Welcome to the Metaverse
The Metaverse exists in the digital world where participants can build virtual environments and connect with one another. Although it is not clearly defined what the Metaverse is quite yet, our imaginations can ponder whether participants will enter using virtual reality headsets or by logging on through a web browser.
The word Metaverse is a trending topic these days, and is credited from the 1992 novel called “Snow Crash”, written by Neal Stephenson. One day the Metaverse may be fully realized, but today we are still piecing together what the Metaverse can become.
The Metaverse aims to be a broad shift in how we interact with technology. Will it be an environment powered by the Blockchain, Web3.0, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality? The future may be unknown, but the building blocks are developing for that future to come to fruition. Whether we like it or not, the Metaverse may be closer than we expect.
Are we already participating in the early stages of the Metaverse?
Often thought of as the next phase of the internet, we may already be participants:
- Text chat room applications like AOL and MSN have progressed to video chat rooms such as Skype and Zoom
- Gaming has advanced from looking at a tv screen to playing Nintendo Wii using sensors to mimic movements, and now bringing us into the games using Oculus headsets
- We can attend live concerts in the game Fortnite and use apps like Pokemon GO to adventure around and bring the virtual world to the real world
- We’ve created digital identities using social media, normalizing location tracking and the use of Snapchat and Instagram filters
Like with many of the tech gadgets and software we currently use, the Metaverse will be a place parallel to the physical world. As digital identities and digital ownership advances, the rise of NFT’s for purchasing digital items and virtual land will increase. With the intent to have a greater overlap of our digital and physical lives, we are seeing creativity elevate to the next level.
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