Metaverse — A Universe of Unimaginable Experiences
We’re all familiar with the word metaverse because of the recent hype, but how many of us actually know what it is? Although the term metaverse was coined in 1992 in Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash, it has gained popularity only recently.
On 28th October 2021, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced the rebrand of the social media platform to ‘Meta,’ highlighting the fact that metaverse could perhaps be the next big thing. But is it truly feasible? If yes, then to what extent? You’ll find out.
What is The Metaverse?
Metaverse combines the words meta (beyond limits) + verse (short for — universe), so one can easily make out that metaverse could potentially be a universe in itself. A universe that has no limitations.
Metaverse currently refers to online spaces that are much more immersive in physical connection. Like a video game, users will have different avatars in the metaverse. They can move around, interact with other people and pretty much do anything. But the twist here is that users will actually be able to feel a sense of reality in the metaverse. While video games are restricted to the screens, the metaverse is a simulated environment that will make people feel like they’re actually living different experiences.
While talking about this new advancement, Mark Zuckerberg stated that people should not really have to physically be together to feel present, collaborate, or brainstorm ideas.
Metaverse might just be the key to this. Besides, keeping in mind the recent pandemic, a technology as advanced as the metaverse could be a breakthrough in education, entertainment, and for businesses to navigate effectively without exposing themselves to the risk of a deadly virus.
However, technology similar to the metaverse, like virtual reality simulators already exists. Then how will the metaverse distinguish itself from them? Not to mention that if tools and gadgets to immerse in the metaverse are developed, they will not be something the common man can afford.
The Advent of a Completely New and Immersive World
Metaverse is not something you can look at through your screen but something you will be part of and feel with your senses. This will be achieved by converging augmented and virtual reality to create real-life experiences. Users can purchase digital assets like land, clothes, and a lot more for their virtual avatars using cryptocurrency in the metaverse.
Attending a live concert sitting miles away, working in the office while being at home, and traversing anywhere without actually doing it in reality, that’s what the metaverse is speculated to be like. This means users can embark on unlimited adventures from the comfort of their homes (something that the world needed during the COVID-19 pandemic!). Metaverse can make human interaction possible in places we never thought it could.
Big Techs Committed to the New Universe
Talking about metaverse today feels like a dream far from reality, but big tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft are bent on bringing it to existence. Facebook has reportedly invested $10 billion in developing hardware and software like virtual and augmented reality glasses and headsets for the metaverse. The company is also set to create over 10,000 job opportunities to bringing the metaverse to life.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is talking about combining the digital and physical worlds.
CEO Satya Nadella, at Microsoft’s Build Conference in May 2021, shed light on what he called the enterprise metaverse, where businesses can use business software products developed by Microsoft to supervise or audit their supply chains in the metaverse.
Although the metaverse is in its initial stages, and there is no certainty on what it will look or feel like, the hype for this new technology is increasing by the day. Besides, big tech companies are leveraging this to gain the first-mover advantage in the metaverse to provide users with an end-to-end experience. Having said that, we can only speculate countless things about the metaverse until it is finally developed and ready for users to experience it first-hand.
