The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations‘ specialized agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs. It was founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communication networks. The goal of the UN agency is to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide, through the development of technical standards that ensure that networks and technologies can seamlessly interconnect. Every time you access the Internet, make a phonecall, or send an email, you are benefitting from the work of ITU.
Making media accessible from the point of design is also one of the core objectives of the MediaVerse project and it was with this in mind, on Thursday 23rd September, that Pilar Orero (UAB) presented MediaVerse to the IRG-AVA group, highlighting the experience of prototyping accessibility services in immersive 360 video storytelling.
(IRG-AVA stands for INTERSECTOR RAPPORTEUR GROUP on Audiovisual Media Accessibility)
The IRG-AVA group studies topics related to audiovisual media accessibility and aims at developing draft recommendations for “Access Systems” that can be used for all media delivery systems, including broadcast, cable, Internet, and IPTV. The IRG also addresses matters contributing to the coordination of the standardisation work of the involved ITU-T and ITU-R groups, collaborates with Standards Developing Organisations (SDOs) and other audiovisual-media organisations, such as forums and consortia, research institutes and academia.
With the rapid advancement and popularity of immersive content in recent years, accessibility remains a major challenge and has become a key issue on the global agenda at the UN Sustainable Development Group towards social and cultural inclusion.
Learn more about ITU (direct link to IRG-AVA):