I am sure most of us are aware of the recent development wherein Facebook has changed its name to "Meta". Now me being the curious cat that I am, was very intrigued by the fact that a conglomerate like Facebook could take such a colossal risk when billions of dollars along with probable loss of customers (due to rebranding) are at stake. Upon doing some research, I found out about an entirely different world we are soon going to be introduced to, and to say I was fascinated will be an understatement. I am not letting my research go to waste (*wink*), so here are my two cents on what is meta(verse) and all you need to know about it.
Before diving into what Metaverse means, let's understand its origin and relevance.
When we use the word 'UNI-VERSE' , UNI therein stands for 'one' and 'universe' means 'ONE world' where we all live. Similarly, if you break the word 'META-VERSE', the word 'Meta' is a Greek word that means something that is over and above or beyond. When you hear the word Metaverse, it implies something that is beyond the universe.
At the moment you are reading this blog from the comfort of your home/laptop, now imagine being able to actually see me in person, touch me or maybe even shoot a hi-fi? Sounds absurd? Far fetched? Well, welcome to the world of Metaverse. Obviously, the person talking to you would be my digital figure/avatar. It is the imagination of a world where you can virtually create a new world for yourself.
Let's take a common example- most of us have played video games. There is a version of us in the game who is doing the actions, shooting and maybe even buying grains, guns etc.
When you are playing a game, you are in a two-dimensional world, that is you imagine the digital figure in front of you to be yourself and play that game. Now imagine you could wear a headset, you have headphones and sensors and through that experience you find yourself inside that game. 'You are not just playing the game, you are the game' and that my friends, is the basis of metaverse.
Now that we have established the meaning of Metaverse, let's take into consideration its pros and cons.
Pros
Negating physical distance
During the pandemic, people the world over had to conduct meetings via Zoom , Google Meet etc. Enter the world of Metaverse and wear your headset, log onto your metaverse and you'd actually be sitting together, be able to see each other in person and discuss and conduct meetings.
Increases social interaction
During the pandemic , the only way to interact with other humans was through the internet. However, things are different in the metaverse with social interactions and events being way more immersive, allowing users to experience a personal connection with their friends and loved ones. Attend meetings, go to parties whilst switching your digital avatars on metaverse, right from the comfort of your couch.
Expansion of business opportunities
Just like social media has helped businesses to grow multifold, Metaverse will bring in haptic technology, wherein you can see the product, hold it, and even feel it (experience of touch through vibration, forces, and motion). This type of interaction will benefit both the consumer and business, as both parties will receive a better user experience thus expanding the business multifold.
Cons
Losing connection
People who are exposed to the metaverse for too long might lose their sense of reality and after a while it could worsen to the extent of not wanting to acknowledge the existence of a world besides the virtual one. To some degree, we experience this kind of behaviour today with the use of mobile devices too but metaverse may further escalate it.
Cybercrimes might skyrocket
Cybercrime is a serious problem that has plagued the internet ever since it existed.
Metaverse being a relatively new concept doesn’t enjoy the t sophisticated cyber security levels. This makes it vulnerable to all sorts of illegal activities, such as fraud, money laundering, child exploitation, illegal goods, services trafficking, and cyberattacks, to name a few. Since it is a decentralized system, governments don’t have much power to fight and counter cyber crime as is the case with internet systems.
Addictive
It will be a potential challenge to maintain balance between the metaverse and the actual world. When we are immersed in the metaverse, we bid adieu to the outside world besides our essential needs like sleeping, eating etc. and before we know, we are not hooked, but addicted to it.
Having said that, it is still too soon to analyze the risks and impact of metaverse as it has a long way to go before it is fully optimized. Human brain is 30 times more powerful than the IBM Sequoia, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers. What I mean to imply via this information is pretty straightforward- no matter how wide and far the technology advances, nothing can overpower the world's greatest superpower- the human brain. At the end of the day, the decision is always in the hands of the people, not the technology. Optimize your time and limit your resources in an efficient manner whilst savouring real-time experiences of metaverse on the likes of social media, gaming, content creation, and other advanced technology.
Soon enough, happily, we shall verse in Meta!
Kinjal Khimesra
Marketing and Social Media Female Tech Leaders
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