INTERNATIONAL
`
`STANDARD
`
`ISO
`
`9241-14
`
`First edition
`1997-06-01
`
`
`
`Ergonomic requirements for office work
`with visual display terminals (VDTs) —
`
`Part 14:
`
`Menu dialogues
`
`EX/gences ergonomiques pour travail de bureau avec terminaux a écrans
`de visualisation (TE V) ——
`
`Partie 14: Dialogues de type menu
`
`
`SONY Exhibit 1023
`SONY v. Creative
`IPR2016-01407
`IPR2016-01407
`Reference number
`‘50 924144319975)
`
`SNY Exhibit 1023 SONY V. Creative
`
`
`Licensed to Wunney Walsh (cwalsh@wolfgreenfield,com)
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`Single user licence only, copying and networking prohibited.
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`Contents
`
`Page
`
`1
`
`Scope —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— --
`
`1
`
`2 Normative reference ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— -— 2
`
`3
`
`Definitions —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 2
`
`4 Application oflSO 9241—14 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5
`
`4.l Appropriateness of menu dialogues ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 5
`
`4.2 Applying the recommendations ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————w— 6
`
`4.3 Evaluation of products ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 6
`
`5 Menu structure ——————————————————————
`
`———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-- 6
`
`5.1 Structuring into levels and menus (overall structure) ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 6
`
`5.2 Grouping options within a menu ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 7
`
`5.3 Sennencni” of options within groups ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 8
`
`6 Menu navigation ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 9
`
`6.1 Navigational cues AAAAAAAAAAA 7»
`
`~ ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-— 9
`
`6.2 Rapid navigation ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ——lO
`
`7
`
`Option selection and execution ——————————.————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ——l
`
`7:1 Selection methods ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------—l
`
`1
`
`l
`
`7.2 Alphanumeric keyboard ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————~-l3
`
`7.3 Function neys ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————l5
`
`7.4 Cursor key selection ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————--l 5
`
`7.5 Pointing ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— «‘16
`
`© $01997
`
`All rights reserved. Unless othenivrse specified, no part oi this publication may be reproduofi or
`utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
`including photocopying and
`microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
`International Organization for Standardization
`Case postale 56 - (EH-1.211. Geneve 2O - Switzerland
`lnternet
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`Printed in Switzerland
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`© ISO
`
`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`7.6 Voice ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————--17
`
`8 Menu presentation .................................................................................................._.1 8
`
`8.1 Option accessibility and discrimination __________________________________________________________________________1 3
`
`8.2 Placement —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————"20
`
`8.3 Text option structure and syntax ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------_-23
`
`84 Graphic option structure and syntax -------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
`
`8,5 Auditory option structure and syntax ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————--25
`
`Annex A (informative) Sample procedure for assessing applicability and adherence ——————————————————————"27
`
`Annex B (informative) Examples of applying ISO 9241-14 ...................................................._-46
`
`Annex C (informative) Bibliography ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------—_48
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`in
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`Foreword
`
`© ISO
`
`is a worldwide federation of national
`ISO (the International Organization for Standardization)
`standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally
`carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a
`technical committee has been established has the right
`to be represented on that committee.
`International organizations, governmental and non~governmental, in liaison with lSO, also take part in
`the work.
`ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (lEC) on all
`matters of electrotechnical standardization.
`
`Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to member bodies for
`voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75% of the member
`bodies casting a vote.
`,w“ “.2 A...
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`l Standard ISO 9241-14 was prepared by the Technical Committee ISO/TCI59,
`w
`Ergonomics, Subcommittee 8C4 Ergonomics of human—system interaction.
`
`lSO 9241' consists of the following parts, under the general title Ergonomic requirements for office
`work with visual display terminals (VDTs) -
`
`Part 1: General
`
`Part 2." Guidance on task requirements
`
`Part 3: Visual display requirements
`
`Part 4." Keyboard requirements
`
`Part 5.' Workstation layout and postural requirements
`
`Part 6: Environmental requirements
`
`Part 7: Requirements for display with reflection
`
`Part 8: Requirements for displayed colours
`
`Part 9: Requirements for nonkeyboard input devices
`
`Part 10: Dialogue principles
`
`Part I 1: Guidance on usability
`
`Part 12: Presentation of information
`
`Part 13: User guidance
`
`Part 14: Menu dialogues
`
`Part 1' 5 : Command dialogues
`
`Part 16: Direct manipulation dialogues
`
`Part 1 7: Farm-filling dialogues
`
`Annexes A to C ofthis part of ISO 9241 are for information only.
