What is the future of the Metaverse
Virtual Reality. VR. The Metaverse. At some point you may have seen some science fiction movie or read a book where the main character is able to enter a virtual world and interact with other people or things as if they were really in front of them. Think Ready Player One, Tron, or for anime lovers, Sword Art Online. They’re worlds that you can make exactly how you want them, able to escape the real world, but they’re all just science fiction.
Or are they?
Out of the realm of science fiction, there are some people trying to make this idea a science fact. Meta, the renamed version of Facebook run by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is leading the charge on creating the Metaverse, incorporating VR to make it happen. Is this goal attainable at all, much less in our lifetimes?
What is VR?
To those not caught up on their sci-fi, the metaverse might be a new idea, but VR, or virtual reality, has become a popular way to game in recent years. Nowadays, getting a VR headset can cost anywhere from $399 to almost $1500, and that’s not including any accessories you may want to get like a light blocker, a carrying case, or earbuds. This may seem steep, but the experience seems to make up for the price.
There are a variety of games and worlds to explore, with more coming every day. It’s a chance to feel you’re actually in whatever world you choose. The headset manages to let you move around in the environment, surrounding your line of sight. If you wanted to go see the Colosseum, but didn’t have enough money, your VR headset could allow you to feel like you went instead.
On the other hand, getting the headset can be expensive, and with prolonged use it can result in eye strain, dizziness, and nausea. It also has the ability to become addictive, resulting in people wanting to stay in their virtual world rather than the real world. There are many stories where people only want to be in the VR, letting the actual world fall apart. As with anything, moderation is key.
What is a Metaverse?
Defining the metaverse is a bit trickier. In a general sense, the term metaverse first started as a way of talking about the internet. Before the internet became what it is today, there was a lot of guessing about what it would become. The metaverse today is like that: a lot of guessing, but not a very clear answer.
Nowadays, the metaverse is being pushed as a new way to work, game, or conduct meetings, utilizing VR to create a facsimile of ourselves as a type of avatar.
Late last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed the corporate name to Meta to push the company’s “Metaverse”, their own vision of using VR to direct how the metaverse will go. So far, they’ve spent $10 billion on research, trying to make their dream a reality. And as of this writing, he’s not the only one.
Who Else is Trying to Make a Metaverse?
Since Meta announced their decision to focus on their Metaverse, other companies have joined the race for a fully-realized metaverse.
Epic Games, maker of Fortnight and the Unreal Engine software, is also funding research for the metaverse Their version would be without being filled with ads.
Microsoft too is searching for their own toehold in the metaverse. Their version would allow people to use avatars on a variety of devices.
Apple not only is looking into the metaverse, but it’s also creating its own VR headset. Their headset is often called a mixed-reality device and they’ve been putting out job listings related to the project.
Is This Possible?
So, with our modern technology, is it possible to have this advanced, immersive metaverse that we can practically step into, feel, and interact with, also known as “full dive?”
No. At least, not yet.
We’re far from the level of living in the VR or even feeling like we’re fully involved in it. But that’s not to say we’ll never reach that point. 50 years ago, the idea of touch screens like we have today would’ve been laughed at. 10 years ago, the VR headsets that we have would’ve seemed like something out of Star Trek. Who knows where our technology will progress in 20, 40, even 50 years from now.
As we advance, we’ll keep finding new and interesting things to use technology for. Who’s to say we won’t make avatars of ourselves to have meetings with people across the world where we can actually shake each other’s hand?
Conclusion
The metaverse now is slightly confused, struggling to move technology forward enough to have a concrete vision of the future. The metaverse in 20 years could be a rich landscape. It could be a place where we’re able to interact with people thousands of miles away and live in exciting games. As of this writing, anything is possible and even in six months things could be very different. The only way to know how things will go is to wait and see.