What is Metaverse. Everything you need to know
Imagine a virtual environment where individuals can communicate with one another, live, work, and shop from the comfort of their sofa in the real world. The metaverse is what we call this.
It wasn't until Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta in October 2021 that the phrase "Metaverse" started to catch on. At that time, the business disclosed intentions to invest $10 billion in technology over the next year in order to realise its metaverse goal.
The metaverse is viewed as the next step in the development of the internet. It will manifest itself in a variety of ways, such as in gaming, online forums, and professional settings where participants interact with a digital replica or avatar of themselves.
What is the metaverse?
The idea of the metaverse is not new. First mentioned was in the 1992 book Snow Crash. Later, a number of businesses created online communities based on the idea, most notably Second Life, which was introduced in 2003.
People use avatars to represent themselves, connect with one another, and virtually expand the community in the metaverse. In the metaverse, digital cash is used to purchase a variety of products, including clothing, as well as shields and weaponry for video games. Using a virtual reality headset and controllers, users may also enjoyably and aimlessly traverse the metaverse.
The bleak future depicted in Snow Crash does not paint the metaverse in a favourable manner. The word "metaverse," which refers to a new breed of virtual reality-based internet, was first used by author Neal Stephenson. In Stephenson's metaverse, technological prowess—represented by the level of sophistication of a user's avatar—was one method to rise in social standing. Access to some limited areas, which served as a forerunner to the paywalls and registration restrictions some websites still employ today, was another sign of prestige.
Another book that contributed to the rise in popularity of the metaverse concept was Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It was eventually turned into a Steven Spielberg-directed film. The dystopian sci-fi book from 2011 takes place in the year 2045, where people go to a virtual environment called The Oasis to get away from the issues that plague Earth. Users may grip and interact with things in the virtual environment utilising haptic gloves and a virtual reality headset.
How the metaverse is different from the internet?
There are billions of computers, millions of servers, and other electronic devices connected to the internet. Internet users may engage with websites, communicate with one another, and purchase and trade products and services once they are online.
The metaverse enhances the internet rather than competing with it. Utilizing VR, AR, AI, social media, and digital money, users navigate a virtual environment that closely resembles the real world in the metaverse. "Browsing" the internet is what it is called. But in the metaverse, humans can "life."
Even nations might expand their influence throughout the metaverse. For instance, Barbados intends to establish a diplomatic embassy in the metaverse, more particularly, the virtual community Decentraland, whereas the majority of nations have a very static online presence.
Numerous services that are paving the way for the development of the metaverse have emerged as a result of the internet's expansion.
According to Ben Bajarin, an analyst at Creative Strategies, "In gaming, you see Roblox, Minecraft, and other immersive video games — and even Zoom — foretell what the metaverse is supposed to give. You even have a virtual identity on social media.
He now claims that the final shape of the metaverse is in dispute. The same as the internet, will it be open? Or will it be more of a restricted experience run by a select few powerful corporations?
According to Bajarin, "the large players all want to be early movers and have their own ecosystem win out."
Metaverse is something more than virtual reality
But before the metaverse is widely and universally adopted, there are obstacles to be overcome. And the "virtual" aspect of this cosmos is a significant obstacle.
Although VR is regarded as an essential component of the metaverse mix, wearing a VR headset is not a requirement for entry. Anyone with a computer or smartphone may theoretically access a metaverse experience like Second Life. Given that virtual reality is still struggling to find a foothold with customers, providing widespread accessibility is essential to make the metaverse function.
In a short time, the VR sector has experienced notable breakthroughs. A few years ago, consumers who were interested in home VR had to pick between pricey, tethered computer-based systems and cheap, but incredibly constrained smartphone-based headsets.
The Quest line from Meta, which has swiftly risen to the top of the home VR market, is one example of the economical, extremely high-quality, portable wireless headsets that have just entered the market. The gadget costs less than most video gaming consoles, has amazing graphics, and a bigger content library than ever. Why then do so few people use VR?
On the one hand, the market for VR headsets has been expanding globally, and 2021 proved to be a successful year for headset producers thanks to their strongest sales since the rush of high-profile VR gadget launches in 2016. However, they only managed to sell about 11 million gadgets globally.
