EN 301 549 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services - 4. Functional performance
Table of contents for section 4
- 4.1 Meeting functional performance statements
- 4.2 Functional performance statements
- 4.2.1 Usage without vision
- 4.2.2 Usage with limited vision
- 4.2.3 Usage without perception of colour
- 4.2.4 Usage without hearing
- 4.2.5 Usage with limited hearing
- 4.2.6 Usage with no or limited vocal capability
- 4.2.7 Usage with limited manipulation or strength.
- 4.2.8 Usage with limited reach
- 4.2.9 Minimize photosensitive seizure triggers
- 4.2.10 Usage with limited cognition, language or learning
- 4.2.11 Privacy
4. Functional performance
4.1 Meeting functional performance statements
The statements set out in clause 4.2 are intended to describe the functional performance of ICT enabling people to locate, identify, and operate ICT functions, and to access the information provided, regardless of physical, cognitive or sensory abilities. Any differences in ability may be permanent, temporary or situational. The requirements in clauses 5 to 13 provide specific testable criteria for accessible ICT, corresponding to the user needs reflected in clause 4.2.
NOTE 1: The relationship between the requirements from clauses 5 to 13 and the functional performance statements is set out in Annex B.
NOTE 2: The intent of clause 4.2 is to describe the ICT performance in enabling users to access the full functionality and documentation of the product or the service with or without the use of assistive technologies.
NOTE 3: The methods of meeting the accessibility needs of users with multiple access needs will depend on the specific combination of needs. Meeting these user accessibility needs may be addressed by considering multiple clauses in clause 4.2.
NOTE 4: Several users' accessibility needs rely on ICT providing specific modes of operation. If a user is to activate, engage or switch to the mode that complies with his or her user accessibility needs, the method for activating, engaging or switching to that mode would need to comply with the same user accessibility needs.
4.2 Functional performance statements
4.2.1 Usage without vision
Where ICT provides visual modes of operation, the ICT provides at least one mode of operation that does not require vision. This is essential for users without vision and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: A web page or application with a well formed semantic structure can allow users without vision to identify, navigate and interact with a visual user interface.
NOTE 2: Audio and tactile user interfaces may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.2 Usage with limited vision
Where ICT provides visual modes of operation, the ICT provides features that enable users to make better use of their limited vision. This is essential for users with limited vision and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: Magnification, reduction of required field of vision and control of contrast, brightness and intensity can contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 2: Where significant features of the user interface are dependent on depth perception, the provision of additional methods of distinguishing between the features may contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 3: Users with limited vision may also benefit from non-visual access (see clause 4.2.1).
4.2.3 Usage without perception of colour
Where ICT provides visual modes of operation, the ICT provides a visual mode of operation that does not require user perception of colour. This is essential for users with limited colour perception and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE: Where significant features of the user interface are colour-coded, the provision of additional methods of distinguishing between the features may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.4 Usage without hearing
Where ICT provides auditory modes of operation, the ICT provides at least one mode of operation that does not require hearing. This is essential for users without hearing and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE: Visual and tactile user interfaces, including those based on sign language, may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.5 Usage with limited hearing
Where ICT provides auditory modes of operation, the ICT provides enhanced audio features. This is essential for users with limited hearing and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: Enhancement of the audio clarity, reduction of background noise, providing a joint monaural option, adjustment of balance of both audio channels, increased range of volume and greater volume in the higher frequency range can contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 2: Allowing the use of Assistive Listening Devices, such as headsets with noise cancellation (connected by cable, Bluetooth or WLAN) can contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 3: Users with limited hearing may also benefit from non-hearing access (see clause 4.2.4).
4.2.6 Usage with no or limited vocal capability
Where ICT requires vocal input from users, the ICT provides at least one mode of operation that does not require them to generate vocal output. This is essential users with no or limited vocal capability and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: Vocal output includes speech and other orally generated sounds, such as whistles and clicks.
NOTE 2: Keyboard, pen or touch user interfaces may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.7 Usage with limited manipulation or strength
Where ICT requires manual actions, the ICT provides features that enable users to make use of the ICT through alternative actions not requiring manipulation, simultaneous action or hand strength. This is essential for users with limited manipulation or strength and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: Examples of operations that users may not be able to perform include those that require fine motor control, path dependant gestures, pinching, twisting of the wrist, tight grasping, or simultaneous manual actions.
NOTE 2: One-handed operation, sequential key entry and speech user interfaces may contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 3: Some users have limited hand strength and may not be able to achieve the level of strength to perform an operation. Alternative user interface solutions that do not require hand strength may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.8 Usage with limited reach
Where ICT products are free-standing or installed, all the elements required for operation will need to be within reach of all users. This is essential for users with limited reach and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE: Considering the needs of wheelchair users and the range of user statures in the placing of operational elements of the user interface may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.9 Minimize photosensitive seizure triggers
Where ICT provides visual modes of operation, the ICT provides at least one mode of operation that minimizes the potential for triggering photosensitive seizures. This is essential for users with photosensitive seizure triggers.
NOTE: Limiting the area and number of flashes per second may contribute towards meeting this clause.
4.2.10 Usage with limited cognition, language or learning
The ICT provides features and/or presentation that makes it simpler and easier to understand, operate and use. This is essential for users with limited cognition, language or learning, and benefits many more users in different situations.
NOTE 1: Adjustable timings, error indication and suggestion, and a logical focus order are examples of design features that may contribute towards meeting this clause.
NOTE 2: Providing an audio output of the text is an example of providing support for people with limited reading abilities.
NOTE 3: Providing spelling aid and word prediction of the text is an example of providing support for people with limited writing abilities.
NOTE 4: Interaction with content can be made easier, and less prone to errors, by presenting tasks in steps that are easy to follow.
4.2.11 Privacy
Where ICT provides features for accessibility, the ICT maintains the privacy of users of these features at the same level as other users.
NOTE: Enabling the connection of personal headsets for private listening, not providing a spoken version of characters being masked and enabling user control of legal, financial and personal data are examples of design features that may contribute towards meeting this clause.