November 18, 2022 – Today, Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), urging the Office to investigate the adoption of immersive technologies across federal civilian agencies.
Although immersive technology is still relatively nascent, it is already impacting sectors such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. In fact, many countries, including South Korea and Japan, are deploying XR technology for government services ranging from medical interventions to city planning and from public safety to national security. Despite the growing consciousness and use of immersive technologies, it is unclear whether U.S. federal agencies are adopting these technologies as widely as the private sector or other countries.
The GAO is well-positioned to investigate how federal agencies are utilizing XR; what government services could benefit from incorporating immersive technologies; and whether there are any barriers to XR adoption at the federal level. Such a study would detail the current state of XR implementation, provide critical insights for how the U.S. Government can become a global leader in immersive technology, and help educate policymakers.
The XR Association applauds Senators Young, Luján, and Wicker for their foresight and leadership on this critical topic. XRA supports this effort and encourages the GAO to investigate this important matter.
