Webinar – Immersive Inclusivity: Enhancing Virtual Worlds with Accessibility

Description

Enhancing virtual worlds with accessibility features holds great promise in making immersive digital experiences more inclusive. By incorporating accessibility features into virtual worlds environments, developers can ensure that individuals with diverse abilities can participate fully in virtual activities. For instance, customizable controls, haptic feedback, and voice commands can empower users with motor impairments, while text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionalities enhance communication for those with hearing or speech challenges. Moreover, platforms in virtual worlds can implement features like adjustable contrast, font sizes, and color schemes to cater to individuals with visual impairments. These innovations not only improve accessibility but also contribute to a more equitable and diverse digital landscape.

On April 2, 2024, the global community came together to observe World Autism Awareness Day 2024. This occasion, significantly elevated by the commitment of SDG Resources, showcased the powerful intersection of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and autism advocacy. This Webinar explored the link between accessibility and virtual worlds to pave the way for more inclusive and immersive virtual experiences for users of all abilities.

Target Audience

Participation is open to the ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates, ITU Academia, and to any individual from a country that is a member of the ITU and who wishes to contribute to the work. This includes individuals who are also members of international, regional and national organizations. Participation is free of charge. 

Note: By registering for this event, you agree for ITU (the event organizer and data controller) to process your personal data for the organization and management of the event in accordance with the ITU Data Protection and Privacy Policy. The personal data you submit as part of the registration and your participation in the event will be used by ITU for the organization, management, and follow-up of the event, including managing attendance and for internal ITU administrative requirements. The event is taking place via Zoom, and it will be recorded. You can read here Zoom’s privacy notice on how it processes your personal data. The event video recording will be made publicly available on ITU’s event webpage to raise awareness and promote standardization aiming at knowledge-transfer and bridging the standardization gap. For any questions or requests concerning your personal data, including your inclusion in video, you can contact ITU at digitaltransformation@itu.int

Programme

14:00 – 14:10

Opening R​emarks

  • Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU

14:10 – 14:55

Session 1: Breaking Barriers: Exploring Accessibility in Virtual Worlds Experiences

Moderator: Christina Yan Zhang, CEO, The Metaverse Institute

Questions & Answers

14:55 – 15:00

Closing R​emarks

  • Shin-Gak Kang, Chair of ITU Focus Group on metaverse; Assistant Vice President, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea (Rep. of)