ISO/IEC 24216-1:2026

Information technology — User interface requirements and guidelines on avatars — Part 1: General

This document provides requirements and recommendations for creators, designers, producers, exhibitors and distributors of user interfaces using avatars in their systems, applications and contents. This document defines the term “avatar” and provides a categorization of avatars based on their presentation and function. This document also refers to considerations of ethical and usability aspects in the design, distribution and operation processes of avatars. This document applies to all fields of information technology that use avatars in their content, including entertainment and business applications in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, cyber-physical systems, metaverse and interverse.

Titre manque — Partie 1: Titre manque

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-May-2026
• ICS: 13.180 - Ergonomics
• ICS: 35.180 - IT Terminal and other peripheral equipment
• 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: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 25-May-2026
• Due Date: 30-Aug-2027
• Completion Date: 25-May-2026

Overview

ISO/IEC 24216-1:2026 sets out the general requirements and guidelines for user interfaces utilizing avatars across diverse information technology systems, applications, and content. This international standard, developed by ISO and IEC, is designed for creators, designers, producers, exhibitors, and distributors who implement avatars in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality environments, as well as in the emerging fields of the metaverse, interverse, and cyber-physical systems.

The standard defines the term “avatar,” provides a systematic categorization of avatars based on their presentation and function, and addresses crucial aspects such as user accessibility, ethical considerations, and usability. By offering robust guidance on the design, management, and use of avatars, this document supports enhanced user experience, respects diversity, and promotes responsible virtual representation.

Key Topics

1. Avatar Definition and Categorization

• Avatars are defined as graphical objects representing users, not limited to human likenesses and excluding NPCs (non-player characters).
• Categorization is based on body tracking (full-body, upper-body, hands, etc.), finger and facial tracking, perspective (first-person, third-person), appearance (photo-real, anime-style, abstract), input devices, body ownership, and source origin.

2. Design Considerations

• Appearance design must allow for sufficient customization to match user preferences, such as skin, eye, and hair color.
• Non-verbal communication capabilities include expressive facial features and culturally diverse gestures.
• Sensory feedback options (e.g., tactile or other modalities) must be explained and made accessible to users.

3. Ethical and Usability Aspects

• Developers must confirm ethical appropriateness in appearance, gender representation, cultural sensitivity, and sexual or violent content.
• Customization features should be flexible to support users’ identities and needs, ensuring inclusivity.
• Usability requires clear, accessible information regarding avatar usage and functions.

4. Avatar Management and Personality

• Actions, limitations, and ranges of use for avatars must be clearly managed and communicated.
• Respect for personalities-real or fictional-represented by avatars is emphasized.
• Ownership intent and permissions regarding the distribution and use of avatars should be embedded in avatar data.

Applications

ISO/IEC 24216-1:2026 is applicable across all areas utilizing avatars in user interfaces, with significant impact in:

• Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality: In VR/AR/MR environments, avatars serve as key agents for user interaction, presence, and communication.
• Metaverse and Interverse Platforms: Standardization ensures consistent, ethical, and accessible avatar experiences in expanding digital universes.
• Online Entertainment and Gaming: Enhanced customization and communication features support inclusive, interactive user experiences.
• Business and Enterprise Solutions: In remote collaboration, meeting, and training settings, avatars improve engagement, diversity, and user comfort.
• Cyber-Physical Systems: Avatars facilitate human-machine interaction and foster trust in advanced digital ecosystems.

Organizations adopting this standard can improve user satisfaction, reduce misuse risks, and ensure compliance with global best practices in information technology.

Related Standards

For further guidance on accessible user interfaces and digital inclusion, refer to:

• ISO/IEC 20071 Series: Information technology - User interface component accessibility
• Related standards on virtual and augmented reality, and human-computer interaction, available on www.iso.org.

