The metaverse breaks down the boundaries within the different types of reality
The metaverse is a virtual world, a combination of virtual technologies, including video conferences, games, crypocurrencies, emails, VR, social media and live streaming. The way these elements will fit together is still in the process of development, but it seems that this is one of the newest trends in technology.
The metaverse is not a single product or a single a game and it is not created by one company. Rather, it is reminiscent of the 3D world network, where businesses, information and communication instruments are immersive – meaning they bring the user into a virtual world= Also, all of these components are operationally compatible.
What can we do in the metaverse?
Work and play – in short. For example you can create an avatar online and use it for virtual meetings. Then, you can attend a virtual concert for example and meet with friends and their avatars. You can also buy products from virtual booths just as you would on Amazon or Asos and pay with cryptocurrency.
This simple scenario includes corporate communication tools, live streaming, electronic commerce, and cost-sharing. However, it works only if each supplier builds its system in a way that guarantees that the various actives, such as avatars and products are compatible and transferable.
Who are the big players in this game?
We all know and use Facebook. Mark Zuckeberg sees great opportunities for development in the metaverse, which already predetermine the company’s investment in products such as the virtual reality helmet Oculus. Nvidia Corp and game developers like Roblox and Epic games also want a part of the pie.
The Chinese giant Tencent is registering a number of brands related to the metaverse for its social application QQ. ВуtеDаnсе Ltd., the owner of TikTok, invests in the manufacturer of VR glasses Pico and in the creator of mobile games Reworld.
There are also consultants like Dubit in the United Kingdom who specialize in helping companies move to the metaverse. All this shows the potential this new niche has.
Can today’s smartphones catch up with the metaverse?
The metaverse will not reach its full potential, if there is no superfast internet connection with low latency. One example for this is the online world Second Life, which did not succeed as it appeared before the boom of the mobile communications.
Today’s generation 4 networks (4G) can almost support multiplayer applications such as Fortnite for example, but they cannot process hundreds of data streams at the same time, requiring uninterrupted Internet connection (eliminating the so-called latency). That’s why mobile operators around the world spend billions to build a much faster and more stable 5G network. And it is good to mention that there is the possibility of 6G networks in the near future.
Was there a metaverse before?
The concept of the metaverse has appeared in science fiction novels, such as the Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. The main character uses the Metaverse as a way to escape from the reality in which he lives. His home is a miserable room measuring 5 by 6 meters, the government has been replaced by corrupt corporations, and democracy has become a faint memory of the past. The book describes this kind of universe as the direct successor to the Internet. Films such as The Matrix and Ready Player One also suggest a meta universe exists already.
Is adoption of the metaverse risky?
While the big tech giants are enthusiastic about the idea of a metaverse, it has several very serious drawbacks.
First of all, there is the so called “internet privatization”. The environment in which you interact with other people will be under the total control of its creators and will most likely be limited. Today, every action in the social networks is monitored and analyzed by algorithms, but in the metaverse we will be under even closer look of more advanced systems.
If the metaverse becomes the successor to the Internet, we can expect much less freedom in it.
However, this is not the only risk.
The metaverse is too reminiscent of the Matrix movie. In reality, this is a virtual world in which we will work, study, rest, play. All these activities will be easy to use and will certainly be more interactive than the “gray everyday” in the real world.
In a virtual environment, everyone will be able to decorate their office according to their style, and during work breaks people will be able to fly around their city or play different games with their colleagues. Instead of dieting, we can make our 3D avatar slim and muscular. It is not clear whether all this would have a positive effect on our personalities.
Today, many people spend more than 8 hours a day in front of their computers. However, they are not “out of reality”. If the metaverse is well designed, then a person may have to leave it just to eat and sleep.
Zuckerberg’s “Internet of bodies“ – will it change everything?
Internet of bodies will introduce even greater intrusion of technology corporations into our personal lives. To function, the Internet of Bodies requires a closer connection between man and machine. And it doesn’t matter if this connection is made through a gadget that will always be with us, or in the form of a brain implant.
The risk of our conversations, actions, emotions, health and even thoughts being constantly monitored is very high. There will be great interest in this “data” from advertisers, artificial intelligence developers and intelligence services.
Even if we are not monitored 24/7, many people will begin to self-censor and adopt the expected behavior. Even today, many of us limit our interactions on social media.
The metaverse will give even more power and resources to tech giants, which is why adopting the so called supernova technologies is their logical goal.
This new universe is a next-generation virtual reality, blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. It will be constantly connected to the Internet, and its users will have much greater capabilities than those who provide today’s virtual reality glasses.
What can we expect?
Virtual reality and augmented reality will make teleportation possible. “By 2030, a realistic teleportation effect will be achieved and people will be able to communicate in their chosen environment,” Zuckerberg said.
The potential of this becoming true is huge!
What are the challenges the metaverse is facing?
The metaverse is still in its infancy. Some challenges include authentication and privacy controls. In the real world it is often not difficult to identify someone. But because people traverse the digital world in their avatars, it will be hard to tell or prove who is who.
Another challenge is the protection of personal data. The metaverse relies on augmented reality and virtual reality devices to offer a fascinating experience. These technologies with camera capabilities and unique identifiers can eventually lead to unwanted personal leaks of information.
So are we equipped for this new ride? Only time will show.