No Terminology, No Standards, No Future: Semantic Interoperability for Bridging Stakeholders in XR

In concepts that span multiple domains, such as XR and the Metaverse, ambiguity in terminology often leads to misunderstandings and hinders effective collaboration. Much like technical interoperability in software and systems, the clarification of terminology facilitates semantic interoperability, which serves as a foundation for cooperation among diverse stakeholders. At the ISMAR 2024 panel session titled “xR is dead, long live XR!” participants addressed the definitional ambiguity surrounding XR and the resulting challenges in mutual understanding, evaluation, and communication within the research community. The panelists explored a range of topics, including the re-examination of conceptual boundaries between VR, AR, and MR, and discrepancies in terminology across academia, industry, and standardization bodies. During the open discussion, the merits and limitations of using "XR" as an umbrella term were debated, along with the need to ensure inclusiveness, neutrality, and transparency in language. Other practical challenges were also highlighted, such as the importance of context-sensitive terminology and the appropriate timing for standardization. The session underscored the urgency of addressing fragmentation and fostering cross-sectoral cooperation through standardization. In response to these discussions, a new Standardization Committee was formally launched at ISMAR 2025. This paper also introduces the committee's mission and objectives.

https://xrstand-standardization-committee.github.io/ISMAR2025--XRStand2025_Workshop/

1. XRStand 2025 in ISMAR 2025
No Terminology, No Standards, No Future:
Semantic Interoperability for Bridging Stakeholders in XR
Takeshi Kurata
Research Institute on Human and Societal Augmentation (RIHSA), AIST

2. 2
Key issues identified in the ISMAR 2024 panel

3. 3
Neal Trevett’s Remarks on the origin of the term XR in the panel
B. E. Insko, “OpenXRState of the Union,” GDC 2019, 2019.
https://www.khronos.org/assets/uploads/developers/library
/2019- gdc/OpenXR-Overview-GDC_Mar19.pdf
XR: Symbolic expression or umbrella notation
for VR/AR/MR/DR/Extended Reality/Cross
Reality/any reality…
SOS: SOS＝SOS. Save Our Ship/Souls is
backronym.

4. 4
Where do the boundaries of the term ‘metaverse’ lie?

5. 5
Stakeholders involved in the formation, dissemination, and
maintenance of terminology
Standardization
Committee in
ISMAR
Powerful
&
Influential
Sustained
collaboration
among academia,
industry, and SDOs
is essential.
For ensuring
consistency and
accessibility.