The Metaverse: The New Kid on the Block

 The Metaverse: The New Kid on the Block

What is the metaverse? The term was coined by Neal Stephenson in his science fiction novel Snow Crash and refers to an interconnected virtual reality. The metaverse will be different from our current online reality because it will be possible to travel to different digital spaces without having to switch between the various platforms that we currently use. It has become increasingly clear that the metaverse will be the next great technological revolution, so what can you do now to get ready for it? Have you ever wondered what the future holds? One thing that we can all agree on is that it will be more technologically advanced than today. Even today, when we take into account the so-called Internet of Things and how many of our devices are connected to the Internet, it’s easy to see how much more advanced it will be in 10 years or 20 years. The Internet of Things consists of everyday items that are connected to the Internet, such as smartwatches, washing machines, thermostats, refrigerators, etc.

What Is The Metaverse?

First, let’s quickly define metaverse. It’s that massively multiplayer online universe you keep hearing about; think Second Life, but with more corporate funding and mainstream appeal. In other words, it’s not just a game, but a virtual world based on 3D (three-dimensional) graphics that react to people as they move through it—it is like Second Life and all its many competitors rolled into one vast network. What makes metaverses different from any other video game is that they’re created using an open-source platform so anyone can enter it for free.

Definition of Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality

Virtual reality and augmented reality are growing in popularity, but they're still poorly understood by many. Definitions of both technologies vary widely, so we'll start with an official one from Google. Augmented reality refers to an enhanced or supplemented version of a real-world environment that is viewable through a screen. Virtual reality is defined as an interactive computer-generated experience of a three-dimensional image or landscape that can be explored and interacted with by a person. In other words, we're not sure what virtual reality means but it sounds cool! So how does augmented reality work? And how might it change society? This post will discuss how AR works as well as potential social implications.

Types of VR Headsets

VR headsets come in three major varieties. There are tethered headsets, which connect to a PC or game console and require external sensors to track movement. Then there are stand-alone VR headsets, which do all of that tracking internally and usually rely on one or two external sensors. Finally, there are mobile VR headsets, which rely on a smartphone to do all of their tracking and processing; these devices don't need external sensors at all but depend instead upon inside-out tracking systems that can accurately track head movement with only a few dozen markers located around a headset. Tethered headsets offer high levels of visual quality and aren't tied down by wires.

VR vs AR - What's the Difference?

Some people use virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) interchangeably, but they're not the same. Both technologies have unique qualities that make them different from each other. It's important to understand those differences and how they could impact business operations to prepare for what's to come. Let's get started with defining both AR and VR, then talk about how each technology is used today.

How Does it Work?

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are both tools for creating digital worlds. However, unlike augmented reality—which overlays computer-generated objects onto our actual surroundings—virtual reality plunges us into an entirely fictional universe. In AR, we would see a world where only 2D images are projected onto real surfaces; in VR, we would see a world where everything around us is 3D and digital. This has led to two very different industries with very different takes on how to deploy these technologies. For augmented reality companies like Snapchat or Instagram, you’re able to interact with their media; for virtual reality companies like Netflix or Hulu, you simply observe it.

Future Development in VR & AR Technology

Virtual reality and augmented reality have become major buzzwords in technology over the past few years. In VR, users are transported to a virtual environment through special equipment and sometimes enter with a headset (e.g., Oculus Rift) or smartphone (e.g., Google Cardboard). Augmented reality provides users with a digitally enhanced view of their real-world surroundings; they can use cameras on smartphones or tablets to see both virtual objects and real ones in tandem.

The Metaverse will connect everything

Real-world objects and digital bits will be able to communicate seamlessly. Imagine walking down a street in a city you’ve never visited before. You open your phone and point it at a building and instantly get everything you want or need to know—reviews, hours, photos, events happening inside and out, directions, menus—without any effort on your part. This type of seamless experience is already becoming possible thanks to augmented reality. And that’s just one example. As time goes on we will see more things connected seamlessly together than can be imagined today.

We are getting closer every day

Already, developers are starting to use Oculus Rift, Sony’s Morpheus, and Samsung’s Gear VR headsets in innovative ways. In other words, virtual reality is here. As more people get their hands on these new headsets and try out different games, VR enthusiasts expect them to eventually lead to what we call a metaverse—the virtual world envisioned by Neal Stephenson in his book Snow Crash and featured in movies like The Matrix and Avatar. But what will it be like? How will we navigate it? And who will benefit from its existence? To learn more about how we might interact with a digital world within our lifetime, click here. Spoiler alert: It’ll be kind of weird and awesome.

Here is an example of what we can expect

Experiences enabled by mobile devices, such as virtual and augmented reality, are a big step toward getting us all together in an online metaverse, where you can share what you see and do with anyone on Earth. In other words, imagine being able to visit my friend and his child who lives on the other side of the world. Imagine a digital version of Star Trek’s holodeck, or Minority Report’s augmented reality (AR), and you have a vision for what our future metaverse may look like. But before that happens we need massive improvements in wireless capacity, computer power/speed, and display technology along with several breakthroughs in AR itself. It’s not going to happen tomorrow but it will be fun when it does!