Mark Zuckerberg likes to be dramatic and mysterious, which makes Facebook's sudden rebranding to Meta less surprising. However, it's more confusing than anything else for most people. What is metaverse And how exactly is it related to Facebook? They're more closely related than you might think, but first, let's dive into what the word means. "metaverse" And how you might actually be a part of it.
What is Metaverse?
Neal Stephenson is usually credited with coining the term metaverse in his popular 1992 fantasy novel “Snow crashIn his novel, he envisions a future world where people interact in virtual worlds using avatars. If that future sounds like now, you're right.
The ultimate purpose of the metaverse is to act as an alternative to reality using a combination of Virtual Reality (VR) ، And augmented reality (AR) ، Video/audio communication ، 3D avatars , and more.
For example, if you wanted to hang out with friends, you'd never have to leave the house. Instead, you could use technology to enter a virtual reality world where you and your friends can hang out in avatar. You could go to a concert, watch a movie together, play games, or just sit and talk. It would be just like real life, but in many ways more convenient, especially if you live far away.
To answer the question, what is the metaverse? It's a digital world where you live, play, interact, and even work. In fact, in the popular virtual community/game Second Life Many users work full-time jobs creating and selling digital goods.
You are already part of the Metaverse.
While not everyone is technically part of the metaverse, millions already exist, and you may have never realized it. For example, if you're an iPhone user, how many times have you communicated using a personalized memoji? While it's a simplified example, you're using an avatar of yourself to communicate digitally.
If you enjoy playing video games, you probably already have avatar versions of yourself interacting with other characters (real people, not non-playable characters). This is the metaverse in action. Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox are three very popular examples where users live and play in the metaverse.
You can even consider some types of online meetings to be part of the metaverse. For example, if a team uses a virtual meeting space where everyone's avatars gather together to chat, that's the metaverse. The idea is to have a more immersive experience than just a regular video chat.
The great thing about it is that it's very easy to enter this virtual world and interact just as if you were walking down the street. In many cases, it doesn't feel much different.
As games, social networks, and online communities begin to use more advanced technology to merge reality and the digital, you'll find yourself jumping from the real world into the metaverse with ease.
It's more than just virtual reality.
If you think the metaverse is just virtual reality, you're only partly right. VR is an integral part of the metaverse. But it's not all of it. Virtual reality itself involves feeling like you're part of another reality or experiencing something in a risk-free environment.
For example, healthcare professionals use virtual reality to test new surgical procedures or during training to gain experience before working with live patients. People dealing with mental health issues, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, use virtual reality to enter soothing worlds where they don't have to feel fear or anxiety.
With the metaverse, you can add a social element. It's not just about you—it's about an entire world or universe. Using the healthcare example, an entire team might perform surgery together, or PTSD patients from all over the world might gather in a virtual room to talk, hang out, and process their trauma together.
This universe takes your everyday life and brings it online. As technology improves, you'll see avatars transform from cartoonish and clearly digital versions to 3D versions that look almost lifelike.
Facebook is going dead
With all of the above in mind, why did Zuckerberg suddenly decide that Facebook should be called Meta? The first reason is simple enough: to sound more modern. The second reason is that Facebook is investing heavily in the future of the metaverse, with over $10 billion invested this year alone. In fact, the company has invested $150 million in immersive learning to prepare creators for the development of the new meta-reality.
The name is designed to encompass all of Facebook's applications and technologies under one brand. The goal is to become a truly metaverse company. From a layperson's perspective, you'll be able to live in the Facebook world. Instead of scrolling through posts, you'll actually be able to spend real time with friends, go to work meetings (using Horizon Workrooms), watch movies together, attend events, and much more. Zuckerberg wants Facebook to be known as the place you go to enter the metaverse.
Since Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are keeping their names, what does Meta stand for? Facebook's original branding also included other devices and platforms, such as Portal and Oculus Quest, with future devices in the works. Currently, the company is working on creating a universal account system that will work with all Meta properties, so you won't be required to have a Facebook account.
Project Cambria, a mixed reality headset, and Nazaré, an AR glasses, are just two new projects Meta is working on. While the concept of augmented reality glasses isn't new, it will be interesting to see how Meta can make these glasses more popular than Google Glass.
It's all more conceptual than real now. The rebranding to Meta is just the beginning. While some feel it's simply a way to distract from all the negative news about Facebook over the past several years, Zuckerberg likely doesn't want to miss out on an opportunity to enter an emerging and already popular market. It's worth taking a look at Official announcement To find out what Zuckerberg envisions.
Facebook isn't alone in investing in the Metaverse.
Facebook isn't the only one, or even the first, to invest in the metaverse concept. As previously mentioned, Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite have already invested in the future, and players are already able to experience the metaverse for themselves.
Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, has helped users virtually attend concerts featuring artists like Travis Scott and Ariana Grande. You can also step back in time to experience the iconic performance. "i have a dream" From Martin Luther King Jr.
