ISO 9241-400:2007

Overview - ISO 9241-400:2007 (Ergonomics of human‑system interaction)

ISO 9241-400:2007 provides ergonomic principles and requirements for physical input devices used with interactive systems. It covers a broad range of devices - keyboards, mice, pucks, joysticks, trackballs, trackpads, tablets and overlays, touch‑sensitive screens, styli, light pens, voice‑controlled and gesture‑controlled devices - and defines terms and task primitives used across the 400 series. The standard focuses on usability and ergonomics rather than device‑specific test procedures, and notes that safety or other domain‑specific rules may take precedence in some applications.

Key topics and requirements

• Ergonomic guiding principles and design requirements applicable to a wide range of input devices.
• Typologies and task primitives to characterise devices and usage (e.g., pointing, dragging, code input), enabling consistent design and evaluation approaches.
• Properties relevant for usability, including:
  • Functional properties (control modalities, degrees of freedom, mapping)
  • Electrical and mechanical properties
  • Maintainability and safety‑related properties
• Interdependencies between hardware, software and the use environment (how device behaviour and software mapping affect usability).
• Performance criteria and measures (terminology and concept definitions used to support later measurement methods).
• Definitions of terms used throughout the 400 series to ensure consistent language for designers and evaluators.

Practical applications

ISO 9241-400 is used to guide the ergonomic design and specification of input devices and to inform selection and integration decisions in interactive systems. Typical practical uses include:

• Designing new input hardware with attention to usability, safety and maintainability.
• Specifying device requirements for product development (human‑centred design).
• Informing software designers about device‑to‑software mapping and interdependency considerations.
• Creating procurement criteria or ergonomic selection rules for workplaces and special‑needs adaptations.

Who should use this standard

• Product designers and hardware engineers developing keyboards, pointing devices, touchscreens, gesture and voice interfaces.
• Usability professionals, ergonomists and HCI specialists defining user requirements and evaluating fit to task.
• Manufacturers, test houses and user organisations preparing for conformance testing and device selection (note: test methods are provided in related parts of the 400 series).
• Procurement and safety officers who need to ensure ergonomic compliance in workplace equipment.

Related standards

• ISO 9241 series (ergonomics of human‑system interaction) - see Parts 410 (design criteria), 411 (test and evaluation methods), 420 (selection procedures) and other 400‑series parts for complementary guidance and measurement methods.