Open Source, Open Standards and System Interoperability — Relevance for XR
Interoperability is becoming a critical requirement for systems in (not just) tech industries, all due to the intense push towards global collaboration and all-in-all connectivity integration. It is a characteristic that systems either do or do not have, as not all systems are and can be interoperable. But based on what’s coming in technology, and the developments we see unfolding in the industry, it is already decided that we are heading to a place that needs a set of standards that will manage to regulate an open network of systems. These standards need to be anchored in openness, transparency, and consensus, especially because they create a basis for virtual infrastructures in synthetic environments.
This article explores the options for interoperability initiatives and the reasons why they are important to the strategy of the modern software landscape.
OPEN SOURCE AND its relevance for INTEROPERABILITY
It's important to lay down that open standards and open source are not the same. Open standards refer to a set of specifications, while open source involves actual software implementation. But they are both a part of the commitment to openness and equal opportunity for all to participate.
Open source and interoperability go hand in hand, because open standards are the key driver to achieve an interoperable system in the first place. And if this is successfully deployed, it enables interaction between diverse technologies and platforms, amplifies the synergy, and makes the integration of solutions across sectors possible. That means that interoperability significantly boosts the growth potential of both the software and hardware industries. For software companies, it empowers development of any scale (which is also important for integration with any existing and future software), but also really goes back to the original premise of the World Wide Web – or the original distributed semantic system – the true meaning of “interconnected”.
Quality-wise, open source offers cost reductions and enhancements for all communications, IT and connectivity industries, and has notably led to significant gains for organizations of all sizes. And while there are always ups and downs in trends, it is critical to explore it, because it is likely going to be a gamechanger especially for enterprise and SaaS (software-as-a-service) solutions that need this type of connectivity embedded.
What are Open Standards
The term "standard" carries multiple interpretations. For the purposes of this article, we will define it as a reference point by which other items or specifications are evaluated. But technically, a standard is a set of criteria that is laid down by an authoritative body or widely acknowledged and adopted across an industry.
Talking about an "open standard," however, is more complex and can have multiple perspectives. According to Bruce Perens (an important figure in the open source community), the open standard outgrows technical specifications. An open standard should primarily embody foundational principles and the manner in which it is provided and utilized, which collectively define its openness. According to Perens, open standards should be accessible to all, and that they should foster maximum choice for users without imposing royalties or discrimination. They must adhere to specific guidelines that ensure these core principles are consistently upheld.
Perens’ definition of open standards according to this source:
PRINCIPLE 1: Availability — Open standards are available for all to read and implement
PRINCIPLE 2: Maximize end-user choice — Open standards create a fair, competitive market for implementations of the standard. They do not lock the customer into a particular vendor or group
PRINCIPLE 3: No royalty — Open standards are free for all to implement, with no royalty or fee. Certification of compliance by the standards organization may involve a fee
PRINCIPLE 4: No discrimination — Open standards and the organizations that administer them do not favor one implementer over another for any reason other than the technical standards compliance of a vendor’s implementation. Certification organizations must provide a path for low or zero cost implementations to be validated, but may also provide enhanced certification services
PRINCIPLE 5: Extension or subset — Implementations of open standards may be extended, or offered in subset form. However, certification organizations may decline to certify subset implementations, and may place requirements upon extensions
PRINCIPLE 6: Predatory practices — Open standards may employ license terms that protect against subversion of the standard by embracing and extending tactics. The licenses attached to the standard may require the publication of reference information for extensions, and a license for all others to create, distribute and sell software that is compatible with the extensions. An open standard may not otherwise prohibit extensions
OPEN STANDARDS POLICIES
This is how the State of Massachusetts in the United States defines an open standard in its Open Standards Policy – as specifications for systems that are readily accessible to the public, developed through an open community process, and ratified by a standards organization. The Europe Interoperability Framework (EIF) by the European Commission further specifies that open standards should be available for free or for a minimal fee, allowing for usage, copying, and distribution. It also mandates that any related patents must be offered on a royalty-free basis and ensure no restrictions on the reuse of the standards.
Other entities from the business and telecommunications sphere also formulated their interpretations, (BSA, ITU-T, ANSI), and they all emphasize (1) public availability, (2) broad participation in standards’ development and (3) non-exclusivity [source].
