Overview
ISO/IEC TR 23844:2023 - Information technology for learning, education, and training - Immersive content and technology - is a Technical Report that surveys potential directions for using immersive technologies (AR, VR, MR) in the learning, education, and training (LET) domain and recommends items that could be standardized. The report clarifies scope (it excludes metaverse, digital twin and XR), defines key terms (virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, immersive technology) and summarizes industry trends, standardization activity and human-factor concerns relevant to LET.
Key Topics
- Definitions and scope: Clear delimitation of AR, VR, MR as immersive technologies and exclusion of metaverse/digital twin/XR.
- Industry trends and outlook: Market projections and adoption scenarios for immersive content in education and training.
- Standardization landscape: Roles of ISO/IEC JTC 1 subcommittees (SC 24, SC 29, SC 36) and de-facto standards organizations (Khronos Group / OpenXR™, IEEE P2048, IEEE P3079).
- Human factors and safety concerns: Age-of-use considerations, VR sickness/fatigue, physical and mental/emotional effects, and guidance needs for safe LET deployment.
- Types of immersive content: Distinction between 360° image/video experiences and 3D simulation-based VR, and AR content that overlays virtual objects on the real world.
- Suggested standardization items:
- Human factor guidelines for VR/MR content in LET (usability, comfort, accessibility).
- Catalogue information model aligned to curriculum and AR/VR learning resources (metadata, discoverability, alignment with learning objectives).
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO/IEC TR 23844:2023 is practical for:
- Educators and instructional designers seeking guidance on integrating AR/VR/MR into curricula.
- Content developers and edtech vendors designing immersive learning resources and metadata catalogues.
- Training managers and corporate L&D teams evaluating immersive training scenarios (simulations, procedural skills).
- Device and platform manufacturers addressing human-factor safety and interoperability needs.
- Standards developers and policy makers prioritizing areas for normative standards (safety, cataloguing, accessibility).
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 36 (LET), SC 24 (Computer Graphics) and SC 29 (Multimedia coding) - relevant ISO/IEC bodies.
- Khronos Group - OpenXR™ (device/application interoperability).
- IEEE P2048 and P3079 - de-facto efforts on VR/AR technical guidance and VR sickness mitigation.
ISO/IEC TR 23844:2023 serves as a roadmap for organizations and practitioners aiming to adopt immersive content responsibly and interoperably in learning, education, and training.