Introduction to guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities (Japan Industrial Standard X 8341) and Fujitsu's approach to standardization

The Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities (Japan Industrial Standard [JIS] X 8341) were released in Japan in 2004 to help build an information-oriented society in which older persons and persons with disabilities can live comfortably. This standard is mainly intended for older persons and persons with long-term or temporary disabilities. It aims to assure and improve information accessibility from information processing equipment such as PCs, Web content, and electronic manuals. This paper introduces the background of this standard, specifically various U.S. laws, international standards, public guidelines available in Japan, and the movement toward standardization. Next, it explains how this standard is organized and how it was drawn up. It then excerpts some items from this standard to explain its concrete requirements and outlines Japanese efforts to develop an international standard and Fujitsu's approach to standardization. Finally, it describes some of the problems encountered when this standard is applied.