Unravelling the metaverse
A collection of thoughts about the metaverse and the "future" of reality.
As a child, what I found most fascinating about sitting in my brown living room and watching endless hours of television was imagining a future in which it would be possible to join the characters inside the TV, and live many lives.
This article explores the basics of the metaverse, what it means for us and a simple tool to help you get on boarded.
I’ve also created a video explaining the content of this article in full details. Watch my metaverse video here
It's without a doubt that we are living in one of the most unique and remarkable periods of human history. I constantly reference the singularity - a theoretical point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human civilisation.
In order to understand the metaverse, it is essential to understand five basic pillars.
1. We are genetically wired to prioritise human connection.
Connecting with each other is in our nature, and we will constantly find new ways to communicate. (Eg, Social media, Zoom during the pandemic)
2. Innovation and technology will continue to advance exponentially.
Computing power for artificial intelligence is doubling every 3.4 months, according to some calculations.
3. Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat a system.
Blockchain technology allows you to own digital assets, such as NFTs, and assign a value to them.
4.The internet is infinite
Because the internet is just a way of connecting computers, there is no limit to its size. The metaverse exists the same way the internet does.
Metaverse is not recognized as a word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as of this writing. The word "metaverse" first appeared 30 years ago in a science fiction novel called Snow Crash, in where humans interacted in a massive multiplayer virtual world.
Since we are still in a very early stage and there is no definite description of the metaverse, I think the right question is:
What's in the metaverse?
What's in the metaverse? (non-jargon version)
The metaverse is a coagulation of these 4 pillars described - We have evolved to a level as a civilisation, where our technology enables us to connect with each other in digital and virtual spaces with little friction. Many of these interactions are governed and verified by blockchain contracts termed "smart contracts".
Similar to the internet, the metaverse is a metaweb made up of shared spaces, worlds, moments, and all that is yet to come. These experiences share similar characteristics of being "virtually enhanced" through various forms of identities.
Having a virtual presence isn't a requirement or a defining characteristic. Metaverse users do not have to have avatars to interact in the metaverse. Every scenario does not require the avatar or embodiment to be present. You are already invariably a part of the metaverse on your phone. Computer, VR headset, etc
The Metaverse can be simply summarised as an online social network where people can meet, work, and play collaboratively across a range of devices.
What the metaverse is not
A metaverse isn't a specific location, game, or online destination.
The metaverse is not an app.
How does it work (technically)
Various computer programs and processes exchange information via network rules, while an application serves as a user agent (called "clients," "browsers," "engines," and so on) to provide access to the Metaverse.
In the Metaverse, users can locate places and navigate to popular destinations using portals, search engines, directories, and other services.
Example: Playing VR on Oculus Quest, accessing sandbox on a mobile device
NFT's and the Metaverse
One of the strongest keys to the metaverse is the NFT technology, which powers the metaverse economy. The transactions and interactions are verified and governed by smart contracts, which are traditionally NFTs. A simple example would be purchasing a piece of land on the metaverse and receiving the NFT of that asset as proof of ownership.
Read all about NFT's here in an earlier guide I published.
Why you should care?
A metaverse opens up new avenues of expression and communication. Multiple forms of existence will become the norm. In the future, self-discovery and expression will take entirely new directions, and technology will enable us to explore who we are and who we want to become.
There are no limitations to the amount of space that we can utilize in the metaverse, and many of the laws of the physical universe are not applicable. Our imaginations are our only limitation.
Why do we need the metaverse
To access and experience content, without undue friction;
Creating one or more identities that represent one's self (required for some experiences, but not all); creating an avatar for one's self (required for some experiences);
The ability to communicate in real time by using multiple methods, including text, voice, and gestures;
Incorporate 3D, spatial, and related content and experiences using a variety of digital media types;
The ability to affect our surrounding virtual environment based on owner permissions;
For engaging in business and commerce with a broad range of choices for access, identity, social connection, data storage, content creation, distribution, and payments.
How can I get into the metaverse?
To explore metaverse spaces and experiences, I’ve created a free tool that lists essential spaces, experiences and destinations for a first time metaverse explorer. Use this to begin your journey
Conclusion rant + an ethical perspective to the metaverse
In my opinion, the metaverse is not a utopian "New Reality" into which humanity and civilisation will suddenly migrate, but rather, it offers the opportunity for a more creative, communal and open way of life to be built and tested. Perhaps a prototype of a new world.
It follows that not everything you see in the metaverse is in your best interest, just as it follows that not everything in the physical world is for your benefit. While there are power structures with enormous capital and attention that will attempt to monopolize the metaverse for selfish reasons, the true nature of networks will prevail -
Free market competition will limit the scale of any Metaverse controlled by a single entity. In general, consumers want the greatest variety of options and the highest value (however they define it).
Similarly, any single entity who tries to control the Metaverse, is inherently limited in scale since it isn't able to provide a complete solution.
The Metaverse is what we will see in the coming years as the next evolution of the internet, and that is all that matters to me. Enhancing the positive changes enabled by the internet by improving interactions and connections - This is the closest thing to my childhood dreams of existing in the television.