What is the metaverse?

The question, however, is what is the metaverse? Is it really something serious? Maybe this is another "soap bubble" that will burst after a while?

Below we will dive deep into the concept of the metaverse and talk about its past, present and, most importantly, future.

The Metaverse is a virtual reality

The Metaverse is a virtual reality, but it's not exactly what you've seen in science fiction blockbusters.

The Metaverse is certainly a long way off, but it certainly has the potential to become something equally exciting.

The idea behind the metaverse has been around for much longer than the Meta that Zuckerberg and co wants to create. In fact, it is much older than the social network itself. Mark himself called it a "personified" Internet, in which the user is inside the content, and not just browsing it.

The current definition of the metaverse is rather broad.

In essence, the metavlated is a virtual reality that allows people from around the world to interact both with each other and with the most metavlane. However, there are many ways to interpret this concept, so over the years it has undergone significant changes.

The nature of the Internet is such that we always interact with something - whether it is a website, a game or a chat program that connects us with friends. Methawned takes a step forward and places the user to the epicenter of the action. This opens the door to more realistic impressions that you are unlikely to get with simple web pages or video.

What is the difference between metavene and VR?

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) - Technologies that are closely related With methawned, but this is not the same thing. It is not necessary to consider these concepts as different iterations of the same - these are separate components that complement each other.

VR and AR devices allow you to plunge into the virtual world. The first creates a completely new environment, whether it is a game or a film, and the user has to interact with this world. AR, on the other hand, simply adds layers to the real world. That is, people can continue to interact with the physical environment, receiving additional information from their devices or applications.

The difference lies in the destination. You can play in VR or AR-game at any time without interacting with other people, while the metavlated, according to META and other companies, first of all carries out contact between people.

Who creates metaled?

The recent statement of Zuckerberg about META attracted the attention of millions of people around the world, but several large companies participate in this race, in addition to Facebook.

Each of them has its own vision of the metavlane, which is definitely plus, because it tells us that the concept will continue to expand.

If we talk about Facebook, then their path to the metavlane is actually not surprising. In March 2014, the company acquired Oculus for 2.3 billion dollars and continued to produce Oculus Quest products, creating some of the best VR heads to date.

Considering that META now plans to significantly rely on both VR and AR to bring in meta-free realism, buying Oculus seven years ago looks like a fully weighted and deliberate solution.

In addition to Meta Quest, Andrew Bosworth, Technical Director META, announced that some Oculus products will be called Meta Horizon. According to the computer, such branding will cover the entire platform of the metavened VR.

Immediately after a loud application Facebook, another giant, Microsoft, decided not to lag behind, and also jumped into a train with the destination "Methawned". The company is committed to creating a kind of metaway inside Microsoft Teams, starting from 2022.

The company has developed a MESH platform, thanks to which each user has a sense of complete presence. For example, people have the impression that they are in the same room, even when they are on different continents. Users can interact with 3D content or each other through MESH support applications on any platform or device.

With mesh, it is possible to organize the so-called "hollow", transmitting a photorealistic image in a mixed reality, as well as create virtual avatars that can express emotions.

The Microsoft project does not look as global, if compared with META, but the company definitely took a step into a metavlasen. Such changes in Teams indicate that, as in the case of META, Microsoft may well integrate a metavlable to the future of remote work.

Nvidia is not lagging behind - they also have something to show. Here we are talking about the program called Nvidia Omniverse. The brand advertises her as a platform for accelerating collaboration and modeling in real time for companies of any scale.

This is a cloud technology. Thus, the platform is publicly available and remains unchanged between sessions. It works in RTX-based systems, and the data can be transmitted remotely to any device.

NVIDIA, it seems, decided to go a little different way. While Meta and Microsoft pay great attention to the social aspect of the metavsed, NVIDIA is concentrated on collaboration and studying new technologies.

Omniverse use designers, robotics engineers and other modeling experts. One example is Ericsson - the company's engineers use Omniverse for modeling 5G waves in urban conditions.

Looking into the future, you can see another major player on the horizon. According to rumors, Apple is developing both a full VR headset and AR device, which only once again confirms the company's aspirations to metavlane.

