Principles and Policies to Unlock the Potential of AR/VR for Equity and Inclusion

Principles and Policies to Unlock the Potential of AR/VR for Equity and Inclusion Principles and Policies to Unlock the Potential of AR/VR for Equity and Inclusion ELLYSSE DICK | JUNE 2021 To maximize the benefits of AR/VR technologies, developers, policymakers, and organizations implementing them should consider a variety of user needs from the outset. [...] The quotes included in this report capture some of the key comments that experts and advocates made during a series of interviews and roundtables.1 The report summarizes the opportunities, risks, and challenges that AR/VR technologies present for equity and inclusion. [...] It then presents overarching considerations that should form the foundation of equitable and inclusive AR/VR solutions and offers recommendations for policymakers to drive the development and implementation of AR/VR solutions that expand opportunities while mitigating risks to vulnerable users and their communities. [...] The goal should be to better understand technical and non-technical barriers to adoption, as well as the potential unintended consequences of the technology, so as to design solutions and approaches that would maximize the potential of these technologies to meet a broad range of user needs. [...] Industry Standards and Best Practices In addition to establishing parameters for equity and inclusion in government use of AR/VR, policymakers should facilitate the development of both technical standards and more broadly defined best practices to ensure equity and inclusion is at the center of AR/VR design and implementation across sectors.