 

5.1.1.11.5 Error message content that specifies the time for message presentation 

after error is detected; 5.1.2.1.4 Feedback addressing time lag between a change in 

the system state and feedback to the user; 5.1.3.2.6 Feedback that addresses tactile 

feedback for key press; 5.9.19.2 Feedback for appropriate board connection 

feedback; 5.12.2.2 Feedback for remote operations; 5.12.3.1.18 Continuous feedback

for systems controls, status, and outputs.

ASTM F1166 5.1 Principles of Control Design includes 5.1.2 Feedback and 

addresses feedback as a result of control activation.

5.2.12 Forms and Data Entry 

Two of the standards documents address forms and/or data entry: MIL-STD-1472G and 

ASTM F1166.

MIL-STD-1472G has multiple sections addressing forms and/or data entry 

including: 

• 5.1.3.5.3 Form filling covers use, grouping, format and content consistency, 

distinctiveness of fields, cursor, entry length indication, overwriting, 

dimensional units, user omissions, non-entry areas, informative labels, logical 

order, dialog boxes for control entry, and fixed function keys. 
58

• 5.1.3.4.1 Data entry describes functions designed to establish consistency of 

data entry transactions and includes user pacing, positive feedback, processing 

delay, explicit action, validation, input units, cursors, explicit delete actions, 

change of data, and single method of data entry. 

• 5.1.3.4.2 Data entry using keyboard includes use, characteristics, length, 

justification, numeric keypads, minimization of keying, minimization of 

keying, minimization of shift keying, and data change. 

• 5.1.3.4.3 Data entry using fixed function (dedicated) keys addresses use, 

standardization, functional consistency, availability, non-active keys, 

grouping, actuation, feedback, fixed function labels, and prolonged function 

key depression. 

• 5.1.3.4.4 Data entry using variable function keys include use, status display, 

reprogrammable or inactive default functions, relabeling, shifted characters, 

and easy return to base-level functions. 

• 5.1.3.4.5 Data entry using light pen includes use, dimension and mounting, 

actuation/deactuation, and feedback. 

• Also 5.1.3.4.6 Data entry using directional controllers addressed data entry 

with joysticks, trackballs, or similar devices and 5.1.3.4.7 Data entry using 

touch screen. 

ASTM F1166 13 Human-Computer Interface contains two relevant subsections:

• 13.11 Data Entry addresses: general requirements; user pacing; positive 

feedback; processing display; explicit action; validation; available data; input 

units; buffer; presentation mode; display window; data deletion; data change; 

single data entry method; data entry display; data editing; string search; 

automatic line break; format control; frequently used text; control annotations; 

printing options; text length; justification; and minimization of keying. 

• Section 13.16 Forms addresses: use; grouping; format/content consistency; 

distinctive fields; omissions; protected areas; flexible data entry; logical order; 

control entry; and message forms. 

5.2.13 Glare & Reflection

Five of the standards documents include standards on glare and reflection: MIL-HDBK759C, ISO 9241, Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, and MIL-STD-1472G.

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.2.4.4 Reflected glare addresses reflection and glare off CRT 

face plates and cover plates. 5.8.2.5 Glare addresses 5.8.2.5.1.2 Direct glare and 

5.8.2.5.3 Reflected glare.
59

ISO 9241 Part 3 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display 

terminals section 5 Visual Display Requirements includes: 5.15 Display luminance

addresses capabilities of the display luminance; 5.16 Luminance contrast addresses 

the minimum luminance contrast of character details; 5.17 Luminance balance

addresses the ratio of area average luminances of task areas that are frequently 

viewed in sequence; and 5.18 Glare addresses the avoidance of glare.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance includes two relevant 

sections: 13 The Workplace – Particular People Related Requirements and 15 Work 

Environment.

Section 13 The Workplace – Particular People Related Requirements includes 

13.3 Workspace and Task Lighting that provides guidance on the design of 

lighting for Defence applications and includes sub-components: 

• 13.3.3 Lighting design practice addresses lighting design in both interior 

and exterior environments. 

• 13.3.4 Interior and exterior lighting design addresses daylight as a major 

factor in task performance and visual comfort in both interior and exterior 

environments, reflectance, illuminance ratios, interior environments, 

exterior environments, and lighting system design recommendations.

• 13.3.5 Lighting equipment addresses health hazards of light, classification of 

lighting equipment, and lighting control.

• 13.3.8 Display screen equipment lighting addresses three possible 

approaches to lighting design for DSE including: down lighting, up-lighting, 

direct/indirect lighting, and DSE lighting recommendations.

Section 15 Work Equipment includes subsection 15.5.6 Glare and reflections

addresses methods for control and minimization, display surface, display color, 

object size, background, and electronic display characteristics. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 section 5.4 Visual Perception includes a subsection called 

5.4.11.1 Glare addresses the disabling effects of light that is too bright in the fields of 

view; and section 8.7 Lighting includes a subsection 8.7.5 Glare that addresses the 

prevention of glare, factors affecting glare sensation, glare measurement and glare 

control. 

Also, ISO 9241 Part 303 Requirements for electronic visual displays includes section 

5.2 Luminance addresses the contrast necessary for information symbols on a visual 

display, illuminance, display luminance, luminance balance and glare, and luminance 

adjustment. 

MIL-STD-1472G includes the following relevant sections and subsections:
60

• 5.2.1.6.2.2 Reflected Glare addresses the elimination or minimization of 

reflected glare.