Both devices are likely to be connected to the metavlase to function by 100%, so Apple may not be much lagging behind META.

Methawned is, in essence, video game?

No, not quite. It all depends on the point of view of a particular user.

In essence, online games, such as Fortnite, World of Warcraft or Minecraft are meta-plane. Each in its own way. They create a virtual world to which players can join and leave when they are pleased.

Player's progress is saved on an external server and is available for viewing to other users. So, everything you do in these games can be viewed later. [109!

However, this concept is much wider than just a video game. The essence is to make everyday things (visiting lessons, work, etc.) in virtual space.

Yes, of course, there is a connection between video games and the concept of metabulated: you are still interacting with other people, perform various tasks and to some extent form the world Around you. However, all this is placed in the game limitations.

As an example, we give Minecraft. In this game, you can build a giant castle, but in World of Warcraft, players do not have such a level of freedom of action. Users are allowed to own a garrison, but they practically do not affect how it looks and where it is located.

The titles mentioned above are popular, however it is important to note that the concept of the metavlane exists in many video games for a long time. Second Life, published in 2003, is essentially a metavital, which even does not even go target: you just wander around the world and interact with other players. Oh yeah, there can still fly.

In the ideal metavlane you yourself determine your fate, and many of the general limitations of video games are removed. However, the first step is one and the same for each methawned: you need to create your own character.

Avatars

Avatar is given in the metabulated user, which is given They can set up as they like. The appearance of the avatar depends on the specific platform.

This may be something very simple or high quality, with great caustomization capabilities. By nature, the avatar is a realistic 3D model of the user who, according to the concept, must repeat all movements in real time.

Avatar, which creates once, is a kind of "ticket" of the user to the metabamon. He moves, says, examines the terrain and much more. Avatar restrictions are fully related to the platform.

In some cases, the metavlane resembles a video game and allows the user to move through the keyboard and mouse. More advanced versions include the use of headsets and virtual reality management elements - they truly immerse the user into the world due to the repetition of real movements in the metavlane.

All companies are differently suitable for the process of creating avatars. Microsoft Mesh integrates in Teams in 2022, for example. The program will allow the user to create a fully individual avatar.

Thanks to the use of mixed reality technology, the avatar will be most realistic to represent the user. In the future, this will include a full range of facial expressions, body language and background.

Meta also has large plans to create avatars in their future metavsed Horizon Worlds: they will be supported by virtual reality and copy the user's actions in real time.

Although all this sounds beautiful, avatars are currently no legs - perhaps it is necessary in order to facilitate movement. However, META also works to create the most realistic images that will be displayed at certain times together with the environment.

Regardless of the platform, the ideal metavlane will allow users to choose themselves as they want to look, while maintaining the realism of facial expressions and movements with the support of VR.

What does the metavlane look like?

Before answering this question, one very important point should be clarified: there is no single metavlane, which would connect all other universes in one whole. Yes, they all assume the use of the Internet to connect users with each other, but one metavlane can completely differ from the rest.

What the metaviated, completely depends on the creator. Some of them look like a sandbox that provides many creative opportunities and does not significantly limit the user. Think about Minecraft, but larger: everyone lives in the same world, and not on the server with friends.

"The metavlane may look like a school audience, street, forest or bottom of the ocean."

The rules of the real world are still in such a metavlane. You will most likely see the sky, buildings and nature, and most importantly - other people. The style also depends on the creators and can be both cartoon and realistic (or something else).

However, as Zuckerberg emphasized in his speech, the metavlaned does not have the same limitations as the real world: you can go to space with the whole family (provided that the creators provide such an opportunity).

The bottom line is that the metavlane may look like a school audience, street, forest or bottom of the ocean. However, the most popular platforms offer a certain mixture of all this, and all for the freedom, which is provided to users.

Metaled: Concept or real opportunity?

Let's quickly go through the position of things at the moment. We have a virtual reality in which restrictions are in the hands of its creator. We have an avatar that represents the user (i.e. each of us). And, of course, we have an internet connection that allows you to join this virtual world.

