Metaverse Explained: What is it and how it works?
If you’re interested in Augmented Reality (opens in a new tab), it’s something totally worth digging into. ‘Meta’ means ‘beyond’ as of Greek origin. Thus the word ‘Meta’ & ‘Universe’ can be immerged to give birth to the concept of a universe beyond reality.
Lately, after Facebook announced to change the parent company’s name to Meta, the Metaverse is in the hot topic zone now. Facebook is not the only player in the race of innovation in Metaverse technology, Microsoft is also taking initiatives to integrate Meta tech in the Teams application to create a virtual workspace.
Metaverse can be defined as ‘A persistent, shared 3D virtual space linked into the perceived virtual universe.’
The contemporary internet experience is basically two-dimensional, while the Metaverse is planned to provide a 3 Dimensional experience. You’ll wear your AR Glasses or Headsets and dive into the virtual space, where you can interact with others in form of virtual avatars, surf through the internet, or knock around 3D spaces.
Related: Best VR Headsets you can have under 3000 (opens in a new tab)
Basically, Metaverse lets you play around within a digital universe. Supporters of the metaverse envision its users working, playing, and staying connected with friends through everything from concerts and conferences to virtual trips around the world.
Meta World
Basically, there’s nothing like Metaverse, in reality, it’s just a concept based on 3D space where you can get in touch with a virtual environment and interact with real users in form of avatars.
People are buying properties/ plots/ Digital Real estate in metaverse through NFT Platforms (opens in a new tab) to make sure they have early access to it or to resell them at a higher valuation.
Even if you get access to the Metaverse, still you would need a physical asset to help you enter the virtual world. Oculus (opens in a new tab) is Facebook’s Advanced virtual reality headset, which was initially built for Gaming System, can be used to access the Metaverse.
Examples
Open World: If you have ever played any open-world games like Minecraft, Roblox, GTA V, those were some examples of digital world-based platforms where you could freely roam around. Second Life is an immersive, shared virtual space that can be considered as an early prototype of MetaVerse.
Avatar: Metaverse initiatives taken by Meta( Facebook ) explain that their initial version would be presenting users in form of Avatars/ Cartoons. Avatars are 3D representations of players. In the metaverse, users create avatars and customize, that can take on any physical characteristics and personalities they want. Your Avatars will be able to interact with other’s avatars.
Facebook’s Horizon: Horizon world by Oculus and Facebook is a social experience where you can explore, play and create. This platform (opens in a new tab) lets you bring your imagination and start building amazing new worlds in Horizon Worlds. You can even create, design, and transform worlds of your own or get to know other members of the community and be inspired by their creations.
Meta Initiatives
The motto of Facebook has always been connecting with people, thus Meta would be carrying the legacy in a new innovative way. With a vision of making remote working much more fluent and enjoyable, Meta is adding virtual workspaces to work together in the MetaVerse environment.
We’ve come to know that Microsoft is partnering with Facebook to integrate (opens in a new tab) Teams into its Facebook-like Workplace. Microsoft Teams integration into Workplace will also allow employees using Teams or Workplace to view, comment, and react to meetings in real-time without having to switch between apps.
