MetaWhat?

Written by Allison Cherry

Mark Zuckerberg has a vision that reaches beyond Facebook and that, dear friends, is the “Metaverse”. While many of us had a chuckle at the name and countless memes taking the mickey sprung up after his announcement, understanding his vision and where it will eventually lead us is important for our collective future.

A Natural Evolution of Communication

There’s no denying it, Zuck is a visionary. He understands that the way we connect (particularly in a post pandemic world) is evolving and, logically, social connection must also progress. Whether you think Metaverse is just a bunch of fluff or a latest buzzword, it certainly won’t be going away. In fact it will only gain momentum; so how can we prepare for it and more importantly harness it?

The first step is wrapping your head around what this strange new name that encompasses so much actually means. Though wheels are in motion and the framework exists, the reality of Metaverse is still in its infancy. However, it is important to keep abreast of the direction our communication is heading, even if it’s still a way ahead.

Firstly, despite what many assume, the Metaverse isn’t exclusively a Facebook grandiose design or a platform for virtue-signalling. Though Facebook renamed itself, it was reportedly a way for Zuckerberg to repair his often tarnished public image and position himself as a central player in the future of technology. So no, we’re not heading down a slippery slope of Westworld or Mr Robot, it’s a natural evolution of the way we communicate with the technology that’s available and that is currently in development.

“The Metaverse is the future of socialising, where people the world over can learn and collaborate far beyond how we do now.”

Unpacking the Metaverse

Ok that sounds great, but still confused? Let’s unpack it further. When you break it down, what exactly is Metaverse? Simply put, it’s the future of socialising, where people the world over can learn and collaborate far beyond how we do currently. And there’s a whole lot of pieces that will make this Meta jigsaw whole. Another way to look at it is a way of bringing the Internet to life, into a 3D reality where our real and virtual worlds combine. Think of a world of interconnected virtual communities, where we can work, communicate and socialise, using a variety of virtual reality tools. This includes virtual and augmented reality with anything from headsets and smart glasses, to apps and more. And while you literally can’t leap into your phone, tablet or screen, it will virtually (pardon the pun!) feel like you can as this type of technology becomes a reality.

Connect & Explore

Though this might sound like a farfetched plot from an upcoming Star Trek episode, as we speak new technologies are being developed to help us connect and explore more than ever before. As the Metaverse is still in its inception, it can be a challenging concept for people to get their heads around. It involves so many parts, technologies and new ways of thinking that it’s hard to centralise it into one simple answer. The fact is, there isn’t a simple answer. Logically, it’s the next evolution from the World Wide Web. It’s not a place as such, but a way forward. Did you know the term Meta actually means “after” or “beyond”? So we can clearly see the thought process behind this new name. Once the infrastructure is cemented, our way of communicating will evolve exponentially. It will be more than just a virtual reality world, you’ll be able to do anything from attend virtual concerts, try on digital clothing, tour an art gallery or take a trip around the world (oh, don’t we wish this technology was available in 2020 and 2021!). It’s already reported billions of dollars are already being poured into this technology as tech companies and business around the world start configuring their systems to embrace this change.

Our Take

What is the takeaway? While there is a ton of hype and discussion about it, in reality it’s still very much in its early stages. The building blocks are there, and there will be spikes in adapting this technology in the coming years it’s still a long way off. So at this stage, it’s business as usual and more about understanding the vision and direction, and putting thoughts in process for harnessing it in the not-so-distant-future.