1、Public Policy for the Metaverse: Key Takeaways from the 2021 AR/VR Policy ConferenceELLYSSE DICK NOVEMBER 2021itif.orgINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOUNDATION 1Augmented and virtual reality technologies (AR/VR), also known as extended reality (XR)immersive technologies that enable users to e
2、xperience digitally rendered content in both physical and virtual spaceshave the potential to transform the ways in which people communicate, work, and learn. No longer just for niche enthusiasts or high-tech industries, these technologies are already being used across sectors to overcome physical s
3、pace barriers and enhance how individuals can interact with the world around them.As AR/VR technologies proliferate across homes, workplaces, classrooms, and other aspects of everyday life, they raise unique considerations for policymakers. To bring these considerations to the forefront of policy de
4、bates, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation partnered with the XR Association to host a half-day Augmented and Virtual Reality Policy Conference on October 21, 2021. The conference brought together 21 speakers from across sectors and industries to discuss key considerations and poten
5、tial recommendations for policymakers as we move toward a more immersive future.Awareness and interest in the power and potential of AR/VR are certainly growing among policymakers. For example, the 2021 U.S. Innovation and Competition Act identifies “immersive technology” as one of 10 key technology
6、 focus areas. The VR TECHS Act, introduced in 2019, proposed creating a “Federal Advisory Committee on the Usability of Reality Technologies Within the Federal Government.” And the Congressional Caucus on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Realities was formed in 2017 to enable members “to educate their