We are in a unique historical moment, in which technological innovations are happening at a rapid pace, ever faster. In the past, centuries passed between one industrial revolution and the next, whereas now it only takes a few years for the technological landscape to change completely again and again.
The emergence and popularization of the Internet and social networks brought about a radical change in the way in which we humans relate to each other, and to companies and institutions, just over three decades ago.
High-speed communications, augmented reality and artificial intelligence have revolutionised the world over the past five years, but a new revolution is on the way and promises to completely change the digital environment in which we operate.
The Metaverse will once again radically change the way in which individuals interact on the Internet. We do not yet know the real scope of all the changes that are taking place and will take place in the future, but, above all, we must be prepared, with a receptive attitude. All change requires the ability to adapt, but above all, it means progress.
Definition of Metaverse
The Metaverse is a virtual space where you can work, establish business relationships, learn and, ultimately, interact with other people, companies and corporations in a totally immersive way.
To access it, for the moment, it is necessary to have a virtual reality device (VR glasses or similar), as well as other gadgets with physical sensors to record movement, facial expression, gaze, etc.
With them, you can even experience sensations in a very realistic three-dimensional environment. In this sense, they allow you to interact with all the elements found in that virtual space. The person is graphically represented by their avatar in that virtual universe, which can be personalized in their image and likeness if they wish.
“The metaverse is a new channel for relationships and communication. The positive part is that, being immersive, it is capable of generating unforgettable experiences that we can really enjoy. And this applied to our leisure time is brutal, but can we imagine its impact on our way of relating? If today a large part of society is already hooked on social networks, what will happen when this new level of sensations arrives? And emotions? In short, we have before us a fascinating technology that will revolutionize our way of relating again,” said Silvia Leal, an international technology expert, during an interview that I was able to do with her for my book “Followers. Create your community of followers on the Internet.”
How the Metaverse Works
Many technology companies, such as Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Google, Amazon… are developing infrastructures and applications for the Metaverse. There are not “several metaverses”, as is often said, but rather it could be defined as a single world made up of different interconnected platforms.
In this sense, the Metaverse would be like the Internet, a single platform made up of millions of services, web pages, games, etc. In addition, one of its main characteristics will be persistence. That is, the Metaverse – like the Internet – is always running and there will be no limit to the number of individuals who can connect to it.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that in the Metaverse you do not navigate – neither by text nor by voice – but rather you “walk” with the avatar and interact with the rest of the elements.
This immersive universe is currently nothing more than a developing technology, of which some practical applications have begun to emerge, such as Meta’s Horizon Worlds or different online environments for developing videoconference meetings, for example.
However, we still have the technology needed to unleash the full potential of the Metaverse. That is why major Internet companies are investing millions to develop it.
If the Metaverse ultimately fails, these investments will be for naught. But there is a belief that the Metaverse will be the next big step in the evolution of the Internet, so it is advisable to be prepared.
According to a report by the Pew Research Center, 54% of the experts surveyed believe that, by 2040, the Metaverse will be sufficiently developed and implemented and will constitute an immersive community that will be accessed daily by more than 500 million people around the world and will change the way we relate online – once again – both between users and between people and companies.