Entertainment from the rules: virtual reality standards to be introduced in Russia
For the first time in Russia, GOST standards for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies have been developed, the relevant committee at Rosstandart reported. The documents establish requirements for the use of such solutions, their compatibility, and system security. In particular, without uniform standards, a 3D drawing created in one design bureau may turn out to be unreadable in a factory using a different platform. In addition, the use of equipment, such as 3D glasses, should not cause injury to users. At the same time, experts are skeptical about the need for strict standardization in this area. According to them, AV/VR technologies are developing rapidly, and it is difficult to fit them into any standards.
Criteria for virtual and augmented reality
Izvestia was informed about the development of GOST standards for virtual and augmented reality in Russia by the press service of the NGO NTI Platform, which oversees standardization in the field of IT. Rosstandart and the technical committee TC 194 "Cyber-physical systems" submitted the documents for public discussion, which will last until the end of April. The standards are expected to be approved by the end of the year.
— In Russia, the introduction of AR/VR systems in industry and other areas is just beginning. Therefore, it is important that such systems are compatible with each other, efficient and safe," Nikita Utkin, chairman of the technical committee, explained to Izvestia.
Currently, three standards are under discussion: one describes the architecture of the systems, the second — their application in education, the third is devoted to the safety of use and actually represents an expanded instruction manual. As follows from the documents, the standards are applicable not only in industry and education, but also in the entertainment industry — from gaming areas to 4D cinemas, including scenarios with the transmission of additional sensory effects.
GOST standards are necessary to ensure compatibility of solutions, for example, so that 3D drawings, training programs and AR/VR equipment can work in different organizations and IT systems without modification, Nikita Utkin explained. As practice shows, compliance with standards gives developers advantages in public procurement and corporate tenders. A separate set of requirements is devoted to safety, from preventing occupational injuries to reducing the risks of user disorientation in entertainment spaces, he added.
The global experience of standardization in the field of virtual and augmented reality has already been formed. In February 2024, the International Organization for Standardization published the ISO/IEC 5927:2024 standard on safety issues when using AR/VR technologies, said Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research.
— At the same time, the document does not cover all possible scenarios of visual impact, but focuses primarily on aspects affecting safety. In particular, we are talking about visual illusions of movement in physically immobile users and the risks associated with moving people in an AR/VR environment," he said.
Another international organization, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), is developing 12 standards in the field of AR/VR through the Standards Association. In particular, the IEEE P2048.3 standard will regulate immersive video formats and transmission methods for AR/VR, and IEEE P2048.11 will regulate the use of augmented reality in cars, Leonid Konik said.
Izvestia sent a request to Rosstandart and the Ministry of Finance.
Is it necessary to introduce standards for AR/VR
Experts' opinions on the expediency of introducing GOST standards for virtual and augmented reality differ. The main goals of AR/VR standardization are to ensure user safety and consolidate the responsibility of organizations, according to Denis Zakharkin, founder of the VR Concept and market participant at NTI Neuronet. According to him, the introduction of VR and AR without uniform setup rules, safety zones and usage regulations can lead to user injuries, falls, deterioration of well-being and errors related to attention overload.
— Without the requirements for the methodology and quality of scenarios, virtual reality easily turns into an expensive demonstration, which does not give results in the training and training of personnel, — said Denis Zakharkin. — Even without being mandatory, standards are quickly becoming a guideline in contracts and inspections.
In controversial situations, he said, a simple question is asked: why did they not apply generally accepted measures.
Standardization of virtual and augmented reality technologies is a timely and objectively overdue measure, said Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy and federal coordinator of the Digital Russia party project.
— AR/VR has long gone beyond the exclusively entertainment sphere: they are used in industrial design, construction, education, medicine, in the training of specialists and in the military-industrial complex. At the same time, the lack of uniform requirements for formats, interaction protocols and security parameters creates barriers to large—scale implementation," he noted.
The use of VR glasses and other immersive devices is associated with physiological and occupational risks, from disorientation and visual overload to occupational injuries, noted Anton Nemkin. Clear requirements for ergonomics, equipment calibration, operating conditions, and user awareness help minimize these risks. According to the expert, this is relevant not only for industrial enterprises, but also for entertainment centers, educational institutions and other public spaces.
"Non—compliance with standards creates risks for companies: the inability to certify equipment, refusal of government orders, fines for violations of occupational safety and health, and in case of incidents, civil lawsuits from employees," says Anton Averyanov, CEO of the ST IT Group of companies.
Attempts to standardize everything and everything are a bad idea, Leonid Konik believes.
— If in Soviet times GOST had the force of law, today national standards in Russia are not mandatory, except in areas related to human life and health. In the world, standardization leaders are more often vendors who seek to turn their developments into an industry standard. In Russia, vendors are either absent or far from those who develop standards," he listed.
According to him, there are almost no problems with the compatibility of virtual and augmented reality systems with other digital solutions: devices are usually isolated, whether it's a training simulator in industry or entertainment VR equipment. The developers themselves ensure compatibility with glasses, helmets and other equipment. At the same time, the problem of compatibility with operating systems, office suites, and virtualization platforms remains acute in system—wide and specialized software products in the Russian Federation, but no one is trying to solve it through standards.
AV/VR technologies are developing too fast to be integrated into standards, except through common framework requirements, says Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily. While the new GOST is being developed, the technological situation may change radically, he noted. At the same time, market trends are determined by the world's leading vendors, and it is extremely difficult to force, for example, Apple to comply with the Russian standard, the expert added.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
