PAS 124 – too many standards?
I must admit, my heart sank a little when I read that another web “standard” is being written—this time it’s PAS 24:
British web compliance expert Magus Ltd, has commissioned BSI British Standards to develop a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 124) for web standards. Web standards govern the effectiveness, function and appearance of a website, and include: brand, legal, accessibility, search engine optimisation (SEO), usability and technical standards.
I don’t know that the world needs another standard—but if there must be one, I’d like to do my best to make sure it’s a good one. So I offered my services, along with the ever-accommodating Patrick “Herb” Lauke (the Web Standards tubgirl to my accessibility goatse) and we’re now on the review panel, along with other standards luminaries like Shell, Unilever, Institute of Directors and Interbrand.
8 Responses to “ PAS 124 – too many standards? ”
Is there any way to follow the proceedings for those outside the review panel? An equivalent of the W3C’s mailing lists which are accessible to all via the web perhaps?
Best of luck with this Bruce, but please no more badges 
Something else for the snakeoil salesmen to not read when it comes out, but with some big corporate names involved and educated this can only help push standards out into the mainstream. Good luck to all involved.
Bruce – agreed that the world does not need another standard. But what it does need is an effective way to make the most out of all the standards that currently exist. That’s why we commissioned PAS 124, which will be a best practice document giving clear guidance to organisations about how to make the most of their websites by using standards. It will set out what to look at as you define the standards that matter to you, how to implement them, and how to monitor and manage compliance.
Also can confirm that, as you mention, document is going out to Review Panel at end of next week.
Also, in response to JackP’s comment, would be happy to have representation from PSWMG, so just let me know who would be the appropriate person.
Steering Group is: Shell, Unilever, Interbrand, Institute of Directors, Institution of Engineering and Technology, The Localisation Industry Standards Association & SDL/Tridion.
Review Panel is about 40 organisations covering the spectrum from end-users through to web/brand agencies, and industry specialists (usability, accessibility etc).
Are you going to be opening it up for consultations with wider groups to stick an oar in?
Obviously if it’s specifically focussed on the private sector, that’s one thing, but otherwise it would be nice for the Public Sector Web Management Group to comment on it…