What is the Metaverse? Definition of metaverse for beginners and example of use

What is the Metaverse?

The Metaverse is a super cool idea that's getting a lot of attention, but it might look like a head-scratcher to folks who aren't hip with the digital world. The Metaverse is like a virtual world where people can hang out, work, play games, and even live out cool experiences with digital characters. Picture a world online that goes beyond video games. It's a place where virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain technologies meet to create a unique digital experience.

In this article, we're gonna dive into what the Metaverse really is, giving you a clear and easy-to-get definition for newbies. We're gonna check out real-life examples of how it's used in all sorts of places, from entertainment to teaching, and even shopping and more. If you're wondering what the Metaverse is and how it could change the way we live and interact, you're in the right place. 

Simple definition

The metaverse is a term used to describe a virtual universe independent of our real universe, where objects, people and digital networks exist. Metaverse is a network of immersive and shared virtual worlds, where people can connect with their friends, create and play games, work and conduct virtual meetings, and make purchases... All thanks to their digital avatar.
The metaverse provides similar functionality to what is found on social networks, in video games, in augmented reality and virtual reality. It is a mixture of these 4 axes that make up the metaverse experience. In short, the metaverse is a evolving three-dimensional cyber space or internet.

Advanced definition

Technically, a metaverse is a shared virtual collective space created by the fusion of augmented virtual realities, physical and digital. For simplicity, the metaverse can be considered as the next version of the internet (web3). The main difference these destinations become places in a shared virtual space, just as the metaverse will evolve.

The word “metaverse” means “beyond the universe”. But what is metaverse exactly? One way to describe it is that there are more and more boundaries between the different digital environments and the physical world. The metaverse is a space where you can interact with real virtual objects and information in real time.

What is the metaverse used for? Why is it so popular?

You noticed: on October 28, 2021, exactly two years ago, Facebook changed its name to Meta. Why? The reason is simple: Mark Zuckerberg believes that metaverse is the digital revolution of the coming decades.
The word “metaverse” comes from the prefix “meta” (meaning transcendence) and the root “verse” (meaning universe). For the metaverse proposal to reach its true potential, critics agree that a number of key attributes must exist, including persistence, ability to provide a live synchronous experience, interoperability and value creation. Although this is a discussion point, it means that the metaverse is unlikely to be built or managed by a single entity centrally. On the contrary, many stakeholders (individuals, commercial companies, governments, etc.) will contribute to its existence just as in the real world. In this sense, it offers a decentralized approach, which corresponds to the philosophy of Web3.

Here are some examples of metaverse platforms

Let’s see how to reach the metaverse, through the platforms that exist. One of the most popular, is that of Facebook with its metaverse «Meta Horizon Worlds», accessible directly with its virtual reality headsets Oculus Quest. Meta describes its metaverses as follows:
Whether you’re looking for a community, games, events or anything in between, this is the place to be. With new worlds and quests constantly being launched, there is always something new to do. Meta Horizon Worlds is free, so you can get started right away.”
Another example of a professional use metaverse is offered by Microsoft with "Mesh". It is a platform where employees come together in a new immersive 3D experience. It is a solution that allows employees to connect in a virtual space, facilitating interactions during meetings and virtual events.
These two descriptions correspond well to the definition of metaverse, mixing uses and users targets. However, Facebook and Microsoft are not the only ones to offer metaverse, there are many that revolve around video games, such as Decentraland, The Sandbox, Fortnite and even Second Life.

And for real-world companies: what is the use?

We could associate the metaverse with a geek universe, yet large groups are interested in it. It turns out that many well-known brands have already started experimenting with the Metaverse. Carrefour started in 2022, with its first virtual commercial space, through the purchase of a virtual plot of land on the platform The Sandbox.
Also on The Sandbox, it is very recently that the luxury brand Gucci, in connection with its current exhibition in London, has decided to propose an extension in the metaverse with «Gucci Cosmos». This device, accessible to all until November 22, 2023, explores the history of Gucci and reveals some of its most iconic treasures, while offering mini-games and the possibility to win 100 sand (the virtual currency of the platform The Sandbox).

Gucci’s universe in the metaverse with their collaboration with The Sandbox

As you can see, metaverse combines the best of many technologies, such as VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) with a fully functional digital economy. Using digital assets, cryptocurrencies and NFTs, the metaverse is an economic ecosystem involving different actors, and which allows to reward participants with mechanisms of rewards, gamification etc.

How to join the Metaverse? What developments are coming?

Generally, entering the Metaverse is very simple. If we take the example of VR headsets from Oculus, simply turn it on and log in to your account, then access the worlds offered by Facebook intuitively. It should be known that today, we even practice team building in VR via the metaverse

The basic concept of Metaverse, and the multitude of possibilities associated with it, is so complex that many consumers have not really understood its value. Due to the overlapping of different perceptions of metaverse technology, many people are having difficulty understanding the concept itself because we’re still in the early stages of this phenomenon, as was the case with the traditional web in the 1990s... before it democratizes for the entire planet.

But, in the field of cinema, many films already deal with this virtual universe, and we will see a concrete example with this realization by Steven Spielberg.

Example of using metaverse illustrated by a SF film: Ready Player One

The most obvious example of metaverse, although not in the real world, can be seen in Ready Player One. It is a science fiction novel by Ernest Cline that almost accurately describes what the metaverse looks like. The 2011 novel takes place in a dystopian setting on Earth in 2045.

Ready Player One, released on March 28, 2018 and directed by Steven Spielberg, popularizes the concept of metaverse to the general public

If this film really announces future developments, you can see how the Metaverse could truly be the next iteration of the internet as we know it today. In reality, the easiest way is to make your own opinion by becoming a user, to understand how these virtual and immersive worlds work.

So, in the end, the Metaverse is like a huge online playground that's changing the way we hang out in the digital world. Alright, let's break it down. The Metaverse might sound like sci-fi stuff, but it's looking like it could be a big deal in our everyday lives. It's got a lot of potential to change how we learn, play, shop, and hang out For newbies, it's super important to get that the Metaverse isn't just about games it's a whole new world of digital stuff that might change how we live online. Tech's getting better, and the Metaverse is getting more real and a part of our everyday stuff.

 

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