• 5.2.2.1.8. Luminance addresses the compatibility of the luminance of 

transilluminated displays and expected ambient illuminance. 

• 5.2.1.6.2.3 Adjacent surfaces addresses matte finishes to minimize glare. 

• 5.8.2 Illuminance has the following relevant components:

 5.8.2.1.1 General addresses general and supplementary lighting.

 5.8.2.3 Glare addresses direct and reflected glare. 

• 5.11.3.14.1.1 Use of light filters to reduce glare addresses the use of 

accessories to reduce glare including: light filters and shutters. 

• 5.12.5 Visibility

 5.12.5.5 Glare of External Sources addresses the use of visors or other 

means to reduce glare from external sources such as sunlight or 

headlights. 

5.2.14 Hazards and Safety

Four of the standards documents address hazards and safety: MIL-HDBK-759C, Ministry of 

Defence 00-250, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.13 Hazards and safety addresses the following hazards: 5.13.4 

General workspace hazards such as thermal contact hazards; 5.13.5 General 

equipment-related hazard addressing human behavior principles; 5.13.6 Platforms

including locks; hazards including: electrical, mechanical, fluid, toxic, and radiation;

and 5.13.7 Electrical, mechanical, fluid, toxic, and radiation hazards.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 10 Systems Safety is 

intended to facilitate a relationship between human factors specialists and safety 

specialists to achieve safety and usable systems. It includes sections on operating 

scenarios; safety management overview; integration of HFI activities and the safety 

management system; design outputs for system operation; solution provider; and 

safety case argument. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5 Detailed Requirements includes the following relevant 

subsections:

• 5.4.8.5 Caution and Warning Labels for Safety and Hazards addresses the

prominent displays of caution and warning labels for safety and hazards. 

• 5.7 Warnings, Hazards, and Safety addresses that design shall reflect safetyrelated human engineering criteria and includes display of warnings and 

hazards, readability, visibility, elimination of hazards created by warning 

labels or placards, and signal words. 
61

• 5.7.6 General Workspace Hazards addresses general workspace hazards and 

includes alerting devices, emergency doors and exits, stairs, obstructions, 

overhead, storage racks, cabinet doors, illumination, and thermal contact 

hazards.

• 5.7.7 General Equipment-Related Hazards addresses: the evaluation of 

equipment safety characteristics.

• 5.7.9 Electrical, Mechanical, Fluid, Toxic and Radiation Hazards addresses: 

electrical, mechanical, fluid, toxic, and radiation hazards.

ASTM F1166 section 18 Hazards and Safety includes standards on safety labels, general 

workplace hazards, general equipment-related hazards, electrical hazards, fluid hazards, 

safety barriers, fall protection, and emergency egress.

5.2.15 Help, Instruction, Tutorials, and Training

Four of the standards documents address help, instruction, tutorials, and/or training: ISO 

9241, Ministry of Defence 002-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM 

F1166.

ISO 9241 Part 9 Error Management section 10 Online Help includes standards 

regarding: system-initiated help; user-initiated help; help information presentation; 

help navigation and controls; browsable help; and context-sensitive help. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 15.4.7 Support 

Facilities-Embedded Training covers system documentation; user support and 

training; on-line help; and help and error messages. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 includes four relevant sections: 5.6.3.5 Long-term Memory

includes a section on Help System to help the astronaut’s working and long-term 

memory. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.2.2.7 Help includes 5.2.2.7.1 Use, 5.2.2.7.2 Standard action to 

request help, 5.2.2.7.3 Online help; 5.2.2.7.4 Browsing help; 5.2.2.7.6 Multi-level 

help; 5.2.2.7.7 Consistent terminology; 5.9.17.2 Instructions for operating portable 

test equipment; 5.9.17.2.1. Readability of instructions while test equipment is being 

operated; 5.9.17.2.2. Print size addresses size of font for instructions; and 4.6.2 

Training addresses minimal amount of training to operate equipment; 

ASTM F1166 includes sections 7.4 Voice Messages and 13.24 Help. Section 7.4 

Voice Messages addresses content, type of voice, voice intensity, alarm message 

structure, and words to avoid. Section 13.24 Help addresses help request, help 

content, multi-level help, browse/help, help access, and appropriate help. 
62

5.2.16 Human-Computer Interaction

Six of the standards documents address human-computer interaction (HCI): ISO-9241, 

Section 508, ISO/IEC TR 20560, Ministry of Defence 00-250, ISO/IEC 25062, and ASTM 

F1166.

ISO-9241 Part 210 Human-Centered Design for Interactive Systems provides 

requirements and recommendations for human-centered design principles and 

activities throughout the lifecycle of computer-based interactive systems. Humancentered design enhances effectiveness and efficiency and counteracts possible 

adverse side effects of use on human health, safety and performance. 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that when Federal Agencies 

develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), they 

must ensure that they provide persons with disabilities access to and use of 

information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of that information 

and data by individuals without disabilities.

ISO/IEC TR 20560 describes a potential family of International Standards – named 

the Common Industry Formats (CIF) – that document the specification and evaluation 

of the usability of interactive systems. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 15.4 HumanComputer Interaction includes standards of the HCI process, essential HCI 

development activities, interaction requirements, computer-based displays, and 

computer-based control. 

ISO/IEC 25062 standardizes the types of information captured with user testing. The 

level of detail allows the same or another organization to replicate the test procedure. 

