ISO 9241-400: Principles and requirements for physical input devices

ISO 9241-400: Physical Input Devices- Ergonomic Principles

This segment of ISO 9241 describes the uses and involvements of the physical input devices in the interactive systems on the basis of ergonomic factors. It also works with the purpose of setting out the basic ergonomic principles other requirements which are important to analyze and take into account while designing and implementing the physical input devices. It also contributes in the determination of the different properties of the physical input devices which are related to the usability process and properties like electrical, mechanical, functional, maintainability or safety related properties. It has also impacts on the interdependency with the software and with the use environment.

Physical Input Devices

Basically, physical input devices are the media through which the users can enter data in any interactive system. They work on detecting the changes in different forms of user behaviors like moving fingers or gestures and then transforming them into interpretable signals by the interactive systems. There are different numbers of input devices for different purposes. For example, keyboard, mouse, joystick, tablet, touchpad, pucks, voice system all are examples of physical input devices.

Selection of Input Devices

Ergonomic process also helps to guide the users about the selection of input devices for the interactive approaches. This process also describes the methods of evaluating a wide range of input users. Thus it helps the user organizations and other systems integrators to be encouraged to take into account the limitations and capabilities of the users present in the workplace and also minimize the ergonomic risk factors while performing their tasks.

Guidance while Interaction

It is a better framework which helps us to understand and also communicate with different hardware or software interaction. It helps to contribute in a larger context by defining terms and conditions, describing the basic structures and models and so on. It provides guidance in the time of interaction process like designing and evaluating of the software and hardware, combining various software and hardware interactions, proving recommendations while tactile and haptic interactions (software and hardware). Moreover, it also provides necessary guidance on the technique how interaction which might be software or hardware is applied to different classes of user tasks.

Benefits of Physical Input Devices

Physical input devices play a vital role in the field of interaction between man and machines. They are the fundamental frameworks which help to widen the bandwidth between these two different classes. They help to make it easy for the users to communicate with the machines and vice versa. It reduces the different risk factors in the workplaces and increases the workers’ efficiency. Thus, it contributes in system welfare.

References:

ISO 9241 Part 400: Principles and requirements for physical input devices
http://www.userfocus.co.uk/resources/iso9241/part400.html

Usability and Ergonomics Standards: How to Use and Buy Them
http://www.system-concepts.com/articles/usability-and-ergonomics-standards/how-to-use-usability-and-ergonomics-standards-and-how-to-buy-them.html

Ergonomics of human–system interaction — Part 400: Principles and requirements for physical input devices
https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:9241:-400:ed-1:v1:en