Our Approach

The ViWISSO project leveraged the existing knowledge of the senior research team members about existing standards and standardization activities. The experts documented the landscape of standards and standardization activities and gaps in requirements, as they pertain to virtual worlds, within specific virtual world domains. 

Standards-compliance is a Means to Achieving Many Benefits

The resulting landscape report includes the works of consensus-based groups developing and ratifying protocols, interfaces or policies designed to ensure that their compliance will deliver: 

• Devices designed for virtual world usage that protect the privacy of individuals and organizations, 

• Authoring tools that support the user’s choice of device and software.

In addition, we will document standards that reduce the risk of sole-supplier lock-in syndromes. Their adoption will yield benefits, such as: 

• Device manufacturers are able to combine immersive technology components and services, 

• Creators are able to develop and publish experiences for target audiences regardless of device choice, location, handicaps or language, and 

• All citizens are able to participate in a safe, interoperable virtual economy and society.

In parallel with desk research, the experts conducted primary research through interviews with leaders of standards development organizations and subcommittees. The interviews identified all published standards and future initiatives planned or that have begun in those SDOs, but that may not already be documented. Interviewees were also be asked about requirements, including about prioritization of requirements, in virtual world technologies that are most likely to reach the above goals.