Major variables include: user demographics; task descriptions; test context (including 

the equipment used, the testing environment, and the participant and test 

administrator’s interaction protocol); as well as the metrics chosen to code the study 

findings. 

ASTM F1166 13 Human-Computer Interface includes a wide range of standards 

topics from design requirements to input devices and includes:

• 13.1 General Design Requirements addresses: navigation; consistency with 

physical/manual interfaces; standard procedures; computer response; screen 

design and content; coding; input devices; system status; and on-line help.

• 13.2 System Operations addresses: log-on procedures; log-off procedures; 

computer failure; and interaction.
63

• 13.3 Computer Displays addresses: design criteria; luminance; contrast ratio; 

refresh rate; monochromatic color combinations; resolution and display size; 

flat panel image formation time; flicker; jitter; and glare.

• 13.4 Display Content addresses: standardization; and information density.

• 13.8 Textual Data Displays addresses: use; character formats; brevity; 

abbreviations and acronyms; and print layout.

• 13.9 Graphic Displays addresses: use; recurring data; refresh rates; line 

format; trend lines; pointing; distinctive cursor; precise positioning; selecting 

graphic elements; easy storage and retrieval; automatic data registration; 

graphic formats; derivation of graphical data; drawing lines; resizing; 

highlighting data; reference index; annotation of data; label orientation; 

pictorial symbols; display of scale; grids; graphic comparison; bar graphs; 

maps; and mimics.

• 13.27 Input Devices addresses: input devices; keyboard use; fixed function 

keys; variable action; touchscreen use; pointing devices; joysticks; thumb tip 

and fingertip-operated displacement; trackball; grid and stylus devices; mouse 

use; light pen; speech recognition use; and input device 

interchangeability/redundancy. 

5.2.17 Information Displayed to Operator

Two of the standards documents address information displayed to an operator: ISO 9241 and 

ASTM F1166.

ISO 9241 Part 12 Presentation of Information section 5 Organization of Information

address the need to have information located to meet user expectations and task 

requirements and includes: 5.1 Location of Information; 5.4 Areas that covers 

recommendations for the organization of information displayed including consistent 

location, information density; 5.5 Input/output area covering recommendations for 

organizing information in the input/output areas; 5.6 Groups covering arranging 

information into groups; 5.7 Lists covering recommendations rules for ordering, 

numbering, and layout of information, usage of headers, and guidelines for list 

extending beyond the display area. 5.8 Tables covers recommendations for the 

arrangement of tabular information in an appropriate format. 

ASTM F1166 includes four relevant subsections: section 6 Displays addresses visual 

displays and includes: content of the information displays, the information format, 

redundancy of the display, combining display information, display failure, and 

duration of displayed information. Section 13 Human-Computer Interface includes 

13.1.1.2 Consistency of Information Displayed addresses consistency of information 
64

thought-out the interface; and 13.25.2 Information and System Response addresses 

the limitation limitations to the performance of specific actions or to make decisions.

5.2.18 Keyboard Requirements

Three of the standards documents address keyboard requirements: ISO 9241, MIL-HDBK759C, and MIL-STD-1472G.

ISO 9241 Part 4 Keyboard Requirements applied to linear detachable keyboards 

designed for stationary use and contains two sections 6 Design Requirements and 

Recommendations that addresses the 6.1 General design of the keyboard and includes 

palm-rests, home row height, slope, profile, and placement; 6.2 Designs of keys that 

addresses key layout and centre-line spacing, keytop design, key displacement and 

force, keying feedback, rebound, key roll-over, key repeat function, key legends, 

graphical symbols, cursor keys, numeric keypad, and keytop slope. 7 Measurement

addresses 7.2 General design of the keyboard that addresses palm-rests, sections of 

the keyboard, keyboard placement, keyboard surfaces and material properties of 

keyboards, and keyboard slope adjustment mechanism. 7.3 Design of keys addresses 

the key layout and centre-line spacing, keytop design, keying feedback, key 

displacement and force, rebound action, key roll-over, key repeat function, key 

legends, cursor keys and keys in the editing section, and keytop shape.

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.4.3.1.3 Keyboards, keypads, keysets and menu selectors 

addresses mounting, function control, configuration, actuating force, feedback, and 

function control.

MIL-STD-1472G section 5.1.3.2 Keyboards addresses 5.1.3.2.1 Use; 5.1.3.2.2 

Layout and configuration; 5.1.3.2.3 Dimensions, resistance, displacement and 

separation; 5.1.3.2.4 Slope of nonportable keyboards; 5.1.3.2.5 multiple keyboards; 

5.1.3.2.6 Feedback for tactile feedback; and 5.1.3.2.7 Keyboard lighting. The 

standard also covers 5.1.3.3. Mouse/trackballs/joysticks; 5.1.3.3.2 Trackball;

5.1.3.3.3 Displacement joysticks; 5.1.3.3.4 Isometric joysticks; 5.1.3.3.5 Grid-andstylus devices; 5.1.3.3.6 Light pens and styli; and 5.1.3.3.7 Pucks.

5.2.19 Labels

Six of the standards documents include content concerning labels: MIL-HDBK-759C, ISO 

9241, Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM 

F1166. Of these, ASTM F1166 provides the most extensive standards for labels. 

