The Metaverse is the Next Generation of Digital Interaction in Virtual Reality

Living in this era of digitization used to seem impossible. However, technology has changed our perspective of the world around us while making our lives significantly easier. Modern technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks continue to provide efficient solutions for everyday problems. And now, things are advancing with revolutionary concepts, such as the Metaverse.  

Tech companies are shifting their concerns toward the metaverse. Well, the idea is not new compared to the recent hype. It is a confusing concept for most of us, but when examined in detail, the metaverse has the potential to reshape the internet. Before diving deeper into the virtual world, keep in mind that the Metaverse is not completely live. Large tech companies are keen to convert the idea into reality. The recent transformation of the social networking giant Facebook into Meta is a clear sign that Metaverse is the future. 

The term “Metaverse” can be defined as a digital or virtual universe. The term was coined back in 1992 in a sci-fi novel, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. Later the gaming industry stepped up to adopt the concept with the launch of an online game in 2003. 

To understand the metaverse better let us compare the modern-day internet with this emerging virtual universe. The web is made up of a chain of countless servers, computers, and other electrical devices connected with each other. People can browse websites, communicate with one another, and can perform trading in products and services. Meanwhile, the metaverse does not compete with the internet but builds on top of it. People can mimic real-world scenarios using modern technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality). Digital currencies and social media will also play an integral role in this transformation. Apart from just chatting and streaming, the Metaverse lets you interact, learn, earn, play, and work without physically changing your position.

The metaverse aims to fuse the real world with the digital world. It will offer new avenues for communication and interaction among users in a virtual environment. This new ecosystem of shared virtual worlds will be the revolution for the existing networks of the globe. To enter the metaverse, you need to have a virtual reality system set up which will take you to digital dimensions. The 3D avatars will work as user identity across virtual space.

The metaverse will also upgrade social media networks with a whole new three-dimensional experience. The immersive space will improve the interaction between people from different regions, this might be the reason Meta is investing enormous amounts in it. An Online survey conducted in December 2021 reveals different perspectives of people towards the metaverse. Some see it as a good platform for self-expression, while 29% of respondents also consider it an innovative tool for education. Many see it as an opportunity to travel the entire world without moving, 34% of people selected the option of Metaverse helping in overcoming real-life obstacles. 

Like Web3 and other innovations, the metaverse will also transform industries in the digital age. We have seen earlier that the futuristic concept is well adopted by the gaming industry. Other sectors such as the financial and travel industries will experience momentous changes from implementing the metaverse.

The recent massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft is a clear indication of the company’s desire to bolster the emerging concept of Metaverse. Apart from ideas, there are games such as the Sandbox that lets players create, own, and govern their digital worlds with non-fungible tokens and cryptocurrency. It is in fact, an Ethereum-powered multiplayer platform that enables the future of blockchain gaming. There are many firms that see the Metaverse as the future of the gaming industry. Epic Games, the company behind the popular battle royale game, Fortnite, is also a notable supporter of the idea. Some other significant names include Roblox, Take2, and Tencent Games. 

Social media is the main force that connects people across the globe. People utilize social networking sites as much as anything else. A recent data report from July 2022 reveals that there are almost 3 billion monthly active users on Facebook. Meta is investing enormous amounts in the Metaverse as it is the future of social media. The addition of 3D avatars on Facebook, Instagram, and other networks ensures the next generation of communication and social interaction. People will render their three-dimensional identities to perform various activities together. The future predicts digital currencies and trading of services over these platforms, enabling new ways of sharing information.

The educational industry can take great advantage of the metaverse. It will provide new possibilities for learning through virtual and augmented reality, enabling improved outcomes. A prime example of blended learning was seen during the time of COVID-19. In the UK, the keyword “Free Online Learning” experienced the highest rise of 360% on Google during the period of the pandemic.  

3D simulation on metaverse can improve learning opportunities with deliberate practice of educational principles. The revolutionary concept will also improve the academic experience of people with disabilities. By entering the Metaverse, everyone can enjoy immersion, promoting equality and good practices. 

Merging the real and digital worlds together, the Metaverse promises an authentic experience for people. Companies investing and putting their trust in the revolutionary concept will enable the metaverse to take real world operations into digital spaces. Everything we love about digital interaction will be magnified and it will open a new world of experiences to share with our loved ones. Still, there are challenges to be addressed before the metaverse can achieve worldwide adoption and widespread use. One of the key challenges is the implementation of seamless virtual interaction.