What critics of the metaverse get wrong

The metaverse has often been in the news for the past few years, and not all of it is positive. While?Gartner predicts ?that by 2026?25% of people will spend at least one hour a day in a metaverse for work, shopping, education, social media and/or entertainment, and its value is expected to top $936 billion by 2030, critics have been quick to dismiss it, with headlines like,?“The Metaverse is Bad ,”?“The Metaverse Doesn't Have a Leg to Stand On,” ?or?“Is the Metaverse Already Dead?” ?They have compared exploring the metaverse to walking through an abandoned shopping mall. They complain that the VR headsets used to enter the metaverse are expensive, clumsy, and uncomfortable, and that its only appeal is to teenage gamers.

They’re missing the big picture.?

While it's true that the metaverse — or as we in Silicon Valley refer to it “extended reality” — is not yet as popular as some people might have hoped, the metaverse is based on transformative technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with each other, the way we do business, and the way we experience the world around us. As more developers and businesses invest in the metaverse, we can expect to see new and innovative applications emerge, from virtual training programs to virtual marketplaces.

It's important to remember that the metaverse is still a relatively new technology. We are in the AOL-dialup phase of the metaverse growth curve. As more people explore the Metaverse and its potential, it's likely that we'll see huge technological advances that will result in more widespread adoption, like we’ve seen with other emerging technologies. Apple is rumored to release its VR headset in June, and we’ll see if it will ultimately do for the metaverse what the iPhone did to smartphones and mobile devices. And if you don’t think transformative technological advances can happen quickly, consider ChatGPT, which appeared to come out of nowhere (although it was the result of years of development and trials).??Within four months it attracted 100 million users and $10 billion in funding.??With it, AI is already disrupting numerous industries.

Some metaverse critics have confused it with “Meta,” one company (formerly Facebook) that is working on developing applications within and tools for the metaverse. But the metaverse is a much bigger concept, and there are many other companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Apple, that are surging ahead into the metaverse, believing that it will transform the way they do business.

Some of the companies that are currently using the extended reality of the metaverse in their daily operations include Skechers, Nike, UA Multimedia, Havas Group, Heineken, Tata Consultancy Services, HSBC, Adobe, and Wendy's. They are using it primarily to engage with and sell to consumers, aside from making a name for themselves as a first mover in this space. Other sectors, including manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, are already using the industrial metaverse to cut costs, make their operations more efficient and sustainable, and deliver more value to their customers.?

One of the primary criticisms of the metaverse is that it is only for gamers. This perception has been fueled by the success of virtual reality games like Fortnite and Second Life. But it’s important to remember that gamers were early adopters of the internet too, which contributed to its expansion and development. The future of gaming will include AI, augmented reality, and the metaverse to provide a fully immersive virtual world where people can socialize, learn, work, engage in commerce, and yes, play games.

Just like the internet, the metaverse has the potential to be a global platform that connects people from all over the world and has the potential to provide new and innovative solutions to real-world problems. For example, this extended reality can be used to create, produce, and facilitate virtual training programs for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, aviation, and the military. Virtual training can provide a more realistic, safe, and controlled environment for trainees to practice complex procedures and scenarios that would otherwise be difficult to simulate in the real world.?

The metaverse will be the next technological innovation for education as well. Companies like?Prisms VR ?are already creating real-world scenarios in the metaverse to teach complicated math problems for students around the world. In addition, the metaverse can be used to create virtual marketplaces where businesses can sell digital goods and services, or even to create virtual museums and galleries where people can explore art and culture from around the world.

Finally, some critics argue that the metaverse is not practical because it requires a headset that is clumsy and uncomfortable to wear. This criticism is also misguided. While it is true that current VR headsets can be heavy and cumbersome, this is an issue that is being addressed by developers. As technology continues to advance, VR headsets will become lighter, more comfortable, and more affordable. In addition, as the metaverse continues to evolve, it is likely that new forms of interface will emerge, such as haptic feedback systems, that will provide a more immersive and intuitive experience.

Of course, there are also potential dangers associated with the metaverse. For example, it is possible that the metaverse could be used to spread misinformation or propaganda. It is also possible that the metaverse could be used to bully or harass people. But these dangers can be mitigated with proper regulation and oversight.?

Overall, the metaverse has the potential to be a powerful tool for good. It can be a place where people can connect with each other, learn, and grow. It can be a place where people can create and share content. And it can be a place where people can explore and experience the world in new and exciting ways.

The potential of the metaverse is real. Rather than dismissing extended reality, we should be embracing it as a new frontier of innovation and creativity.

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