IEEE Announces Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Standards Projects In Advance of Participation at Augmented World Expo

Initial IEEE P2048™ standards projects launched as part of initiative to identify and pursue standards development across the entire VR/AR landscape

PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), today announced eight IEEE standards projects in a new P2048^TM standards family for virtual reality and augmented reality. Undertaken by the IEEE Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Working Group (VRAR), participants working on the new standards projects include device manufacturers, content providers, service providers, technology developers, government agencies and other parties relevant to VR/AR technology advancement. With participants from more than 200 companies and institutions worldwide, the IEEE VRAR Working Group is dedicated to building consensus on VR/AR standardization.

“Technology related to VR/AR is evolving at a very rapid pace and the current standards being developed only cover a small portion of the VR/AR landscape,” said Dr. Yu Yuan, IEEE VRAR Working Group chair. “While we are making a lot of progress, and have garnered wide-ranging support and global participation, we truly are just at the beginning of our efforts to actively identify standardization needs in the technology space.”

Dr. Yuan also serves as the chair of IEEE Digital Senses Initiative, an IEEE Future Directions initiative dedicated to advancing technologies that capture and reproduce, or synthesize the stimuli of various human senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, etc.); combine the reproduced or synthesized stimuli with the naturally received stimuli in various ways; and help humans or enable machines to perceive, understand, and respond to the stimuli.

The initial eight IEEE P2048 standards projects for virtual reality and augmented reality in development focus on different areas of critical work, and include:

• IEEE P2048.1^TM—Device Taxonomy and Definitions
• IEEE P2048.2^TM—Immersive Video Taxonomy and Quality Metrics
• IEEE P2048.3^TM—Immersive Video File and Stream Formats
• IEEE P2048.4^TM—Person Identity
• IEEE P2048.5^TM—Environment Safety
• IEEE P2048.6^TM—Immersive User Interface
• IEEE P2048.7^TM—Map for Virtual Objects in the Real World
• IEEE P2048.8^TM—Interoperability Between Virtual Objects and the Real World

The IEEE VRAR Working Group is actively seeking increased participation and collaboration with organizations working in the VR/AR space. The working group’s next meetings will be held 2 June 2017 in Santa Clara, CA and 2 August 2017 in Los Angeles, CA. For more information, please visit the working group’s homepage.

IEEE Participation: Augmented World Expo

Three speakers addressing AR/VR issues will be representing IEEE at the 8^th Annual Augmented World Expo. Discussions revolve around ethics and standardization activities, and explore opportunities for advancing VR/AR technology for the benefit of humanity. Speaking sessions include:

• AI, MR, and Ethics — A Dystopian Nirvana?
  BC Biermann — Founder, The Heavy Projects
  Jay Iorio — Director of Innovation, IEEE-SA
  Wednesday, 31 May 10:15 - 10:30 AM

• Standardization Needs and Efforts in VR/AR
  Rudi Schubert — Director, New Initiatives, IEEE-SA
  Yu Yuan, PhD, Chair, IEEE Digital Senses Initiative
  Wednesday, 31 May 5:00 - 5:30 PM
• The Road to the Ultimate VR/AR – Transforming All the Industries in this “Real” World
  Yu Yuan, PhD, Chair, IEEE Digital Senses Initiative
  Thursday, 1 June 10:15 - 10:30 AM

IEEE-SA is also a sponsor of this year’s AWE Auggie Awards, which will be held Thursday, 1 June from 6:30 – 8:00 PM. The Auggie Awards showcase the best-of-the-best offerings related to VR, AR and wearable technology. IEEE will be presenting the award for “Best Headworn Device”, which includes smartglasses, head-mounted displays, goggles, heads-up displays, connected eyewear and helmets. IEEE will be exhibiting in Booth #101 at the 2017 Augmented World Expo.

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About the IEEE Standards Association

The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 1,100 active standards and more than 600 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org.

About IEEE

IEEE is the largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.