Breaking Down Metaverse
Written by Mariam Hamzat
A couple of weeks ago, MTN purchased 144 plots of land in South Africa’s first metaverse, Africarare. MTN may be the first African company to enter into Metaverse, but it’s not the first company. We have companies like Google, Microsoft, and Shopify with lands of their own in the Metaverse.
If the recent purchase or the fact that it’s one of the major buzzwords piqued your interest in Metaverse, here’s a breakdown of what it entails.
What is Metaverse?
The metaverse can simply be described as a digital world that exists beyond the physical, where users can interact and experience things like they would in the real world. It includes a variety of experiences, environments, and assets that exist in the virtual space with which users can immerse themselves and interact with.
Breaking it down, it is like the world we live in, but virtual! With technology, they are creating an “alternate universe” where you can replicate the things you do here in “real life”.
Take this: During the COVID-19 lockdown, you had a couple of places you wished you could go — birthday parties, concerts, movies, and others. What if you could go virtually? I’m not talking about hosting it on Zoom or other meeting apps. I’m discussing having it as you would. A virtual space where everyone walks in as they would have, takes a seat, and participates in the activities. That’s Metaverse.
How Do I Access Metaverse?
Metaverse is not real life, it’s a world that exists on the other side of technology — virtual reality. Therefore, you cannot visit it yourself. But you can have an avatar (an icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, internet forum) represent you there to carry out activities.
To help your avatar get the full experience in Metaverse, you will need to have a VR headset and good internet.
What do People Do on Metaverse?
On Metaverse, you can have your avatar do a whole lot of things. Metaverse offers:
Entertainment: Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, Marshemello, and others have been able to hold successful concerts in Metaverse. You can play games, interact with people and even attend concerts. Even fashion shows can be held in the Metaverse.
Transaction: Like the real world, there are tokens that make transactions in Metaverse possible. Just like the real money you spend every day. Except they are tender in the meta. For example, Ubuntuland uses the $UBUNTU. You can buy art, gadgets, lands, and pay for things.
Real Estate: On Metaverse, there are virtual lands for sale. You can purchase one of your own and do with it anything of choice. What would you do if you had real estate properties here in your home country? You can do all of that to your virtual real estate as well, including renting it out.
Corporate Works: A couple of companies across the world are utilizing Metaverse to create a virtual office for international works. Irrespective of location, through Metaverse, everyone can sit in a room to discuss, present, and make decisions. It’s almost like Zoom but within an office space.
The scope of Metaverse is endless, and even in the future, it would likely only get bigger and better. We may not be moving to the digital world tomorrow, but in the future, it could be a part of our everyday lives.
Mariam Hamzat is a content writer and journalist with an interest in tech, sustainable development, and communal growth.
Edited by Naimah Akinoso
Naimah is an editor and product designer with a passion for interior design. She loves cooking, finding new recipes online, and trying them. She also loves reading and watching horror movies. Connect with Naimah on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Behance
Published by Akinsipe Temitope
Temitope is a young storyteller who thinks all stories are worth telling. She loves to inspire people to do what they love and follow their passions, tell their stories, and live in the present moment. Connect with Temitope on Instagram, and Twitter.
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