Out of the many technological advances that we have witnessed in recent times, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) need special mention. These technologies have taken the online gaming market, education, entertainment, e-commerce, and many other fields altogether to a different level. All these technologies are known for their enriched experience that brings together a virtual world and the real one with enhanced, 3-D visuals. While VR provides virtual pictures and characters whereas AR is used to provide a real-life experience for the users. Mixed reality (MR) is a virtual environment combined with the real world; interacts with both the real world and a virtual environment. Extended Reality (XR) / is a mix of VR, AR & MR which amalgamates all these technologies and recreates a completely computer-generated virtual reality of a different alternative world. Special types of equipment such as sensors, computers, special gloves, and headsets are required to create a mesmerizing simulation of any place or person dead or alive.
It is now possible that a person can travel across the globe or interact with people from the past via XR technology. A virtual 3-D reality world has now been created by tech giants like Facebook (Now Meta), Google, Apple, Microsoft, Tencent, Huawei, Alibaba, TCS, Infosys, etc. which is now better known as Metaverse. Like the internet, no one will have the absolute rights of the Metaverse, but users around the world can log in and visit any place, or interact with any person virtually by paying a price. The word Metaverse was used for the first time in a futuristic science fiction book called Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson in 1992. Metaverse is taken from two words i.e., ‘Meta’ which means after, or beyond, and ‘Verse’ is taken from the universe. Recognizing the immense power of this 3-D social networking highway Disney has pledged to come up with its version of story-telling without borders.
No doubt the concept of Metaverse is still in infancy as the hardware and software requirement to boost the potential of real-life experience will require more powerful computer chips and technologies that still do not exist [1]. As of today, we do have a Microsoft Flight Simulator that can handle 2.5 petabytes and provide a virtual replica of the world, and can be updated in real-time. However, handling billion-plus user in real-time in Metaverse is altogether a different challenge. To create a live vibrant virtual 3-D world we require computational efficiency that should be 1,000-more powerful than what we have today. Google is now exploring various algorithms to design more powerful chips, which could move the idea of Metaverse a step forward. Maybe the quantum computer which is supposed to be 100 million times faster than the conventional computer could be the answer. However, it will still take many more years for quantum computers to be commercially available. Though we have 5G technology available, in the future we will require even faster internet connectivity. Without a powerful internet, Metaverse can never become a reality.
Once a sci-fi dream Metaverse is now a reality. Strange things have already started happening in this virtual world, one can now invest in Metaverse and buy land or business space [2]. Recently, JPMorgan, one of America’s largest banks, becomes the first major banking giant to establish itself in the Metaverse by opening a lounge in Decentraland, based on blockchain technology [3]. Barbados is opening a diplomatic embassy in the Metaverse [4]. In this captivating digital world, one may soon play, work, do business, and can have disputes. A new virtual new legal system is emerging and is called ‘Metalaw [5].’ A 43-year-old mother from London was brutally abused by several male online avatars after she logged on to Metaverse’s Horizon Worlds online game [6]. This type of behavior will be a common feature as no policing is available in the virtual world. A new stringent protecting system is required to keep Frankenstein’s monsters of the virtual world at bay. The Indian couple Abhijeet-Sansrati got married in Yug Metaverse (made in India metaverse platform), recently. They tied the knot on February 5th, 2022, and became India’s first couple to get married on a 3-D Metaverse [7].
It is very difficult to predict what exactly the Metaverse will be like 50 years from now. Maybe it will be too addictive [8] and along with children, the adults will also get hocked up to the virtual world for a considerable portion of a day. Maybe the future business and entertainment industry will entirely shift to Metaverse. However, the Metaverse is still under construction and there are currently over 100 job openings in the US on Meta’s careers site. Meta is planning to hire over 10,000 people to construct the virtual-reality world.
References:
- Cherney MA. Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse will require computing tech no one knows how to build. Protocol; Feb 14, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/5n9x24rf
- How to buy land in the Metaverse investment. Business; Feb 14, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/322un3n9
- Birch K. JP Morgan is first leading bank to launch in the metaverse. FinTech; Feb 17, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/49vsstyy
- Wyss J. Barbados Is opening a diplomatic Embassy in the Metaverse. Bloomberg; Dec 14, 2021. https://tinyurl.com/yc2za9v6
- Hughes A. Addiction, crime and data breaches: The metaverse could become a wild west if we’re not careful. BBC Science Focus Magazine; Jan 14, 2022. https://tinyurl.com/58s4rk8r
Dr. Sanjoy Kumar Pal is a Professor of Biology in Skyline University Nigeria. He has a PhD. in Animal Genetics from Indian Veterinary Research Institute, India.
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