ISO/IEC 17549-3:2023

Information technology - User interface requirements and recommendations on menu navigation - Part 3: Navigation with one-direction devices

This document provides requirements and recommendations on the design of navigation methods for menu item selection with use on one-direction devices (using single or double-switch devices). It specifies requirements for menu navigation with one-direction devices in terms of time delay, loops and focus rendering. This document is applicable to any information technology equipment on which the display area is associated with the one-direction devices.

Technologies de l'information — Exigences et recommandations d’interface portant sur la navigation dans les menus — Partie 3: Navigation au sein des dispositifs mono-touche

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 22-May-2023
• 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 4 - User interfaces for mobile devices
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 23-May-2023
• Due Date: 27-May-2023
• Completion Date: 23-May-2023

Overview

ISO/IEC 17549-3:2023 - published by ISO/IEC - defines user‑interface requirements and recommendations for menu navigation with one‑direction devices (single‑switch and double‑switch). The standard focuses on accessible, predictable menu selection for devices where navigation is possible only in a single direction, specifying rules for time delays, loops, focus rendering, and other scanning behaviors. It applies to any information‑technology equipment whose display area is associated with one‑direction controls (including virtual or physical controls used by motor‑impaired users).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Device types: Defines single‑switch devices (one key → requires automatic scrolling) and double‑switch devices (two keys → manual next + activation).
• Menu structures:
  • Ladder menus: Short menus (≤7 items) should place the “back” item at the end; long menus (>7 items) need “back” items at least every 10 items or an alternate method.
  • Tile menus: On a single screen, “back” items at top and bottom; for multi‑screen tile menus, place “back” items at the end of every third line.
• Navigation mechanics:
  • Automatic scrolling for single‑switch devices (each item must be focused during automated navigation).
  • Manual scrolling for double‑switch devices (first key moves to next item; second key activates).
  • Loops and sub‑loops: Menus shall support loops (last → first), with separator bars to indicate boundaries; sub‑loops must include a “back” command. Hierarchy depth should not exceed five levels; deep hierarchies should provide direct access to the menu bar.
• Focus and indicators:
  • Focus rendering must be available via visual, auditory, and/or tactile feedback.
  • Audio feedback required when an item is focused/activated, with user option to disable audio.
  • The next focused item must be fully visible before focus changes.
• Timing and ergonomics: The standard addresses scanning speed, start/pause and post‑activation delays, re‑scan/skip behaviors to reduce cognitive load and fatigue (see Clause 6 for conformance requirements).

Applications and users

• Targeted for designers and implementers of accessible user interfaces, including:
  • UI/UX designers, accessibility engineers, product managers
  • Assistive‑technology and AAC device manufacturers
  • Mobile phone and embedded device developers with constrained input
  • Regulatory and procurement teams specifying accessibility requirements
• Practical use cases: menu navigation on AAC devices, sip/puff switches, single‑button remote controls, gesture‑based one‑direction inputs, and simplified mobile interfaces for motor‑impaired users.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 17549‑2:2020 - User interface guidelines on menu navigation with 4‑direction devices (referenced normative document).

Keywords: ISO/IEC 17549-3:2023, one-direction devices, single-switch, double-switch, menu navigation, accessibility, automatic scrolling, focus rendering, ladder menu, tile menu, assistive technology.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 17549-3
First edition
2023-05
Information technology — User
interface requirements and
recommendations on menu
navigation —
Part 3:
Navigation with one-direction devices
Technologies de l'information — Exigences et recommandations
d’interface portant sur la navigation dans les menus —
Partie 3: Navigation au sein des dispositifs mono-touche
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2023
© ISO/IEC 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
© ISO/IEC 2023 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Conformance . 3
5 General description . 3
5.1 Purpose of single-switch device and double-switch device . 3
5.2 Working principles . 3
6 Requirements and recommendations for designing menus . 3
6.1 General . 3
6.2 Ladder menu . 3
6.3 Designing for one-direction device in the context of a tile menu . 4
6.4 Indicators . 4
6.5 Rules for loops and sub-loops . 4
6.6 Rules applicable to menu navigation with a double-switch device . 5
6.7 Rules applicable to menu navigation with a single-switch device . 5
6.7.1 Simple automatic scrolling . 5
6.7.2 Other types of automatic scrolling . 5
6.7.3 Scanning speed . 6
6.7.4 Scanning start and pause delays . 6
6.7.5 Post-activation delay . . 6
6.7.6 Re-scan and skip scan . 7
6.7.7 Scanning indicators . 7
Annex A (informative) Examples of devices with one-direction navigation .8
Bibliography . 9
iii
© ISO/IEC 2023 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
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This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 35, User interfaces.
A list of all parts in the ISO/IEC 17549 series can be found on the ISO and IEC websites.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
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iv
© ISO/IEC 2023 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 17549-3:2023(E)
Information technology — User interface requirements
and recommendations on menu navigation —
Part 3:
Navigation with one-direction devices
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations on the design of navigation methods
for menu item selection with use on one-direction devices (using single or double-switch devices). It
specifies requirements for menu navigation with one-direction devices in terms of time delay, loops
and focus rendering.
This document is applicable to any information technology equipment on which the display area is
associated with the one-direction devices.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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/IEC 17549-2:2020, Information technology — User interface guidelines on menu navigation — Part 2:
Navigation with 4-direction devices
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
one-direction device
control enabling navigation through menu items in a single direction
Note 1 to entry: A one-direction device can be made of a one-directional key and a one-activation key or a single
activation key without any directional key.
Note 2 to entry: A one-direction device can be made of virtual or physical control.
EXAMPLE A one-direction device can be associated to a 3D or tactile gesture or vocal command, or a sip/
puff switch. Such devices are mainly used by motor impaired users.
3.2
ladder menu
set of items displayed vertically or horizontally
© ISO/IEC 2023 – All rights reserved

