Home / The Emerging Metaverse: Not A Revolution, But An Evolution
The onset of the metaverse is valuable because it gives us context for what’s next. The Metaverse is not a revolution, but an evolution. One of the most important ideas is the Metaverse evolving in phases, and that’s why, right now, it’s confusing.
Tech and science fiction fans have been aware of the Metaverse for a while, but it didn’t come into mass awareness until Mark Zuckerberg mentioned it. As a result of this move from one of the current leaders of the Internet saying the Metaverse is inevitable – it’s what’s next, every major technology company followed suit. the Metaverse became part of the general lexicon.
Some say the Metaverse doesn’t exist yet, but that depends on how you define it. It’s the next iteration of the Internet. There is no capital “M” Metaverse yet with universal protocols that every organization follows to play together. Currently, the Metaverse encompasses 3 phases:
- The Emerging Metaverse
Now, we’re in this space called the emerging Metaverse, which is about people trying new things, innovation, and early adopters. Emerging metaverse functionality will include collaborative content and experiences created by multiple sources as lowercase “m” metaverses or ”miniverses”. Miniverses are closed systems – separate but persistent. Within them, there’s something happening all the time. You can jump into them and interact with other people in real-time. Things are happening 24/7/365. Examples of persistent digital content include MMORPGs, Google Maps, Pokémon Go, Sandbox Games, and Snap’s City Painter Local Lenses.
Additionally, there’s a more mature version of the miniverse called an ”intraverse” (akin to intranets back in the early 2000’s/Windows XP era), a closed system for organizations such as Allseated’s metaverse solution, Meetaverse. There are lots of reasons to have closed systems for organizations, and that need will probably persist through the mature phase of the Metaverse.
The emerging generation layer requires smart devices, siloed apps (meaning you can’t move from one to another) and uses a lot of current technology (e.g., social networks, games, eCommerce, development tools, sensor technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT) with another layer on top.
- The Advanced Metaverse
In the advanced Metaverse, with universally understood ideas, everyone can explain the Metaverse. Larger organizations will have their footing and a strategy in place. The Metaverse is on its way to being the status quo.
In the advanced phase, walled gardens will break down and new technologies will converge. The fundamental shift to the advanced phase will come when organizations with closed systems start to open. It’ll be easier for users to move between systems. The entire world will be mapped out in much more detail. The advanced phase will require new infrastructure – platforms and hardware. The advanced generation layers include improved XR hardware, persistent geo-posed content, high level, and volume sensor integration, spatial computing, killer apps, and more will come together.
Users will move through different environments seamlessly, in real-time, and have an augmented experience that’s never-ending. We understand the advanced level as far as what we need to get beyond where we are now.
- The Mature Metaverse
Building on the advanced Metaverse, the mature Metaverse is the status quo. No one knows what this will really look like at this point. It’s guesswork. Compare it to the difference between the Internet in 2005 where you have a website and the Internet in 1995 where it’s still a new idea. The end goal for the Metaverse is to mature as the Internet is mature now. The Internet is how we meet, communicate, play games on our phones… the Internet does everything. It’s another layer on top of our lives.
The mature Metaverse will be increasingly be decentralized with more data security/transparency and based on standardized protocols and framework. Even risk adverse organizations will participate in the Metaverse.
For the mature Metaverse, generation layers include device independence, advanced virtual assistants, smart spaces, spatial data integration, high/low bandwidth latency networking, and interoperability frameworks. The Metaverse will include XR (augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality) and 24/7 availability. The mature Metaverse will be persistent, decentralized, collaborative, and interoperable. Spatially oriented content will intersect in real-time with the physical world. You may see technology such as eyeglasses potentially including voice technology. You’ll send and receive messages communicating with people and your environment. Any augmentation you want will be available without having to look down at a cumbersome device (e.g., a phone, tablet or laptop). The end goal is persistent augmentation of physical reality with various digital realities.
New technology, familiar evolution
We’ve seen this evolution before, with the industrial revolution, then mainframe computing, followed by PC and mobile technology. The Metaverse will bring new technology and challenges. And with that, new leaders will replace the previous generation of leaders. We won’t discuss the Metaverse itself much. It’ll just be this persistent element that’s always with us.
The Metaverse, the next evolution of the Internet, will transform how people interact with the world. Product leaders must understand the evolutionary phases, enabling technologies, products, services, and markets of the Metaverse to use it to their competitive advantage.
Meetaverse Corporate Metaverse
Lead your team into the future. Create a corporate metaverse your entire organization will love. Start working in your own metaverse now. With Meetaverse, navigate, communicate and collaborate in digital workplaces designed to accelerate sales, provide immersive brand experiences, and support remote work environments. Imagine in one room, the sales team is closing another deal. Next door, the marketing team is hosting a product launch event. Across the hall, the HR team is holding a training session. From simple meeting spaces to comprehensive digital office environments, customize your corporate metaverse today with Meetaverse.
Features:
- Meetings: formal and informal, 1-to-1, 1-to-many (facilitates group engagement)
- Screen sharing: both in conversations and presentations with full-screen capability
- Ability to share files, videos, and live stream
- Meeting recordings (GDPR compliant)
- Easy, self-guided navigation
- Video/Audio calling
- Chat: upload and download files (with emojis)
- Fully customizable design with content integration for endless branding opportunities
- Presentations: multiple configurations (multiple or panel presenters)
- Audience participation with live Q&A, chat, emoticons, and more
- Dashboard with administrative controls and analytics
Start your corporate metaverse with Meetaverse. Experience it now.
FAQs:
Yes, we’re at the beginning of the Metaverse. The first phase, the emerging Metaverse, is characterized by individually controlled, closed metaverses or “miniverses” and more mature “intraverses”.
What are the evolutionary phases of the Metaverse?
- The emerging Metaverse
- The advanced Metaverse
- The mature Metaverse
Why is the Metaverse important?
It’s the next iteration of the internet, and it’s inevitable. The Metaverse will bring together physical and digital reality in ways that will fundamentally change how we meet and communicate.
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