Spatial Web Foundation and IEEE P2874
What is the Spatial Web?
The Spatial Web is the third evolution of the Internet. The original Internet connected all of the computers in the world, and the World Wide Web connected all of our documents. Now, the convergence of exponential technologies including AI, IoT, and autonomous systems, in concert with significant increases in network speeds and compute, will enable the Internet to exist beyond the screen, out in the world, connecting not just computers and documents but people, places and things.
Why do we need Spatial Web Standards?
The first web was founded on, and operates on, open standards such as TCP/IP, while the Internet utilizes HTTP and HTML. When these standards were conceived, they did not account for many of the use cases that are commonplace today. Because of this lack of foresight, enhancements related to transactions, interoperability, privacy, and security were all added after the fact. This is why Web 2.0 protocols will never be 100% secure. As the Spatial Web comes online, we have an opportunity to apply foresight by upgrading these standards and protocols to enable all people, places, and things to interact safely and securely in both the digital and physical worlds. The Spatial Web continues this tradition with HSTP: Hyperspace Transaction Protocol and HSML: Hyperspace Modeling Language.
Why do the Spatial Web Standards need to be socio-technical Standards?
As the Spatial Web permeates every facet of society and civilization—impacting personal privacy, public infrastructure, cultural norms, and the economy—a new type of standard becomes essential: socio-technical standards. These standards are designed to bridge the divide between technical capabilities and social implications, ensuring that emerging technologies are not only technically proficient but also socially advantageous and aligned with societal norms and values.
What is the purpose and mission of the Spatial Web Foundation (SWF)?
The Spatial Web Foundation (SWF) is a community of developers, creators, scientists, and innovators united by a shared mission to enable a hyper-connected, contextually aware, ethically-aligned network of humans, machines, and artificial intelligence (AI). We are dedicated to the creation and implementation of socio-technical standards for the Spatial Web. These standards ensure that exponential technologies are not only technically robust but also socially beneficial, safe, compliant with existing laws, and aligned with societal norms and values.
What role does the IEEE play in the development of the Spatial Web standards?
The IEEE Standards Association is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. The Spatial Web Foundation has partnered with the IEEE for the past 4 years to develop a set of open global protocol standards (IEEE 2874 standard) that will ensure that the Spatial Web is both comprehensive, open, free and serving the needs of humanity for years to come. SWF is contributing the Spatial Web specification to the IEEE SA standards development and approval process.
What does IEEE consider to be an OPEN standard?
The Spatial Web standards are not owned by any large corporation and instead developed and licensed to the IEEE using an open consensus process, allowing any member in good standing to participate and vote on the standards development process. IEEE’s principles for International Standards align with the World Trade Organization’s good practices for developing standards, which include Openness, Transparency, Impartiality and Consensus, Effectiveness & Relevance, Coherence, and Development Dimension.
What specific standards is the Spatial Web Foundation working on or endorsing?
Several Spatial Web standards are being developed as part of the design and implementation process. The standards will include the overall spatial web system architecture, HSML, HSTP and AI Governance specifications. For more information, see the Spatial Web Standards.
Who founded the Spatial Web Foundation?
In 2017, Gabriel René and Dan Mapes recognized a convergence of technologies on the horizon with the announcement of 5G plans. They predicted that the primary users of the next generation of the web would not be humans but devices, robots, IoT, and AI. In response, they authored “The Spatial Web: How Web 3.0 Will Connect Humans, Machines, and AI to Transform the World” and founded the Spatial Web Foundation.
What is the governance structure of the Spatial Web Foundation?
The Spatial Web Foundation is a non-profit organization that is headquartered in the United States.
Does the Spatial Web Standards include AI Governance?
AI Governance is a foundational requirement for many countries currently developing laws to support the compliance and oversight of AI technologies. The Spatial Web Foundation has incorporated AI Governance as a critical component in its standards development. It has also contributed to a paper on AI Governance which is being utilized by several federal and local governments around the world.
How does the Spatial Web Foundation address ethical considerations and responsible AI practices in the standards it promotes?
The SWF places a strong emphasis on responsible and ethical AI practices, as outlined in its Charter and Ethical Practices. The standards it develops are socio-technical, incorporating requirements from both a societal and a technical perspective. Additionally, these standards are developed in collaboration with the IEEE AIS working groups, which focus on specific issues at the intersection of technology and ethics. Similar to its technical standards counterparts, the AIS series promotes innovation across borders and facilitates societal benefits.
Does the Spatial Web Foundation collaborate with other organizations and initiatives in the AI space?
Yes, SWF collaborates with other SDO’s (Standard Development Organizations), Government agencies, industry, universities & research institutes, NGOs, law firms and more.
What roles does the SWF play in advocating for policy changes and regulatory support for AI standards globally?
Given our leadership role in AI Governance, the SWF has been actively collaborating with legislative leaders and other global AI standards groups advocating support for the use of Spatial Web standards in the development of new AI policies and regulations.
When are the Spatial Web specifications expected to be turned into standards?
The initial Spatial Web specification—the system architecture—is planned for approval and publication as IEEE 2874 in late 2024.
What educational resources does the SWF offer to help individuals or organizations to understand and implement the standards?
Currently, the SWF provides custom education programs to specific groups or individuals based on the specific roles and needs they have in supporting the standards development process.
Is there a certification process associated with the spatial web standards, and how can organizations achieve compliance?
A certification process is being developed and will be aligned with the final standards that are approved and adopted by the IEEE.
Do the Spatial Web specifications include any software?
The specifications define requirements that software must comply with. The specifications contain APIs which are easily implemented in software. Open source reference implementations of portions of the Spatial Web may be maintained by SWF in the future.
What role does Verses AI have in the Spatial Web Foundation?
VERSES AI is the first software company that is incorporating the Spatial Web standards into its technology. VERSES AI supports the Spatial Web Foundation by contributing leadership, engineering and scientific resources.
Are there industry specific considerations in the standards?
The uses of the Spatial Web standards can be used for all industries and the specification can be tailored to any application within an industry.
How can I get involved and become a voting member of the IEEE P2874 Working Group (Spatial Web Protocol, Architecture and Governance Model)?
The first step is to join the IEEE P2874 email reflector. After attending a WG meeting and accepting the IEEE IP policy, you will become a WG member. By regularly attending WG meetings, a member gains voting rights.