What's next? Differently.

Under ideal circumstances, the metavlane must connect each user with each other. The public server will provide the ability to interact with everyone who is connected to one or another. However, in fact, everything can be different.

Certain metaves are becoming increasingly popular, and the servers on which they are placed are unable to handle such huge loads traffic. Thus, some developers create different layers that share users actually reducing the world.

In the future, perhaps it can be solved this problem, but at the moment the metavlane is often fragmented. Not to mention the fact that people use different platforms and choose the universe based on personal preferences.

We have already mentioned that each company has its own glance at the metaval. Facebook is working on Horizon Worlds, Nvidia - over Omniverse, and there are still many small players in a very large market. Even in the world, cryptocurrencies have their own metavels.

All metavels are disconnected from each other, they work on different platforms and do not have a general purpose. This tells us that the idea of ​​one large metavenial is impossible (at least so far).

If the metavlase is one giant virtual world, accessible to everyone, then all companies involved in creating their own metavelines should be combined. However, only one of the collaboration between brands is small, since server technologies should also develop.

To place all different iterations metaled on one platform, unimaginable loads on the server should be processed not only by the host, but also the end user.

until it becomes possible, the metavlane remains fragmented: users are forced to choose a separate platform before connecting to the virtual world.

What is the purpose of the metavlane?

If we consider the metavlane as a concept, then it is difficult to give a clear definition, especially considering that it seems limitless. Thus, the main goal will depend not only on the creators, but also from each individual user.

However, if we generalize, the main task of the metavlane - contact with other users through the virtual universe, accessible to everyone. Whether it is a job or just entertainment, the metavlane exists to go far beyond the boundaries of reality, tying people from around the world.

The fact that users represented by avatars can interact with the world without any clear goals, gives greater freedom of choice. META is built on it - on the fact that in the metavenial you can do almost all that you want.

Let's look at some of the most common things that users can do inside the metavlase.

Property

One of the most common things in metavelines is the ability to buy land plots. Such property when purchased is assigned to one specific user and becomes inaccessible for other players, while it belongs to a specific avatar. Land plots can be bought or renting as in the real world.

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The user can use acquired property at its discretion. Some prefer to build a gallery to accommodate items, while others create shops or public spaces.

The concept of providing users with the opportunity to move freely and build everything they want in their own space, not Nova, and it definitely contributes to the success of such games as Minecraft or Roblox.

Creativity of users saves a lot of time to the developers of the metavlase, which otherwise would have to spend it on the design of buildings and other things.

Property exchange

any property that you have There is in the metavenial, you can sell or exchange with other users. This adds the so-called element of wealth and prestige into the world.

Some lots cost more than others, some of the items are rare, while others are common - all this creates an economy applicable to a specific metavlase.

Typically, the plots of land in the metavlane differ in size and location. Since this is a virtual reproduction of real life, it is not surprising that the real estate market is alive and flourishes even in the metavlase.

Separations of land located closer to lively areas, or those that boast other types of luxury, are much more expensive than a tiny square of grass on the outskirts of the city.

Advertising

Some metaves are able to attract not only ordinary users, but also companies. The universe is filled with many people, which opens up the possibilities for advertising. Simple purchase of land and placement of the company logo can be an effective way to awaken interest in one way or another product.

In addition, companies can benefit from methawned by many other methods: the organization of events, crossovers between the franchises and the interaction with the user base has become much easier.

live and interact

The aforementioned examples are technical formalities, if we compare them with An ideal metaled is a place capable of replacing reality.

This, of course, will not happen soon, however, the efforts of companies such as Meta or Vrchat are increasingly bringing us to this concept.

In ideal conditions, you are able to interact with each person around you. This goes beyond the text chat, as in the case of Second Life or Habbo. Voice communication, VR and AR headsets provide interaction in a completely different level.

Whether a meeting with friends, jumping with a parachute or study in a virtual library, the main concept of the metaverse will always rotate around the interaction between people.

work and studies

Many companies pay great attention to the ability to work, cooperate and learn Together in the metavlane.