`
`_
`IV
`
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`

`

`© lSO
`
`Introduction
`
`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`International Standard ISO 9241 deals with several aspects of the use of VDTs. Currently,
`individual parts can be grouped in the following categories:
`
`the
`
`ISO 9241—1: Introduction
`
`ISO 9241—2: Guidance on task requirements
`
`ISO 9241—5 and —6: Workstation and environment
`
`ISO 924l—3,-4,— 7,- 8 and -9: Ergonomics pertaining to hardware
`
`ISO 9241—10 through -I7: Ergonomics pertaining to software interfaces
`
`ISO 9241—14 is concerned with the ergonomic design of menu dialogues. In menu dialogues, the
`dialogue system presents one or more groups of options to the user, the user chooses one or more
`options, and the computer executes the desired process denoted by the option(s).
`
`ISO 9241-14 serves the following types of user:
`
`0
`
`0
`
`-
`
`the user interface designer, who will apply ISO 9241-14 during the development process;
`
`the buyer, who will reference ISO 9241—14 during the product procurement process;
`
`evaluators responsible for ensuring products meet the recommendations in ISO 9241-14,
`
`0 designers of user interface development tools to be used by interface designers;
`
`-
`
`end users who will gain from the potential benefits provided by the standard.
`
`ISO 9241-14 consists of a number of recommendations, some of which are conditional, concerning
`menus. Conditional
`recommendations are recommendations that should be met only within the
`specific context for which they are relevant (e.g., particular kinds of users,
`tasks, environments,
`technology). These recommendations were developed primarily by reviewing the existing relevant
`literature and empirical evidence, then generalizing and formulating this work into recommendations.
`The source ofthe evidence for the individual recommendations can be found in annex C.
`
`Differences in the relative importance of the task, user, environment, and technology in the design
`process are inevitable and have led to the "if —
`then" structure of many of the conditional
`recommendations. For example, "If rapid search time is important, then place as many options and
`levels as possible on a single menu panel." This method provides practical, usable and unambiguous
`guidance during user interface design.
`
`Designers and evaluators using ISO 9241-14 need to know that they are developing an interface that
`will meet the recommendations provided in this part. Likewise, the buyer needs a means to determine
`how a product matches the recommendations in ISO 9241—14. The elements can be tailored due to the
`"if — then" structure in ISO 9241-14. Additionally,
`it
`is not the intent of ISO 9241—14 that every
`recommendation should be applied, only those that are relevant.
`
`The application of ISO 9241—14 is expected to improve the overall quality of the menus, but this
`standard (like any other standard) will not guarantee the quality of the interface. Quality depends on
`
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`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`© ISO
`
`Specific usability criteria as set by the user, buyer or other menu dialogue consumer which may
`include specifications based on this standard,
`
`that lSO 9241—20 describes dialogue principles that are relevant {or the design of
`It should be note
`menu dialogues. These principles should provide the designer and evaluator with additional
`Inform an
`.4 A
`A
`A
`H
`i
`on concerning the ergonomic rationale for the various recommendations in ISO 92 1—14 and,
`therefore, assist
`in making tradeoffs. However,
`it may be necessary to base tradeoffs on other
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`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL STANDARD © ISO ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display
`terminals (VDTs) ——
`
`Part 14:
`
`Menu dialogues
`
`1 Scope
`
`This part of ISO 9241 provides conditional recommendations for menus used in user—computer
`dialogues to accomplish typical office tasks. The recommendations cover menus presented by various
`techniques including windowing, panels, buttons, fields, etc. These recommendations can be utilized
`throughout the design process (e.g., as guidance for designers during design, as a basis for heuristic
`evaluation, as guidance for usability testing).
`
`Interface design depends upon the task, the user, the environment, and the available technology.