Since just 28% of individuals who own VR headsets are thought to utilise them every day, it can be difficult to even get people to use their gadgets. Numerous tech experts have noted that the long-promised mainstream VR revolution has generally fallen short of expectations.
Virtual movement, physical discomfort
Why VR hasn't taken off more is due to a variety of variables, such as lost marketing opportunities and manufacturing roadblocks. However, it's feasible that a sizable portion of individuals find utilising VR to be intrinsically unpleasant, especially for frequent usage.
The "cybersickness" that many users of VR devices experience is still being worked on by developers, despite great developments in screen technology. Cybersickness is a sense of nausea similar to motion sickness.
According to studies, neck pain may be another hurdle, and this problem can persist as long as VR headsets are required. Because the headset's fit is tailored to males, research also suggests that women feel far more discomfort than men do.
Beyond the physical difficulties, VR also has an isolating quality: "Once you put on the headset, you're disconnected from the world around you," says Ramona Pringle, a professor and researcher in digital technology.
Undoubtedly, some people are driven to VR in order to communicate with others virtually or to engage in enhanced escapism. But persuading individuals to voluntarily use a headset for long periods of time may be difficult given the uncomfortable sense of being cut off from other people and the disconnectedness from the outside world.
Companies with Metaverse vision
Here are several companies with their own metaverse visions.
Facebook -
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an open letter that his company's investment in the metaverse signified a fundamental shift and was a component of a new vision for the social media behemoth that was intended to "bring the metaverse to life."
Epic Games -
In contrast to Facebook, Epic Games intends to create a community where users can communicate with companies and one another without a news feed full of advertisements.
Microsoft -
Microsoft Teams, the software giant's alternative to Zoom for online meetings, is getting the metaverse. Mesh for Microsoft Teams will be available in 2022, according to Microsoft. Users of the new service may participate in shared, collaborative holographic experiences during virtual meetings from various physical locations.
How NFTs are connected to the metaverse?
Nonfungible tokens (NFTs) are expected to have a significant impact on the usability and appeal of the metaverse. Based on the same blockchain technology as cryptocurrencies, NFTs are a safe class of digital asset. An NFT can stand in for something other than money, such as a work of art, a song, or digital property. A digital deed or evidence of ownership that may be purchased or sold in the metaverse is provided to the owner via an NFT.
The first virtual real estate firm in the world, according to Metaverse Properties. In numerous metaverse virtual worlds, such as Decentraland, Sandbox, Somnium, and Upland, the corporation serves as an agent to assist the acquisition or leasing of real estate or land. There are business and meeting venues, art galleries, private residences, and "hangout locations" available.
While the metaverse has provided new businesses with chances to sell digital items, like Metaverse Properties, traditional brick and mortar businesses are also becoming involved. For instance, Nike recently bought RTFKT, a firm that uses NFTs, blockchain authentication, and augmented reality to create unique virtual footwear and digital artefacts. The company RTFKT claimed on its website that it was "founded in the metaverse, and this has characterised its vibe to this day."
In order to assist design and sell virtual footwear and clothing, Nike submitted seven trademark applications prior to the purchase. Additionally, Nike and Roblox collaborated on "Nikeland," a virtual environment where Nike fans can play games, interact, and outfit their avatars in clothing.
According to Nick Donarski, CEO of ORE System, an online community of gamers, content producers, and game developers, "NFTs and blockchain establish the foundation for digital ownership." "NFTs will be this vehicle for ownership of one's real-world identity to carry over to the metaverse."
How close is the metaverse?
Although the concept of participating in an online virtual world has been for a while, a true metaverse where real-world interactions are feasible is still years away. The majority of people don't have the VR goggles and motion capture gloves to effectively record their emotion, body language, and voice quality, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates highlighted in his annual year in review blog post.
But according to Gates, in the next two to three years, the majority of virtual meetings will switch from being held in two-dimensional square boxes to taking place in the metaverse, a 3D environment where participants may be seen as virtual avatars.
Posted By InnoTechzz