Microsoft plans to use its MESH platform in order to make boring video conferencing much more fun and more realistic. Meta plans to create virtual jobs, providing remote employees the opportunity to spend time together in virtual reality during the working day.

If we talk about work, the metavlane can be used in different ways. First of all, it concerns modeling real problems in virtual reality. This may take advantage of engineers, programmers, designers and many other professionals through platforms such as Omniverse from NVIDIA.

What is the relationship between metavened, cryptocurrency and NFT?

Speaking about the metavlane, it is impossible not to mention cryptocurrency, because many of them are based on the blockchain - a decentralized structure in which cryptocurrency work.

One of the bright examples is a Decentraland - a metavel, similar to a sandbox that allows users to buy land plots, explore them, and interact with each other. The entire economy is based on the MANA - cryptocurrency used specifically in Decentraland.

cryptocurrency and, consequently, the universes based on them are usually decentralized. Thus, the currency, the virtual land or the entire metavlane does not belong to one object and cannot be removed, sold or otherwise destroyed by whose whose.

In other words, decentralization is when the network functioning does not support not a single central body, but a huge number of users. All of them are simultaneously connected to the network.

This does not apply to the game metavosten, such as World of Warcraft, where your account still belongs to the company responsible for developing / supporting the game.

All your assets (i.e., equipment or characters), ultimately do not belong to you. It is here that non-violent tokens (NFT) come into force (NFT).

NFT can be anything, from 8-pixel avatars (which do not differ in particular beauty) to the exciting spirit of art. In essence, NFT is a decentralized way to transfer ownership of virtual goods.

Anyone can upload a photo and claim it as their own, but NFTs involve cryptocurrencies and contracts that secure ownership to one specific user.

On a metaverse scale, this opens up a whole new level of economics that turns this fantastic concept into a way to earn (or spend) real money. Users can buy virtual plots of land, avatars, or even a hat for their metaverse avatar, all with cryptocurrency.

Non-fungible tokens are independent of the metaverse, but they affect the economy of certain platforms like Decentraland or The Sandbox.

The Sandbox, which was released in alpha at the end of November 2021, is selling land in the form of an NFT, transferring full ownership to the person who buys it. Users can then visit the acquired land and interact with its contents.

If you take a look at The Sandbox map, you will immediately notice that this form of NFT has attracted the attention of not only cryptocurrency fanatics, but also dozens of companies that consider it as advertising space.

Some well-known brands and franchises have already acquired a plot in the sandbox even before it was launched. You will definitely see Atari, RollerCoaster Tycoon, The Walking Dead, Shaun the Sheep and even the South China Morning Post.

As you can see, the concept is promising, and some companies are looking to capitalize on it.

Future?

It is unlikely that anyone will deny that the concept of the metaverse began to gain momentum as never before. It has come a long way: from games like Second Life and Habbo Hotel to large-scale projects from the largest companies in the world.

According to Zuckerberg, Meta hopes that after the launch of Horizon Worlds, the company will immediately explode the market. However, you will have to wait.

The very idea of ​​the metaverse as a universe where people thousands of miles apart can play, learn, share content, and even work together is pretty futuristic and idyllic.

Another step towards full integration is the realism of the experience. The introduction of VR and AR into the metaverse will certainly have a huge impact on making gameplay more realistic than using a keyboard and mouse.

We've already seen interesting crossovers that test the limits of the metaverse. Travis Scott performed a virtual Fortnite concert that was attended by over 12 million people. More recently, Justin Bieber announced that he plans to do the same.

Even though The Sandbox has not yet launched, Snoop Dogg, an avid supporter of the NFT, already owns a site in it and sells VIP passes to people so that they can visit the hip-hop artist's mansion in the future.

Zuckerberg believes that the future of the Internet is necessarily connected with the metaverse. He even called it the successor to the mobile Internet. Whether this is so, only time will tell.

One thing is certain: the metaverse is no longer just a concept taken from some sci-fi movie. Facebook/Meta added a lot of fuel to a fire that had already flared up. In a few years, we may see even more progress in the metaverse.