The International Standards Organization
(ISO; also referred to as the International Organization for Standardization)
is a multinational body whose membership is drawn mainly from the
standards creation committees of various governments throughout the world. Created
in 1947, the ISO is an entirely voluntary organization dedicated to worldwide
agreement on international standards. With a membership that currently includes
representative bodies from many industrialized nations, it aims to facilitate the
international exchange of goods and services by providing models for compatibility,
improved quality, increased productivity, and decreased prices. The ISO is active