What Exactly is a Metaverse? A Detailed Explanation and Manual

Imagine a virtual reality where billions of people may communicate with one another, learn, shop, and live their lives comfortably on their couches in the real world.

In this universe, the computer screens we use to access the global information web have developed into doors into a tangible, three-dimensional virtual world that is larger and better than real life. Avatars—digital representations of ourselves—move freely between experiences, bringing our identities and money with them.

The hype aside, this is referred to as the metaverse and doesn’t exist right now.

What should business executives make of a rapidly emerging, highly publicized idea that has the potential to alter how people live dramatically?

There are references to in-depth analyses of these and other pertinent subjects throughout the manual and definitions of key terms in the metaverse, like interoperability, digital twins, spatial computing, and Web 3.0.

What makes the metaverse significant?

When Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta in October 2021 and declared plans to invest at least $10 billion in the idea that year, “Metaverse” became a household term, along with Meta, other major technology players, including Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm, are investing billions of dollars in the idea. The metaverse economy may reach $5 trillion by 2030, according to optimistic predictions made by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. With gaming, entertainment, education, and marketing in the metaverse all likely to grow in importance, e-commerce is predicted to be the dominant engine.

Companies now use the word to describe many improved online environments. These range from virtual changing rooms and operating rooms to nascent virtual workplaces like Microsoft’s Mesh or Meta’s Horizon Workrooms and online video games like Fortnite. The present iteration of the metaverse is taking the form of a multiverse rather than a single common virtual space: a number of distinct metaverses with limited interoperability as businesses compete for dominance.

Uncritical enthusiasm and profound skepticism about how it will play out have led to criticism. Industry observers have questioned whether or not the metaverse would ultimately differ significantly from the digital experiences we have today, or if it does, whether or not the general public will be eager to spend hours each day in a headset navigating virtual space.

However, other futurists contend that although the metaverse is still in its infancy and has important technical obstacles to overcome, it will eventually materialize. It will also arrive in a huge way.

Dave Wright, chief innovation officer at IT provider ServiceNow, said in “History of the metaverse explained” that it was “clear that it is one of the most highly anticipated technological evolutions of the coming decade.”

What exactly is a metaverse? A succinct narrative

A single, shared, immersive, persistent, 3D virtual realm where people can experience life in ways they couldn’t in the real world is what many in the computer industry refer to as the “metaverse.”

While some of the technologies that allow access to this virtual world, like virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality (AR) glasses, are developing quickly, other essential elements, like sufficient bandwidth or interoperability standards, are probably years away from becoming a reality or may never become one.

The idea is not new; author Neal Stephenson first used the word “metaverse” in his science fiction book Snow Crash in 1992. The the development of the technologies that support a virtual reality-based internet has been ongoing for decades.

Metaverse background

The idea of the metaverse has existed for many years. Here is a timeline with important dates.

Characteristics of a comprehensive Metaverse

Author Matthew Ball described the metaverse as follows in his best-selling primer, The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything:

“A massively scaled and interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence and with continuity of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications, and payments.”

According to Lawton’s post on the top predictions, we might anticipate many variations on the theme of this ambitious ambition. Some believe that a few platforms will eventually rule the industry, like Apple iOS and Google Android did for smartphones.

How is the metaverse organized?

There is minimal consensus over how the metaverse will operate because it is mostly unbuilt.

However, the metaverse can be broadly defined as a digital ecosystem based on multiple 3D technologies, real-time collaboration software, and decentralized finance tools based on blockchain technology.

The success of the metaverse will depend on elements like the level of interconnection between virtual worlds, data portability, governance, and user interfaces.

Three potential scenarios were presented by Lauren Lubetsky, senior manager of Bain & Company, at a session on the metaverse at the MIT Platform Strategy Summit in 2022:

Consumers continue to use the metaverse for entertainment and games, but it still falls far short of becoming a fully immersive virtual reality.

Large rival ecosystems, such as the meta worlds for Apple and Android, dominate the metaverse and have little interoperability.
Similar to the internet in 3D, the metaverse is a dynamic, open, and interoperable environment.

The metaverse in culture

People rose in rank according to the technical prowess of their avatars in Stephenson’s bleak vision of the future, Snow Crash. Access to certain limited areas, which served as a forerunner to the paywalls and registration requirements some websites still employ today, was another sign of prestige.

Another book that contributed to the rise in popularity of the metaverse concept was Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, which Steven Spielberg eventually adapted into a film. The dystopian sci-fi book from 2011 takes place in 2045, where people go to a virtual environment called The Oasis to escape the issues that plague Earth. Users can use haptic gloves and a virtual reality headset to grab and interact with objects in the virtual environment.

How can one access the metaverse?

Virtual reality and augmented reality are two technologies that are thought to be crucial to the creation and development of the metaverse:

A simulated 3D environment called virtual reality allows users to engage with a virtual environment in a way that simulates reality as our senses experience it. Today, most people access this simulated world by donning a VR headset, which completely fills their field of vision. More lifelike engagement with the virtual environment is made possible by haptics, which include gloves, vests, and even full-body tracking suits.
Compared to VR, augmented reality is less immersive. It uses a lens to apply digital overlays over the real world. Users can still engage with their physical surroundings. An early application of AR is the game Pokémon Go. Consumer augmented reality products include Google Glass and heads-up displays for automobile windshields.