Benefits of open standards in the tech and IT sphere:
reducing the risk of vendor lock-in by ensuring that specifications are open and accessible, and allowing for alternative solutions — this is great if we need interoperability between different systems, and need to enable data exchange regardless of the hardware or software
safeguarding against data obsolescence, because non-proprietary file formats are easier to convert or use with new applications – this is good for the competitive market due to a broader choice of solutions and the possibility to combine the best technologies
breeding innovation, technology dissemination and increasing market access – this was instrumental in the success of the Internet as a balancing act between change and continuity in the tech landscape
Combining Open Source and Open Standards
The connection between open standards and open source starts with an understanding of what open source software entails:
Open source is defined as software with publicly available source code that anyone can copy, modify, and distribute without the need to pay royalties or fees.
This concept encompasses two main aspects:
the actual availability of the software's source code
the software's licensing under terms that allow for its free use, modification, and distribution
The open source domain also has licensing models, each built for different rights and obligations for users.
Open source and open standards are related, but they are two distinct concepts which are not synonymous. Open source is a practice of making source code available for anyone to modify and redistribute. Open standards are specifications that lay down the foundations for interoperability and which are developed through a consensus-driven process. We cannot say that all open source software inherently supports open standards or guarantees interoperability, but the open source model does allow for modifications to comply with open standards, which is then directly linked to interoperability.
Market experiences show us that widely used open source applications generally do not face significant interoperability issues. It is partly because it is a common place that open source developers collaborate to address common problems, and align with open standards. Both open source and proprietary software can implement open standards, there is no limit in such manner, which shows that open standards are neutral towards software licensing models. What contributes to the propagation of open source software is the network effect. That increases interoperability and market adoption of these standards along with platform portability and wide dissemination, which expands interoperability across different systems further.
Relevance for Extended Reality and Operational Dynamics in Synthetic Space
In XR operations within synthetic spaces, interoperability, open standards, and open source themes are intertwined due to the nature of the digital ecosystem. Synthetic space is unbound, limitless, and without physical constraints, which has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages being, of course, high-end connectivity, phygital presence and such, and the disadvantage is that if it grows unchecked, it can accumulate into a complex system that is hard to manage due to other types of limitations on the system level such as system incompatibility, divisions, bad match up and inconsistent flows and similar.
Interoperability as such provides communication of various hardware and software components that can communicate and work together without barriers. For synthetic space it is important to ensure its fluidity regardless of specific devices or platforms that are being used to access the digital domain. Open standards as the backbone of interoperability would help provide a universally agreed-upon set of guidelines that all developers and manufacturers can follow. Without that, it is difficult to reach compatibility and integration across different systems and technologies.
Also in this context it is crucial to understand the distinction between open standards and open source. Open standards are about setting the guidelines for compatibility and integration, and open source refers to the practice of making the actual source code available for use, modification, and distribution.
Why is interoperability crucial for XR systems
Device compatibility – Open standards are responsible for XR content and applications running across a wide range of devices and platforms. Even though this has not yet eliminated vendor lock-in yet, it could potentially allow users to choose their preferred hardware without being restricted to specific content ecosystems.
Content sharing – Synthetic space is full of digital content, and this content must be easily shareable and accessible across different systems and platforms. Open standards help with this because they define common formats and protocols for content creation, distribution, and consumption. This way immersive experiences can be designed on one platform and then be experienced on another without significant modifications.
Data exchange – Building on the previous point, in synthetic space exchanging data (such as 3D models, environmental parameters, or user interactions) between systems is critical. Open standards are vaid here for data formats and communication protocols so the data can flow freely.
Builders network – Open standards and open source practices are the basis of collaboration among developers, designers, and content creators. Collaborative environment is important to accelerate innovation in XR tech, as it depends on the development of new tools, features, and applications.
Better UX – Interoperability improves the user experience users who move between different synthetic spaces can do it with continuity. They can have more persistent digital identities, assets, and experiences, which plays into consistency of the digital content.
Workflow integration – Users, both individual and collective like in companies, organizations and such have already workflows set in place. Interoperability standards enable components developed by different organizations or communities to interact and integrate without extensive custom adaptation.
Takeaway
Open standards and open source principles are behind the development of unified digital ecosystems. Compatibility and openness are the foundation for technology that needs to inter-operate and match up system-wise, and that is valid across all digital and virtual domains.
Looking into the future, sustaining growth of complex systems in the digital domain requires an agreement of how it’s going to work and how that links with the endless adaptation to technological development.