Usability Test Plan Toolkit

Bluffers' Guide to ISO 9241

By David Travis

Single Copy: £9

Delivery method: Electronic download

31 pages, last updated September 2007.

  • An always available reference text on your hard disk.
  • A no-waffle, just-the-facts guide written by a standards expert.
  • Each part of the standard clearly explained on a single page.
  • Contains a list of the 50+ future parts of ISO 9241.
  • Printer-friendly fonts, graphics and layout.
  • Free updates whenever new parts of ISO 9241 are released.
  • Available in English and German.
  • No quibble, 100% money-back guarantee.
  • Instant download immediately you've paid.
  • Pay by credit card with PayPal — it's fast and secure.

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About the Bluffers' Guide to ISO 9241

In the dusty institutions where usability standards gather to party with each other, ISO 9241 is a bit of a celebrity.

It is widely cited by people who would be hard pushed to name any other standard, and parts of it are virtually enshrined in law in some European countries.

But as is the fate of many celebrities, all most usability professionals know about the standard is its name. This downloadable eBook describes each of the published parts of ISO 9241 in detail.

“If an organisation is modifying their website, or considering building a new one, then the commissioner must be able to ensure that the site is a benefit to the business... I would therefore recommend reading and acting upon three documents: PAS 124, PAS 78 and The Bluffers Guide to ISO 9241.”
— Peter Abrahams, Practice Leader — Accessibility and Usability, Bloor Research. Three inexpensive and essential investments for website commissioners.

Here is the full list of contents for this detailed, 31-page review of usability standards

  • Preface
    • About this document
    • About the author
    • About Userfocus
  • Introduction
    • What is ISO 9241?
    • Who is ISO?
    • Other usability standards
  • The published parts of ISO 9241
    • Part 1: General introduction
    • Part 2: Guidance on task requirements
    • Part 3: Visual display requirements
    • Part 4: Keyboard requirements
    • Part 5: Workstation layout and postural requirements
    • Part 6: Guidance on the work environment
    • Part 7: Requirements for display with reflections
    • Part 8: Requirements for displayed colours
    • Part 9: Requirements for non-keyboard input devices
    • Part 110: Dialogue principles
    • Part 11: Guidance on usability
    • Part 12: Presentation of information
    • Part 13: User guidance
    • Part 14: Menu dialogues
    • Part 15: Command dialogues
    • Part 16: Direct manipulation dialogues
    • Part 17: Form filling dialogues
    • Part 400: Principles and requirements for physical input devices
  • The future parts of ISO 9241
  • Appendix 1: What it costs
  • Appendix 2: Summary of information
  • Feedback form
“Bluffers' Guide is just brilliant! I admire the effort you put into it to get this information out to people. I also love your whole layout and approach. You communicated so much information on one page per document. A very high Wow! factor!”
— KM, Denmark.

Look inside the book!

The book clearly describes each part of ISO 9241 on a single page. For each part of ISO 9241 you will find out:

  • A citation: How to reference it.
  • Its status: From "Approved Work Item" to "International Standard".
  • Its lifecycle phase: Explains where in the development cycle you should use it.
  • The type of guidance: Describes the kind of guidance you can expect from this part of ISO 9241.
  • The application area: Distinguishes general guidance from equipment, environment, software, user testing or process.
  • Its scope: A concise summary of what this part of ISO 9241 is about.
  • The intended audience: Describes who should read this part of ISO 9241.
  • Where to go next: Cross references to other parts of ISO 9241 and other ISO standards.

Take a look at some sample pages (pdf document, 192 kb).

What people say

“It gives me a place to go when I need specific information. Before I wouldn't have known where to start. The time alone is worth $20. The peace of mind even more.” — ST, USA

“I needed to quickly understand the new requirements to put together a proposal for a client. This guide fitted the bill perfectly.” — MM, Canada

“I remember feeling pretty chuffed when I chanced upon the guide — anything but have to pay through the nose for and wade through the full standard. Excellent work.” — PK, Ireland

“Everybody talks about ISO Documents, but nobody has really ever seen them. I wanted to know what I was talking about without buying (and reading) the whole stuff.” — OB, Switzerland

“I bought the book because I needed to prepare a quotation response. It impressed the hell out of most and scared the rest as it made them realise how much they should have known!” — GH, Amsterdam

“It was a great help preparing my University lectures on system usability.” — PD, Italy

“Having a good summary of usability standards like this, that is easy to turn to, is invaluable. It's going to be a great help introducing my clients to the standards that drive my work.” — SC, Australia

“The free updates are great and novel! Thank you!” — PR, UK

“It has inspired me to go to the British library and look up the ISO in full, and now I feel a bit more informed about which parts to zone in on.” — JM, UK

“After reading your guide I actually bought and downloaded part 151 of ISO 9241 from the ISO website. Your document came in useful for understanding how ISO documents are constructed.” — GP, UK

But wait, there's more.

Whenever we update the Bluffers' Guide to ISO 9241, you'll be the first to hear about it. This means that if you buy it now, you'll receive all subsequent revisions of the Bluffers' Guide to ISO 9241 absolutely free. The Bluffers' Guide is now in its 6th edition and is updated regularly.

A note on licensing the Bluffers' Guide

We can only offer the Bluffers' Guide to ISO 9241 at this price by offering a single license per purchase. This means you can't distribute it to anyone else.

If you'd like to buy additional licenses, please contact us about site licensing.

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Read Bluffers' Guide On-Line

Not ready to buy yet? Read the on-line version. Start at the Introduction or view the Table of Contents.