Ever since Facebook rebranded itself as ‘Meta,’ Metaverse has been in the headlines in technology news. It is the new favorite buzzword in Silicon Valley. Experts have been calling it the next big leap in the internet, social networking and technology space. But what is metaverse, exactly? If you have been scouting all over the web for an easy-to-understand answer to this question, then you hunt ends here. In this article, we will tell you what is metaverse, what are its applications, what are the biggest companies working in the field and more. So, let’s begin.
What is Metaverse?
The concept of Metaverse isn’t new and has been around for about three decades now. Its earliest mention is believed to have been made in the novel – Snow Crash – released in 1992. Ever since, various tech companies have been working on it.
In simple terms, Metaverse is a virtual, online space where people build communities and interact with each other. They create avatars to represent themselves. One can visit places, make new friends, shop online and do so much more from the comfort of their couch.
What are the Applications of Metaverse?
The applications of Metaverse are seemingly endless. Facebook’s Meta is a platform where people can indulge in an immersive social networking experience. Rather than punching in buttons on their keyboard, they can feel like being face to face with the other person and communicate directly.
Gaming is another space where Metaverse is believed to bring revolution. If experts are to be believed, it is going to take the gaming experience several notches higher, bringing it a lot closer to reality. Metaverse will also aid in conducting business as businesspersons could have virtual face-to-face meetings while being thousands of miles apart in the real world.
Metaverse will also change the way we do online shopping. Rather than just seeing images on a 2-dimensional screen, everyone would be able to get a better understanding of the products available for us to buy online. That’s what Metaverse is!
Companies in Metaverse
Numerous companies around the world have been working on building a digital universe. Here are some of the biggest names on this list.
Mark Zuckerberg-led Facebook is all in on the concept and idea of Metaverse, so much so that it has changed its name from ‘Facebook’ to ‘Meta.’ In an open letter, the Silicon Valley giant said that the future of the company centers around the digital universe. It has already sold millions of Oculus VR headgear to help people navigate Metaverse.
Microsoft
Microsoft aims to implement Metaverse in Microsoft Teams, its online meetings platform. It will allow business executives around the world to have digital meetings using shared holographic experiences. Named Mesh, this new service is already in use and is helping Accenture, one of the biggest IT companies in the world, onboard more than 100,000 professionals every year.
Read more: 10 Simple Ways to Improve your SEO Ranking in 2022
Epic Games
Epic Games is a pioneer in the gaming space. In the 2021, the company raised $1 billion to make a massive investment in virtual reality. Sony Group Corp was one of the biggest contributors in this round of funding, bringing in $200 million. In a statement, the CEO and President of Sony Group Corp. said, “I strongly believe that this aligns with our purpose to fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.”
Apple
While Apple may not directly be taking a leap in the Multiverse space, it still plans to bank on the new trend. It is investing heavily in AR (augmented reality) hardware, and aims for its Apple App Store to play a major role in the AR space in future.
Read more: 10 Amazing Things You Didn’t Know About Google
What are your thoughts on Metaverse? Do you think it is the future? Share your thoughts through the comment box below.