The metaverse isn’t just the future, it’s already here and growing in every direction. But with so many players and users expanding in the space, the boundaries between metaverse platforms are becoming more cumbersome and complex. Flora Lau and Terry Dugan of the New York City Bar Association Digital Technologies Task Force host Larry Goldberg, a pioneer in media accessibility, and Debbie Rosenbaum, a leading attorney at Meta with extensive experience in Oculus and immersive spaces. They share their thoughts on developing cross-platform standards for the metaverse, discuss the role of avatars and digital identity, and explore the challenges of making the metaverse inclusive for people with disabilities. The episode explores technical challenges, policy considerations, and the importance of social norms within virtual environments. Key topics include interoperability, the economics of digital assets, and the potential for innovative applications in extended reality. Access a transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3AFroym Listen to our first podcast episode on the metaverse: What Is the Metaverse, Really? https://bit.ly/3AE39AK Want to learn more about developing standards and best-practices for emerging technologies? Join us at the City Bar’s upcoming CLE program on October 10: Guidelines for Users and Developers of AI Powered Technologies (https://bit.ly/4dSBYAA). (This program will be available on-demand thereafter.) Visit nycbar.org/events to find all of the most up-to-date information about our upcoming programs and events. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:39 Introducing the Guests: Larry Goldberg and Debbie Rosenbaum 02:35 Larry Goldberg's Journey in Accessibility 03:54 Debbie Rosenbaum's Metaverse Experience 06:39 Meta's Vision for the Metaverse 07:41 Challenges and Innovations in Cross-Platform Standards 11:26 The Role of AR Glasses and Accessibility 25:21 The Future of Avatars and Digital Identity 29:05 Challenges of Avatar Customization 29:30 Avatar Rights and Legal Issues 32:36 Social Norms in the Metaverse 37:29 Early Days of the Metaverse 43:38 Interoperability and Business Drivers 46:11 Decentralization and Future Prospects 49:33 Final Thoughts and Takeaways