Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse
The following article investigates the Metaverse and its potential to bolster digital accessibility for persons with disabilities. Through qualitative analysis, we examine responses from eleven experts in digital accessibility, Metaverse development, disability advocacy, and policy formulation. This...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/8/3/21 |
| _version_ | 1797239879030013952 |
|---|---|
| author | Achraf Othman Khansa Chemnad Aboul Ella Hassanien Ahmed Tlili Christina Yan Zhang Dena Al-Thani Fahriye Altınay Hajer Chalghoumi Hend S. Al-Khalifa Maisa Obeid Mohamed Jemni Tawfik Al-Hadhrami Zehra Altınay |
| author_facet | Achraf Othman Khansa Chemnad Aboul Ella Hassanien Ahmed Tlili Christina Yan Zhang Dena Al-Thani Fahriye Altınay Hajer Chalghoumi Hend S. Al-Khalifa Maisa Obeid Mohamed Jemni Tawfik Al-Hadhrami Zehra Altınay |
| author_sort | Achraf Othman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The following article investigates the Metaverse and its potential to bolster digital accessibility for persons with disabilities. Through qualitative analysis, we examine responses from eleven experts in digital accessibility, Metaverse development, disability advocacy, and policy formulation. This exploration uncovers key insights into the Metaverse’s current state, its inherent principles, and the challenges and opportunities it presents in terms of accessibility. The findings reveal a mixed state of inclusivity within the Metaverse, highlighting significant advancements along with notable gaps, especially in integrating assistive technologies and ensuring interoperability across different virtual environments. This study emphasizes the Metaverse’s potential to revolutionize experiences for individuals with disabilities, provided that accessibility is embedded in its foundational design. Ethical and legal considerations, such as privacy, non-discrimination, and evolving legal frameworks, are identified as critical factors that shape an inclusive Metaverse. We propose a comprehensive framework that emphasizes technological adaptation and innovation, user-centric design, universal access, social and economic considerations, and global standards. This framework aims to guide future research and policy interventions to foster an inclusive digital environment in the Metaverse. This paper contributes to the emerging discourse on the Metaverse and digital accessibility, offering a nuanced understanding of its complexities and a roadmap for future exploration and development. This underscores the necessity of a multi-faceted approach that incorporates technological innovation, user-centered design, ethical considerations, legal compliance, and continuous research to create an inclusive and accessible Metaverse. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:58:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6d54db39ffa4ffcb09e9fb292d53b07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-4088 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:58:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6d54db39ffa4ffcb09e9fb292d53b072024-03-27T13:57:22ZengMDPI AGMultimodal Technologies and Interaction2414-40882024-03-01832110.3390/mti8030021Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the MetaverseAchraf Othman0Khansa Chemnad1Aboul Ella Hassanien2Ahmed Tlili3Christina Yan Zhang4Dena Al-Thani5Fahriye Altınay6Hajer Chalghoumi7Hend S. Al-Khalifa8Maisa Obeid9Mohamed Jemni10Tawfik Al-Hadhrami11Zehra Altınay12Mada Qatar Assistive Technology Center, Doha P.O. Box 24230, QatarMada Qatar Assistive Technology Center, Doha P.O. Box 24230, QatarFaculty of Computers and AI, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, EgyptSmart Learning Institute, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaThe Metaverse Institute, 20-22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU, UKCollege of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, QatarSocial Research and Development Center, Near East University, Nicosia 99138, CyprusKids Brain Health Network, 8900 Nelson Way, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaInformation Technology Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaExpo City, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesArab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, Tunis 1003, TunisiaComputer Science Department, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UKSocial Research and Development Center, Near East University, Nicosia 99138, CyprusThe following article investigates the Metaverse and its potential to bolster digital accessibility for persons with disabilities. Through qualitative analysis, we examine responses from eleven experts in digital accessibility, Metaverse development, disability advocacy, and policy formulation. This exploration uncovers key insights into the Metaverse’s current state, its inherent principles, and the challenges and opportunities it presents in terms of accessibility. The findings reveal a mixed state of inclusivity within the Metaverse, highlighting significant advancements along with notable gaps, especially in integrating assistive technologies and ensuring interoperability across different virtual environments. This study emphasizes the Metaverse’s potential to revolutionize experiences for individuals with disabilities, provided that accessibility is embedded in its foundational design. Ethical and legal considerations, such as privacy, non-discrimination, and evolving legal frameworks, are identified as critical factors that shape an inclusive Metaverse. We propose a comprehensive framework that emphasizes technological adaptation and innovation, user-centric design, universal access, social and economic considerations, and global standards. This framework aims to guide future research and policy interventions to foster an inclusive digital environment in the Metaverse. This paper contributes to the emerging discourse on the Metaverse and digital accessibility, offering a nuanced understanding of its complexities and a roadmap for future exploration and development. This underscores the necessity of a multi-faceted approach that incorporates technological innovation, user-centered design, ethical considerations, legal compliance, and continuous research to create an inclusive and accessible Metaverse.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/8/3/21Metaverseaccessibilityframeworkresearch agenda |
| spellingShingle | Achraf Othman Khansa Chemnad Aboul Ella Hassanien Ahmed Tlili Christina Yan Zhang Dena Al-Thani Fahriye Altınay Hajer Chalghoumi Hend S. Al-Khalifa Maisa Obeid Mohamed Jemni Tawfik Al-Hadhrami Zehra Altınay Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse Multimodal Technologies and Interaction Metaverse accessibility framework research agenda |
| title | Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse |
| title_full | Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse |
| title_fullStr | Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse |
| title_short | Accessible Metaverse: A Theoretical Framework for Accessibility and Inclusion in the Metaverse |
| title_sort | accessible metaverse a theoretical framework for accessibility and inclusion in the metaverse |
| topic | Metaverse accessibility framework research agenda |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/8/3/21 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT achrafothman accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT khansachemnad accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT aboulellahassanien accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT ahmedtlili accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT christinayanzhang accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT denaalthani accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT fahriyealtınay accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT hajerchalghoumi accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT hendsalkhalifa accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT maisaobeid accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT mohamedjemni accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT tawfikalhadhrami accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse AT zehraaltınay accessiblemetaverseatheoreticalframeworkforaccessibilityandinclusioninthemetaverse |