ISO/IEC 24738:2006

Information technology — Icon symbols and functions for multimedia link attributes

ISO/IEC 24738:2006 defines a consistent set of icon symbols and related attributes that are presented on a computer screen and with which users interact to decide whether or not to take the associated link. These symbols represent attributes of the link and/or the destination of the link. Link attribute icon symbols enable users to decide on the suitability of following associated hyperlinks. Information provided by these icon symbols may also be made available via text. ISO/IEC 24738:2006 provides guidance on the graphics to be used by implementers of ISO 14915-2, Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces -- Multimedia navigation and control. The icon symbol graphics included in ISO/IEC 24738:2006 have been selected on the basis of their ability to convey the desired information to a wide audience of users. ISO/IEC 24738:2006 applies to icons that are shown on a computer screen in conjunction with a link also shown on that screen. It describes user interaction with and the appearance of link attribute icons on the screen. Other forms of icons are covered in ISO/IEC 11581, Information technology -- User system interfaces and symbols -- Icon symbols and functions.

Technologies de l'information — Symboles et fonctions d'icônes pour les attributs de liens multimédias

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Nov-2006
• ICS: 35.240.20 - IT applications in office work
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 - User interfaces
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35/WG 2 - Graphical user interface and interaction
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Start Date: 02-Dec-2027

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 24738
First edition
2006-12-01


Information technology — Icon symbols
and functions for multimedia link
attributes
Technologies de l'information — Symboles et fonctions d'icônes pour
les attributs de liens multimédias





Reference number
ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2006

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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Conformance. 1
3 Normative references . 1
4 Terms and definitions. 1
5 Requirements and recommendations .3
5.1 Requirements . 3
5.2 Recommendations. 4
6 Icon specifications. 5
6.1 General structure of link attribute icons . 5
6.2 Temporal attribute of links. 7
6.3 Attributes of destinations of links. 11
6.4 Link history attributes . 15
Annex A (informative) Implementation issues for link attribute icons . 17
Annex B (informative) Developers of this technical report. 19

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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 24738 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
Introduction
Link attribute icon symbols enable users to decide on the suitability of following associated hyperlinks.
Information provided by these icon symbols may also be made available via text.
This International Standard provides guidance on the graphics to be used by implementers of ISO 14915-2,
Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces — Part 2: Multimedia navigation and control.
The icon symbol graphics included in this International Standard have been selected on the basis of their
ability to convey the desired information to a wide audience of users.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)

Information technology — Icon symbols and functions
for multimedia link attributes
1 Scope
This International Standard defines a consistent set of icon symbols and related attributes that are presented
on a computer screen and with which users interact to decide whether or not to take the associated link.
These symbols represent attributes of the link and/or the destination of the link.
This International Standard applies to icons that are shown on a computer screen in conjunction with a link
also shown on that screen. It describes user interaction with and the appearance of link attribute icons on the
screen. Other forms of icons are covered in ISO/IEC 11581, Information technology — User system interfaces
and symbols — Icon symbols and functions.
2 Conformance
A system, application or set of one or more icons conforms to this International Standard if all link icons
available to the user in the system or application conform to subclause 5.1 of this International Standard and
to clause 5 and subclause 6.1 of ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14915-2:2003, Software ergonomics for multimedia user interfaces — Part 2: Multimedia navigation and
control
ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and
functions — Part 1: Icons — General
ISO/IEC TR 19766, Information technology — Guidelines for the design of icons and symbols accessible to all
1)
users, including the elderly and persons with disabilities
4 Terms and definitions
4.1
application
collection of functions with which a user can perform a task

