The first big task beginners have to face is trying to define and understand what the Metaverse is. As I mentioned in a previous article, there have been a lot of talks and misconceptions about what the Metaverse means. To get clarity on the meaning of the concept of the Metaverse, you can check the article “Best Metaverse Tips You Will Read This Year.”
In summary, the Metaverse is a shared space virtually. This space is interactive, hyper-realistic, and immersive. All these features are possible, thanks to these two technologies;
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
The metaverse has several worlds where real people can interact with one another. In these worlds, real people can engage in activities virtually. So we have the Metaverse is a combination of real people doing things in the virtual world. You will not be wrong therefore to say that the Metaverse is a combination of both the real world and the digital world.
In the real world without the Metaverse, you just stand in front of your screen watching the digital world. This is not the case when you are in the Metaverse. With being in the Metaverse, instead of looking at the digital world from just your screen, you will be in the digital world, sharing the experiences that lie beyond the screen in that world.
You can have experiences like shopping, playing games, attending events, buying and selling, and so on, all in this digital world. It is even more amazing to know that you can get your paperwork done in the Metaverse. Nothing could be more interesting than living in two worlds and having the experiences of both worlds all at once.
With the Metaverse, you can get more done in a singular space. Now, you are incorporating your daily activities into your digital platform with high levels of interactions.
Features of The Metaverse
The metaverse has features that make it what it is. The metaverse is;
- Boundless
- Persistent
- Decentralized
- Immersive
- Powered by Virtual Economics
- Known to give users social experiences
Let’s briefly examine these features individually;
Boundless
The virtual nature of the metaverse makes it possible to eliminate all the boundaries one may have while interacting in this physical world. There is no limit to the number of people that can be on the platform, the kinds of activities that can happen there, and even the businesses and industries that can exist there. In the Metaverse, anything you can think of is possible.
Persistent
No one can stop the Metaverse, no user can reboot, reset or even unplug it. Users can only join and participate in the digital experiences that happen in that world. It does not matter the place the user is joining from globally, they will share the same virtual experiences with other people.
Decentralized
No regulatory body or authority owns the Metaverse. The Metaverse is owned by everyone on the platforms. By users assuming full ownership of the Metaverse, they automatically have to control their data visibility. They can choose to keep their data private or share it with another user.
The Metaverse runs on Blockchain Technology. This technology keeps a public ledger of all the transactions that happen within the Metaverse. In this way, data is safe and transparent.
Immersive
It does not matter the types of tools you want to use to access the Metaverse, you will always get a new level of interactivity and immersion. Some of the tools that users can use to access the Metaverse are;
- Smartphones
- Computers
- VR Headsets
- AR Glasses
Once a user gets into the Metaverse using any of these means, the senses of the user are fully activated for maximum virtual experiences. The user will feel more engaged and present in this virtual world. The Metaverse can adapt to users too who can influence things like colors, objects, and environments directly.
Virtual Economics
The Metaverse economy is powered by cryptocurrencies. People can attend events, conduct businesses, and trade using cryptocurrencies as the legal tender of that world. Some of the things you can buy are event tickets, NFTs, digital avatars, and virtual clothes or skins.
Social Experiences
The core of the Metaverse is the users. The Metaverse is run by and keeps getting better and evolving through User Generated Content. Users can take part in each other’s experiences, and even create experiences for each other. Some of the User Generated Content in the Metaverse is personal interactions and stories using avatars that are driven by artificial intelligence.
How Many Metaverses Will We Have?
The truth is that there we may not have an idea of how many metaverses will exist in the future because there are no standards. A lot of global brands are currently doing all they can to set foundations for others to follow. Some of these companies are Sony, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Google. They are all doing all they can, with the hope to grab the advantages of getting into the Metaverse early enough.
For now, the Metaverse is still in its early stages and we do not know the end of it yet. We may not say for sure about the compatibility of the equipment that users will use to access the Metaverse. Here is what I mean; We cannot be sure for now if you can use a VR produced by Google for its Metaverse users to access other Metaverses.
We cannot even guarantee if some of these major players will make their Metaverse a multiuser expansion Metaverse. Surely, some Metaverse will be different from others based on cloud graphics and multiplayer expansion features. Although some companies have made it known to people who are interested in this technology that their Metaverse will incorporate users from other Metaverses.
As much as this promise is a very good step to collaboration, if it is possible then companies will have to work together and integrate lots of processes into their various systems.
Meta already mentioned to the public that users who have avatars on Facebook will be able to access Microsoft Metaverse with their avatars. This announcement again suggests a single metaverse with user expansion, also it can mean different Metaverses with integrated features. It may interest you to know that this cross Metaverse application is not possible now, but it may be later in the future. Facebook already mentioned the possibility, and they are spending heavily to see it happens.
You may not make progress if you want to move a Fortnite skin you bought to another gaming Metaverse platform. You will get stuck in the battle royale game because of add-ons. The possibility is not there now, but we can hope for a better Metaverse, the technology is still evolving.
The Metaverse is one technology that is gradually shaping systems and culture. There are a lot of exciting details about the metaverse that shows you it is the future of socialization.
Every individual and business should do all they can to learn about this virtual world where reactions can happen like it is in the real world. This is the future of socialization and interaction. Learning about the Metaverse is what every individual and business who is interested in the future ought to be doing now.