Knowledge
Entering the Metaverse: A Vision for a New World of Virtual Interaction
Metaverse is still an evolving space, users can interact with a computer-generated environment and with other users through avatars
Last week I went to my hometown, and finally had a chance to see my mother after a long time, I was counting the days and was eager to meet my brother too, boarded the train with a broad smile on my face eager to meet all family members. on arrival, I felt a rush of emotions, and my heart was filled with joy to see her.
Slurping on the delicious mom made, we were discussing how things changed due to technology, in India we never dreamed a few years back that Indians will do online shopping. My mother reminded us of the festival shopping we use to do together for hours and hours without getting tired and the fun. My brother was eager to find out the latest fashion trends especially to get the latest design in jackets we spent almost 4 hours and he couldn’t get his type of latest jacket and he was very disappointed, my mom said when we go to Pune or Mumbai let’s check few shops and designs available there, those were good old days.
Today due to technological advances and all have become tech-savvy people shop smartly from the comfort of their couches. My brother opened his phone and opened a new app that helps people shop smarter by using augmented reality (AR) technology. He searched for leather jackets and got so many designs and a 3-D visual feel about everything that could happen in the virtual world.
I mentioned to him about Metaverse, he became curious so I explained to him that, Metaverse is a virtual world or universe a 3D virtual realm. Metaverse is still an evolving space, users can interact with a computer-generated environment and with other users through avatars. Imagine a virtual world where billions of people live, work, shop, learn, and interact with each other – all from the comfort of their couches in the physical world so interesting, isn’t it? When Meta and the business world merges will create a revolution. Meta, tech giants including Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Qualcomm are also investing billions of dollars in the concept. Management consultancy McKinsey & Company has bullishly predicted that the metaverse economy could reach $5 trillion by 2030.
The two technologies considered to be important in Metaverse are virtual reality and augmented reality. My brother asked me which other technologies will have the biggest impact on metaverse development over the next decade, I replied that
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet of Things
- AR VR-Extended Reality
- Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)
- 3D modeling and reconstruction
- Spatial and Edge Computing
- Blockchain
are the technologies that will enable these disruptions.
The online gaming industry has witnessed the transformation enabled by AR VR in creating immersive virtual worlds. Industry and academia will change. One technology recently approved by the FDA is Medivis, an AR surgical system that lets surgeons quickly sync with a hospital’s digital imaging system. Other metaverse-type applications she wrote about in her article, “Enterprise applications of the metaverse slow but coming,” include the following:
Digital twin avatars. These twins will not only exist on computer screens but will be rendered as AI-powered holograms or holographic images that are assigned tasks, Ajao reported. A CEO, for example, could activate an AI-powered hologram of himself to engage with multiple stakeholder groups at once.
Metaverse for work collaboration. Enterprises are starting to use the metaverse to add “an element of realism” to remote work experiences, said Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder. This includes setting up 3D rooms where employees can collaborate.
Metaverse use cases and their impact:
Enhancing teamwork and collaboration: Instead of the whiteboards, sticky notes, and large screen monitors that are the staples of in-person ideation, teams could, for example, “transport themselves to the Louvre Museum for inspiration,” Diana said. A digital twin replication of a building could theoretically enable architects to collaborate with clients in real-time on layouts and pinpoint problems and opportunities in advance of building out the space.
Enabling faster learning: Interactive gameplay and simulations could speed up learning and improve outcomes by, for instance, enabling employees to learn how to operate the equipment as if in “real life” or to practice a sales pitch for a big-money client.
Assessing operations: The metaverse could make it easier for executives and managers to visit a factory, distribution center, or construction site on the other side of the world, shaking hands with employees and doing inspections as if on-site.
My mother was delighted to view the app and the shopping experience as a whole. Due to advancements in technology, the entire experience was not only efficient but also enjoyable.
Author – Dr. Mrinal Bachute, Head, Industry Connect Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune