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.5 Labeling provides principles for label conformance and

includes: 5.5.1 General principles include consistent location, word use, brevity and 

unambiguity, horizontal orientation, size, and a mix of upper- and lower-case letters; 

5.5.2 Orientation and location; 5.5.4 Qualities; and 5.5.5 Label characteristics.
65

ISO 9241 Part 12 Presentation of Information section 5.9 Labels addresses labeling

screen elements; label designation; grammatical construction of labels; label position; 

distinction of labels and associated information; label format and alignment; and 

labels for units of measurement. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 Part 3 Technical Guidance section 15 Work Equipment 

subsection 15.2.3 Labeling is concerned with the design of information used for 

naming within displays and workplaces. Labeling refers to text labels, abbreviations, 

graphical symbols and signs. The subsequent section 15.2.4 Use of Colour addresses 

the use of color in labels. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 10.7 Labels includes sections on standardization, identification 

of items, avoiding hazards, avoiding errors, and visual properties of labels. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.4 Labeling focuses on labels that appear on controls, 

instruments, gauges. Consoles, panels, equipment, signs, and placards and includes:

5.4.2 Orientation; 5.4.3 Location; 5.4.4 Contents; 5.4.5 Readability qualities; 5.4.6 

Design of label characteristics; 5.4.7 Equipment labeling; and 5.4.8 Labeling for 

identification. 

ASTM F1166 includes 17 sections addressing labels from the display format to 

safety labels and includes: 

• 13.7 Display Format includes 13.7.1 Consistency of the display format; 13.7.2 

Data criticality for essential data; 13.7.3 Usability for readily usable and 

readable form; and 13.7.4 Order and Sequence for naturally occurring order. 

• 15.1 Design Criteria for Labels includes general requirements for labels, 

application for labels, orientation and location of labels, use uppercase vs.

lowercase letters, redundant labeling, curved surface labels, 

character/background color, characters and numerals, and materials.

• 15.2 Abbreviations addresses the use of abbreviations in signs and labels and 

includes punctuation, standardization, and familiarity. 

• 15.3 Symbols addresses the use of symbols as labels or on signs. 

• 15.4 Component Labels on Consoles and Panels addresses the use of labels of 

individual controls, displays, or groups of controls and displays on consoles 

and panels. 

• 15.5 Equipment Identification Labels addresses the use of equipment labels 

and includes format and mounting location.

• 15.6 Electrical System Labels addresses labels for electrical cables and 

includes general system labels, and sensor labels. 
66

• 15.7 Room Deck, Space, and Void Identification Labels addresses 

identification labels for rooms, deck spaces, and voids. 

• 15.8 Pipe Marker Labels addresses pipe mark labels and includes format, and 

selection of color.

• 15.9 Safe Working Load Identification Labels addresses that specify the 

maximum safe load for each lifting device and includes: color and wording, 

character, material, and mounting locations.

• 15.10 Load Weight Identification Labels addresses caution placards for weight 

and center of gravity on equipment. 

• 15.11 Hazard Identification Labels addresses labels on hazard identification 

signs and includes signs with text and symbols, text only signs, text content, 

hazard signal levels, header color and format, message text format, message 

text, and mounting location. 

• 15.13 Instruction Labels addresses instruction labels for operating or 

maintenance or both and includes the format, and text requirements. 

• 15.14 Graphic Schematics or Diagrams addresses all graphic symbols and 

special nomenclature used on graphic labels and includes: graphics or 

diagrams, charts, character size, line size, and mounting location. 

• 15.15 Orientation Plans addresses plans for labels and includes general 

requirements and mounting location.

• 15.16 Emergency Instructions addresses how instructions should be prepared 

and includes: step-by-step formatting, conciseness, use of short words and 

sentences, ambient illumination requirements, and use of cautionary words. 

• 18.1 Safety Labels, Signs, and Excluded Area Markings addresses safety 

labels and signs and compliance should be those found in Section 15. 

5.2.20 Maintenance

Four of the standards documents address maintenance: MIL-HDBK-759C, Ministry of 

Defence 00-250, MIL-STD-1472G and ASTM F1166. 

MIL-HDBK-759C 5.9 Design for maintainer includes: 5.9.1 General that addresses 

standardization practices, tool design considerations, safety considerations and 

features; 5.9.1.3 Maintainability that addresses material readiness, maintainability in 

the design schedule, planning for maintainability, and designing for maintainability. 

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 12 Operations, 

Maintenance and Support is concerned with providing data and guidance to optimize 

maintenance tasks and equipment. It includes sections on operational context, 

maintainability, and maintenance checklists. 
67

MIL-STD-1472G 5.9 Maintenance accessibility includes 5.9.2 General which 

provides additional guidance on designing for maintainability and includes 

standardization, parts selection, tools, securing tools, grip span, modular replacement, 

ease of removal, separate adjustability, malfunction identification, operational 

environment, error-proof design, physical features, absence of physical features, same 

form and function, safety, ease of access, and maintenance of elevated structures.

ASTM F1166 section 17 Maintenance includes standards on general design 

requirements, maintenance accessibility, maintenance environments, etc. 

5.2.21 Physical Accommodation

Physical accommodation is defined as having adequate reach, strength, and endurance 

necessary to perform all physical tasks; adequate clearance for movement; adequate internal 

and external visibility to perform all required operations; and adequate fit of personal 

protective equipment. Three of the standards documents address physical accommodation: 

Ministry of Defence 00-250, MIL-STD-1462G, and ASTM F1166.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 13 The Workplace

subsection 13.2.6 Working Environment addresses the control of vibration, noise, 

light, thermal radiation, pressure, etc. The section includes standards on physiological 

factors; room contrast by day and night; physical surroundings; psychological factors, 

safety; etc. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.8 Physical Accommodation addresses design that ensures 

physical accommodation, compatibility, operability, and maintainability by the 

central 90 percent of the target user population and includes target populations, 

design limits, anthropometric design; strength; and human strength and handling 

capacity. 

ASTM F1166 9.0 Anthropometry deals with standards on general design 

requirements including design range, special user populations, and anthropometric 

design principles. 9.2 Static Anthropometric Data includes static body dimensions; 

standing heights; seated eye height; forward functional; male and female 

anthropometric data; and adult weight data. 

5.2.22 Prompts

Four of the standards documents address the use of prompts: ISO 9241, NASA/SP-2010-

3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

ISO 9241 Part 13 User Guidance section 6 Prompts includes prompting 

recommendations including implicitly or explicitly, conditions for display of specific 

prompts, conditions for display of generic prompts, online help related to prompts, 
68

prompts for data/command entry, default value, and cues for the type of data 

required. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 10.2.4 Cues includes a section on prompts. Also, section 

10.8.5.2 Speech Signal Design includes standards on repletion of prompts after a user 

command. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.2.2.7.8 Prompts concerns accordances for prompts including 

use, prompts for special modes, missing data, explicit prompts, prompt clarity, and

confirm abort operations. 

ASTM F1166 13.20 Prompts includes similar prompt standards on use, standard 

display, explicit prompts, definitions, consistent technology and confirmation. ASTM 

F1166 13.21 Defaults is not explicitly about prompts but is related in that it addresses 

default settings that may control prompts: the section incudes topics such as use, user 

selection of default values, default substitution, and sequential defaults. 

5.2.23 Software Elements

Seven of the standards documents address software elements: ISO 9241, Section 508, 

ISO/IEC TR 20560, NASA/SP-2010-3407, ISO/IEC 25062, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM 

F1166.

ISO 9241 Part 5 Workstation Layout and Postural Requirements includes four 

relevant sections: 5 Menu Structure, 6 Menu Navigation, 7 Options Selection and 

Execution, and 8 Menu Presentation. 5 Menu Structure includes subsections covering 

structuring into levels and menus; grouping options within a menu; and sequencing of 

options with groups. 6 Menu Navigation includes subsections on navigation cues and 

rapid navigation. 7 Options Selection and includes selection methods; alphanumeric 

keyboard; function keys; cursor key selection; pointing; and voice. 8 Standard Menu 

Presentation covers option accessibility and discrimination. 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that when Federal Agencies 

develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), they 

must ensure that they provide persons with disabilities access to and use of 

information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of that information 

and data by individuals without disabilities.

ISO/IEC TR 20560 describes a potential family of International Standards, named 

the Common Industry Formats (CIF), that document the specification and evaluation 

of the usability of interactive systems. 
69

NASA/SP-2010-3407 includes the following relevant standards: 10.5.2.9 Software 

Elements (i.e., scrolling, navigation, selection, menus, toolbars and status bars, dialog 

boxes, display interpretation, display technology, and related display technology);

9.6.3.1.6 Menus and Design Considerations for Menus; 9.6.3.1.5 Design 

Requirements for Function Keys; and 9.6.3.2.1 Design Requirements for Position 

Designation. 

ISO/IEC 25062 standardizes the types of information captured with user testing. The 

level of detail allows the same or another organization to replicate the test procedure. 

Major variables include: user demographics; task descriptions; test context (including 

the equipment used, the testing environment, and the participant and test 

administrator’s interaction protocol); as well as the metrics chosen to code the study 

findings. 

MIL-STD-1472G includes a section called 5.14 Peripherals that addresses 5.14.1 

User authentication devices and 5.14.1.1.1 Log-on/off procedures that includes 

automatic log-on display, feedback, log-on error, processes (e.g., password choice), 

log-off procedures, and data protection/security.

ASTM F1166 includes two relevant sections: 13.15 Menus and 13.18 Language. 

13.15 Menus addresses use, item selection, titles, series entry, sequences, active 

option presentation, format consistency, option sequence, simple menus, option 

presentation, direct function call, consistency with command language, keyed codes, 

option coding standards, position in structure, back menu, and return to top level. 

Section 13.18 Language addresses command language; punctuation; command entry; 

display location; command prompts; complexity; macro command; standard 

command editing; destructive commands; questions and answers; and query 

language. 

5.2.24 System Status

Four of the standards documents address system status: ISO 9241, NASA/SP-2010-3407, 

MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166. 

ISO 9241 Part 13 User Guidance section 8 Status Information includes components

description of status and status recommendations including continuous presentation 

of status information, automatic presentation conditions, response to user request 

conditions, consistent window display location, visual or auditory cue, and mode 

discrimination. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 covers the user’s access to the status of the systems at all times 

and includes two relevant sections: 10.2.7 System Status that covers the types of 

status indicators, the methods of indicating status, and the precision of status. 
70

MIL-STD-1472G 5.1.2.1.4 Feedback b. System-status addresses system status 

information display either automatically or by request. 

ASTM F1166 13.1.9 System status addresses information to users and availability. 

5.2.25 Toxicity and Substances Hazardous to Health 

Three of the standards documents address toxicity and workplace hazards: Ministry of 

Defence 00-250, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 14.3.8 Toxicity

includes standards for substances hazardous to health, effects on the body, exposure 

limits, human contamination, and equipment contamination. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.7 Warnings, Hazards, and Safety includes six relevant standards:

• 5.7.6 General Workplace Hazards addresses: alerting device; emergency 

doors and exits; stairs; obstructions; overhead; storage racks; cabinet doors; 

illumination; and thermal contact hazards. 

• 5.7.7 General Equipment-Related Hazards addresses: general equipmentrelated hazards. 

• 5.7.8 Platforms

• 5.7.9 Electrical; Mechanical; Fluid; Toxic; and Radiation Hazards addresses: 

electric hazards; mechanical hazards; fluid hazards; toxic hazards; and 

radiation. 

• 5.7.10 Fire addresses: fire extinguishers 

• 5.7.11 Dust addresses: dust standards. 

ASTM F1166 section 18 Hazards and Safety includes five relevant subsections: 

• 18.2 General Workplace Hazards addresses: overhead; storage racks; cabinet 

door swings; and thermal temperature.

• 18.3 General Equipment-Related Hazards addresses: interlocks and alarms; 

safe access into units; edge rounding; and stored energy.

• 18.4 Electrical Hazards addresses: electrical shock; guards; electrically 

operated hand power tools; dead man switch; main power switch; and battery 

storage or charging room.

• 18.5 Mechanical Hazards addresses: guards.

• 18.6 Fluid Hazards addresses: connectors; fluid and fuel servicing equipment; 

and flammable liquid lockers.
71

5.2.26 User Interfaces with Automated Systems

Four of the standards documents address user interfaces with automated systems: ISO 9241, 

NASA/SP-2010-3407, MIL-STD-1472G, and ASTM F1166.

ISO-9241 Part 210 Human-Centered Design for Interactive Systems provides 

requirements and recommendations for human-centered design principles and 

activities throughout the life cycle of computer-based interactive systems. 

NASA/SP-2010-3407 includes two relevant standards: Section 10 Crew Interfaces

addresses simplicity of interface design, usability of the interface, user interface 

standardization throughout the system, cues to reduce demand on user memory, 

distinction of actions with different purpose, feedback including types and timing of 

feedback. 10.10 User Interfaces with Automated Systems considerations for 

automated machines and includes automation, human/machine task division, levels of 

automation, biasing effects on control, need for effective user interfaces, and general 

user interface design rules for automation. 

MIL-STD-1472G 5.2.2.1 General addresses interfaces of computer programs and 

equipment interfaces and includes current modes, overlays, data entry and display 

consistency, maintenance displays, and information architecture.

ASTM F1166 Section 13 Human-Computer Interface includes standards for general 

design of HCI including consistency of design, intuitiveness of design, task-oriented 

design, navigation, consistency with physical/manual interfaces, computer response, 

coding, input devices, system status, and on-line help.

5.2.27 Windows 

Four of the standards documents included standards for windows and the use of windows: 

ISO 9241, Ministry of Defence 00-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407, and ASTM F1166.

ISO 9241 Part 12 Presentation of Information Section 5 Organization of Information

sub-part 5.2 Appropriateness of Windows addresses the appropriateness of windows. 

Section 5.3 Recommendations for Windows provides guidance for the use of 

independently controllable areas to display information from different sources.

Ministry of Defence 00-250 part 3 Technical Guidance section 15.2.8 User of 

Windows describes a means of organizing the display screen to support usability, and 

addresses paging, scrolling, and panning.

NASA/SP-2010-3407 6.2.7 Windows includes standards for design considerations for 

windows; design requirements for windows; format; and information display rate. 

Section 9.6.3.1.7 Data Forms/Form Filling includes standards for design 
72

considerations for data forms/forms filling; design requirements for data forms/forms 

filling; design requirements for default value for data forms; design requirements for 

scrolling; and design requirements for paging. 

ASTM F1166 13.14 Windows includes standards for use; primary and secondary 

windows; window location; multiple windows; window navigation; window shifting; 

window organization; title bar; status bar; tool bars; control consistency; active 

windows; moving windows; window sizing; scrolling; zooming; window menus; 

window toolbars; and message windows. 

5.2.28 Workstation/Workspace Layout and Design 

Six of the standards documents address workstation/workspace layout and design: MILHDBK-759C, ISO 9241, Ministry of Defence 002-250, NASA/SP-2010-3407 , MIL-STD1472G, and ASTM F1166.

MIL-HDBK-759C includes two relevant sections, 5.7 Workspace design that 

addresses the dimensional aspects of workspaces and 5.8 Environment that addresses 

the internal environment of the workspace. 5.7 Workspace design includes 5.7.2 

Standing operations; 5.7.3 Seated operations; 5.7.5 Standard console design; 5.7.7 

Stairs, ladders, and ramps; 5.7.8 Ingress and egress; and 5.7.9 Surface colors. 5.8 

Environment includes: 5.8.1 Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; 5.8.2 

Illuminance; 5.8.3 Acoustical noise; and 5.8.4 Vibration.

ISO 9241 Part 6 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display 

terminals (VDTs) Guidance on the Work Environment include four relevant sections. 

