Towards a Barrier-free Virtual World and Metaverse: Fairverse

An estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide (roughly 16% of the global population) are affected by various forms of disability. As highlighted by the World Health Organization, many face mobility-related challenges that significantly restrict their ability to participate fully in social and communal life. These restrictions hinder communication and reduce opportunities for linguistic and social enrichment. This study addresses these challenges by proposing Fairverse, an accessible metaverse designed to enhance socialization and inclusivity for people with physical disabilities. Using virtual reality (VR), blockchain and game technologies, Fairverse initially operates as a VR environment but also supports web-based access to ensure broader usability without specialized hardware. As a proof of concept, a customizable virtual room was developed that integrates Ready Player Me avatars and barrier-free avatars that can be controlled by voice commands. To ensure sustainable governance, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) is proposed underpinned by a token economy, facilitating sponsorships and donations to incentivize content creators and virtual-world developers. By fostering an inclusive digital ecosystem, Fairverse aims to remove accessibility barriers in the virtual world, empowering users with disabilities to participate fully in the metaverse.