Video gaming and esports have surged in global popularity, captivating up to 3 billion enthusiasts worldwide. With a user base of 600 million on console platforms and 1.1 billion on personal computers, these activities have solidified their status as both premier entertainment forms and have born new streams of competitive gameplay, referred to as esports (competitive and organized video gaming, in which two or more parties (individuals or teams) face each other under regulated and structured conditions). Nevertheless, the increasing prevalence of prolonged and loud audio exposure in these activities has raised serious health concerns, particularly related to hearing damage and sound-induced hearing loss.
In response to this public health concern, ITU and WHO started a joint work item to develop a global standard for safe listening in video gaming and esports activities that expands on the successful guidelines for safe listening in devices (
ITU-T H.870) and in
venues. The process to develop the new standard includes a series of interactive technical workshops, which serve as platforms to assemble proficient experts, stakeholders, and industry representatives, to foster concerted actions and to lead the formulation of guidelines and standards for safe listening in video gaming and esports activities.
This workshop built upon the
previous workshops organised in both September 2023 and in January 2024 to progress the understanding in the broad community of practitioners and video gaming and esports afficionados of the use cases and features that could benefit from tailored guidelines and standards for safe listening.
Objectives
The objectives of the workshop included:
- Review of the current draft, which had been updated in response to the January 2024 workshop to include new and revised items, definitions and features;
- Discussion of features to be included within the proposed standard for safe listening in video gaming and esports;
- Prioritization of potential features to be included within the proposed standard;
- Review of any potential issues and limitations that may occur during the implementation of suggested features and/or use of proposed safe listening features by users of video gameplay software and hardware devices.
This event brought together experts in the field of audiology, gaming, esports, technology, and public health to review existing safe listening standards (for example
ITU-T H.870), and discuss the challenges and opportunities for safe listening in video gaming and esports activities.
Target audience
Participation in the workshop was open to ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academic Institutions and to any individual from a country that was a member of ITU who wished to contribute to the work. This included individuals who are also members of international, regional, and national organizations. Participation in the workshop was free of charge.
Watch the recording here
