What comes to mind when you think of the metaverse? Probably VR headsets, gaming, and perhaps Facebook (Meta), right? Well, the metaverse is way more than that. Read on to find out some surprising facts about the metaverse.
First, let’s look at a brief history of the metaverse.
There are many versions of the history of the metaverse and how the whole idea‌ came to be. We’ll share with you the most accurate one.
The term metaverse dates back to 1992.
Cyberpunk novelist Neal Stephenson coined it in his sci-fi novel ‘Snow Crash’. In the book, Stephenson introduced a virtual world in which avatars representing real people could interact with each other.
Thirty years on, the metaverse is now a reality traversing across education, retail, research, manufacturing and medicine, just to mention a few sectors.
Now, let’s explore what you can expect from the metaverse in 2023 and beyond!
Metaverse Properties
If you’re new to this topic, this section will explain some concepts that you’ll encounter in the metaverse.
Multi-Device Use
The beauty of the metaverse is that it’s inclusive. It gives you the choice of accessing it using different gadgets. Examples here are:
Mobile
Computer
Wearable technology
Gaming consoles
Any other device that allows 3D graphics and sound
Immersion Into a Virtual World
The metaverse can transport you into a different world via virtual reality. However, to experience this, you need a VR headset.
The Use of Avatars
The metaverse is just like the real world, full of people you can interact with. The only difference is that these people come in the form of avatars (cartoonish representations of a person). Avatars can hang out in a social setting and attend class together. In fact, they can do just about anything so long as the metaverse permits it!
There are many factors that make the metaverse super fun and engaging, and here are just a few:
You can create an avatar with a lookalike of yourself or customise it to look like someone else. They can walk towards each other, start conversations, turn their heads, and much more.
It’s likely that we’ll see significant developments in avatar use in the future, especially with social networks like Facebook.
User-generated Content
The metaverse allows you to create your own virtual world just the way you want it. For instance, you can add cars, buildings, and just about any other object. Note that digital creations remain available to you the next time you visit the metaverse.
Digital Twinning
There are instances in which the metaverse could represent an actual world in a concept known as digital twinning. Examples could be class tours or monitoring patients' vital signs in medical environments.
The Future Of The Metaverse
The metaverse has unlimited potential, and we’re likely to see more developments from different companies in the future. An example of a possible innovation in this space could be the ability to appear in a meeting in a different geographic location as a hologram. Mark Zuckerberg, The CEO of Facebook actually mentioned this during the rebranding of Facebook to Meta. One thing we’re sure of is that the possibilities here are endless!