The doubts around metaverse what is it have multiplied in recent times. We've all heard of this concept and know that Facebook (now Meta) is behind the idea. But what exactly is it about?
We are going to try to explain it in a simple way, so that you can finally understand what it really is and what its practical application could be in the future. Although there are already those who question its viability.
The metaverse was not invented by Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg may be a social media guru, but we're not going to give him credit he doesn't deserve. It is true that it is his company that has been most involved in the development of the metaverse, but the concept was not his idea.
The first time humans had to deal with this concept was in 1992. It was referred to in the novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. In the work, the metaverse is defined as a collective virtual space that, at the same time, is convergent and compatible with reality.
30 years have passed, but the concept has not changed much. Because connect reality and virtual world, without one displacing the other, is precisely what is sought with the metaverse that is being attempted to develop.
Metaverse what is it
In a simple way we could define it as a virtual world. But not one of those that we are used to seeing in video games, but one that has a direct interconnection with the real world. It is not a fantasy, but a kind of alternative reality that will allow us to do things (for example attend a meeting with our boss) without leaving home.
To connect to the metaverse we are going to need a series of gadgets that make us immerse ourselves in the experience. In this way, we will have the most realistic feeling possible of being in that fictional scenario. What is sought, and what differentiates this system from others that are already operational, is that the experience is as immersive as possible. That we practically forget that we are not in that world that we are seeing through our virtual reality glasses.
What is its potential, what can we do in the metaverse?
All or nothing, the truth is that today we cannot give a concrete answer to what we are going to be able to do in the metaverse or how our lives are really going to change. Because?
For a simple reason, although we have been talking about the metaverse for years and fantasizing about everything that awaits us in it, the truth is that today It continues to be nothing more than a half-developed project.
In fact, it could happen that there is not just one metaverse, but several of them. In the case of Facebook, the objective is to turn it into a environment in which we can do business. We could try on clothes virtually, network with professionals who are thousands of miles away from us, or promote the products from our virtual store.
We have already seen some examples of virtual meeting rooms in which team members meet to discuss the progress of a project. The advantage over video conferencing? The rest of the attendees will only see your avatar, you could be at home in your pajamas, or even on the beach, and no one would have to be aware of it.
Thanks to blockchain and cryptocurrencies, it would be quite viable for the metaverse to have its own currency.
On a much more human level, the metaverse can be a new way to connect with others in a realistic way. Because avatars will even be able to copy our facial expressions. In addition, there will be the freedom to create an avatar just like us or totally different, which could be a means of social inclusion for people who, for one reason or another, now feel excluded.
Is the metaverse a fiasco?
All this sounds very good, but no one is able to give an approximate date when we will be able to start enjoying the supposed advantages of that world halfway between the real and the virtual. For this reason, some specialists already dare to affirm that we are facing a great bluff.
Do you remember when Google Glass was going to revolutionize the world? Well, it's been four years since Google finally shelved the project. After investing millions in development and advertising, he realized that the project was not as viable as it first seemed.
Technological advancement is so rapid, and the metaverse is taking so long to develop, that it could die before it is even born. Good proof of this is that some of Facebook's main competitors have put aside similar projects and have focused on fashionable technology: artificial intelligence.
And not everything has to do with technological development, money also plays a role. To access the metaverse, gadgets such as virtual reality glasses that Meta has for sale. The problem is that their price is so high that they are not available to everyone, and this greatly limits the number of people who could interact in the metaverse. Furthermore, the quality of the images is far below what was expected, and this is a significant barrier to entry.
At this point, Zuckerberg had estimated that there would be about 10 million users of his virtual reality glasses, but they have barely managed to reach two million.
Summarizing ideas about what the metaverse is, what you have to be clear about is that it is a virtual reality system combined with reality. Something supposedly with a lot of potential, but after a few years of development and million-dollar investments by important companies, we are still not clear if it will become a reality or not. What do you think of this whole metaverse thing, do you think it would be really useful? We would love to know your opinion, you can leave it in the comments.