2023-01-17-世界经济论坛-Interoperability_in_the_Metaverse_24页_1mb

Interoperability in the Metaverse

The metaverse represents an immersive, interoperable digital world. While a standard definition is still evolving, its development aims to disrupt and transform current social and economic structures. The World Economic Forum and Accenture's briefing paper explores interoperability as a key foundation for the metaverse, emphasizing collaboration across stakeholders.

What is Interoperability?

• Definition: The ability of data to circulate via interoperable infrastructures, allowing participants to move themselves, assets, and creations across platforms and experiences. Experiences must be safeguarded through collaboration.
• Key Types:
  • Technical: Focuses on standards, file formats (e.g., glTF, USD), APIs, hardware compatibility, latency, and bandwidth.
  • Usage: Prioritizes human needs, design, inclusivity, accessibility, privacy, moderation, and inclusiveness, focusing on the end-user experience.
  • Jurisdictional: Involves navigating different regulatory frameworks, data compliance, and laws regarding ownership, IP, and taxation across borders.

Benefits of Frictionless Experiences, Development, and Economies

• Experiences: Seamless movement across physical/digital worlds with relevant data and identity. Increased consumer engagement and industrial efficiencies.
• Development: Standards reduce time spent on file formats, access protocols, and asset definitions, leading to network effects and cost savings.
• Economies: Increased market access, competition, trust, and efficiency via standardized cross-border payments. Reduces barriers for marginalized groups and expands the digital economy.

Actions to Enable Interoperability

Addressing technical, usage, and jurisdictional challenges through:

1. Technical: Developing standards for data interchange, addressing latency, bandwidth, asset ownership, IP, payments, identity, data privacy, and security (e.g., blockchain/UD).
2. Usage: Employing human-centric design, inclusive development (accessibility), and ensuring portability of assets and identity.
3. Jurisdictional: Establishing inclusive channels for dialogue, analyzing existing regulations, creating safe frameworks for participation and accountability, and reviewing legal frameworks like data privacy and IP.

Governance Framework

A human-first approach is crucial. Key considerations include:

• Prioritizing well-being, clear consent, and standards.
• Meaningful and timely design choices.
• Multistakeholder involvement (providers, creators, civil society, participants) in establishing standards, best practices, and policies.
• Respecting jurisdictional nuances and data sovereignty across borders.

Case Studies

• Healthcare: Seamless collaboration during remote surgery and post-operative interaction via interoperable tools and persistence.
• Advanced Manufacturing: Cross-platform asset verification and standardized design access.
• Consumer Goods: Flexible purchasing options (physical, NFT, or both) tied to a customer's identity and transaction history across platforms.

The paper serves as a baseline for future governance discussions, advocating for continued multistakeholder collaboration to build a safe, inclusive, equitable, and interoperable metaverse.