The Metaverse is in the news a lot right now. If you’re an internet user, you’ve probably seen the term “metaverse” at least once in the past few months. It’s a term associated with a new vision of the internet that was brought to light by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
What is Metaverse?
The metaverse is augmented reality or virtual reality that helps make connections. It’s called Web 3.0, which will allow users more autonomy and control over their online creation, identity, digital assets, and more. In the Metaverse, we can literally do whatever we want in our own 3D avatar.
Metaverse is a mixture of two words “meta” which means beyond and towards which is “universe”. The metaverse can be collectively described as the now existing virtual universe or 3D version of the Internet. To give an idea of the metaverse in simple terms, consider the example of a science fiction series or movies such as Player One or Altered Carbon, the metaverse being generally experienced as a “walk-in” digital internet reality. . Only, here the metaverse is not limited to only games, but it will continue indefinitely as in the real world.
It will be in phase with our real world and the “users” of this parallel digital world will no longer have borders. People have now started experimenting with the metaverse and it is changing the meaning of the internet and the virtual space.
How is the Metaverse Changing the Internet World?
The Metaverse is technically a new, advanced infinite version of the internet that allows users to experience virtual reality. Currently, for technophiles, the metaverse is synonymous with nirvana. It is a place in a digital world where your digital avatar can exist and participate in any activity to do. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has made “marriage” a very physical activity, which requires everyone’s virtual presence. In the midst of the pandemic, the couple chose to get married and hold their wedding reception in the metaverse, with all the guests and digital avatars of the bride and groom present and involved in an activity that people usually do at physical weddings or real.
The concept of online shopping has been taken to the next level, with brands such as Balenciaga and Gucci taking their apparel launches and fashion shows to the metaverse. Gucci also designed the pair of digital sneakers for hypebeasts to try out and it was accessible to the masses for a certain amount of money. Metaverse has great monetization potential and takes brand marketing to another level. Clothing brands like American Eagle have already joined the metaverse to push their brand forward. American Eagle has created a virtual space where virtual avatars of people can try on and buy the brand’s clothing.
Similarly, workspaces can be created in the metaverse to give an office vibe to employees working from home. Metaverse is a wealth of opportunities for NFT enthusiasts. People are feeling the wave of opportunity that the popularity of Metaverse brings with it. NFT collectors are flocking to the opportunity to buy or acquire virtual land and space and other collectibles that can fetch big bucks. The metaverse is also contributing to real-time interactions, with people now able to experience things like going to a theme park or watching movies in a virtual space. Concerts by DJ Marshmello and Ariana Grande have already taken place in the Metaverse. The two artists have collaborated with the game company to conduct their concerts in virtual reality.
Social media platforms such as Snapchat, Meta, and Instagram have also reached out to their long-term vision of building the metaverse. They have introduced 3D user avatars which allow users to express themselves in their own way. Through these avatars, users can perform a variety of activities in the virtual space or the social space.
Online games are one of the main and oldest assets of the metaverse. Games are the biggest investors in the Metaverse in virtual reality or augmented reality. Games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and others already give users the metaverse experience, where players all do things in their custom digital avatars and experience things that aren’t possible in the real world. Games are probably the closest to the idea of the Metaverse right now.
Simply put, Metaverse is the successor of internet advancement that will surely change the current internet experience for the next one.
