The Metaverse Isn’t Ready Yet: A Tech Nerd’s Perspective

The metaverse is one of the buzzwords of the year, I’m probably one of the last people to mention it, but 2022 couldn’t end without having my thoughts about the topic voiced. Today, I want to talk about the much-hyped concept of the metaverse.

For those who may not be familiar, the metaverse is a virtual world that is fully immersive and connected, where people can interact with each other and with virtual objects as if they were in the same physical space. It’s a concept that has been around for decades, but has gained a lot of attention recently with the rise of virtual reality and the increasing prevalence of online social interactions, and of course Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft and other major companies making investments in the space.

As someone who has always been fascinated by the idea of the metaverse, since a time when we still called it “cyberspace” , I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that we’re not quite there yet. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some amazing advancements in virtual reality and online communities, but the metaverse of our dreams is still a ways off. I want to explore some of the reasons why the metaverse isn’t ready yet, and what we need to do to get there.

The first barrier to the metaverse is, of course, technological. In order for the metaverse to be a truly immersive and seamless experience, we need to have a certain level of technological advancement. This includes:

• high-quality virtual reality headsets
• fast and reliable internet connections
• advanced computer graphics capabilities

While we have made significant progress in these areas, there are still some major challenges that need to be overcome.

Internet speeds and connectivity can vary greatly depending on location, and compute capabilities are not yet powerful enough to fully recreate a realistic virtual world.

VR, AR and MR headsets are still relatively expensive and not widely available. It’s at a similar point to computers when I was growing up. A lot of people had PCs at the time, but they we mostly used for work, and very few people used them for what we use them for now, and for the same reasons.

All of these factors contribute to the gap between our current virtual experiences and the fully immersive metaverse we envision. In order to fully realize the metaverse, we need to continue to push the boundaries of technology and make these advancements more widely accessible.

Another key factor in the readiness of the metaverse is the level of immersion it can provide. The metaverse is meant to be a place where we can fully lose ourselves, and interact with others and virtual objects as if they were right in front of us. This requires a level of realism and sensory immersion that we are still working towards.

In order for the metaverse to be a truly transformative experience, it needs to be able to fully immerse us in a virtual world. This means not just seeing and hearing virtual objects and people, but also being able to touch and interact with them in a way that feels real.

While there have been some impressive advancements in haptic technology and sensory immersion, we are still a ways off from being able to fully replicate the sensation of touch and other physical sensations in a virtual world.

Until we can achieve this level of immersion, the metaverse will still feel like a somewhat artificial experience.

The metaverse has the potential to have a huge impact on the developing world, both in terms of economic opportunities and social connectivity. However, there are also concerns about the digital divide and the potential for the metaverse to exacerbate existing inequalities.

The metaverse has the potential to offer tremendous opportunities for the developing world, including new economic and social connections that were previously not possible. For example, the metaverse could provide access to education, job training, and other resources for people in areas with limited physical infrastructure. However, there is also a risk that the metaverse could exacerbate existing inequalities if certain groups are unable to access or afford the necessary technology. It is important to consider these potential impacts and work to ensure that the metaverse is inclusive and accessible to all.

The metaverse is not just a technological phenomenon, but also a cultural and economic one. As such, the brands and corporate interests that shape and influence the metaverse will play a significant role in its development and direction.

As the metaverse becomes more of a reality, it is likely that major brands and corporations will seek to have a presence in this new virtual world. This could take the form of virtual storefronts, sponsored events, and other marketing efforts.

While this could bring new opportunities for businesses and consumers, it is important to consider the potential for these interests to shape and influence the metaverse in ways that may not align with the ideals and vision of the metaverse community.

It will be important to establish clear guidelines and regulations around the role of corporate interests in the metaverse.

Finally, we need to consider the possibility of an Omniverse – a metaverse that is not limited to the virtual world, but rather an interconnected network of multiple virtual worlds with the real world. This could offer even greater possibilities for exploration and interaction, but also brings with it new challenges and questions.

The concept of the Omniverse opens up even greater possibilities for exploration and interaction in the metaverse. Most people don’t like the idea of having to exist in a virtual world, others will want to mix their experience with the real world, so its not unreasonable to assume that we’d need to be able to cater to these needs.

The Omniverse allows for this opportunity and a lot more. However, it also brings with it new challenges and questions. For example:

• How would we navigate and interact with multiple virtual worlds?
• What happens when different virtual worlds have conflicting rules and regulations?
• How would we ensure the security and privacy of users across multiple worlds?

These are just a few of the questions that need to be addressed in order to fully realize the potential of an omniverse.

We still have quite a long way to go before we get to the same point smartphones were over 10 years ago, and computers 30 years ago. This is still the beginning of an idea that used to live only in the minds of nerds like myself, it’s managed to develop a life of its own and created a buzz around itself. The fact that you’re reading this means that this is things have changed and will only continue to change.

What are you doing to prepare for the coming decade of technology?