Arthur Conan Doyle said that “Healthy skepticism is the basis of all accurate observation.” If the man who created Sherlock Holmes has this to say about observation, we better pay heed. Yes, the metaverse is a source of great optimism. Yes, it could unchain the web as we know it and help onboard millions of people. The metaverse is indeed a ray of hope. But, healthy skepticism is crucial, remember!
We have long acknowledged that interoperability is a crucial hurdle that needs to be crossed for the metaverse to even be viable, let alone thrive. But, are we seeing any solutions coming up for this problem? Also, do we fully grasp just how challenging addressing this issue is going to be? CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly spoken about a unified metaverse — a seamless network of immersive online worlds that work together. Will these platforms really work together regardless of what company owns the platform? Or, are we heading towards an ecosystem where there will instead be a multitude of fragmented worlds? If each such world comes with its own shard of the metaversal experience, a unified metaverse might be a distant dream.
The Interoperability Problem
For starters, let’s acknowledge that different companies conceive the metaverse differently. This is a non-trivial issue as we are still laying the foundations of the metaverse. If there is no consensus about what shape or form the metaverse will take at this stage, there are likely to be multiple issues we have to contend with concurrently. Add to this mix the fact that irrespective of what form they will take, these platforms will wield a lot of power and offer rent-seeking opportunities for platform owners. Now, there isn’t even a motive for these platforms to put up a united front! Let’s examine this current scenario; If you want to sell an iPhone app, you certainly can but would be obliged to pay a portion of your revenues to Apple. If this model is replicated in the metaverse, there is actually a motive for platforms to make their platform different from the others and subsequently erect a wall around them. Bye bye unified metaverse. Even something as seemingly simple as messaging services is not interoperable. WhatsApp and iMessage are separate and the twain shall not meet. If interoperability is such a challenge in this domain, should we even have any hope that things will be different in the case of Web3.0?
The AR & VR Problem
Interoperability is not just a concern about platforms, but also about the tools that are going to be used in the metaverse. The immersive digital worlds that will populate the metaverse will also necessitate the use of varied VR and AR technology. For example, to play immersive games, transform yourself into cool avatars, or go virtual shopping, you need the right headset.
The widely held consensus is that the metaverse will bring with it an abundance of experiences and activities. It will not be restricted to games and entertainment and will also include things like work conferences and virtual education. Now, each of these experiences might require different tools. Hence, the problem with AR & VR tools. Is it viable to expect users to have access to a wide variety of tools they need to use in different permutations when they access different parts of the metaverse? The metaverse truly might open up a portal to immersive and exhilarating experiences. But, given how complicated it might be to get the right set of tools, how many people would actually experience the metaverse?
The Closed Technology Problem
Having a shared, common infrastructure might be vastly beneficial to the metaverse. There are some green shoots in this realm as well. Case in point; Open AR Cloud, is a non-profit cloud association that could help build a digital database for AR headsets. Similarly, OpenXR is another interface where programmers can write software for varied AR and VR headsets. There are more such initiatives, but is there enough of a common infrastructure?
The answer is no. Forming alliances that help structure a common infrastructure is critical if the metaverse is going to be a viable proposition.
Ultimately, the endeavor is for the metaverse to succeed. In its success lies a plethora of opportunities that could open the doors to a range of experiences. However, unless we solve certain foundational issues, success is certain to remain elusive. While we continue to look for solutions, it is perhaps wise to keep in mind what Arthur Conan Doyle said. Healthy skepticism is not just beneficial, but essential.
New to trading? Try crypto trading bots or copy trading