`Consequently, ISO 9241-14 cannot be applied without a knowledge of the design and use context of
`the interface and it
`is not intended to be used as a prescriptive set of rules to be applied in their
`entirety. Rather,
`it assumes that the designer has proper information available concerning task and
`user requirements and understands the use of available technology (this may require consultation with
`a qualified ergonomics professional as well as empirical testing with real users).
`
`Although this is an International Standard, some of the conditional recommendations are based on
`Latin‘based language usage and may not apply, or may need to be modified, for use with a different
`language. For example, in right—to—left languages those conditional recommendations oriented towards
`Ieft-to-right
`reading may need to be modified and adapted.
`In applying those conditional
`recommendations that assume a specific language base (e.g., alphabetic ordering of menu options,
`compound titles), care should be taken concerning the intent of the standard when translation is
`required to a different language.
`
`The recommendations relate to the three major design components of user interfaces, i.e., dialogue,
`input, and output.
`
`Dialogue design determines the way in which a user is guided by the system to make inputs and
`influences the amount of control the user has over the dialogue. The dialogue should be designed to
`support the user in his/her actual work without the user being bothered by additional work caused by
`system peculiarities. Menu dialogue design is covered in this part of ISO 9241 in terms of designing
`the menu structure, providing facilities for menu navigation and defining the selection methods for
`menu options.
`
`information into the system using various input
`Input design is concerned with how users input
`devices. Menu options can be selected by means of one or more input devices such as an
`alphanumeric keyboard, function keys, cursor keys, pointing devices and voice (other devices are not
`excluded) depending on the task at hand and dialogue requirements, as well as on individual
`preferences. ISO 9241-14 provides conditional recommendations for the use of each of the input
`devices listed above.
`
`Output design is concerned with how data should be presented consistently and perceptibly distinct on
`the display. ISO 924le4 provides conditional recommendations for the placement of options and
`
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`1
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`© lSO
`
`option groups, the structure and syntax for textual, graphic and auditory options and presentation
`techniques to indicate option accessibility and discrimination.
`
`Providing users with the capability to alter the interface to suit their own needs has become a popular
`approach to software interface design. This is often a desirable feature of the interface. However,
`providing users with customization capabilities is not an acceptable substitute for ergonomically
`designed initial menus (i.e., default menus).
`it should be noted that customization of the menus may
`result in deviations from ISO 924l-l4. Therefore, customization options also should be evaluated
`with resoect to the
`180 9241714.
`
`2 Normative reference
`
`The tollowmg standard contains provisions which, through reierence in this text, constitute provisions
`oft' is part oflSO 924i. At the time of publication, the edition indicated was valid. All standards are
`subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 9241 are encouraged to
`investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of the standard indicated below.
`Members oflEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
`
`ISO 9241-8:—,1 Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTS) —
`Part 8.“ Requirements for displayed colours.
`
`3 Definitions
`
`For the purposes ofthis part oflSO 924i, the following definitions apply.
`
`3.1 accelerator keys: Key combinations (sometimes called "shortcut keys") which invoke a menu
`option without displaying the menu on which the option appears or intermediate menus.
`
`3.2 cascading menu panels: Menu panels in a menu hierarchy displayed so that each submenu
`originates adjacent to the choice selected from the higher level menu (suggesting a "cascading"
`effect).
`
`3.3 critical option: Option with significant positive impact on system or task performance, or which
`can halt or reverse significant degradation to system or task performance (e.g. save the user or the
`system from disaster).
`
`3.4 destructive option: Option which can seriously degrade system or task performance, or destroy
`work or data (e.g. deleting a file).
`
`3.5
`
`hierarchical menus: Series of menus which are structured in a hierarchical or "tree—like"
`
`manner, where the selection of an initial option leads to another menu containing additional options,
`which may lead to another menu, etc, until the desired results are obtained.
`
`3.6 level: Nesting order within a menu hierarchy. The first choice level (initial, or main menu) in the
`hierarchy would be level 1, the next choice level (obtained by a selection ofa level i option) would be
`level '2, etc.
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`if several groups of options are presented on a menu panel, but a selection from any of these groups
`NOTE 2
`would lead to a lower level menu, these groups would be considered as at the same level.
