It feels like the buzzword of the moment is Metaverse. You can’t go through your day without seeing articles or someone talking about it. But what is it all about? If someone asked you what the Metaverse was, could you explain it? I suspect the majority of the general public couldn’t. It’s a “catch all” word that many people use but still find very confusing to define.
CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg say that it is the future of the internet but even with Facebook rebranding to Meta almost exactly a year ago there still isn’t a clearer explanation on what it is.
You see, it can mean different things to different people and can be very scary for clients to commit to. Whether it is VR or AR, how do our clients get on board? Let’s be real, VR is nothing new. The tech behind it has been around for decades. It was added as an idea to games consoles back in the 90s by manufacturers such as Sega. However, some say the tech behind VR was invented in the 50s but took form in a headset in 1960. Others believe that it goes back even further but we won’t go into all that. It has had so many introductions into the tech world in one form or another, but it has never really taken hold.
The drive for more realistic experiences never gained real traction and VR headsets became a thing of the past and realistic graphics took hold. Now headsets are back, companies like Microsoft and Meta along with Unity and Roblox are working on ideas for virtual worlds but how far away are we from a world like Ready Player One where you can buy and transfer purchases from one cyberspace to another? Well, quite a way off but it is coming no doubt about it!
The gaming experience is driving this, but does it have a place in our day to day? This depends, AR experiences can help drive this especially as we operate in a world where you don’t need to be in the office 24/7. Meetings are on Zoom or Teams and the possibility of having livestream events hosted in your own home are gaining traction. Companies like Beem.me do this very well.
Like any new tech it will always come with a high production cost, and it will take a very brave client or individuals to commit to this genre especially in the world we are currently living in.
I personally feel it is an exciting prospect, but it needs to make business sense. A technological shift is only a good idea or a success if everyone can use it or have the capabilities to use it. I don’t think we are there yet, and it is a long way off for all.