Section 6 Guidance on Sound and Noise includes standards for basic aspects and 

reduction of noise effects. Section 7 Guidance on Mechanical Vibrations includes 

basic aspects and reduction of effects of mechanical vibrations. Section 9 Guidance 

on Thermal Control addresses standards for basic aspects and relevant parameters for 

thermal comfort. Section 10 Guidance on Space Organization and Workplace Layout

provides guidance on space organization and workplace layout. 

Ministry of Defence 002-250 part 3 Technical Guidance includes two relevant 

sections, 13.2 Workplace Design and 13.3 Workspace and Task Lighting. Section 

13.2 Workplace Design includes standards on design principles; general layout; 

specific requirements for workstations; working environment; approaches and 

methods to workspace design; and workspace design reviews. Section 13.3 

Workspace and Task Lighting includes standards for photometry and colorimetry; 

lighting design practice; daylight; lighting equipment; energy consideration; display 

screen equipment lighting; and safety-related lighting. Ministry of Defence 00-250

standards include 14.3.6.2 Noise, 14.3.6.3 Noise Limits and 14.3.6.5 Hearing 

Protection. 
73

NASA/SP-2010-3407 9.2 Workstation Layout includes standards regarding general 

workstation design factors, control/display placement integration, human/workstation 

configuration, specialized workstations, and portable workstation/terminals. 

MIL-STD-1472G includes sections 4.8.2 Design of nonmilitary-unique workplaces 

and equipment; 5.5.1 Environmental Range; 5.5.2 General workplace considerations

that includes 5.5.2.1 Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning; 5.5.2.2 Climate and 

other outdoor environmental considerations; 5.5.3 Illuminance including 5.5.3.1 

Workspace Lighting, 5.5.3.1.11 Display Lighting, 5.5.3.3 Glare, 5.5.4.6 Facility 

Design, and 5.5.5 Vibration. 5.10 Workspace Design covers workspace provision, 

workstation design, and special purpose console design. 5.10.2.11 Eliminate 

interference includes interference among crewmembers, simultaneous tasks, 

workbench location, and reach limitations. 5.10.3 Workstation design includes 

5.10.3.1 Standing operations, 5.10.3.2 Seated operations, 5.10.3.3 Mobile workspace, 

5.10.3.4 Work benches, 5.10.3.5 Console selection, 5.10.3.6 Kneeling workspaces, 

and 5.10.3.7 Squatting workspaces.

ASTM F1166 addresses workstation/workplace layout in two sections, 10 Workspace 

Arrangements and 14.2 Indoor Climate. The former section includes a large number 

of standards. 10 Workspace Arrangements includes: 

• 10.1 Basic Principles of Workplace Design addresses: kick space; guards; 

flushing, draining and venting; skid layout; even walking surfaces; and 

control/display accessibility.

• 10.2 Seated Workstation addresses: window placement; desk dimensions; 

casters; computer workstations; sitting at tables; stool seating; seating at CRT 

workstations; seated overhead reach; control mounting heights; and display 

mounting height.

• 10.3 Standing Workstation addresses: window placement; overhead reach; 

control mounting; and display mounting.

• 10.4 Kneeling Workstation addresses: control mounting height; display 

mounting height; and working area required for squatting persons.

• 10.5 Squatting Workstation addresses: control mounting height; display 

mounting height; and working area required for squatting persons.

• 10.6 Shelving addresses: shelf dimensions with full access; top shelf foot 

supports, shelf dimension above a cabinet, shelf dimensions requiring vision 

over the top, and access to lower shelves.

• 10.7 Status Boards and File Cabinets addresses: mounting heights of status 

boards and filing.
74

• 10.8 Workbenches addresses: seated workbench dimensions; standing 

workbench dimensions; orientation; and location.

• 10.9 Vertical Strainers and Filters addresses: access; top height; lid 

orientation; and lid operation.

• 10.10 Reach Limitations at Workstations addresses: forward reach and 

forward reach to lift or product torque.

• 10.11 Safety Eyewash Fountains and Showers addresses: location; clearances; 

labeling; and alarms.

• 10.12 Pedestal-Mounted Controls and Displays addresses: mounting height; 

orientation; and lifeboat controls.

• 10.13 Hand Crank and Pumps addresses: location installation; two-person 

operation; and clearance.

• 10.14 Bulkhead-Mounted Equipment addresses: mounting height in 

passageways and bulkhead-mounted electrical fixtures.

• 10.15 Equipment Racks, Cabinets, and Individual Equipment Spacing

addresses: lateral spacing for standing operations; frontal space between rows 

and racks or cabinets for standing operations; and lateral and frontal spacing 

for kneeling or squatting positions.

10.16 Consoles and Control Panels addresses: spatial relationships; local control 

panel; consoles oriented athwart ships displaying relationship force/aft 

equipment; consoles/control panels on equipment skids; seated single operator 

console; visual viewing distance; extra-wide consoles; extra height multi-tiered 

consoles; desktop console; cargo and ballast control consoles; other consoles 

orientation; auxiliary machinery consoles; and labeling. Section 14 Habitability

includes the following relevant subsections:

• 14.1 Noise addresses: maximum levels; maximum exposure and protection; 

hearing protection attenuation; high noise area; warning sign; and portable 

equipment noise. 

• 14.2 Indoor Climate addresses: design requirement; temperature; relative 

humidity; temperature/humidity design; air velocity; and air intakes.

• 14.3 Lighting addresses: general design requirements; location; bulb changing 

fall protection; dark adaptation; lighting levels; brightness ratio; wall surface 

reflectance; other lighting requirement; and emergency lighting. 

