Introduction
The world of technology is broad and rapidly changing, and that has left us constantly trying to adapt to these changes. One of the innovations making so much wave in the tech space right now is the metaverse. After Facebook announced that it was rebranding and changed its name to Meta, people started talking and asking questions about the metaverse. In this article, we would learn what the metaverse is, what technology it is built on, what it can be used for, and a couple of other things.
Ready? Leggo!
Now, imagine a world inside this one, a whole new world where distance is not a barrier to doing anything you want to do. You can meet with loved ones, attend and host meetings, and visit places, possibly with you just sitting in your house. Or think about social media, but with features that enable you to be physically present with whoever you are chatting with irrespective of where they are. Cool right? That is the kind of experience that the metaverse is offering.
What is the Metaverse?
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The metaverse is a virtual world (a three-dimensional digital version of the real world). Since it is a mimic of the real world, people can buy and sell, own properties (virtual in this case), visit places, and do pretty much everything they can do in the real world. Users connect to this world using virtual reality (VR) headphones and can interact with others through personalized avatars (digital representations of oneself on the metaverse designed to one's taste).
What technology is behind the Metaverse?
The metaverse is built around different technologies which play different roles to bring it to fruition. These technologies and their roles include:
- VR/AR technologies
Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that creates a digital world that is similar or different from the real world. Augmented reality (AR) is a digital technology that enhances your real world. Simply put, AR allows you to put digital or virtual objects on real-life objects. Say you want to know how a chair of a certain size will look in your living room before you buy it, you can use AR to place a virtual version of the chair at the spot you want it to be. These technologies provide VR and AR wearables that transport users to and fro the metaverse.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
AI is intelligence shown by machines that have been programmed to think and mimic humans. The metaverse uses this technology to create accurate avatars and ultimately combines AR and VR technologies to create amazing user experiences.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology is a technology that stores multiple digital information and transactions in a series or chain of blocks. New blocks are added to previously filled blocks and this forms a chain of blocks containing information. The technology is decentralized which means that it is not controlled by anybody or any institution. The metaverse uses this technology to safely store information, improve transparency, and facilitate fast and secure transactions.
Network infrastructure
The metaverse is built on the internet. To be able to have maximum user experience in the metaverse, you will need really fast internet speed. Talk about 5G and 6G.
3-D reconstruction
Users will be able to buy properties in the metaverse. This technology recreates real-life properties in virtual spaces for avatars in the metaverse to use.
Internet of things (IoT)
IoT describes physical devices connected to the internet that make it easy to exchange information on the internet. These devices usually self-report, making them more efficient and quicker in getting information than devices controlled by humans. An example is Apple's Siri. Metaverse's IoT collects and distributes data with the real world.
Web 3.0
Web 3.0 is the third-generation internet infrastructure that is built on blockchain (which implies that it is secure and decentralized). With this technology, users can own their properties in the metaverse.
Benefits of the Metaverse
The metaverse has plenty of benefits. Some of them are:
- The metaverse has shown that distance is not a barrier: You can visit people and places miles away with you just sitting in your living room.
- New business opportunities: This creates opportunities for businesses and makes room for new ways of advertising. Imagine being able to not only see the products on your screen but also feel them. This form of marketing benefits both the buyer and seller.
- Impact on cryptocurrencies and NFTs: The metaverse will have a positive impact on cryptocurrencies and NFTs play a major role in the metaverse as they encourage transparency, safe, and secure transactions.
- Increase in technological skills and literacy.
- It has its impact on the physically impaired: People living with disabilities can move around freely in the metaverse with the appropriate adjustments to suit their needs.
Downsides of the Metaverse
Some of the disadvantages of the metaverse are:
- Privacy problems
Social media is invasive enough as it is. now imagine what it will be like in the fully immersive metaverse. Companies will be able to access our physical reactions as we use their wearable devices to market their products.
- Protecting children becomes more difficult
With VR goggles and no way for parents to monitor what goes on in there and what their children are seeing, protecting these kids becomes a struggle.
- Losing connection with the physical world
The more time people spend in this alternate world, the more prone they are to getting addicted to it. This could lead to partial or total abandonment of their lives in the real world.
Some Top Metaverse Projects
The top three metaverse projects include:
Wrapping up
The metaverse is the next generation of the internet. It is an upgrade to social media. Not only can we view this innovation on our screens, but we are also inside the screens. Users can use the metaverse as an escape from the craziness of the real world. Although there are downsides to this technology, be on the lookout because it only gets better.
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