ISO/IEC 23090-33:2025

Overview

ISO/IEC 23090-33:2025, published by ISO and IEC, establishes standardized methods and reference software for assessing the conformance of haptics coding encoders and decoders within immersive media systems. As Part 33 in the ISO/IEC 23090 series on immersive media, this standard directly supports interoperability and validation for technologies coded under ISO/IEC 23090-31, the core specification for haptics coding. By providing a robust framework for conformance testing and reference software, ISO/IEC 23090-33:2025 enables developers, implementers, and testers to verify that their haptics solutions meet essential industry benchmarks for quality, accuracy, and interoperability.

Key Topics

• Conformance Testing: Defines a comprehensive suite of tests and procedures to determine whether haptics encoders and decoders conform to ISO/IEC 23090-31 requirements, including specific steps for both interchange (.hjif) and streaming (.hmpg, MIHS) formats.
• Reference Encoder and Decoder: Supplies reference implementations for both encoder and decoder, facilitating comparison, validation, and serving as starting points for new development.
• File Formats Covered: Supports evaluation and synthesis for various haptic data formats, including wave PCM (WAV), AHAP (Apple Haptic), IVS, and the HJIF and MIHS formats specified in ISO/IEC 23090-31.
• Reference Files and Test Data: Includes sets of reference input files, test suites, and scripts designed to automate conformance checking and evaluate codec performance across multiple scenarios and bitrates.
• Bitrate Guidance: Provides annexes detailing recommended bitrates for different encoding strategies, supporting informed decisions during implementation.

Applications

• Product Development: Enables manufacturers and software vendors to validate that their haptics coding solutions are compliant and interoperable within the ISO/IEC 23090 framework, reducing integration risks and ensuring end-user quality.
• Quality Assurance and Testing: Offers standard conformance scripts and test files, helping QA teams identify deviations, validate decoder and encoder outputs, and ensure adherence to the strict syntax and semantics of ISO/IEC 23090-31.
• Research and Prototyping: Facilitates experimentation, rapid prototyping, and benchmarking in academic and industrial research by providing working reference software for both encoding and decoding of haptic media.
• Interoperable Communications: Supports content providers and device manufacturers in creating and exchanging immersive haptics experiences across platforms and ecosystems, enhancing the reliability of media workflows.
• Education and Demonstration: Assists technical trainers and solution architects in demonstrating real-world encoding and decoding operations, fostering a clearer understanding of haptics coding standards and best practices.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 23090-31:2025 – Information technology - Coded representation of immersive media - Part 31: Haptics coding. This is the foundational standard defining the syntax, semantics, and processes for haptics compression and interoperability.
• ISO/IEC 23090 Series – Covers additional aspects of immersive media coding, including video, audio, and metadata; each part introduces specific methods for coded representation and conformance.
• ISO/IEC 14496 Series (MPEG-4) – Provides broader context for media coding standards, encompassing audiovisual object representation that may be integrated with immersive haptics.

By following ISO/IEC 23090-33:2025, organizations can ensure their encoder and decoder implementations for haptics coding are standard-compliant, interoperable, and scalable for the rapidly evolving field of immersive media. This comprehensive framework for conformance and reference software is essential for maintaining high standards in haptics communication, usability, and end-user experience.