Source: IEC Blog (https://blog.iec.ch/)
One of the key public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic around the world has been to make people work from home, when possible. Some analysts now believe there may be a permanent shift to teleworking as organizations realize that most office tasks can be done just as efficiently from laptops in living-rooms or kitchens.
Whether it is writing reports, sharing spreadsheets or exchanging messages, the combination of the internet and electricity makes the transition from office to home almost seamless. There is, however, one exception: it is generally accepted that video conferencing software is not a sustainable long-term alternative to face-to-face meetings.
IEC experts and staff, like those in many other organizations, have been relying on video conferencing software to remain connected and operational. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to stay focused, people sometimes speak over each other or forget to mute their microphones.
Some are wondering whether virtual reality (VR) could provide a better solution for meetings. After all, VR can make people feel as though they are in the same place together.
Proponents for holding meetings in virtual conference rooms say it will increase both engagement and productivity. There are fewer distractions.
VR applications rely on such components as screens, processors, motion sensors, gyroscopes, and cameras. These in turn link to the headsets, the high cost of which is one of the few drawbacks.
A number of IEC technical committees (TCs) and their subcommittees (SCs) produce International Standards and have testing systems which help ensure the reliability, safety, efficiency, interoperability and quality of the components within this technology.
ISO/IEC JTC 1, the Joint Technical Committee of IEC and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), covers standardization for information technology. ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 24 works on interfaces for information technology-based applications relating to computer graphics and virtual reality, image processing, environmental data representation, support for mixed and augmented reality, interaction with, and visual presentation of information.
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29 covers coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information. It has published International Standard ISO/IEC 23000–13, which focuses on the data formats used to provide an AR presentation using 2D/3D multimedia content.
Sensors and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are vital to VR. IEC TC 47 and IEC SC 47F ensure they are reliable and efficient.
IEC TC 100 produces Standards which contribute to the quality and performance of audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment and their interoperability with other systems, while IEC TC 110 covers electronic display devices and certain components, such as dashboard touchscreens in cars.
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