The METAVERSE is knocking at our doors, but why isn’t it here yet?

I’d like to dedicate my first blog series to the connection between two fascinating topics rarely discussed together: The Metaverse and the & Healthcare industry.

Through this blog I will go over several subjects:

1. The challenges of the Metaverse’s establishment.?
2. The reasons why the Metaverse is about to occur.
3. The probable manifestation of the Metaverse in the healthcare industry.

In my first two blog posts I will describe the current challenges the foundation of the Metaverse is facing. Enjoy the ride

The Metaverse is knocking at our doors, but why isn’t it here yet?

One unified virtual universe connecting us humans with the machine. Blurring the boundaries between reality and the virtual world creating a world with endless opportunities, just like Spielberg’s “Ready Player One”:

The rapid interest of the buzzword Metaverse mainly connected to Mark Zuckerberg’s 2021 announcement of Meta’s?intention to create our?future Metaverse.

According to Meta, the Metaverse is “an immersive 3D experience on virtual reality platforms, where the daily life of the real world is going to mix with that of the virtual world, allowing us to interact in real-time with other people, places, or things—no matter where we are physically.”

His vision around the creation of one unified virtual universe, connecting community, products, commerce, workspace, entertainment, creators and much more. For now, we still have a vague idea of how the actual Metaverse will look like, but to make it a virtual ecosystem, we need to overcome the following challenges:?

1.Interoperability & Standardization

One of the great advances the future metaverse holds is having a SINGLE virtual universe in which we can all be a part of. Unfortunately, this amazing sounding dream is unlikely, since the new field is already quite crowded attracting some big names including Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and so on.

Hence, given the more plausible estimation assuming there will be several metaverses, the situation arises substantial questions:

How will the different metaverses be managed and how will we travel between them? In simple words, will it be possible for one virtual identity to move between the different worlds by Meta, Microsoft, and apple?

Thus, Meta’s intention, acknowledging being far from the only player in the market is to provide an “Umbrella Universe” upon which all other future universes would interface. Although appearing the simplest solution for the user, Meta’s goal to serve as a bridge between different metaverses isn’t easy take responsibility for. Is Meta willing to take the blame for an interoperability problem between metaverses?

More than ever, the big tech cooperation will have to collaborate and coordinate to ensure success. This aspect of interoperability therefore raises the issue of standardization between all players that must be tackled to democratize their use of the Metaverse.

2.Reputation & Identity

?The question of personal identification and representation is straightforward when it comes to the real world. But inside the Metaverse, one might wonder, what will really be the key elements that make up one’s identity? More importantly, how would we prove that we are who we are and not another person or a bot imitating our behavior?

Therefore, because one can possibility forge facial features, footage, and voice inside the metaverse so easily, it creates a great challenge hindering the establishment of the metaverse. We are bound to see what new verification methods the nearest future brings.

3.Privacy & Data Security

Privacy concerns stemming from users’ behavioral?data being collected by companies became an issue long before the idea of the Metaverse was brought to the table. This current technology will be included in the Metaverse is about become much more comprehensive, sophisticated, and intrusive. For example, an eye-tracking technology would probably add to our Metaverse’s VR-headsets, exposing our exact visual experience. In addition, our physical and emotional reactions would be monitored as well through our future wearable devices that will give us the ability move inside the Metaverse.

This marketer’s dream might increase the vulnerability of the users’ privacy. This future enormous amount of data could be exploited by anyone who has the right access regardless of their purpose. This obstacle will require to take common security practices to a whole new level, ensuring a safe environment for one’s identity and possession. As a result, this slippery slope will require to come up with complex methods to successfully identifying individuals as well as keeping personal privacy intact.

4.Law & Regulation

The Metaverse will bring a huge number of users together, potentially making it an ideal place to connect between people and exchange goods. However, the lack of legislation, authority, and regulations that apply on the virtual world making the future users potentially susceptible.

Accordingly, establishing a global authority and legislation that will be brought into force on the virtual world will be a great diplomat challenge. Nevertheless, this complex process is an inevitable step toward a safe environment and well protected users.?

This is the first blog post out of two focusing on the challenges stalling the fulfillment of the future Metaverse. The second half of this blog post will be published next week.?After illustrating the challenges standing in the way of the Metaverse, I will discuss the inevitable connection between the Metaverse and the healthcare industry.?

More than welcome to share and be sure to stay tuned,

Yigal.

The content offered in this blog series is intended to provide information or my opinion and serve as a general information only. Any 3rd party solution provided are mine only and for illustrative proposes and are not indicative of a current or past relationship with my workplace.