ISO/IEC TR 11581-1:2011, “Information technology — User interface icons — Part 1: Introduction to and overview of icon standards,” has just been released. The technical report introduces the ISO/IEC 11581 series and provides developers and other icon standards users with an overview of currently available and future anticipated icon standards.
Icons are used on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products to facilitate interaction with their users. They are especially suitable for elements that are frequently used and where the meaning of the icon can be easily understood. They are usually graphical, but can also be auditory or tactile as well.
The previous edition, ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, is being merged into the new edition of ISO/IEC 11581-10. In the meantime, it is still current.
ISO/IEC TR 11581-1:2011:
- describes the structure of parts that will be used to encompass all present and future icon standards;
- introduces currently existing icon standards, whether they are parts of ISO/IEC 11581 or they have their own separate numbers
The technical report will continue to change as new parts of the series become available, adding to or replacing the current set of parts.
The series provides several parts, each presenting icons on specific types of icons (object icons, pointer icons, action icons, etc.). Part 41, currently in development, will define the data structure to be used by the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 35 icon database (JTC is Joint Technical Committee and SC is Sub Committee).
Here’s the complete list of the series as published as of today:
ISO/IEC TR 11581-1:2011, Information technology — User interface icons — Part 1: Introduction to and overview of icon standards
ISO/IEC 11581-1:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 1: Icons — General
ISO/IEC 11581-2:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 2: Object icons
ISO/IEC 11581-3:2000, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 3: Pointer icons
ISO/IEC 11581-5:2004, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 5: Tool icons
ISO/IEC 11581-6:1999, Information technology — User system interfaces and symbols — Icon symbols and functions — Part 6: Action icons
ISO/IEC 11581-10:2010, Information technology — User interface icons — Part 10: Framework and general guidance
ISO/IEC 11581-40:2011, Information technology — User interface icons — Part 40: Management of icon registration
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