Metaverses: What are They and Why do We Need Them

What is Metaverse
The world of the metaverse exists alongside the real one, intersects with it or complements it. People study, go to virtual stores and meet with colleagues in a digital office there.
The everyday life of the metaverse resembles a sci-fi movie: characters sit at a desk in their office and discuss an important issue. At the end of the meeting, everyone disconnects and it turns out that everyone is in different places, and the office is virtual.
Meetings in the metaverse will be held in much the same way. The difference is that movie characters need a small device (e.g. a button) to switch between the real and virtual worlds. In reality, we will need to wear a VR headset. It will resemble a Zoom meeting but with full immersion and the effect of presence. You will not need to share your screen because all information will appear in front of each user's avatar. Each user will see a virtual screen, almost like the character of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In the metaverse, you can also see your friends in digital coffee shops, bars or in a fictional world. You can go to a workout or play a game together. If there are thousands of kilometers between you and your friends and you want to go to a cinema together, a virtual reality headset will help you.
Characteristics of the Metaverse
There are characteristics that distinguish the metaverse from a computer game and virtual reality:
The Origin and Future of the Metaverse
It all started with fiction. The term "metaverse" first appeared in the science fiction novel "Avalanche" (1992) by Neal Stephenson. In the book, the author describes the virtual world that appeared in the XXI century. The users exist in the form of 3D avatars, they buy and sell real estate.
The digital universe is also shown in movies. You can see virtual worlds in "Ready Player One", "Tron", iconic "The Matrix" and other movies. Something close to the metaverse exists in Fortnite and World of Warcraft in a platform that is called Second Life. It combines a virtual world and a social network. There, users' avatars move around online spaces, hold meetings, go shopping in marketplaces and choose outfits from virtual fashion collections.
Companies all over the world develop metaverses: Microsoft, Decentraland, Roblox and others. But nowadays there is no unified and full-fledged digital universe.
However, it is a problem that different companies develop metaverses. It is difficult to combine different spaces. Companies need to agree on common currency, rules for user conduct and laws of the metaverse.
Why do We Need Metaverses
Business
The metaverse will facilitate the solution of design tasks. It is easier to study and transform a 3D model of an object in the virtual world. Modelling in the metaverse should also reduce waste and speed up the process of developing new solutions.
Marketing
Brands are picking up the idea of promotion in the metaverses. The main goal is to attract millennials and generation X, who are the first to master new technologies. Even mentioning a brand in the context of the metaverse brings additional recognition to a company.
Entertainment and education
Metaverses are similar to games, so they expand gaming experience. Communication with other users and an immersive environment are added.
As for education, students can see what exactly they study in metaverses. For example, students can witness a historical event and future design engineers can see a spacecraft system for a detailed study.
Conclusion
The metaverse is a space in the digital world that exists alongside the real one. This is a parallel reality, but the actions in the digital universe affect the events in the real world.
The metaverse cannot be paused or saved, all actions take place in real time. Users use avatars to communicate with other real people in the digital world. Nowadays, there are no full-fledged metaverses, but dozens of companies all over the world are developing them.
Metaverses will expand business opportunities with virtual offices and investments in digital objects. Companies are already opening their digital stores and placing advertisements on billboards in the metaverse. Events are held in the metaverse, and in the future digital spaces will become educational platforms.
The metaverse is a new step in the development of the Internet, which becomes three-dimensional and adds the effect of presence.
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