To make games more realistic, Epic is creating realistic avatars using MetaHumanCreatorThe beta version was launched in April 2021. The tool helps platforms create "digital humans" In about an hour. Imagine being able to go to a concert with a few friends without ever leaving your home, but with everyone looking exactly like themselves, not your typical cartoon avatar. That's what Epic is investing in.
Microsoft clearly isn't about to be left out of the metaverse. The tech giant is adding metaverse features to Microsoft Teams as early as 2022. This will include virtual avatars and holograms, which will allow teams to meet in real time in a virtual office or other virtual locations.
Microsoft is also working on creating 3D workplaces and retail environments. This will allow employees and customers to interact in a more realistic environment, but from the comfort of their home, a local coffee shop, or anywhere with a good internet connection.
Of course, Minecraft was already creating a metaverse long before Facebook or Epic Games. Instead of relying on VR and AR headsets, you can play on any compatible device. Additionally, the game takes a different approach. You create or join an existing metaverse. There isn't just one metaverse—it's an ever-growing collection of metaverses.
Stepping into the Metaverse
More and more companies are jumping on the metaverse bandwagon. Everyone wants to be the first to deliver the most useful, engaging, and interactive experiences. But what can you actually do in the metaverse?
Some of the best examples currently involve video games or game developers. But you can do more than just play games with friends or random strangers around the world.
With remote work becoming the new norm for millions in 2020, you may already be realizing how lonely and alien the experience can be if you're used to working with others all day. In the metaverse, remote work might mean staying home but still going to meetings, meeting up at the water cooler during breaks, hanging out with coworkers after work, and even working side-by-side on large projects. Of course, this is all virtual, but you get the benefits of remote work and are actually at work at the same time.
While VR and AR have already been used to assist training in various fields, training becomes more immersive and realistic thanks to fully virtual worlds. Soldiers can train together and safely practice scenarios, for example.
The metaverse could transform almost any experience, including how you exercise. Hate the gym? No problem. Step into a virtual studio for a fitness class without leaving home and get real-time feedback from instructors. Take classes at any university and meet in study groups without being on campus.
The metaverse offers the opportunity to do almost anything. You can attend concerts, explore museums, travel the world, celebrate holidays, experience major events in history, browse store shelves, and much more.
Cryptocurrency is another area impacted by the metaverse. Grayscale, a cryptocurrency company, estimates that the metaverse could reach $1 trillion in the coming years. Part of that demand could come in the form of cryptocurrency. For example, try your luck at virtual casinos with other real players. Win and lose with real crypto.
Art galleries, celebrities, and brands are launching NFTs, allowing users to purchase unique digital goods. Much like real-world items, NFTs can increase in value over time, making these investments popular. Anyone can host concerts and accept cryptocurrency as payment.
Of course, virtual platforms often have their own currencies, which users can exchange for real money or use on other platforms that accept various cryptocurrencies. There are a variety of metaverse games in the blockchain space that you can play right now.
Some metaverse platforms are also taking a lesson from cryptocurrencies and creating decentralized platforms where users own everything versus one company owning it, like Meta owning its own metaverse.
for example , Decentraland It's a player-owned virtual world. You can buy and sell virtual land parcels, a form of NFT, using MANA, a cryptocurrency based on the Ethereum blockchain. In fact, one parcel of land was sold For $2.43 millionThis just goes to show how valuable the metaverse has become.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do I need special equipment or software to be part of the metaverse?
answer. It all depends on which part of the metaverse or company you own. For example, with Meta, you might need to Headsets Or company glasses.
On the other hand, you can play Fortnite, create your own games in Roblox, create your own personal metaverse in Minecraft, or enter virtual life in Second Life without any special equipment beyond a computer, mobile device, or game console.
Basically, you will need a strong, high-speed internet connection.
Q2. What is mixed reality?
answer. While the metaverse relies heavily on VR and AR, mixed reality is a commonly used term for many metaverse experiences. This is where the virtual and real worlds meet. For example, something as simple as an Instagram filter is considered mixed reality.
More extreme examples include 3D avatars. For example, a friend might "appear" in your living room as a 3D version of themselves. Or a school might use 3D models to help students learn how to operate machinery.
Q3. Can I live and work in the metaverse?
answer. Technically, yes. In fact, this is how some companies envision the future. You won't need to leave home to go to work or meet friends. In fact, you'll always need to live in the real world, at least some of the time.
However, it has become normal to have remote doctor appointments, virtual therapy sessions, and virtual meetings.
As shown in examples throughout this article, some people earn a full-time living solely in the metaverse by creating digital goods or hosting virtual experiences, such as concerts and speaking engagements.
Q4. When will the metaverse become the norm?
answer. It's hard to answer. It's already normal in many ways, like gaming. However, it may be years before going to a virtual concert becomes as normal as going to an in-person concert. As the technology behind the metaverse changes, experiences in the metaverse will feel more realistic, leading to higher adoption rates.
