scope:

ISO 9241-20 is intended for use by those responsible to plan, design, develop, acquire, and evaluate information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and services. ISO 9241-20 provides recommendations to improve the accessibility of ICT equipment and services. Equipment and services which follow this ISO 9241-20 will have wider accessibility for use in work, home, mobile and public environments. This International Standard covers issues associated with designing equipment and services for people with a wide range of sensory, physical and cognitive abilities, including those who are temporarily disabled, and the elderly. A detailed design for specific equipment or services can be developed based on this International Standard. If a specific detailed standard exists on the equipment or service, then users of this International Standard can also refer to that more specific standard. Where such standards are not available, this International Standard can be the basis of designing accessibility features of ICT equipment and service. ISO 9241-20 is also intended to provide general guidelines for acquiring and evaluating ICT equipment and services. This includes both hardware and software aspects of information processing equipment, electronic communication facilities, office machines, and other similar technologies and services, which can be used in work, home, mobile and public environments. ISO 9241-20 can also provide important information about context of use. Accessibility is increased by expanding the range of contexts where equipment and services can be used. Context of use can result from the various components of the equipment or service, including: user characteristics, task characteristics, equipment (hardware, software and materials) characteristics, and the characteristics of physical and social environments. Context of use can be considered when planning, designing, developing, acquiring and evaluating ICT equipment and services. ISO 9241-20 is a high level standard and is applicable to all ICT equipment and services, therefore, detailed descriptions specific to equipment or service are avoided. To prevent barriers to trade or the movement of people each national, regional and international standardization activity in this area can refer to ISO 9241-20. More specific recommendations on software accessibility are contained in 9241-171.