Integrating Innovation: The Role of Standards in Promoting Responsible Development of Human-Machine Systems

Among the many challenges facing the development and beneficial application of emerging human–machine interfacing (HMI) technologies lies the immense diversity of technological modalities, data types, and use scenarios they encompass, which pose a challenge to the interoperability of both HMI systems themselves, and the data they produce. In turn, this heterogeneity of devices and data impedes the large-scale distillation and communication of knowledge across many fields of human–machine systems (HMS), including wearables, neurotechnology, and robotics – and thus, the development and application of these technologies for maximum benefit. By codifying protocols and best practices that enable both technological and data interoperability, consensus standards provide a tool to manage this diversity, thereby streamlining research and development while improving product safety and quality. This chapter begins by outlining the need and the role of standards in HMS, followed by an overview of key standards in the field of HMS, from well-established standards to those under current development. Next, we identify the essential qualities of a successful standard and summarize the consensus standards creation processes, including how and why to get involved. Finally, we provide a brief series of case studies from the area of neurotechnology that highlight the positive impact, ongoing challenges, and vast potential of standards to align incentives between numerous stakeholder types and to thus promote the beneficial development and ethical governance of HMS technologies.