`
`
`
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`

`

`© ISO
`
`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`3.7 level of experience: The relative amount of experience of (different) user segments of the user
`population.
`
`NOTE: The experience level of the user on computer systems as well as the experience level with the task
`domain are important considerations when deciding upon appropriate menu dialogue techniques.
`
`3.8 list: Horizontal or vertical presentation of "data" items in a display which usually changes
`according to the states of the application.
`
`NOTE: Although in some cases items can be selected from a list, only where items in the list are arranged or
`structured to optimize item choice such lists are considered menus. Additionally, those lists of items which
`exceed the display area (often called "scrollable menus") should be considered lists and not menus. (Lists are
`covered in ISO 9241—12.)
`
`3.9 menu: Set of selectable options.
`
`NOTE: Menu options may be presented to the user by means of visual display devices (textually or
`symbolically), or audibly. A menu may contain multiple option groups, but unless only one choice is allowed
`u'
`across groups, each group would be considered a menu. Highlighted words, symbols, or other material in texts
`(sometimes called
`implicit" or "embedded" menus) are not considered menus within the context of
`ISO 9241—14.
`
`3.10 menu access: Method by which the user obtains the menu.
`
`NOTE: Typical means for accessing menus include:
`
`-
`
`keying in keywords or command words or their abbreviations (e.g., command-line input);
`
`-- pressing an appropriate key or button (e.g. function key, mouse button);
`
`0
`
`-
`
`locating and selecting a specific position or object on the screen with a pointing device (or directly with the
`finger);
`
`vocal request.
`
`3.11 menu bar: Horizontal set of options, usually located at the top ofa work area or window, which
`invoke lower—level pull—down menus or initiate specific actions.
`
`3.12 menu map: Graphical representation ofa menu structure.
`
`3.13 menu option: Selectable choice presented (textually, symbolically, or auditory) within a menu
`paneL
`
`3.14 menu panel: Portion of the menu structure presented to the user at a given point in time
`
`NOTE 1: Menu panel also pertains to the portion of an auditory menu (sequence of options) presented to a user
`in a time segment.
`
`ln figure 2,
`In figure l. two complete levels of the menu structure are displayed on a menu panel.
`NOTE 2:
`although the full top level ofthe same structure is displayed. only the lower level ofCategory B is displayed.
`
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`3
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`© ISO
`
` Menu Title
`Category A
`Category B
`Category C
`i
`Al Option
`Bl Option
`Cl Option
`l
`5
`A2 Option
`B2 Option
`C2 Option
`5
`l
`A3 Option
`B3 Option
`C3 Option
`|
`i
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`
`
`
`!
`
`
`B1 Option
`
`Category C
`
`l
`
`
`
`
`
`
`84 Option
`
`
`Figure 2 — A pull-down menu panel with the "Category B” option selected and displayed
`
`3.15 menu structure: Relationships among a set of menus.
`
`EXAMPLE: Hierarchical tree structure‘or network structure.
`
`3.16 multiple selection: Selection of more than one option at a time from a menu before execution.
`
`3.17 navigation: Orientation within a met
`f
`menu panel an movemen
`
`3
`u structure, movement from option to option within a
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`
`3.18 network menus: Series of menus structured as a network (consisting ofa set of nodes and
`of links connecting the related nodes) providing redundant pathways to either all or some 0
`menus within the structure.
`
`EXAMPLE: in a financial informationsystem, consumer spending option categories that can be accessed both
`the financial and the consumer higher-level menus.
`
`3.19 option designator: Code, abbreviation, or a portion of the option name used to designate
`uniquely each option on a menu.
`
`NOTE: An option designator may be explicit or implicit.
`
`An explicit designator is an option code or abbreviation, set apart (usually to the left) from the option name,
`typed in for selection.
`
`EXAMPLE: P Print
`
`An implicit designator is the portion of an option name which can be used for keyboard selection (egr. indicated
`by highlighting this portion),
`
`EXAMPLE: print
`
`4
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`

`© lSO
`
`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`3.20 option execution: Action used to execute the selected option(s) (i.e., the requested function is
`performed).
`
`NOTE: Option selection and execution may be performed by the same user act (e.g., key press). (Also see
`"option selection", below.)
`
`3.21 option group: Group of options within a menu.
