What is the Metaverse? Layers, Examples, and Importance

Listening to techno geeks, including Mark Zuckerberg or Satya Nadella discussing it, the metaverse seems to be the next frontier for the internet. Alternatively, some view it as an advanced video game, while some are an awkward and inferior version of Zoom. It is difficult to come up with a clear definition.

It has been eighteen months since Facebook declared its rebranding to Meta. They did this by highlighting its commitment to the upcoming “metaverse.” However, during this period, the term itself has lost much of its significance. Meta is constructing a virtual reality (VR) social platform, Roblox is enabling user-generated video games, and some companies are presenting little more than flawed game worlds adorned with NFTs.

Supporters, ranging from startups to tech giants, argue that this lack of coherence is because the metaverse is still in the process of being developed, making it too early to establish a definitive definition. Continue reading, this article will discuss what is the metaverse, explore its layers, and examples of existing platforms.

What is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is a spatial computing platform that goes beyond the conventional internet. It offers digital experiences that mimic or differ from the real world. It includes social interactions, currency, trade, economy, and property ownership, all built on the foundation of blockchain technology. Comparing it to the early days of the internet, the metaverse is currently a vague and complex term, yet it is predicted to become an $800 billion market by 2024.

The metaverse, which has similarities to the early internet, is still in its infancy, opening the door to conjecture over its final shape and purpose. While major players like Facebook, now Meta, are leading the charge in developing virtual reality (VR) social platforms. Other companies are exploring user-generated video games and adding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into broken game worlds.

The lack of coherence is attributed to the ongoing development and the freshness of the metaverse, reminiscent of the uncertainties surrounding the internet in the 1970s.

What Are the Layers of the Metaverse?

Entrepreneur and author Jon Radoff proposes that the metaverse consists of seven layers, each influencing a specific aspect of the user experience:

• Experience: The metaverse provides a wide range of experiences that surpass the limitations of the physical world by eliminating physical barriers.
• Discovery: Platforms for learning about new technologies and communities, including app shops, search engines, and rating websites.
• Creator Economy: Tools and apps for developers to create digital assets and experiences, with evolving methods such as drag-and-drop tools.
• Spatial Computing: Combining mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to improve interactions with 3D environments.
• Decentralization: Eliminating a single governing authority, the metaverse depends on scalable ecosystems enabled by blockchain technology.
• Human Interfacing: Involves the hardware layer, allowing virtual worlds to accept a person’s body as a 3D, realistic avatar.
• Infrastructure: The technology powering gadgets, connecting them to networks, and distributing content, with the potential for enhancement through 5G networks.

Understanding these layers provides insight into the various nature of the metaverse and its potential applications.

How Do Things Work in the Metaverse?

The metaverse works based on allowing an infinite number of people to connect in real-time within an ever-present, immersive, three-dimensional virtual environment that mixes in perfectly with the actual world.

In practice, achieving this includes overcoming significant technological challenges. It demands substantial computational power and ongoing advancements in smartphones, gaming devices, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) headset technologies.

Moreover, the establishment of a unified and interoperable metaverse, allows users to seamlessly carry their identities and digital possessions across platforms owned by different companies. It requires extensive coordination and collaboration among diverse organizations.

Businesses have always been cautious about integrating their assets with rival ecosystems, especially those in the gaming sector. The reluctance is rooted in the belief that cooperating with other platforms may include giving up some degree of control. However, such coordination and collaboration among different entities becomes necessary for the materialization of a fully realized metaverse.

Examples of Metaverse Platforms

The following platforms are helping to make the metaverse vision to reality:

• Decentraland: A blockchain-based virtual social environment for building, trading, earning money, and exploring virtual worlds.
• The Sandbox: A 3D virtual world on the Ethereum blockchain for interaction, building, and monetization through virtual experiences.
• Bloktopia: Utilizes virtual reality to offer immersive experiences, featuring a 21-story virtual structure representing the 21 million Bitcoins in use.
• Meta Horizon Worlds: A VR social app by Meta (formerly Facebook) allows socialization, business meetings, exploration, and gaming in a virtual environment.
• Metahero: Focuses on scanning actual objects into the metaverse using ultra-HD photogrammetric scanning technologies.

What is the Importance of the Metaverse?

The metaverse is not just any technological trend. It represents the end of years of research on artificial intelligence and immersive interactivity. Its significance extends across various domains:

1. New Interaction Techniques: Businesses can use the metaverse to provide customers with immersive experiences. It will gain a competitive advantage by being an early adopter of this transformative technology.

2. Opportunities for Virtual Events: Conferences and events in the metaverse provide a fully-fledged VR experience. It enhances networking and participation opportunities compared to traditional online events.

3. Advertising and Sales: The metaverse offers new avenues for advertising and selling products. This allows businesses to establish virtual shops and showrooms for users to explore.

4. Novel Media of Advertising: Brands can engage with a global audience through metaverse platforms. This introduces innovative techniques for brand storytelling and general advertising.

5. Enhanced Teamwork and Processes: The metaverse can improve teamwork by providing a digital environment for communication, allowing users to read body language and emotions, and promoting better collaboration.

6. Simplified Transactions: Integration of e-wallets and cryptocurrencies in the metaverse streamlines transactions for businesses. It provides a secure and transparent financial ecosystem.

The Final Thought

While the metaverse is still in its early stages, it holds immense potential to shape the future of technology, business, and human interaction. The evolution of the metaverse reminds us of the early days of the internet, and its rapid development indicates its significance in the modern age. As companies actively invest in metaverse initiatives, the transformative impact on industries and daily life is becoming increasingly evident.

Whether it becomes the signature of Web 3.0 or takes another form, one thing is certain, the metaverse is not science fiction, it’s a reality that is already unfolding.