Technologies Powering the Metaverse

Think of the Metaverse as the 3D version of real-life and a 4D version of the internet. The basic idea is to create virtual, life-like, and interactive 3D environments that will soon become the new normal for social and business engagements. Simply imagine being inside the Internet, rather than merely looking at it.

Right now the Metaverse is focused on creating the next generation of video games and social media platforms. As it develops, there will be an increased emphasis on a decentralized government, digital identification, remote work, and much more.

While there is nothing today that can be identified as the metaverse, it will likely replicate the real-world economy, and eventually become an extension of it. To achieve this, the biggest role will be played by extended reality (XR), the combination of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality.

But there's a lot more involved when it comes to technologies that will make up the Metaverse, let's take a look below:

1. Virtual Reality (VR)

The most popular emerging technology today, virtual reality mimics real-life situations by creating virtual environments that users can explore using VR gloves, headsets, and sensors. Such accessories will become an integral part of experiencing the Metaverse. This technology has already created digital worlds that include fictional visual content, with VR gaming being the dominant figure today.

VR gaming includes the above-mentioned accessories to throw you into situations where you feel like you are inside the game rather than playing it on a screen. A VR headset covers the eyes so you feel like you are in the experience, while the sensors help map your location in the virtual world. As this becomes more mature, virtual reality can expand the Metaverse experience to involve physical simulations with VR equipment. Users will be able to feel, hear and interact with people from all parts of the world said Binance.

Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has well invested in their VR headsets known as the Oculus quest, which allows users to enter into their own Metaverse. Unlike its rivals, this wireless device does not require a computer or PC to run, but simply the Oculus app on your smartphone. It was also the most downloaded app during Christmas 2021 in the US, gaining almost 1.3 million downloads in that time period.

2. Augmented Reality (AR)

The most important technology to create a Metaverse, augmented reality allows us to insert virtual objects and characters into the real physical world. Such as what we saw in the game Pokémon GO, users can view their surroundings with interactive digital visuals. For example, when a player would open the camera on their phone, they can see Pokémons in the real-world environment.

The Metaverse keynote delivered by Mark Zuckerburg gave us insight into what AR with Meta would look like. An artist drew 3D street art on the walls of Soho, and these AR pieces in the real world could be scanned and sent to others to view in the Metaverse. In the photo below, on the left is the artist painted street art in the real world, and on the right is how it can be explored in the Metaverse.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The biggest application of artificial intelligence in the metaverse will be avatar creation and digital characters in the Metaverse. These can be used to analyze 2D images or 3D scans to generate accurate and realistic avatars that look just like the user. Different facial expressions, clothes, genetics, and hairstyles will enhance the digital humans we create.

In every game that we play, we encounter non-player characters (NPCs). They are a part of the gaming environment designed to react and respond to players’ actions. With AI’s processing abilities, NPCs can be placed across the 3D/virtual spaces to facilitate lifelike conversations with users or perform other specific tasks. Unlike a human user, an AI NPC can run on its own and be used by millions of players at the same time said Fayzak.

4. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency

Blockchain's main role in the Metaverse will be the digital proof of ownership for assets. A great example here is Decentraland which allows its users to purchase virtual land with crypto.?With the game’s cryptocurrency MANA, players can purchase plots of land and with the support of blockchain technology, the ownership of these virtual lands can be secured and established.

Cryptocurrency on a blockchain is more secure than the in-game currencies of multiplayer games today. Thus it will further act as a method of transferring value while safeguarding the trust of users interested in spending long periods of time in the metaverse said 101 Blockchains.

As more companies shift their offices online to remove working/work-from-home, there will be an increase in metaverse-related jobs. Cryptocurrencies can then be used to incentivize people to work in the Metaverse.

Conclusion

If you're looking to see what an ideal Metaverse could look like, it is worth watching the movie “Ready Player One”, where the main actor "Wade" lives his life in the Metaverse known as Oasis. However, looking at our world, it is almost impossible to predict and anticipate what will happen as a result of all the investments being made by companies to make their own Metaverse. But if one thing is for sure, it is that a parallel universe will become increasingly intertwined with our actual life.