About The Metaverse
Ever since October of 2021, the buzz word meta has been thrown around in conversations. But what exactly does it mean? Why does it sound like a supervillain’s name? Why has facebook gone so far as to rename their company meta?
By Akshara Bachu
What is the metaverse?
Meta, or the metaverse is a form of media in which the user immerses themselves in the artificial world. The word Metaverse is coined from the novel Snow Crash written by Neal Stephenson. In 1992, Stephenson predicted a cyberspace like meta in which users interact with each other. Similar to VR (virtual reality) the user will be able to physically interact with the internet instead of viewing it from a small window. Mark Zuckerberg refers to it as, “an embodied internet where instead of just viewing the content-you are in it.” Augmenting the internet revolutionizes human interaction, taking meetings online to simulated in person meetings. Human connections could be made across the world and the physical barrier of space would. Along with human interactions, entertainment would ascend to the next level. The experience of gaming with friends will never feel so real. Instead of controlling a character or avatar, the user will be a part of the game and their senses will be fully immersed in the content. Other new ideas like the horizon marketplace in which creators can sell objects with realistic 3D models, and virtual tours will become a reality with the metaverse. Of course, with any new emerging technology, there are going to be several downsides.
Problems with the metaverse
Like the Internet, the metaverse is not owned by a single company or person. It is meant to be a free space in which people add content and share about themselves. Facebook has rebranded its name to better represent what the company’s goals are. Facebook, now Meta, is a company that is famous for connecting people through the Internet. But the company is also notorious for the misuse of their customer’s data and lack of transparency. Reaching the goal of combining the physical world with the virtual world requires vast amounts of data from the customers. The metaverse reality will require a lot more sensors and devices in homes, further collecting more data. People need to trust Meta with their private information to fully embrace the meteworld. If Meta cannot control social media apps, how can they effectively control a virtual world? Though the process of creating and manufacturing products such as virtual headsets have never been cheaper, the technology has not yet been perfected. Meta currently has over 10 billion dollars per year, and in 2026 it would be more than 70 billion dollars invested by just Meta. That is a lot of money and time invested for a vapor of an idea. Along with the date security issues, there has been a lot of debate if Meta would monopolize the internet, as so many of the metaverse’s features are controlled by Meta.
Where is the metaverse now?
The meta verse is still in its early stages of development and is currently being integrated into games. Methods of accessing the metaverse are still being perfected. As of now, the only way to access it is through a virtual headset and hand held controllers. Efforts are taken to cut down costs and make this reality a possibility for everyone.
Sources:
https://www.makeuseof.com/metaverse-vs-virtual-reality/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/technology/facebook-meta-challenges.html
Cover image credit: Aurich Lawson| Getty Images