3.3
menu bar
set of one-dimensional menu items that is always standing by at the root of a menu hierarchy
Note 1 to entry: A menu bar provides tabular functionality and it is different from a “rolling menu”.
3.4
item
element inside a list
Note 1 to entry: Items can be “options’, “contacts”, “sub-categories”. Some items are called “navigation items”
because they are opening to a sub-list of items. Others are called “action items” because they are directly
operating functions. The former does not modify system state and is for navigation only.
3.5
focusing
action done by a user or by the system to select an item (3.4)
Note 1 to entry: If the number of available keys is one, the action of focusing is achieved through automatic
scrolling (3.9). If the number of keys is at least two, one of them enables the user to focus on the “previous” or
“next” item.
Note 2 to entry: A selected item is visually, auditorily, and or tactually highlighted to show that the action of this
item can be activated.
3.6
activating
action done by a user through a confirmation key, which enables activation of a focus or a pointed item
(3.4)
3.7
separator bar
visual, tactile and/or audio interface output that is rendered in order to facilitate recognition of grouped
items (3.4) or the start or end of a list
3.8
tile menu
set of items (3.4) displayed with a number of rows and columns, one of which is to be selected
3.9
automatic scrolling
automated focus movement from the current menu item (3.4) to the next one
3.10
loop
focus that moves from the last list item (3.4) to the first one
3.11
single-switch device
device with only one key
Note 1 to entry: A single-switch device does not enable the user to directly manage the focus as the single-key is
dedicated to activation. Consequently, an automatic scrolling (3.9) is needed.
3.12
double-switch device
device with two keys, one directional key, which enables reaching the next item (3.4) and another
activation key, which enables activating it
Note 1 to entry: A double-switch device does not need automatic scrolling (3.9).
© ISO/IEC 2023 – All rights reserved

4 Conformance
Menu navigation is in conformance with this document if it meets the requirements of Clause 6.
5 General description
5.1 Purpose of single-switch device and double-switch device
Many people with physical impairments rely on computers and other assistive technology to allow
them to communicate and interact with the world. One-direction devices provide a way to facilitate
navigation through items. With such devices, users can browse items in a linear way. Single-switch
devices and double-switch devices are two kinds of one-direction devices. They allow people with
physical impairments to independently use a mobile phone, a computer or an augmentative and
alternative communication (AAC) device (see Reference [1]).
5.2 Working principles
In the case of a mobile phone that is used in a one-direction device situation, it can be operated with a
single-switch device or double-switch device. In the first case, the user can only access one command
that enables activation of the currently focused selection that is automatically browsed one-way. In
the second case, the user can access two commands, next item one-way selection and activation. The
user can choose, with the first key, the menu item they want, and then the second key enables them to
activate this item.
Annex A gives some examples of such devices.
Such interaction modes are a challenge for users who are often subject to boredom or fatigue, especially
in the case of the single-switch device. In this case, automatic scrolling is on, and the user has to
monitor both the scan process and the menu items that have to be read and chosen (see Reference [5]).
As the user must focus on so many things, the cognitive load is very high. This, in combination with the
physical exertion required to repeatedly press a button, leads to fatigue.
6 Requirements and recommendations for designing menus
6.1 General
When designing a user inte
...