`
`NOTE: Menus and menu panels may contain more than one option group.
`
`3.22 option label: Name displayed in a menu to identify a specific menu option.
`
`3.23 option selection: Action by which the user indicates his/her choice of one or more options from
`the menu. (Also see "option execution" above.)
`
`3.24 pop«up menu: Menu displayed ("popped-up") at a specific location on the screen (e.g., near an
`object or next to a pointer) when a particular condition occurs, a button is engaged, or a command is
`executed.
`
`3.25 pull-down menu: Menu displayed ("pulled‘down") by selecting an option from a horizontal
`menu (typically from a menu bar) at the top of the screen or window.
`
`NOTE: Pull-down menus can have multiple levels.
`
`3.26 screen button: Labelled screen graphic, intended to represent control buttons, typically selected
`by means ofa pointing device or cursor keys, and executed by a pointing device button or the "Enter"
`key.
`
`NOTE: Screen buttons may represent menu options or commands.
`
`4 Application of ISO 9241—14
`
`4.1 Appropriateness of menu dialogues
`
`Menu dialogues are especially appropriate for one or more of the following conditions, which have
`been grouped to reflect user, task and system issues. The applicability of menus becomes greater as
`more conditions are met.
`
`a) User and organizational characteristics
`
`1. Training needs to be minimized.
`2. Users have little or no typing skills.
`3. Users have little or no experience with the application.
`
`b) Task characteristics
`
`1. Use of the system application is infrequent and the user typically needs guidance as to available
`options,
`
`2. A limited number of choices are relevant for accomplishing the task within a specific context.
`(Some task sequences may, however, be such that a menu dialogue is not appropriate.)
`
`3. The primary task requires the use of non«keyboard pointing devices.
`
`4. Default or current options must be displayed to perform the task effectively.
`
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`5
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`© ISO
`
`5. The command set is too large to commit all commands to memory in the overall application.
`
`c) System capabilities
`
`l. The system has a limited keyboard,
`
`I\)
`
`4«~.
`S stem res onse time to acknowledge the activation of the menu choicei’s‘i is annro riate for the.
`P
`_
`t
`I
`.
`.
`task (eg. within 2 s).
`
`4.2 Applying the recommendations
`
`General ergonomic design objectives are provided in each of clauses 5 through 8. The individual
`
`
`i at ajhieving
`r
`"
`'
`objectives should be applied within the specific context
`for which they are relevant (e.g., particular kinds of users, tasks, environments, tecmology). The
`format
`for
`the individual
`recommendations is: statement of the recommendation, example (if
`appropriate), and notes (if appropriate). In addition, those clauses in clause 7 (Option selection and
`execution) that provide recommendations concerning a particular selection method also contain notes
`at
`the beginning of the subclause pertaining to the appropriateness of that particular method.
`Examples provided for the various recommendations generally depict an implementation that
`embodies the recommendation. Some examples also indicate preferred solutions.
`
`if judged to be
`their applicability and,
`recommendations should be evaluated for
`lndividnal
`applicable, should be implemented in the relevant menu dialogue unless there is evidence that to do so
`would cause deviation from the design objectives or would result
`in an overall degradation in
`usability. When determining applicability, the recommendations generally should be evaluated in the
`order presented in the relevant clause or subclause. ln judging whether applicable recommendations
`have been met, evaluators should evaluate the product or observe representative users of the product
`in the context of accomplishing the user's tasks via the menu system. Sample procedures which
`support the determination of applicability and for determining whether a recommendation has been
`followed are provided in annex A.
`
`4.3 Evaluation of products
`
`If a product is claimed to have met the applicable recommendations in this part of ISO 9241, the
`procedure used in establishing requirements for, developing, and/or evaluating the menus shall be
`specified. The level of specification of the procedure is a matter of negotiation between the involved
`parties.
`
`Users of this part of ISO 924] can either utilize the procedures provided in annex A, or develop
`another procedure tailored to their particular development and/or evaluation environment.
`
`5 Menu structure
`
`Usually the number of options is too large to present them efficiently in a single menu panel.
