Usability standards — Evolution, access and practice

Professional communicators are increasingly engaged in User-Centric Design practices and use a variety of methods to assess and revise product information. Increasingly, compliance of work is being demonstrated through adherence to standards. The relationship between some ISO and NIST standards are explained and the potential for Technical Communicators to be involved with usability reports is highlighted. An approach for student access to standards is provided. Examples of where standards awareness can be embedded in course activities are provided.