Apr 24, 2022

What is Metaverse?

Metavirs

Metaverse is currently a major buzzword in the worlds of technology, business, and finance, and like all modern phrases, its definition is vague, contested, and shaped by the aspirations of the people who use it.

The beginning of the metaverse

The term was coined by Neal Stevenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash to describe a virtual world widely used in his imagined future, the 21st century dystopia.

In Snow Crash, the metaverse is a virtual reality world depicted as a market around the planet where virtual real estate can be bought and sold, and where users wearing virtual reality glasses live 3D images that they are free to choose their shape.

These three elements - VR interface, digital ownership, and avatars - still feature prominently in current concepts of metaverse.

 But none of them are necessary to the idea, in the broadest sense, the metaverse is understood as a graphically rich virtual space, with a certain degree of realism, where people can work, play, shop and socialize - in short, do the things humans love to do together in real life (or , perhaps more than that, on the Internet).

The concept of being in metaphysics

Proponents of the Metaverse often focus on the concept of "being" as a determining factor: feeling like you really exist, and feeling that others really exist with you too.

It can be argued that this version of the metaverse already exists in the form of video games. But there is another definition of metaverse that goes beyond the virtual worlds we know. This definition doesn't actually describe the metaverse at all, but it does explain why everyone thinks it's so important, this definition is not about a futuristic vision or a new technology.

Instead, it looks back at the past and the now-common technologies of the Internet and smartphones, and assumes that the metaverse will have to be invented to replace them.

How do I access the metaverse at the moment?

While there's no single gateway to the metaverse at this point, experts suggest getting some hardware to really immerse yourself in the experience, and this can range from a $10 Google Cardboard to a $300, or even $999, mid-range Oculus Quest 2 headset. Valve Index VR, depending on your budget.

According to cybersecurity expert Baggili, the architecture of the metaverse is currently similar to that of the Apple App Store.

At this point, you have several platforms that offer virtual reality, augmented reality, and extended reality experiences, which are similar to the different apps you can download from the App Store. But there isn't a single portal that people can use to access it, like how Yahoo built a portal for Internet use in its early days.

In turn, this has led to the emergence of many large tech companies offering a variety of experiences, from gaming and virtual workspaces to live entertainment and real estate.

 This includes platforms such as Decentraland, Axie Infinity, Horizon, Sandbox, Fortnite, and Roblox.

What is the metaverse really used for?

Due to its high value projection, the metaverse is described as a major player in the development of the digital economy.

But while the metaverse is already being seen as the future of entertainment, fashion, gaming and even partying, experts argue that its best use will likely be for education.

But is it safe to be in metaverses?

Often a key element of the conversation on the metaverse is whether it can create a secure and responsible immersive environment, and digital privacy experts also continue to point out that the metaverse will be the ultimate monitoring tool.