Page 37 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2022

2.1.5 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) XR Working Group supports the growth of companies
developing technologies and services in the AR, MR and VR
The work of the International Telecommunication Union’s segments.
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and Standardization
Sector (ITU-T) is conducted through contribution-driven A separate AR/VR Committee develops standards,
Study Groups. recommended practices, and technical reports related to AR,
VR and related technologies. Participation in the committee
Immersive video conferencing, MR and VR were among the is open to CTA members and non-members including
application scenarios considered by Working Party 5D academia who pay an annual participation fee.
(WP5D) of ITU-R Study Group 5 (responsible for terrestrial
services) in its foundational work leading to the IMT-2020 2.2.2 Immersive Digital Experiences Alliance (IDEA)
(5G) specifications. Situated between enhanced mobile
broadband and ultra-reliable and low latency The Immersive Digital Experiences Alliance (IDEA) is an
communications, AR features in the “5G triangle” [6], industry alliance working towards developing royalty-free
depicting usage scenarios of IMT for 2020 and beyond. technical specifications that define interoperable interfaces
WP5D’s preliminary draft work on technology trends of and exchange formats to support the end-to-end conveyance
terrestrial IMT systems towards 2030 and beyond identifies of immersive volumetric and/or light field media.
XR-enabled interactive immersive experiences among the
use cases driving innovation in mobile network technologies. 2.2.3 Khronos Group
ITU-R Study Group 6 (responsible for broadcasting service)
explores aspects of immersive audio and immersive video in The Khronos Group is an industry consortium creating
a broadcasting context. interoperability standards for 3D graphics, AR, and VR,
among other areas. The Khronos membership also includes
Most of the 11 ITU-T Study Groups have activities and some 20 universities.
outputs related to XR, including Study Group 9
(transmission and distribution of immersive content over 2.2.4 Metaverse Standards Forum
cable networks), Study Group 11 (testing procedures for AR
applications), Study Group 12 (immersive media quality of Initiated by the Khronos Group in June 2022, the Metaverse
experience (QoE)), Study Group 13 (trusted networks for Standards Forum intends to bring together companies and
immersive media), Study Group 16 (immersive live standards organizations to foster alignment on requirements
experience systems and services), and Study Group 20 (using and priorities for metaverse interoperability standards and
AR and VR to monitor and control IoT devices). In January accelerate their development and deployment. Rather than
2022, Study Group 16 established a correspondence group developing standards itself, the forum’s goal is to coordinate
for metaverse standardization (CG-Metaverse) to assess requirements and support for existing standards relevant to
standardization needs in the context of its mandate. the metaverse, and to provide a venue for discussion and
coordination between standards organizations and
The resulting voluntary international standards, called companies building metaverse-related products [7].
ITU-R and ITU-T Recommendations respectively, are Membership is currently at no charge and open for for-profit
developed by, and based on the consensus of the and non-profit organizations, including universities.
organization’s membership, comprising industry, academia,
and, reflecting its role as a United Nations specialized agency, 2.2.5 Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA)
193 states from around the globe.
The Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA) is an
2.1.6 World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) industry group spanning the streaming video value chain. It
produces documentation on best practices, specifications,
W3C’s Immersive Web Working Group is aiming to bring and requirements on identified key challenges of video
XR content, applications, and services to the web by streaming. Topics discussed include caching, measurement /
developing standardized APIs to interact with XR devices QoE, and VR / 360-degree video. While not a standards body
and sensors in web browsers. W3C is hosted jointly by four itself, the alliance submits its specifications to the
academic institutions and has membership options for appropriate standards body for ratification.
universities.
2.2.6 Virtual Reality Industry Forum (VRIF)
2.2 Consortia, fora, and trade associations
The principal purpose of the VR Industry Forum is to further
2.2.1 Consumer Technology Association (CTA) the widespread availability of high-quality audiovisual VR
experiences, for the benefit of consumers. Like SVTA, the
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is a trade VRIF does not develop standards, but relies on, and liaises
association representing the U.S. consumer technology with, SDOs such as MPEG for the development of standards
industry. It is perhaps best known as the owner and producer in support of VR services and devices. Membership in the
of the annual Consumer Electronic Show (CES). The CTA’s VRIF is open to academic institutions.

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