InterDigital debuts sustainability-focused video and immersive AR streaming at FOKUS

As global streaming volume grows, device-side energy management is becoming a critical technical differentiator for hardware and service providers. InterDigital’s PVR technology addresses the 'just noticeable difference' threshold, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of high-resolution video by lowering display light output without impacting the consumer's perceived quality. This shift toward sustainability-aware encoding standards provides a framework for multi-device interoperability, moving the ecosystem away from fragmented, proprietary AR and energy solutions. Watch for how these standards are integrated into future system-on-chip (SoC) designs and if major streaming platforms adopt the MPEG-I metadata for cross-platform power optimization.

The push for energy-efficient streaming comes as data center and network power requirements face increasing scrutiny. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers and transmission networks could consume up to 1,000 terawatt-hours by 2026, driven largely by the convergence of high-bitrate video and intensive AI workloads. Per a Forbes report from December 2025, one hour of video streaming generates significantly more CO2 than typical AI text prompts, making client-side efficiency technologies like InterDigital’s PVR essential for meeting corporate sustainability goals. Recent industry benchmarks from CCS Insight (April 2026) confirmed that PVR can deliver approximately 15% energy savings on television displays, specifically benefiting OLED and AMOLED panels where pixel-level luminance control directly impacts power draw.

On the immersive media front, standardization efforts are accelerating to move beyond closed 'walled gardens' for augmented reality. The MPEG group recently finalized the ISO/IEC 23090-31 standard for haptics coding in January 2025, a critical component of the MPEG-I suite that InterDigital is showcasing in Berlin. As reported by InBroadcast in March 2026, these standards enable 'design once, play everywhere' capabilities, allowing developers to create spatial media that maintains consistency across headsets, smartphones, and haptic-enabled accessories. This interoperability is viewed by analysts as a prerequisite for the commercial scaling of the metaverse, ensuring that complex interactive 3D assets remain functional across diverse hardware ecosystems.