What Is The Metaverse?
Part 1 of 8. This is a brief introduction to this blog series. Check out each Metaverse layer: Infrastructure, Human Interface, Decentralization, Spatial Computing, Creator Economy, Discovery, and Experience.
First Mention
Agreement upon a singular definition would be difficult within such a rapidly evolving space. The first notable mention of the Metaverse can be traced back to Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash. “In Snow Crash, the metaverse is a virtual-reality world depicted as a planet-encircling market where virtual real estate can be bought and sold, and where VR goggle-wearing users inhabit 3D avatars whose form they have freedom to choose.” (Polygon)
Waves, Not A Tsunami
Before we jump to the present, we can examine some pointed moments that brought us to this seemingly precipitous world we are entering. Like many advances in society, burgeoning technologies do not just abruptly appear. Instead, they are systematically adopted and built out in anticipation of future deliverables. If we examine the adoption of technology in terms of waves (time frames), we can see beyond “the surprise” growth of adoption, or what some may view as rapid growth. We need to compare the differences between these periods by the magnitude at which each wave of infrastructure growth influenced future design and adoption.
Since it has relevance and recency, let’s use Apple’s iPhone as an example. Many of us can remember Steve Jobs unveiling the first iPhone. It was transformative and seemed like the mobile internet era had just begun at that point. However, preceding this was the advancing of networks, app integration, chip manufacturing, thousands of cell tower sites, etc. Now, think about the jump from the original iPhone to the newest iPhone, with thousands upon thousands of cell towers, multitudes of app developments, better chips, and more exponential investments. This collective innovation is the driver of what paved the way in the mobile internet era and what is currently ushering in the Metaverse. In subsequent blogs, we will examine these topics in-depth, as the Metaverse is often segmented into multiple layers to explore the scope of what it encompasses.
So What is the Metaverse?
Beyond virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and avatars, one fundamental component of the Metaverse is that it is integral to the Web3 ethos, as it provides the ability to own your content as a user and developer. The Metaverse is not a singular defined entity, but will need to be built as interoperable segments that can share and benefit from users owning their likeness and content. Pulling from the website of Matthew Ball, here are the properties that will most likely define the Metaverse:
Massively scaled
Interoperable
Real-time rendered
3D virtual worlds
Synchronous
Persistent
Unlimited number of users
Individual sense of presence
Continuity of data
Gaming might be the most transparent view into what the Metaverse will entail, as many games already incorporate the aforementioned characteristics–but not all. Based on some of the top Metaverse games available, we are well into moving the needle in terms of technological advancement (think infrastructure support/development) and the need to make more significant leaps. If we extrapolate beyond gaming, the impacts of work, education, and general social interaction can adapt and transform into a more immersive experience.
As Matthew Ball notes, “The Metaverse is best understood as ‘a quasi-successor state to the mobile internet’. This is because the Metaverse will not fundamentally replace the internet, but instead build upon and iteratively transform it.” Expect to see the evolution of many activities we currently do in the Web 2.0 space become much more engaging, evolving our past manual experiences with the enhanced Web 3.0 experience. This evolution will encompass almost every aspect of our lives–careers, school, meetups, gaming, vacations, etc.
Expectations & Hype
Bold claims, expectations, speculations, and naysayers are presently around every corner of the web. By examining an aggregate hypothesis about the future of the Metaverse, it’s fair to mention a couple of thoughts below:
No one can accurately predict and define what the Metaverse will entail by the decade’s end. Eight years is eight lifetimes in the blockchain/crypto era.
Successful investing in the space will require looking at a Metaverse crypto index fund or picking a multitude of companies/projects that span a wide breadth of technology.
Adoption and build-out will most likely take more time and resources than most champions of the Metaverse expect. Yet doubters and late adopters will either be left behind or forced to get on board the train that is already departing the station.
Our 8-part blog series on the layers of the Metaverse:
