ISO/IEC/IEEE 26516:2026

Overview

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26516:2026 is an international standard that outlines the best practices and requirements for the planning, design, and development of instructional videos related to information technology systems, products, and services. Developed by ISO, IEC, and IEEE, this standard supports professionals involved in producing video-based user instructions, including both standalone instructional videos and those integrated into broader information products.

Instructional videos, including formats such as interactive videos, hypervideo, animation, and virtual or augmented reality, are crucial for effectively communicating how to use software, hardware, and other IT solutions. This standard addresses essential content elements, structure, integration of media components (such as music, narration, captions, and graphics), and user accessibility, ensuring that instructional videos enhance usability and user engagement.

Key Topics

• Project Planning and Management
  • Guidance on creating project plans that incorporate accessibility, project team roles, and required media resources.
  • Emphasis on defining requirements, objectives, constraints, and scheduling for video projects.
• Roles and Responsibilities
  • Defines specific roles involved in instructional video projects: production managers, project managers, producers, video developers, directors, camera operators, animators, designers, editors, sound designers, lighting technicians, reviewers, narrators, and actors.
• Process Stages
  • Covers pre-production (planning, scriptwriting, storyboarding), production (filming, animation), and post-production (editing, adding sound and captions, quality assurance).
• Content Elements and Structure
  • Specifies structural components such as titles, preliminary/preview information, instructional steps, task demonstrations, review segments, and completion information.
  • Addresses the use of captions, music, voiceover narration, subtitles, and graphics to ensure clarity and inclusiveness.
• Accessibility and Usability
  • Prioritizes accessibility, with requirements for captions, contrast, and clear visual/audio presentation.
  • Guidance on usability testing and compliance with accessibility standards.
• Legal and Ethical Considerations
  • Includes requirements for permissions, copyright, and participant consent during video production.

Applications

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26516:2026 has wide-ranging applications for organizations and professionals working on information technology documentation and user training. Key use cases include:

• User Onboarding and Product Tutorials
  • Creating engaging “getting started” and onboarding video guides for new users of systems or software.
• Workflow Demonstrations and Task Training
  • Developing tutorials that illustrate common or critical workflows, assisting users in performing technical tasks efficiently.
• Software Updates and Feature Releases
  • Explaining new features or updates to software and hardware systems via concise, accessible video segments.
• Integration with Documentation Portals
  • Using video segments within larger help systems or portals, enhancing traditional documentation with rich media.
• Regulatory and Compliance Training
  • Supporting compliance initiatives by providing clear, standardized video-based procedures and instruction.

The standard can be adopted by project managers, instructional designers, information architects, user experience specialists, technical writers, graphic designers, video editors, accessibility consultants, and anyone involved in producing instructional media for IT systems.

Related Standards

To ensure alignment and best practices, ISO/IEC/IEEE 26516:2026 references several related standards, including:

• IEC/IEEE 82079-1:2019
  • Preparation of information for use (instructions for use) of products - principles and general requirements.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 26514:2022
  • Systems and software engineering - Design and development of information for users.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207
  • Systems and software engineering - Software life cycle processes (for contextual project management).
• ISO 9241-112:2017
  • Guidance on accessibility of user interfaces.
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765
  • Software and Systems Engineering Vocabulary for terms and definitions.

By adhering to ISO/IEC/IEEE 26516:2026, organizations can enhance the effectiveness, quality, and accessibility of instructional videos, supporting better user experiences and lowering support costs in IT environments.