January 2026: New IT Standards for Gestures, Keyboards, Learning Analytics, and Health Informatics

The start of 2026 brings several impactful new standards in the field of Information Technology and Office Equipment, broadening the landscape for digital accessibility, interoperability, and smarter system integrations. This part of our January series highlights five new or revised standards—touching everything from gesture-based screen reader controls to advanced learning analytics and health informatics frameworks. Professionals in IT, education, and healthcare will find these updates especially relevant for improving user experience, boosting compliance, and future-proofing technology investments.

Overview

Information Technology and Office Equipment is at the heart of digital transformation across industries. As processes, devices, and infrastructure become more interconnected and user-centric, international standards play a vital role. They define user interface consistency, ensure secure and accessible data exchange, and support advanced applications in education and healthcare.

This article gives a detailed look at new January 2026 publications that:

• Enhance digital accessibility through gesture-based interactions
• Standardize global keyboard layouts for seamless text input
• Provide advanced analytics for learning environments with emerging technology
• Unify input actions across platforms and devices
• Promote interoperability within health and social care information systems

If your organization deals with digital interfaces, educational platforms, or healthcare informatics, these standards are critical to align with evolving requirements and best practices.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO/IEC 30113-62:2026 - Multi-point Gestures for Screen Readers

Information technology — Gesture-based interfaces across devices and methods — Part 62: Multi-point gestures for screen readers

This new standard establishes a comprehensive framework for multi-point gestures—such as taps, swipes, pinches, and spreads—tailored specifically for screen reader technologies. Supporting users with visual impairments, it provides uniform definitions and recommendations for implementing gestures recognized by modern screen readers across a variety of devices.

Scope and Requirements

• Defines over 20 multi-point gestures (e.g., two-finger swipe left/right, pinch, triple-taps) for intuitive screen reader command input.
• Specifies both the movements (e.g., direction, number of touch points) and their semantic meaning (e.g., scroll, activate command).
• Ensures consistent user experiences and interoperability when switching between devices and operating systems.
• Recommends approaches for recognizing gestures performed by multiple points of interest (POI) such as fingertips, styluses, or other contact objects.

Target Users and Implementation

• Critical for software developers and system integrators building accessible digital products, especially mobile and assistive applications.
• Compliance is vital for ICT manufacturers, educational tech providers, and organizations subject to digital accessibility regulations.
• Highlights best practices for future proofing devices against evolving user needs and regulatory expectations around inclusion.

Key highlights:

• Standardizes over 20 recognized gestures (2-point, 3-point, 4-point variations)
• Enables seamless screen reader control across diverse platforms/devices
• Recommends integration pathways for multi-POI input recognition

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 30113-62:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 9995-3:2026 - Latin International Keyboard Layout

Information technology — Keyboard layouts for text and office systems — Part 3: Latin International keyboard layout

The fourth edition of ISO/IEC 9995-3 introduces an extensively revised Latin International keyboard layout, designed to facilitate the entry of the broadest possible range of Latin script characters. This standard ensures that keyboards support accurate representation of texts in major world languages and technical disciplines, enabling more seamless global communication and document authoring.

Scope and Specifications

• Provides a layout for the Latin script compatible with official languages globally, plus transliteration support for Arabic, Cyrillic, Pinyin, and more.
• Details key usage for dead keys (for diacritics), special symbols (e.g., €, ¥, ®), mathematical signs, and typographic characters.
• Specifies keytop engravings and input methods for “good typography,” such as proper quotation marks, apostrophes, and ligatures.
• Ensures broad compatibility, extending QWERTY conventions while introducing shortcuts for IPA symbols and business-use glyphs.

Audience and Implications

• Essential for keyboard manufacturers, operating system vendors, and software developers supporting multilingual environments.
• Should be referenced in procurement, product design, and certification for any hardware or software intended for global use or academic/technical markets.
• Benefits government, academic, and business users who need comprehensive language support and typographic accuracy.

Notable Changes from Previous Edition

• Revised and expanded layout to match real-world linguistic needs
• Improved support for diacritics, dead keys, and transliteration
• Enhanced flexibility via new key combinations (e.g., IPA mode, superselect functions)

Key highlights:

• Supports full Latin-based language coverage plus transliteration
• Includes dedicated input methods for diacritics and unique symbols
• Extends QWERTY for greater global and professional usability

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 9995-3:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC TR 9858:2026 - Use Cases on Advanced Learning Analytics Using Emerging Technologies

Information technology — Use cases on advanced learning analytics services using emerging technologies

This technical report presents comprehensive use cases for advanced learning analytics services in educational settings, leveraging next-generation technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT, and AR/VR. It systematically divides learning analytics activities into six groups, clarifying their interrelationships and practical applications for K12, higher education, and vocational training environments.

Scope and Application

• Outlines a taxonomy and real-world use cases for advanced learning analytics services (ALAS), improving both student and institutional outcomes.
• Highlights the integration of cloud-based platforms, smart devices, secure blockchain credentialing, and immersive AR/VR educational tools.
• Addresses privacy and data security, data ecosystem and collection strategies, personalized assessment, feedback loops, and data visualization techniques.

For Whom?

• A vital reference for EdTech developers, compliance managers, university technologists, and instructional designers.
• Also applicable for policymakers and education providers aligning with digital transformation and privacy mandates.

Implementation Value

• Improves data-driven decision making, resource allocation, and instructional planning.
• Showcases scalable approaches to privacy protection, identity management, and secure data sharing.
• Provides a bridge between technical system architects, educators, and data analysts.

