Periodic Reporting for period 2 - XR4Human (The Equitable, Inclusive, and Human-Centered XR Project)
Reporting period: 2024-05-01 to 2025-10-31
Extended Reality (XR) technologies are rapidly transforming multiple sectors in Europe, from health and education to manufacturing, culture, and public services. However, the pace of innovation has outstripped ethical, regulatory, interoperability, and accessibility safeguards. Challenges include risks to safety, wellbeing, privacy, cognitive autonomy, and inclusion, as well as unclear pathways for compliance with existing and emerging EU regulation. Without coordinated guidance, trust in XR systems may be undermined, and benefits unevenly distributed. XR4HUMAN addressed these challenges by developing evidence-based, human-centred, equitable and inclusive guidance to support responsible development and deployment of XR in Europe. The project’s main objective was to co-create a European Code of Conduct for Equitable, Inclusive, and Human-Centred XR together with industry and the wider XR community. Supported by a multi-disciplinary approach, Social Sciences and Humanities perspectives were integrated throughout the project to understand societal impacts, empowerment of users, and moral dilemmas emerging from immersive environments. By addressing risks, regulatory uncertainty, and fragmentation in XR technologies, XR4HUMAN aims to strengthen public trust, support the competitiveness of the European XR industry, and ensure that immersive technologies advance EU values such as human dignity, equality, accessibility, and fundamental rights.
XR4HUMAN performed the full scope of activities defined in the Description of Action and delivered all deliverables and milestones. Scientifically and technically, the project’s core achievement is the creation of the European XR4HUMAN Code of Conduct for Equitable, Inclusive, and Human-Centred XR, which synthesises the project’s main findings into a coherent set of actionable obligations and tools for developers and producers. The Code was co-created through structured expert consultations and iterative revisions informed by the project’s core analytical tasks: mapping ethical frameworks and good practices (D2.1) identifying risks, harms, and moral dilemmas (D2.2–D2.3) analysing ethical concerns beyond safety such as meaning, identity, and autonomy (D2.4) together with the systematic review of the regulatory landscape and governance requirements for XR (D3.1–D3.3). WP2 and WP3 provided the scientific and normative backbone for the Code.
The Code’s applicability was technically reinforced and validated through interoperability guidance (D4.1–D4.2) and its integration into XR4HUMAN’s practical evaluation infrastructures. The Experience Library demonstrated how the Code’s principles can be operationalised in real XR applications, including through an ethical self-assessment mechanism aligned to the Code and iterative refinements to applications showing practical improvements in accessibility, usability, and user empowerment]. The Rating Repository consolidates the project’s guidance into a single scientific and technical resource that includes the Code of Conduct, a Compliance Checklist, an Ethical Impact Assessment, and a modular user-centred evaluation methodology, enabling developers, researchers, and end-users to assess, compare, and improve XR experiences based on responsible design principles.
At project end, XR4HUMAN outcomes therefore include a fully validated, community-ready Code of Conduct positioned as the reference point for ethical, safe, interoperable, and human-centred XR in Europe. Its supporting tools, demonstration cases, and digital infrastructures will remain openly accessible, enabling continued uptake, evidence generation, and periodic review by the XR ecosystem beyond the project’s duration. Together, these outcomes establish a durable scientific foundation and operational pathway for ethical-by-design immersive technologies in Europe.
The Code’s applicability was technically reinforced and validated through interoperability guidance (D4.1–D4.2) and its integration into XR4HUMAN’s practical evaluation infrastructures. The Experience Library demonstrated how the Code’s principles can be operationalised in real XR applications, including through an ethical self-assessment mechanism aligned to the Code and iterative refinements to applications showing practical improvements in accessibility, usability, and user empowerment]. The Rating Repository consolidates the project’s guidance into a single scientific and technical resource that includes the Code of Conduct, a Compliance Checklist, an Ethical Impact Assessment, and a modular user-centred evaluation methodology, enabling developers, researchers, and end-users to assess, compare, and improve XR experiences based on responsible design principles.
At project end, XR4HUMAN outcomes therefore include a fully validated, community-ready Code of Conduct positioned as the reference point for ethical, safe, interoperable, and human-centred XR in Europe. Its supporting tools, demonstration cases, and digital infrastructures will remain openly accessible, enabling continued uptake, evidence generation, and periodic review by the XR ecosystem beyond the project’s duration. Together, these outcomes establish a durable scientific foundation and operational pathway for ethical-by-design immersive technologies in Europe.
XR4HUMAN results have strong potential for impact in innovation, safety, accessibility, and user empowerment. The Code of Conduct creates a common reference for responsible XR, reducing uncertainty for developers and helping industry comply with existing EU regulation. The Rating Repository and Experience Library enable transparent comparison of XR products, fostering trust and accountability in the market. The Interoperability Guidelines support technological openness, accessibility, and cross-system compatibility.
Key needs for future uptake include wider stakeholder adoption, continued community governance, and potential alignment with certification schemes or EU standardisation activities. Sustained visibility among SMEs, research institutes, and public authorities will ensure that the Code informs procurement decisions, design processes, and product evaluation. The migration of digital assets to XR4Europe ensures continuity and scaling beyond the project.
In summary, XR4HUMAN has produced:
• The European Code of Conduct for Human-Centred XR
• Compliance Checklist and Ethical Impact Assessment tools
• Interoperability Guidelines and visual map
• Rating Repository with educational materials and AI guidance
• Experience Library demonstrating real-world application
These results position Europe as a global leader in responsible immersive technologies, promoting trustworthy XR ecosystems that benefit society.
Key needs for future uptake include wider stakeholder adoption, continued community governance, and potential alignment with certification schemes or EU standardisation activities. Sustained visibility among SMEs, research institutes, and public authorities will ensure that the Code informs procurement decisions, design processes, and product evaluation. The migration of digital assets to XR4Europe ensures continuity and scaling beyond the project.
In summary, XR4HUMAN has produced:
• The European Code of Conduct for Human-Centred XR
• Compliance Checklist and Ethical Impact Assessment tools
• Interoperability Guidelines and visual map
• Rating Repository with educational materials and AI guidance
• Experience Library demonstrating real-world application
These results position Europe as a global leader in responsible immersive technologies, promoting trustworthy XR ecosystems that benefit society.