`Therefore it
`is often necessary to design a menu structure (hierarchical, network, or other logical
`p
`structure) and to place options into groups. it should be noted that while option categorization may
`or
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`5.1 Structuring into levels and menus (overall structure)
`
`Subclause 5.] covers overall structure, 5.2 pertains to the grouping of options and their presentation in
`menu panels, and 5.3 concerns the sequencing of options within a group.
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`ISO Store Order: OP—20575é / Downloaded: 2017-03—29
`Single user licence only, copying and networking prohibited.
`
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`© ISO
`
`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`Menu structures should reflect user expectations and facilitate the user's ability to find and to select
`menu options relevant for the task and should support the user's flow of work.
`
`5.1.1 Conventional categories
`
`If options can be arranged into conventional or natural groups known to users, options should be
`organized into levels and menus consistent with that order.
`
`NOTE: In an inventory system, office machines, furniture and expendables are the first level options and each of
`these are broken down into options representing the specific inventory item types.
`
`EXAMPLE: Office machines is broken down into computers, typewriters, printers, copiers.
`
`5.1.2 Logical categories
`
`If options have no conventional grouping or structure, but can be grouped or ordered in a manner
`which is unambiguous and easily learned by the user population, options should be organized to
`minimize the number of levels and maximize the number of options per menu.
`
`EXAMPLE: Placing "object" options in one group and "action" options in another is an example of structuring
`into logical categories based on functional relationships.
`
`NOTE: The number of options placed in a given menu depends both on the display space available and the
`discriminability of the individual options.
`
`5.1.3 Arbitrary grouping
`
`lf options cannot be grouped into categories which are unambiguous or apparent to users (typically,
`because users are unsure of how the desired option will be described), options should be arranged
`consistently (e.g., alphabetically, numerically) into groups of four to eight options per level. Breaking
`options into small groups may facilitate search strategies when option comparisons take time (e.g.
`when options are lengthy or the user is unsure of how the desired option will be described).
`
`EXAMPLE: An infomiation system (e.g., a text-TV information retrieval system) where users are not sure of
`how information ofinterest will be described.
`
`NOTE: Although many levels can result using the above approach in some cases, the effect of such depth is less
`important in arbitrary grouped options than in logically grouped options.
`
`5.1.4 Search time considerations
`
`lf rapid search time is important, as many Options and levels as possible should be placed on a single
`visually displayed menu panel. Individual options and option groups should be visually distinct. (Also
`see 8.2.)
`
`NOTE: Since scrollable lists (sometimes called "scrollable menus") would increase search time, consider not
`using them where rapid search time is important.
`
`5.2 Grouping options within a menu
`
`Menu options should be grouped within a menu to reflect user expectations and facilitate option
`search.
`
`Licensed to Wolf Greenfield / Courtney Walsh (cwalsh@wolfgreenfield.com)
`ISO Store Order: OP—205756 / Downloaded: 2017«O3-29
`Single user licence only, copying and networking prohibited.
`
`7
`
`

`

`ISO 9241-14:1997(E)
`
`5.2.1 Logical groups
`
`© ISO
`
`If the menu contains a large number of options (eight or more) and these options can be logically
`grouped, options should be grouped by function or into other logical categories which are meaningful
`to users.
`
`EXAMPLE: Grouping the commands in a word processing system into such categories as customize, compose,
`edit, print.
`
`(JR
`
`.2] Arbitrar" groups
`
`If 8 or more options are arranged arbitrarily in a menu panel, they should be arranged into equally
`distributed groups utilizing the following equation:
`
`8'
`
`: 1viii
`
`where
`
`g is the number of groups,
`n is the number of options on the panel.
`
`EXAMPLE: Given 19 options in a menu panel, arrange them in four groups of about five options each.
`
`5.3 Sequencing of options within groups
`
`Options should be sequenced within an option group to facilitate option search and task performance.
`
`it may be necessary to compare the relative appropriateness of the
`NOTE: Except for consistency (5.3.1),
`sequencing approaches (ie. perform "tradeoffs") for the users and tasks for which the menu system is intended.
`
`5.3.1 Consistency
`
`Options should be placed consistently in the same relative order within the option group. (Also see
`5.2.1.)
`
`EXAMPLE: Options in a menu panel are ordered "file, edit, insert, print" a