The context
The ITU-T Focus Group on metaverse was established under TSAG on 16 December 2022. The group analyses the technical requirements of the metaverse to identify fundamental enabling technologies in areas from multimedia and network optimisation to digital currencies, Internet of Things, digital twins, and environmental sustainability.
A fundamental objective is about making sure that Metaverse can be accessible for all, especially the aged and elderly, people with disabilities, and people who speak a language different from that on the Metaverse.
The challenges
The main challenge is to raise awareness of the need to make the Metaverse accessible for the widest audience. There is an even bigger challenge: interoperability. There are many technologies that need to be aligned to allow for a human to interact with a XR system, or become an avatar to interact in the Metaverse. This exercise of understanding human requirements for interaction is already in the Metaverse to a post production phase. It is not a requirement for the designing phase. The result is a more expensive, less intuitive, and very orthopaedic solution. Nobody is happy: neither the end users nor the industry.
How standardisation activities help face the challenges
ITU FG MV organised 8 working groups, and the last is called "Sustainability, accessibility and inclusion". All the groups work in silos, unless someone participates in all meetings and makes contributions. This is what we are doing with the help of StandICT.eu: raising awareness in general, and participating across working groups to add the layer of accessibility, from definitions to use cases dealing with Air Conditioning (AC) systems in the metaverse.
The Benefits
The key benefits will supposedly affect any human, regardless of their capability or language, making them able to actively interact with the metaverse. Also to engage with other avatars in the metaverse, and for the metaverse to interact with the avatar and the human. Avoiding digital exclusion and promoting EU principles of inclusion and tolerance, while promoting diversity in languages and cultures.
Future plans
Keep on attending meetings from any Study Group in ITU. Read and comment all contributions, adding the layer of accessibility.
Participate in the meetings, to have a place from where to promote the diverse human interaction for all.