This part of ISO 9241 establishes image-quality requirements, as well as providing guidelines, for electronic visual displays. These are given in the form of generic — independent of technology, task and environment — performance specifications and recommendations that will ensure effective and comfortable viewing conditions for users with normal or adjusted-to-normal eyesight.

This part of ISO 9241 does not address issues of accessibility for people with disabilities. However, it does take into account aspects of the eyesight of older people and could be of value to people dealing with issues of visual impairment in certain cases: the specification of essential characteristics for normal viewing can be used to gauge the severity of different visual abnormalities so that appropriate solutions can be identified.