1) To be published.
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
4.2
link
connection among or within media which starts with a control and ends at a specified location
NOTE Links may be represented with text, graphics, or other forms of media.
[ISO 14915-2:2003, definition 3.9]
4.3
fixed link
permanent link that can be activated whenever the medium containing the link is presented
EXAMPLE 1 The user clicks on an underlined phrase in a Web page and is taken to another Web page.
EXAMPLE 2 The user clicks on a word and is provided with a description of what the word means.
EXAMPLE 3 The user clicks on an animated icon which starts a video presentation.
[ISO 14915-2:2003, definition 3.9.3]
4.4
temporal link
link between two anchors in the system that is only available for a certain period of time while the medium
containing the link is presented
EXAMPLE 1 Links to descriptions of characters are made available only while the characters are visible in a video
sequence.
EXAMPLE 2 A link to descriptive information is available only during the first 20 seconds of viewing a picture.
NOTE Temporal links can be due to conditional or time limited constraints.
[ISO 14915-2:2003, definition 3.9.4]
4.5
computed link
temporary link, created on demand between two anchors in the system, where the location linked to is
dynamically determined based on the state and/or history of the system and where the link remains available
only while needed
EXAMPLE The results of a search include several links to different parts of the application that will be replaced by
the results of any subsequent search.
[ISO 14915-2:2003, definition 4.5]
4.6
user defined link
permanent or temporal link created by a user during the use of an application that is intended to supplement
the links created with the application
EXAMPLE The user creates a bookmark to go directly to a given location within an application.
[ISO 14915-2:2003, definition 4.6]
4.7
link attribute
property or destination of a link
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
4.8
icon
graphic displayed on the screen of a visual display that represents a function or an attribute of a function of
the computer system
4.9
interactive system
combination of hardware and software components that receive input from, and communicate output to, a
human user in order to support his or her performance of a task
NOTE The term “system” is often used, rather than “interactive system”.
[ISO 13407:1999, definition 2.1]
5 Requirements and recommendations
5.1 Requirements
5.1.1 Graphic and function
If an interactive system or application uses a link attribute icon that has the appearance of the icon graphic
specified in clause 6 of this International Standard, within the specific variations given, and within the global
variations specified in ISO/IEC 11581-1, it shall serve the functions specified in clause 6 of this International
Standard.
NOTE A single link attribute icon may combine information on a number of attributes of a link.
5.1.2 Arrangement
A link attribute icon shall be grouped together with the link that it clarifies.
EXAMPLE The link attribute icon for link composed of a string of text is presented immediately before the start of the
text.
5.1.3 Selection
a) Selection of a link attribute icon shall have the same result as selecting the link that the attribute icon
clarifies.
b) Selection of a link attribute icon shall be made by indicating with the pointer and activating the associated
input device (e.g. clicking a mouse button).
5.1.4 Visual feedback
a) There shall be visual feedback when a link has been invoked via a link attribute icon.
NOTE Typically, this involves presenting content from the destination of the link.
b) The user shall be informed if content from the destination of the link cannot be presented when a link has
been invoked via a link attribute icon.
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
5.2 Recommendations
5.2.1 Control of presentation of link attributes
The systems should provide a function to allow the user to control the presentation/hiding of link attribute
icons.
5.2.2 Function and graphic
If an interactive system or application uses a link attribute icon that serves the primary function specified in
clause 6 of this International Standard, it is highly recommended that it have the appearance of the icon
graphic specified in clause 6, within the specific variations given and within the global variations specified in
clause 6.3 of ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000.
5.2.3 Presenting textual information about link target
When a link attribute icon or the link itself is pointed at but not activated, a pop-up should be used to display
further information about the details of the target of the link (i.e. media type, application, etc.).
5.2.4 Metaphor
Information about the following metaphors used in this International Standard may be included in
documentation that is provided to users of link attribute icons.
a) The basic nature of a link is represented by three segments (also known as “links”) of a chain.
b) The temporal aspect of some links is represented by an hourglass with sand in various positions
representing the passage of time in the temporal life of the link.
c) The need to load additional content which may overlay the content currently available to the user is
represented by a border around the link indicating that this new content is completely new.
d) The on-going nature of a link is represented by flashing (as is commonly used in a web browser), or if
flashing is not appropriate, by a dashed border that shows that new content will continue to be loaded.
e) The computed nature of the destination of a link is represented by an equals sign.
f) The size of the content to be loaded is represented by a glass with various amounts of liquid in it.
g) The visited nature of a link is represented by shading within the segments of the main link attribute icon
(which is similar to the use of changed colours for textual links).
5.2.5 Rendering
A consistent highlighting or presentation style should be considered which renders the graphic of the symbols
sufficiently prominent in comparison with other information on the screen.
5.2.6 Colour
a) Link attribute icons may be coloured.
b) Because the background is significant, the colour of the background should be clearly distinguishable
from other colours used in the icon.
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ISO/IEC 24738:2006(E)
5.2.7 Cell size
Icon cell sizes should be sufficient to allow all the presence or absence of icon components to be accurately
perceived.
NOTE Icon cell sizes are not required to be square. The sizes shown in clause 6 are relative to the complexity of the
design and implementation of the icons. The aspect ratio of the cell sizes are not part of this International Standard.
5.2.8 Text/typeface
a) The use of text to accompany link attribute icons should be avoided.
b) If text is used, plain typefaces should be used.
c) If text is used, it should be used in a manner that supports adaptation for cultural, linguistic and
comprehensibility purposes.
5.2.9 Accessibility
Link attribute icons should comply with the recommendations of ISO/IEC TR 19766.
6 Icon specifications
6.1 General structure of link attribute icons
6.1.1 Use of a single link attribute icon
A single composite icon shall be used to represent a combination of link attributes.
NOTE The use of multiple icons would defe
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