You may have seen the term “metaverse” referred to quite a lot in recent times, yet you may be unsure regarding what this means, whether you should care, and if there are any implications that you need to be aware of. In this blog post, we will explain everything you need to know.
What is the metaverse?
There is only one place to begin, and this is by explaining what the metaverse is. The metaverse combines several different technology elements, including video, augmented reality, and virtual reality, whereby users “live” within a digital universe. Those who support the metaverse imagine that we will work, stay connected, and play with friends through everything from virtual trips worldwide to conferences and concerts. It’s a way of “living” online.
Companies like ebb3 are at the forefront of technology, and they’re already looking at how the metaverse can grow businesses and the steps that companies need to take to embrace this. As you know, when it comes to technology, society is moving at a breakneck pace, and any company that does not get on board quickly is only going to risk being left behind.
The Facebook Effect
We have already seen some examples in the world regarding the metaverse, with the recent news that Facebook has now rebranded and is now named Meta. Yes, it could take quite some time for the metaverse to become a mainstream reality, but we have already started to see some elements of this in existence. We can see that virtual reality headsets and ultra-fast broadband speeds have already made an impact, although they are not accessible to everyone around the world just yet.
Meta (formerly Facebook) has already made a considerable investment into the domain of virtual reality. This started quite a while back, in 2014, when they acquired Oculus. At Meta, they see a virtual world where we will use VR headsets and digital avatars to connect with one and other through entertainment, travel, or work.
Epic Games
However, Meta is not the only player in the market, as we have seen several other tech giants show their hand when it comes to this. Epic Games is a prime example. If you are a gamer, we are sure you will know all about Fortnite and the concerts that they have been holding. These immersive concert experiences have seen the likes of Travis Scott and Ariana Grande perform virtually and movie trailers taking place on the platform. However, Epic Games is not prepared to stop there, as the company is currently in the process of creating the Metahuman Creator, which will give them the ability to develop photorealistic digital humans, which could be just how you edit and create your digital doppelganger when enjoying open-world games in the future.
Microsoft
Another company that has delved into the metaverse is Microsoft. The company already utilises holograms, and they have also been developing extended reality and mixed reality applications with the Microsoft Mesh platform. The company is currently working on bringing mixed reality to Microsoft Teams via virtual avatars and holograms.
As you can see, we are moving further and further into the metaverse with every year that passes us by, and this is something that businesses need to consider because it is going to make a significant impact on how brands market their items and the way that consumers enjoy products in the future.