Internet access has made the world a small global village. At first, few imagined that the internet could become so pervasive and popular that it would become an integral part of our lives today. But nowadays, in contrast to minority expectations, the internet has vast integral worlds in it which are getting bigger and bigger every day. Many virtual worlds are being made on the internet. One of the virtual worlds based on the internet is called Metaverse! But the big question is that will the Metaverse become as popular as the internet?
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Thursday announcement that he’s changing his company’s name to Meta Platforms Inc., or Meta for short, might be the biggest thing to happen to the Metaverse since science fiction writer Neal Stephenson coined the term for his 1992 novel “Snow Crash.”
But Zuckerberg and his team are hardly the only tech visionaries with ideas on how the Metaverse, which will employ a mix of virtual reality and other technologies, should take shape. And some who’ve been thinking about it for a while have concerns about a new world tied to a social media giant that could get access to even more personal data and is accused of failing to stop the proliferation of dangerous misinformation and other online harms that exacerbate real-world problems.
What is the Metaverse?
Think of it as the internet brought to life, or at least rendered in 3D. Zuckerberg has described it as a “virtual environment” you can go inside of — instead of just looking at on a screen. Essentially, it’s a world of endless, interconnected virtual communities where people can meet, work, and play, using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps, or other devices.
It also will incorporate other aspects of online life such as shopping and social media, according to Victoria Petrock, an analyst who follows emerging technologies. “It’s the next evolution of connectivity where all of those things start to come together in a seamless, doppelganger universe, so you’re living your virtual life the same way you’re living your physical life,” she said.
Things like going to a virtual concert, taking a trip online, viewing or creating artwork, and trying on or buying digital clothing, all of this is possible in The Metaverse.
The Metaverse also could be a game-changer for the work-from-home shift amid the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of seeing co-workers on a video call grid, employees could join them in a virtual office. Facebook has launched meeting software for companies, called Horizon Workrooms, to use with its Oculus VR headsets, though early reviews have not been great. For those who can afford it, users would be able, through their avatars, to flit between virtual worlds created by different companies.
“A lot of the metaverse experience is going to be around being able to teleport from one experience to another,” Zuckerberg says.
Imagine all companies setting up a branch in Meta. From technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. to car industry giants such as Benz, BMW, Tesla, etc., and even other large companies in any field such as Zespri, Salix Fruits, and Vira Fruits and other prominent companies that provide their services in the Metaverse. These predictions were also made for the internet as to how effective it could be, and at first, they were unbelievable, just like today when we hear strange speculations and predictions about the Metaverse, but we have to wait and see to what extent these will become virtual reality?
What do you think?
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