Reality Check — Designing the Metaverse
A newsletter about the next wave of interaction design for spatial computing.
What is the metaverse?
Everyone at the moment is either talking about or investing in the metaverse, but what is it? The “meta universe” is the future vision of the internet, which currently is fragmented into a collection of websites and apps. It will be the “connective tissue” that enables users to move seamlessly between digital spaces without limitations of multiple devices or platforms that exist today.
The idea originated in Neil Stephenson’s 1992 Snow Crash, which depicts a virtual universe where humans exist as digital avatars, moving across multiple virtual worlds.
Mark Zuckerburg’s vision of the Facebook metaverse however is quite different from Cline’s or Stephensons, as it will enable people to move between 2D and 3D experiences more seamlessly. This could mean an experience where you attend an event or join a call with friends using a screen display like Portal, and they can use an Oculus headset on the other end.
Microsoft’s mission to connect the digital and physical world through mixed reality and digital twins, envisions autonomous systems like automatically restocking shelves in retail stores or city planning that optimises energy consumption.
Roblox’s metaverse will enable creators to build and sell virtual goods, experiences all while “blending gaming, creation and social networking.”
Decentraland’s 3D virtual platform is powered by Ethereum blockchain and is also another contender in this metaverse marathon, offering a more anarchic approach via decentralised creation and trading.
Of course with the arrival of smart glasses and other wearables, cross-platform communication and the physics between devices may begin to blur. Nreal’s smart glasses, Facebook RayBans, Amazon Echo Frames, Apple’s AR headset, Snap Spectacles among others all take part in the smart glasses revolution.
Will this mean multiple metaverses? If so what is the point of streamlining fragmented communication patterns that exist today?
As designers begin to question how we might architect interoperable experiences across multiple devices that are useful, secure and actually unified.
While it seems that the underlying aim of building the metaverse is the unification of systems, surfaces and people’s identity, how can we design non-fragmented experiences that encompass multiple portals like smart glasses, VR headsets, smart watches, large displays and beyond?
Furthermore, how can we avoid existing in our own hyper-reality of filter bubbles and digital isolation?
Meta Identities & Digital Twins
Our digital identities today are defined by our context. For example, our LinkedIn profile photos are a professional version of ourselves, our social media might be more aspirational representations, and our gaming avatars might be an alternate version we could never physically achieve but can identify with its style.
Perhaps the metaverse will aim to unify our identities such as being represented by a realistic avatar as we’ve seen in Spatial. Other worlds may allow us to customise our look through the use of digital fashion and avatar customisation.
The purpose of producing a digital twin (real world and virtual versions of objects) will scale beyond human identities. Being able to create a digital clone of a real-world object will also change the way we design and operate smart cities.
Twinmotion for example enables people to design and manage buildings, like monitoring air quality and energy in real time.
Upland allows you to buy, sell and trade virtual versions of real-world real estate on blockchain. Theoretically buildings could have dual existence, and dual ownership.
Value Systems & Exchange
Augmented Reality has become an effective tool for brands and e-commerce, further propelled by the pandemic. Snapchat’s collaboration with Prada bag try-ons, and garment segmentation capabilities give us a look at how fashion will play a big role in supporting a metaverse value systems.
Imagine buying a physical article of clothing and unlocking a digital version of that same garment that is customisable and that can be shared, sold or exchanged in the metaverse. NFT art, fashion, home goods, and more will play a big role in the development of the metaverse economy.
Nextech plans to “platformise” NFT creation, by enabling users to upload a photo which gets converted into a 3D model using Threedy.ai, making 3D modelling a think of the past.
We can anticipate designers tackling problems like helping creators monetise on their art, and building infrastructure for digital asset trading, selling and buying. Aside from the exchange of digital goods, we may also use digital currencies to access experiences like teleporting to different worlds, speaking with our loved ones, attending virtual concerts, or even accessing digital education.
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