The Metaverse: What Is It and What Does It Hold in Store for Us?
Recently, Mark Zuckerberg, the head of the most widespread social network in the world with more than 2.7 billion users, announced the change of name from Facebook to Meta, causing massive reactions and doubt across the globe. What is this metaverse he’s talking about and what are its possibilities? What’s the intention behind this change?
What’s the Metaverse?
The concept of a metaverse wasn’t born inside Facebook’s offices. The term was coined in the 1992 novel, ‘Snow Crash’, and it became established as a way to define virtual work spaces. Therefore, the metaverse is a virtual world that functions as an alternative reality.. Facebook’s strategy is more than just a change of name: it seeks to change the users’ relationship with the platform and present themselves as a guiding company for this new digital revolution— the experts that call it that way are already a lot.
How does it work?
With the aid of digital immersion devices, like VR headsets, we will be able to explore worlds and interact with other platform users and elements. But, what’s the difference between the metaverse and the current virtual reality of video games? This new technology is designed to be fully immersive. VR headsets will immerse us in another dimension just like it’s been doing so far, but the metaverse will also have sensors that will capture the users’ movements and even facial expressions. The goal is for the avatar to fully represent us in this virtual world and for the people that we interact with to be able to interpret our feelings instantly just like they would if it were a face to face interaction.
What other possibilities does it offer?
If you think the metaverse will be just like Spielberg’s Ready Player One, you’re in for a big surprise. This concept goes well beyond hanging out in a fantasy world. It seeks to become an alternative reality and another tool for our daily life. This are some of the possibilities it offers:
Business:Facebook’s metaverse wants to offer the same possibilities that the real world offers. That’s why the idea is to offer the chance to shop or even start our own business inside the metaverse. Maybe, in the not so distant future, CVs will be moving around this network and, in LinkedIn, we may see positions such as “Metaverse Shop Manager”.
Economy: If there are going to be businesses, there needs to be a payment method. Virtual coins are nothing new in today's video games. Maybe they can be exchanged for real money or maybe they can be won through some type of interaction. The value of these and the capacity to generate them will determine the users’ interest in working in this world.
Working from Home: Working from home isn’t something that we’ll stop doing anytime soon — we’ve been hearing this for a while. And, now, its advantages multiply because of the metaverse. Meetings and calls won’t mean that you can’t be in your full pajamas anymore. But the possibilities are much greater. In a cardiologists meeting, for example, participants will be able to handle a 3D heart as they please instead of only seeing it in a slide.
Beyond the Metaverse
Facebook has taken the chance to take the lead in the world of the metaverse but, actually, many other companies like Nvidia, Apple or Microsoft, among others, are already betting heavily on this.
Microsoft:Video calls on Microsoft Teams are very close to stepping into the metaverse. Microsoft is working to give its users the chance to use avatars and even provide virtual spaces.
Apple: At the same time that Facebook was announcing its new name, Apple presented its patent for a retina projector that will allow its users to see the images in their eyes without the need of a headset.
Nvidia: As for Nvidia, they’ve been working side by side with BMW on a virtual factory that will provide technicians with the possibility to make changes without having to go to the different plants.