eXtended Reality (XR) technologies have evolved within a few years from laboratory research to commonplace consumer items. Indeed, the benefits and possibilities that XR technologies offer, are prolific. However, as with other emerging technologies, the use and eventual ubiquity of XR technologies bring with them potential risks that have not existed before.

Of particular importance are new ethical and associated safety, privacy, security and interoperability challenges that need to be considered now. The rationale of XR4Human is to lay the foundations to ensure that Europe is sufficiently equipped to leverage the opportunities of XR technologies through skillful navigation of the new challenges.

The main objective of the project is to co-create living guidance on ethical and related policy, regulatory, governance, and interoperability issues of XR technologies within a European community of practice. This main objective will be operationalized through the following specific objectives:

• EXPLORE (i) ethical issues and (ii) related regulatory and governance issues;
• GUIDE companies and regulators through (i) an Interoperability Guidance Document, (ii) a European Code of Conduct for Equitable, Inclusive, and Human-Centered XR Technologies, and (iii) recording and demonstrating the practical application of the XR Code of Conduct;
• EQUIP companies and regulators with an online repository of test cases that allows developers to demonstrate adherence to best practices;
• EQUIP and GUIDE users through a rating system and educational materials;
• ENGAGE companies and other stakeholders (i) to enhance the uptake of the XR Code of Conduct, the Interoperability Guide, and end-user empowerment; and (ii) to establish a permanent digital European Forum that facilitates stakeholder dialogue on ethics and interoperability issues.

In executing the project, XR4Human will develop European standards for XR that help accelerate an ethical and human-centered development process for hardware and software manufacturers, thereby benefiting technically and commercially from highly usable and inclusive systems. In addition, XR4Human will support end-user decision making and, through its focus on inclusivity, ensure that every European citizen has the potential to take advantage of XR, paving the way toward a strong and competitive ecosystem, led by European companies in the wider deployment, adoption, and acceptance of XR technologies.

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