ISO 9241-129:2010

Overview

ISO 9241-129:2010 - "Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 129: Guidance on software individualization" provides ergonomic guidance for software individualization in interactive systems. It explains when and how to allow users or systems to modify the user interface (UI) - including configuration, customization, adaptivity and profiling - to better match individual capabilities, tasks and contexts of use. The standard focuses on improving usability and accessibility of UI individualization without prescribing specific technical implementations. It is intended to be used alongside ISO 9241-110 and other parts of the ISO 9241 series.

Key topics

• Scope and principles: Role and limits of individualization within complete software systems; not intended to be used in isolation.
• Usability attributes: Accessibility, controllability, detectability, consistency and overall usability of individualization features.
• Stages of individualization: Initiation (user- or system-initiated), choosing individualization actions, and updating system/context.
• Configuration and defaults: Guidance on configuration, reconfiguration, guided setup, and sensible default settings.
• User profiles and management: Predefined or custom profiles, automatic profile acquisition, portability of profiles across devices/systems, and user control.
• Interface component individualization: Customizing visual, auditory, tactile and temporal aspects of media and interaction components.
• Interaction activities and content: Managing stored interaction sequences, security options, online help, and cultural/linguistic variations.
• Practical design considerations: Factors to evaluate applicability, conformance, and accessibility of individualization options.

Applications and users

ISO 9241-129 is practical for teams and roles involved in designing or procuring interactive systems:

• UI/UX designers: Design configurable, accessible interfaces and guided personalization flows.
• Software developers: Implement individualization APIs, profile handling, and portability mechanisms.
• System administrators and integrators: Configure defaults, manage user profiles and deploy guided setup.
• Procurement and buyers: Specify ergonomic requirements for individualization in tenders.
• Evaluators and testers: Assess conformity with ergonomic guidance and accessibility expectations.

Common applications include adaptive applications, accessibility features in enterprise and consumer software, configurable web and mobile UIs, and systems that must support diverse user groups and contexts.

Related standards

• ISO 9241-110 - Dialogue principles (use together for design).
• ISO 9241-171 - Guidance on software accessibility.
• ISO/IEC 24786 - Accessible user interface for accessibility settings.
• ISO 9241 series covers broader ergonomics of human-system interaction.

Keywords: ISO 9241-129, software individualization, ergonomics, human-system interaction, user interface, accessibility, usability, configuration, user profiles, customization.