Key highlights:

• Categorizes use cases across learning support, data, assessment, feedback, visualization, and privacy
• Leverages cloud, blockchain, AI, IoT, AR/VR, and big data
• Addresses privacy, security, and data ownership throughout the learning analytics lifecycle

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC TR 9858:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 4933:2026 - Unifying Input Actions Across Devices

Information technology — User interfaces — Unifying input actions across devices

As smart devices multiply across homes, offices, and industrial spaces, consistent user interface interactions become essential. ISO/IEC 4933:2026 specifies a unified input action module for cross-device user interface transactions, standardizing how systems recognize, convert, and process user actions, regardless of hardware or operating system.

Scope and Core Framework

• Defines the conceptual and functional requirements for uniformly converting input actions (such as keystrokes, swipes, voice commands) across devices.
• Addresses both physical actions by users and their logical interpretation by systems, promoting consistent operations across smartphones, computers, smartwatches, TVs, VR/AR devices, and more.
• Provides requirements and recommendations for the unification module: input action receiving, recognition, conversion, flexibility, accessibility, scalability, and customizability.

Who Should Implement?

• Mandatory reference for developers of system software, middleware, user interface frameworks, and human-machine interfaces.
• Benefits any organization aiming for cohesive multi-device user experiences, from consumer electronics to enterprise IT solutions.
• Facilitates faster software design, reduces code redundancy, and ensures systems are accessible and interoperable.

Use Cases and Impact

• Enables seamless cross-device workflows for users and organizations
• Reduces fragmentation and complexity in system design
• Enhances accessibility and usability for diverse user populations

Key highlights:

• Defines a unified framework for cross-device input actions
• Supports automatic recognition and translation of diverse user actions
• Increases accessibility, flexibility, and scalability of user interfaces

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 4933:2026 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 13940 - Health Informatics: System of Concepts to Support Continuity of Care

Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO/DIS 13940:2024)

This draft European/International Standard (prEN ISO 13940) provides a robust conceptual foundation for information management in healthcare and social care. It defines essential terms, concepts, and relationships that underpin seamless, interoperable continuity of care—supporting both clinical and social care domains.

Main Scope and Structure

• Establishes domains and definitions for health, care management, actors, activities, processes, and information flow.
• Anchored to World Health Organization definitions, it facilitates semantic interoperability at every level—local, national, and international.
• Includes comprehensive coverage of process models, management, responsibility, and records crucial for safe, clear information exchange and electronic health record development.

Usefulness and Audience

• Invaluable for healthcare CIOs, health IT vendors, standards architects, clinicians, and public health authorities seeking common ground for data exchange.
• Intended for use in defining requirements, developing logical reference models, and supporting robust interoperability in information systems and care workflows.
• Supports business analysis, enterprise modeling, and the specification of interoperable eHealth and social care systems.

Key highlights:

• Provides a harmonized conceptual system for healthcare and social care
• Mandates terminology alignment for all parties in care delivery and continuity
• Facilitates safe data exchange, compliance, and next-generation health IT development

Access the full standard:View prEN ISO 13940 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The January 2026 release of these standards will influence technology strategies, procurement, and compliance across sectors. Key impacts include:

• For Enterprises: Ensures digital solutions support the latest international requirements for multilingual input, advanced analytics, accessibility, and cross-platform consistency.
• For Developers and Integrators: Establishes new baselines for compliant, accessible, and future-proof interfaces—reducing rework and achieving faster go-to-market.
• For Education and Healthcare: Bolsters trust and efficiency through advanced data-driven decision-making, full-spectrum interoperability, and rigorous privacy and security foundations.
• Compliance Considerations: Most standards become mandatory as procurement criteria or regulatory baselines after a defined transition period—early adoption reduces legal/commercial risk and ensures organizational readiness.

The risks of non-compliance range from limited market access and interoperability issues to regulatory penalties and decreased user satisfaction.

Technical Insights

A review of these new standards reveals common technical requirements and trends:

• Emphasis on unified user experiences—minimizing device-specific discrepancies
• Focus on interoperability and semantic clarity, especially in high-stakes sectors like healthcare
• Comprehensive support for accessibility and multilingual communication
• Incorporation of data privacy, ownership, and security as foundational requirements
• Modular, best-practice approaches to incremental or phased implementation
• Clear guidance on input event mapping, data collection, and user interface consistency

Best Practices for Implementation

1. Map existing system capabilities and gaps against standard requirements
2. Update procurement policies to reference relevant standards
3. Run pilot deployments for accessibility and cross-device features
4. Undertake staff awareness initiatives on updated approaches to usability, privacy, and compliance
5. Plan for ongoing monitoring and evaluation as standards and technologies evolve

Testing and Certification: Several of these standards will influence eligibility for national, regional, or industry certifications—coordinate with certification bodies early in your standards adoption journey.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The January 2026 batch of standards accelerates digital innovation and compliance in information technology, education, healthcare, and beyond. Organizations that move quickly to integrate these guidelines will realize advantages in efficiency, market access, and user satisfaction.

Key Recommendations:

• Audit your systems and workflows for gaps relative to the five new standards above
• Engage stakeholders—IT, compliance, business, and user representatives—in adoption planning
• Reference iTeh Standards for authoritative access, updates, and implementation guidance

Stay informed and proactive—explore each full standard now and subscribe to iTeh Standards for ongoing updates and resources.