The metaverse has been a tech hot topic recently, but what exactly is it? Here we break down what you need to know about the developments promising to radically transform our online landscape.
What is the metaverse?
Originally coined by sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson for his 1992 novel Snow Crash, the term ‘metaverse’ is a combination of the prefix meta (meaning beyond) and universe.
Metaverse is typically used to describe the new iteration of the internet, made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a virtual universe which is continually being developed.
The metaverse promises an immersive internet experience that allows for the replacement or augmentation of reality using computerised simulations that strive to be as realistic as possible.
Where is the metaverse now?
The metaverse has already existed in some form for several years, most notably in video games such as Second Life in which players create a new virtual persona as part of a vast internet enabled world.
Presently, the metaverse is largely a preserve of gaming, but future applications promise an immersive, collaborative alternative reality.
Numerous companies are including tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Valve and others have committed to building the metaverse, with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg going so far as to rename the platform ‘Meta’.
Eventually people will be able to enter the metaverse completely virtually (i.e., with virtual reality) or interact with parts of it in their physical space, with the help of augmented and mixed reality.
What is the future of the metaverse?
The number of possibilities around the metaverse are endless. Currently, you can only experience the internet when you ‘go to it’, but with continued development of connectivity, devices and technologies, we will soon be able to experience it all around us every day.
As the metaverse evolves, digital currency will become more reliable, similar to hard currency in our daily life. Communication will also become borderless, ushering in a new age of interaction and collaboration.
As technology continues to develop at rapid pace, a metaverse future is closer than ever before, promising to unleash amazing creativity and opening up new frontiers and horizons for brands and businesses.
The question is, how are you getting ready?
