Metaversum
What is the metaverse and how can we imagine a world where technology has advanced to the point where everyone can participate in the metaverse?
Following Wikipedia, the metaverse is "a collective virtual space created by the convergence of virtually augmented physical reality and physically persistent virtual space - including the sum of all virtual worlds, augmented reality and the Internet". Thus, the metaverse is an iteration of the current internet, which is extended to include the three-dimensional plane.
For the most part, this still seems a long way off. However, the technology is now well advanced. Already today, data glasses exist that allow the integration of virtual objects into the real world. In addition, collaborative functions have already been developed that allow users to work together on virtual objects in real time (for example, by using Azure Spatial Anchors). The data is transmitted via the internet. The current expansion of the 5G networks will thus increase the transmission speed of relevant information, which can also significantly improve the quality of the 3D models, animations and simulations that can be displayed.
Metaversum© https://www.freepik.com/vectors/background'>Background vector created by freepik - www.freepik.com
What can a fully established metaverse look like now?
The artist Kaiichi Matsuda published the film Hyper-Reality in 2016. It shows in a somewhat exaggerated way the flood of information that can be superimposed on the field of vision and which interactions could be possible. The film clearly shows how the field of marketing is fully integrated into the metaverse. Already today, companies like Aldi Süd are using AR technology to enhance advertising brochures with additional information.
So far, the hurdle to the widespread use of AR technology has been on the hardware side. Data glasses, such as the Hololense 2 from the manufacturer Microsoft, are already being used in an industrial context. However, these are still very expensive and not very aesthetic. However, large IT companies such as Apple, Facebook and Google are working flat out on affordable data glasses suitable for mass use.