• 14.4 Whole Body Vibration and Shock addresses: applicability; repeated 

shock; whole-body vibration with occasional shock; limited whole-body 

vibration; continuous whole-body vibration; comfort; perception; motion 

sickness; and measuring accelerations. 
75

5.2.29 World Wide Web Interfaces

Four of the standards documents reviewed address World Wide Web interfaces: ISO 9241, 

Section 508, ISO/IEC TR 20560, and ISO/IEC 25062.

ISO 9241 Part 151: Guidance on World Wide Web includes five sections: 

• 6 High Level Design Decisions and Design Strategy addresses: determining 

the purpose of a web application; analyzing the target user groups; analyzing 

the user’s goals and tasks; matching application purpose and user goals; 

recognizing the purpose of a Web application; prioritizing different design 

goals; ICT accessibility; Software accessibility; web content accessibility; 

identifying the website and its owner; and coherent multi-site strategy. 

• 7 Content Design addresses: conceptual content model; content objects; and 

functionality.

• 8 Navigation and Search addresses: general guidance on navigation; 

navigation structure; navigation components; and search.

• 9 Content Presentation addresses: observing principles of human perception; 

page design issues; link design; interaction objects; and text design.

• 10 General Design Aspects addresses: designing for cultural diversity and 

multi-lingual use; providing help; making Web user interfaces error-tolerant; 

URL names; acceptable download times; using generally accepted 

technologies and standards; supporting common technologies; making Web 

user interfaces robust; designing for input device independence; and making 

the user interface of embedded objects usable and accessible.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that when Federal Agencies 

develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), they 

must ensure that they provide persons with disabilities access to and use of 

information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of that information 

and data by individuals without disabilities.

ISO/IEC TR 20560 describes a potential family of International Standards, named 

the Common Industry Formats (CIF), that document the specification and evaluation 

of the usability of interactive systems. 

ISO ISO/IEC 25062 standardizes the types of information captured with user testing. 

The level of detail allows the same or another organization to replicate the test 

procedure. Major variables include: user demographics; task descriptions; test context 

(including the equipment used, the testing environment, and the participant and test 

administrator’s interaction protocol); as well as the metrics chosen to code the study 

findings. 
76

6 NEXT STEPS

In this phase of the project, we identified a comprehensive body of human factors and HSI 

standards, best practices, and guidelines. We then selected and summarized sections of the 

standards that were relevant to DHS. Many of the standards specifically address areas such 

as audio displays; labels; workstation/workspace layout and design; visual displays; controls; 

and access aids. A number of these standards are also very specific to work environment and 

task requirements and therefore may or may not be applicable to DHS technologies and 

devices. Nonetheless, they are a good starting point for DHS’ efforts to develop and 

implement its own human factors and HSI standards.

For the next phase of the project, NIST conducted a user-centered design process review that 

allowed the project team to determine how existing standards could be mapped to DHS 

needs, technologies, and processes. The review also revealed areas where existing standards 

must be generalized and/or modified to apply to DHS, and where new standards may need to 

be created.

Our review drew on the framework described by ISO 9241-210, one of the three standards 

that make up the Human-Centered Design process. ISO 9241-210 focuses on and provides a 

framework for human-centered design. It is not process-dependent and provides a 

perspective that can be integrated into different design and development processes in a way 

that is context-appropriate. The standard describes four major activities:

• Understand and specify the context of use

• Specify user requirements

• Provide design solutions

• Evaluate designs against requirements

Essentially, our review consisted of the first activity: understanding and specifying the 

context of use for processes and technologies within DHS. In the long term, we recommend 

that DHS adopt the entire Human-Centered Design process described by ISO 9241-210 and 

its supporting standards, ISO/IEC TR 25060 and ISO/IEC 25062 .

ISO/IEC TR 25060 focuses on the outputs of the human-centered design process. 

Specifically, it standardizes the types of information that are documented when providing a 

detailed report of the results of efforts to measure effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. 

ISO/IEC 25062 , The Common Industry Format (CIF) for Usability Test Reports provides a 

framework for the evaluation report. The standard is intended for use by usability 

professionals to report the results of summative usability testing. The CIF standardizes the 
77

types of information that are captured about testing with users. An intended purpose of the 

CIF was to enable consumer organizations to take usability into account when making 

purchasing decisions.

Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the CIF family of standards (ISO/IEC TR 

25060), the Human Centered Design Activities (ISO 9241-210), and the System Life Cycle 

Technical processes (ISO/IEC 15288). The figure shows where each standard from the CIF 

family of standards occurs during the Human-Centered Design Activities.

The figure depicts the four major activities of the Human-Centered Design process as a set of 

intersecting circles, with each circle representing an activity. The circles overlap to represent 

the fact that the activities are not separate, nor do they take place in a linear sequence with 

definite start and end points: rather they overlap in time and scope, and the outcome of each 

activity can inform the input of another. The Users are shown in the center, reflecting that the 

user requirements always are at the center of these activities. There is no start, endpoint, or 

linear process intended as each activity can inform any other. These standards and CIF 

reports for usability-related information standardize usability engineering in industry. 
78

Figure 1: Human-Centered Design Process

Incorporating the user-centered practices and standards described above into the technology 

life cycle at DHS will result in an improved end user experience: DHS will be able to ensure 

that its systems are more effective and efficient, and will also improve satisfaction and 

reduce errors.
79

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