Implementing ISO/IEC 24216-1:2026 helps ensure ethical, accessible, and inclusive avatar experiences in all digital contexts, supporting a more diverse and user-focused IT landscape.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO/IEC 24216-1
First edition
Information technology — User
2026-05
interface requirements and
guidelines on avatars —
Part 1:
General
Reference number
© ISO/IEC 2026
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]
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Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Descriptions about the avatar . 1
4.1 Use of unified attribute categories for avatar identification .1
4.2 Description about the use of avatar .2
4.3 Accessibility of the description about the use of avatar .2
5 Categories of avatar . 2
5.1 Category based on body tracking .2
5.2 Category based on finger tracking . .3
5.3 Category based on facial tracking .3
5.4 Category based on visibility of body parts .3
5.5 Category based on shape .4
5.6 Category based on perspective .4
5.7 Category based on appearance .4
5.8 Category based on input device information .5
5.9 Category based on body ownership .5
5.10 Category based on the source of the avatar .6
6 Appearance design . 6
6.1 General .6
6.2 Customization of appearance design .6
7 Non-verbal communication design . 6
7.1 General .6
7.2 Facial expression .6
7.3 Gestures, body and hand expressions .6
8 Sensory feedback design . 7
8.1 General .7
8.2 Explanation of feedback information .7
9 Embodiment design . 7
9.1 General .7
9.2 Customization of embodiment design .7
10 Ethical confirmation . 7
10.1 General .7
10.2 Appearance .8
10.3 Gender and gender identity .8
10.4 Culture .8
10.5 Sexual expression .8
10.6 Expression of violence .9
11 Management of avatar. 9
11.1 General .9
11.2 Information for avatar’s action .9
11.3 Use of imported avatar .9
12 Personality of avatar .10
12.1 General .10
12.2 Information for use of avatar.10
Bibliography .11

© ISO/IEC 2026 – 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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/
IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives or www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs).
ISO and IEC draw attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the
use of (a) patent(s). ISO and IEC take no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any
claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO and IEC had not
received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers
are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent
database available at www.iso.org/patents and https://patents.iec.ch. ISO and IEC shall not be held
responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
In the IEC, see www.iec.ch/understanding-standards.
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 24216 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
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html and
www.iec.ch/national-committees.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
iv
Introduction
This document provides user interface guidelines on avatars, identification of avatars by categories of
presentation and functions about avatar user interfaces. The purpose of this document is to improve
accessibility and usability for both users and providers of contents using avatars by clarifying the terms and
design considerations of features and functions. This document contributes to the respect for diversity and
the prevention of human rights violations in the use of avatars. This document helps users appropriately
express their own identity through avatars and prevents them from being forced to use an unpreferred
avatar. This document helps prevent the problem of giving a negative image to avatars contrary to the
creator's intention.
In this document, requirements and recommendations are addressed by the data and functions of an avatar
itself, by the content using the avatar, or by the system or application that provides the content.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
v
International Standard ISO/IEC 24216-1:2026(en)
Information technology — User interface requirements and
guidelines on avatars —
Part 1:
General
1 Scope
This document provides requirements and recommendations for creators, designers, producers, exhibitors
and distributors of user interfaces using avatars in their systems, applications and contents.
This document defines the term “avatar” and provides a categorization of avatars based on their presentation
and function.
This document also refers to considerations of ethical and usability aspects in the design, distribution and
operation processes of avatars.
This document applies to all fields of information technology that use avatars in their content, including
entertainment and business applications in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, cyber-physical
systems, metaverse and interverse.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
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
avatar
graphical object that represents a user
Note 1 to entry: An avatar does not necessarily resemble a human.
Note 2 to entry: An avatar may be based on a real-world object (e.g. tanks) or person (e.g. fictional superheroes).
Note 3 to entry: This definition excludes computer graphics characters that are automatically operated by computer
programs, such as non-player characters.
4 Descriptions about the avatar
4.1 Use of unified attribute categories for avatar identification
Avatars shall be identified by a combination of the categories of attributes defined in Clause 5.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
The usability of an avatar and the user experience vary depending on the design of the avatar. For this
reason, the kind of avatar that is to be used by users should be clearly stated in advance. This does not apply
to general descriptions regarding avatars of all categories.
EXAMPLE
This content is experienced through avatars from the following categories:
— Body tracking: full-body (7);
— Finger tracking: finger-semi-tracking;
— Facial tracking: face-sync (eye, mouth);
— Visibility of body parts: whole body;
— Shape: deformed;
— Perspective: third person perspective (3PP);
— Appearance: anime-style;
— Input devices: controller, motion sensor, face sensor, microphone;
— Body ownership: another-self;
— Source of avatar: no-source.
4.2 Description about the use of avatar
Systems or applications that provide content using avatars shall inform users about the use of avatars prior
to use.
Systems or applications that provide content using avatars shall inform users about attribute categories for
avatars prior to use.
4.3 Accessibility of the description about the use of avatar
An explanation about the use of avatars shall be accessible to users.
The locations or sites where such descriptions are provided shall be accessible to users.
NOTE 1 ISO/IEC 20071 series provides information on accessible explanations.
NOTE 2 The description can be located somewhere outside the main system or application that the user can access
during the process of getting started. For example, it can be found in a content website that can be accessed via a link
on a screen that provides consent for use.
NOTE 3 ISO/IEC 20071 series outlines considerations for users for whom textual display is not accessible.
5 Categories of avatar
5.1 Category based on body tracking
A category based on body tracking should be distinguished as shown in Table 1.

© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
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