You all might have heard about metaverse, if not, here you will get a glimpse of it. According to Mathew Ball, metaverse is “A massively scaled and interoperable network of real-time rendered 3D virtual worlds that can be experienced synchronously and persistently by an effectively unlimited number of users with an individual sense of presence and with continuity of data, such as identity, history, entitlements, objects, communications, and payments.” To be more precise, it is a digital universe where you can experience your daily chores like attending class, shopping, and social gatherings as an avatar (a digital version of yourselves like those in games) in a multi-dimensional world. It will have an edge over the online platform which you experience through your screen. Here is a brief over the history of the metaverse.
Metaverse is built with the use of technologies like Blockchain, Virtual Reality, Augmented reality, AI, IoT, 3D reconstruction, spatial technologies, and some other software and hardware tools. A few of them are discussed below.
BUILT IN TECHNOLOGIES OF METAVERSE
Blockchain
A blockchain is a chain of blocks that contains information. It timestamps digital documents like a notary, which protects data from getting tampered with. Satoshi Nakamoto’s digital cryptocurrency, Bitcoin became a turning point for Blockchain usage. Security of Blockchain is ensured using hashing, proof of work and by seeking validation from multiple users through a P2P network (one that has no central point of storage). In addition to this, developments like Smart contracts use simple programs to protect data, making it immutable and distributive.
Role of Blockchain in metaverse
Primarily, Blockchain is used in the application of NFTs as proof of ownership. Metaverse will host a plethora of transactions using P2P (Peer to Peer) transactions where it helps people for direct transactions without 3rd party involvement. Blockchain-based identity certificates are verified by KYC providing a “Unique digital identity” for users to work with ease on their transactions.
Virtual Reality (VR)
One of the important technology the metaverse is built upon is Virtual Reality where the user experiences the surrounding of the other world with sight and touch. Often metaverse is confused to be a virtual world experienced through VR but it’s more than that. Metaverse doesn’t have restrictions as in VR. But with other supporting technologies, VR helps the user to explore the metaverse, as in the real world without restrictions.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Unlike VR, AR adds virtual elements to the real world. The users can experiment with their ideas in the real world using smartphones, for trying new furniture in their homes, design or paint house, in construction plans and design moderation of appliances, study anatomy, etc. It analysis the environment, calculating its dimensions for the product to fit in. This helps the user to estimate their decision, using 3D visualization before purchasing the product. Games like Pokemon Go are using augmented reality. Augmented reality will make the environment of metaverse user to be more convincing and realistic.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
With the help of AI, you can build unique and precise Digital avatars just like yourself. Apart from this, you can design Virtual humans (non-playing characters) i.e. the 3D version of the chatbot in the metaverse which guides avatars as per the set of rules, like in a game. It enables avatars to recognize different languages and socialize with others. Avatars can learn data about a particular object or other avatars just by looking at them.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things, shares data across different devices using sensors like temperature sensors, proximity sensors, pressure sensors, etc. It provides common storage to store data and communication channels to receive and update data according to your requirements. Metaverse plans to mirror the real world, so transferring data from the real world to the virtual world is an important criterion and this explains the very application of IoT in the metaverse.
APPLICATION OF METAVERSE
Employees belonging to a company, from different time zones, can conduct meeting virtually together, interacting with each other as an avatar without actually traveling in real-time. Doctors can interact with patients and provide them with insights into their health virtually. Users can trade using NFTs and expand their business or buy their desired plot. Users can travel around the world, without actually moving across in real life. In general, this concept, saves time and energy, making humankind more efficient.
All said, the idea of metaverse will take at least a decade to come into existence, due to certain shortcomings like uninterrupted and reliable internet connection issues, associated with data privacy and security. As of now, if you want to experience a glimpse of the metaverse, you may try online video games like Horizon world, Horizon venues, Alspace VR, Rec room, VR chat, etc. Since metaverse provides interactive gameplay where you need to act and maintain the pace, a few supporting equipment you may require are headsets, AR glasses, gloves, and bodysuits (here some are optional). Hence we could say this concept is a revolution in the field of technology.
Did you find this article interesting?! If so, have a look at this article Moving Metaverse to the next level: Simulated Human Eye Movement also.
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