ISO/IEC 13066-1:2011
(Main)Information technology — Interoperability with assistive technology (AT) — Part 1: Requirements and recommendations for interoperability
Information technology — Interoperability with assistive technology (AT) — Part 1: Requirements and recommendations for interoperability
Interoperability involves the ability to use assistive technology (AT) to add to or augment existing components of information technology (IT) systems. Interoperability between AT and IT is best facilitated via the use of standardized, public interfaces for all IT components. ISO/IEC 13066-1:2011 provides a basis for designing and evaluating interoperability between IT and AT. It formalizes the layered architecture of hardware-to-hardware, hardware-to-software, and software-to-software connections that have long been implicit in the IT definitions of ISO/IEC JTC 1. It also recognizes the central role that accessibility application programming interfaces (accessibility APIs) play in aiding this interoperability. ISO/IEC 13066-1:2011 identifies a variety of APIs that are described further in other parts of ISO/IEC 13066. These APIs can be used as frameworks to support IT-AT interoperability. ISO/IEC 13066-1:2011 does not define or require specific technology, commands, APIs, or hardware interfaces. It defers to other existing standards and supports the development of new standards in these areas. It identifies a variety of common accessibility APIs that are described further in other parts of ISO/IEC 13066.
Technologies de l'information — Interopérabilité avec les technologies d'assistance — Partie 1: Exigences et recommandations pour l'interopérabilité
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 13066-1
First edition
2011-05-15
Information technology — Interoperability
with assistive technology (AT) —
Part 1:
Requirements and recommendations for
interoperability
Technologies de l'information — Interopérabilité avec les technologies
d'assistance —
Partie 1: Exigences et recommandations pour l'interopérabilité
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2011
© ISO/IEC 2011
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ii © ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope.1
2 Terms and definitions .1
3 Conformance .5
3.1 Applying the requirements.5
3.2 Applying the recommendations.5
3.3 Evaluation of products.6
4 Framework for IT-AT interoperability .6
4.1 Assistive technology.6
4.2 Interconnection.6
5 Requirements and recommendations on hardware-to-hardware interoperability .9
5.1 Responsibilities of ICT manufacturers.9
5.2 Responsibilities of device manufacturers .10
6 Requirements and recommendations on hardware-to-software interoperability.10
6.1 Responsibilities of ICT system manufacturers .10
6.2 Responsibilities of operating system manufacturers .11
6.3 Responsibilities of device driver developers .12
6.4 Responsibilities of device manufacturers .12
7 Requirements and recommendations on software-to-software interoperability.12
7.1 Responsibilities of all software developers.12
7.2 Responsibilities of operating system and platform software developers.15
8 Support of assistive technology.15
8.1 Provision of AT-specific documentation .15
8.2 Provision of accessible help .15
8.3 Avoiding monopolizing devices .15
9 Expectations of assistive technology .16
9.1 AT responsibilities regarding the functional units they represent / replace.16
9.2 Utilizing platform accessibility services .16
Annex A (informative) Survey of accessibility application programming interfaces
(accessibility APIs).17
Bibliography.35
© ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved iii
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 13066-1 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
ISO/IEC 13066 consists of the following parts, under the general title Information technology —
Interoperability with assistive technology (AT):
⎯ Part 1: Requirements and recommendations for interoperability
The following parts are under preparation:
⎯ Part 2: Windows accessibility API [Technical Report]
⎯ Part 3: I-Accessible-2 accessibility API [Technical Report]
iv © ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved
Introduction
Interoperability involves the ability to use assistive technology (AT) to add to or augment existing components
of information technology (IT) systems. Interoperability between AT and IT is best facilitated via the use of
standardized, public interfaces for all IT components.
This part of ISO/IEC 13066 provides a basis for designing and evaluating interoperability between IT and AT.
It formalizes the layered architecture of hardware-to-hardware, hardware-to-software, and software-to-
software connections that have long been implicit in the IT definitions of ISO/IEC JTC 1. It also recognizes the
central role that accessibility application programming interfaces (accessibility APIs) play in aiding this
interoperability.
This part of ISO/IEC 13066 identifies a variety of APIs that are described further in other parts of
ISO/IEC 13066. These APIs can be used as frameworks to support IT–AT interoperability.
© ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 13066-1:2011(E)
Information technology — Interoperability with assistive
technology (AT) —
Part 1:
Requirements and recommendations for interoperability
1 Scope
This part of ISO/IEC 13066 defines the responsibilities of different information technology (IT) and assistive
technology (AT) functional units in supporting interoperability. It recognizes that AT can be provided both as
functional units that are installed or otherwise connected to a system or can be utilized by being provided as a
service which is accessed via communications connections. It bases these responsibilities on fundamental IT
definitions of major types of functional units. It focuses on the utilization of standard, public interfaces for
functional units and on the provision of accessible documentation of their capabilities.
This part of ISO/IEC13066 recognizes that IT is implemented both in conventional computer systems and as a
major component of other systems within the wider scope of information and communications technology
(ICT). This part of ISO/IEC 13066 recognizes the fundamental role of operating systems and application
programming interfaces (APIs), in managing interoperability, and in providing guidance to developers of other
functional units. It also recognizes that different operating systems will have their own standardized methods
of supporting interoperability.
This part of ISO/IEC 13066 does not define or require specific technology, commands, APIs, or hardware
interfaces. It defers to other existing standards and supports the development of new standards in these
areas.
It identifies a variety of common accessibility APIs that are further described in other parts of ISO/IEC 13066.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
accessibility API
set of programming interfaces designed specifically to provide accessibility services
NOTE An accessibility API is a special instance of an API.
2.2
accessibility services
services provided by an operating system or other platform software, commonly in the form of APIs
(application programming interfaces) that are used by software to expose information about the user interface
and events to assistive technologies and that provide two-way communication with assistive technologies,
including exposing information about objects and events
NOTE Accessibility services might provide additional information used by assistive technologies, e.g. about operating
system status.
© ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved 1
2.3
application programming interface
API
collection of invocation methods and associated parameters used by one piece of software to request actions
from another piece of software
[ISO/IEC 18012-1, definition 3.1.1]
2.4
application software
software that is specific to the solution of an application problem
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.04.01]
EXAMPLE A spreadsheet program.
2.5
assistive technology
AT
hardware or software that is added to or incorporated within a system that increases accessibility for an
individual
EXAMPLES Braille displays, screen readers, screen magnification software and eye-tracking devices.
[ISO 9241-171, definition 3.5]
NOTE 1 Assistive technology can be helpful to individuals with disabilities or other specialized needs.
NOTE 2 Within this document, where assistive technology (and its abbreviation AT) is used, it is to be considered as
both singular and plural, without distinction. If it is to be used in the singular only, it will be preceded by the article “an”
(i.e. an assistive technology). If it is to be used in the plural only, it will be preceded by the adjective “multiple”
(i.e. multiple AT).
2.6
compatibility
capability of a functional unit to meet the requirements of a specified interface without appreciable modification
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.06.11]
2.7
computer
functional unit that can perform substantial computations, including numerous arithmetic operations and logic
operations, without human intervention
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.03.03]
NOTE A computer can consist of a stand-alone unit or several interconnected units.
2.8
computer system
system
one or more computers, peripheral equipment, and software that perform data processing
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.01.20]
2.9
connectivity
capability of a system or device to be attached to other systems or devices without modification
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.03.27]
2 © ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved
2.10
device driver
software component that permits a system to control and communicate with a peripheral device
[IEEE Std. 610.10-1994, IEEE Std. 610.12-1990, definition 3.542]
2.11
function
defined objective or characteristic action of a system or component
[IEEE Std. 610.12-1990, unnumbered definition]
EXAMPLE A system has inventory control as its primary function.
2.12
functional unit
entity of hardware or software, or both, capable of accomplishing a specified purpose
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.01.40]
2.13
hardware
all or part of the physical components of an information processing system
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.01.07]
EXAMPLES Computers and peripheral devices.
2.14
information/communication technology
ICT
technology for gathering, storing, retrieving, processing, analysing and transmitting information
[ISO 9241-20, definition 3.4]
EXAMPLE A computer system.
2.15
interface
shared boundary between two functional units, defined by various characteristics pertaining to the functions,
physical interconnections, signal exchanges, and other characteristics, as appropriate
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.01.38]
2.16
interoperability
capability to communicate, execute programs, or transfer data among various functional units in a manner that
requires the user to have little or no knowledge of the unique characteristics of those units
[ISO/IEC 2382-1, definition 10.01.47]
2.17
op
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