We currently have predecessors or pre-metaverse solutions, said Tuong H. Nguyen, senior principal analyst at Gartner, adding that whether VR and AR experiences end up being the key interfaces of the metaverse remains to be seen.

A fast internet connection, a browser, or a mobile device is now required to access many metaverse-like experiences provided by game platforms like Roblox, Decentraland, and Minecraft.

It is anticipated that these technologies will each play a unique and significant role in the growth of the metaverse.

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Technology in the Metaverse

Technology author Esther Shein highlighted that industry observers are reluctant to codify the technologies that would fuel the metaverse in her essay titled “7 top technologies for metaverse development.” This is partly due to the metaverse’s ongoing evolution and the fact that many of the tools powering it are hybrids of many technologies.

For instance, Gartner refers to metaverse technologies as “tech themes.” Some topics include spatial computing, digital persons, shared experiences, games, and tokenized assets. Metaverse technologies are “enablers of 3D development environments,” according to Forrester Research. Companies must hire professionals with 3D modeling and IoT expertise to create digital twins.

According to Shein’s knowledgeable sources, the following seven technologies will have the most influence on the growth of the metaverse during the following ten years:

• synthetic intelligence
• network of things
• prolonged reality
• computer-brain interfaces
• model-based 3D reconstruction
• computing in space and on edges
• blockchain

What distinguishes the metaverse from the internet?

There are billions of computers, millions of servers, and other electronic devices connected to the internet. Internet users can engage with websites, communicate with one another, and purchase and trade products and services once they are online.

The metaverse enhances the internet rather than competing with it. People “browse” the internet, but they can to some extent “live” in the metaverse. Numerous services paving the way for the development of the metaverse have emerged due to the internet’s expansion.

Ben Bajarin, CEO and analyst at Creative Strategies, claimed that immersive video games like Roblox, Minecraft, and even Zoom foretell what the metaverse is intended to deliver.

A new internet version built on a blockchain is known as Web 3.0, or Web3. “How do Web 3.0 and the metaverse differ from one another?” discusses how a decentralized Web3 aspires to provide consumers greater control over their browsing experience and illustrates the connections and differences between the two concepts.

What purposes does the metaverse serve today?

The development of immersive virtual worlds has been a staple of the online gaming industry for decades. And to the degree that a proto-metaverse has a widespread use, the enormous audiences that swarm to sites like Roblox, Epic Games, and Decentraland, albeit not simultaneously, imply that creating video games, virtual worlds, and real estate investing may be it.

Businesses are experimenting with applications that expand on the virtual programs they introduced to facilitate remote work during the pandemic. Workplace training is one of the first technologies to be used. Medivis, an AR surgical system that enables surgeons to sync with a hospital’s digital imaging system swiftly, is one device that has just received FDA approval. In her article “Enterprise applications of the metaverse slow but coming,” she also discussed the following applications that are similar to the metaverse:

Avatars of digital twins. In addition to existing on computer screens, these twins will also be created as AI-powered holograms or holographic images that perform certain duties, according to Ajao. A CEO, for instance, may activate a hologram of himself powered by AI cybersecurity to interact with numerous stakeholder groups simultaneously.

Metaverse for teamwork at work. According to Forrester researcher J.P. Gownder, businesses are beginning to employ to give remote work situations “an element of realism.” This includes putting up 3D spaces for teamwork among staff.

What place do NFTs have in the metaverse?

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are expected to have a significant impact on the usability and acceptance of the metaverse. Based on the same blockchain technology as cryptocurrencies, NFTs are a secure class of digital asset. An NFT can stand in for something other than money, such as a work of art, a song, or digital property. A digital deed or proof of ownership that may be purchased or sold in the metaverse is provided to the owner by an NFT.

The first virtual real estate enterprise in the world, according to Metaverse Group. It serves as an intermediary to make land or property rentals and purchases possible in a number of virtual worlds, including Decentraland, Sandbox, Somnium, and Upland. Offerings include commercial and meeting areas, art galleries, private residences, and “hangout spots.”

While the metaverse has provided new businesses with chances to sell digital items, like Metaverse Group, traditional brick-and-mortar businesses are also becoming involved. For instance, Nike recently bought RTFKT, which uses NFTs, blockchain authentication, and augmented reality to create unique virtual footwear and digital artifacts. The company RTFKT claimed on its website that it was “born on the metaverse, and this has defined its feel to this day.”

In order to assist in designing and selling virtual sneakers and clothing, Nike submitted seven trademark applications prior to the acquisition. Additionally, Nike and Roblox collaborated on “Nikeland,” a virtual environment where Nike fans can play games, interact, and outfit their avatars in clothing.

According to Nick Donarski, co-founder of Ore System, an online community of gamers, content producers, and game developers, “NFTs and blockchain lay the foundation for digital ownership.” “NFTs will be this vehicle for ownership of one’s real-world identity to carry over to the metaverse.”