What is the Metaverse?

Metateck December 13, 2022

What is the Metaverse? Easy-to-understand explanation | What can you do? What is the reason for attention

Metaverse is a virtual space on the Internet. You can replace yourself with a character called an avatar and enjoy interaction and events in virtual space.

In recent years, the Metaverse space of each municipality has been opened to the public, and it has become a more familiar existence.

In this article, I will explain the metaverse in an easy-to-understand manner. We mention what it can do and why it is attracting attention, so please refer to this article to deepen your knowledge.

metaverse

 

Table of contents

  1. What is the Metaverse? Easy-to-understand explanation
  2. Why the Metaverse is attracting attention
  3. What you can do with the Metaverse
  4. Metaverse usage genres and future usage
  5. Recommended Metaverse Platforms
  6. How to start the metaverse
  7. Summary

1. What is the Metaverse? Easy-to-understand explanation

"Meta" in Metaverse is a word that means "transcendence", and "universe" means "universe". The metaverse is a coined word that combines the two.

The Metaverse can be summed up as "a virtual space on the Internet. "

In the virtual world within the Metaverse, it is possible to replace oneself with a character called an "avatar" and manipulate it. A wide range of activities are possible, such as the avatar communicating with other users, participating in events, and conducting business.

In recent years, the former Facebook changed its company name to "Meta", indicating that the Metaverse is spreading around the world. Many other companies have also announced their participation in the Metaverse, and it is expected that more attention will be gathered in the future.

2. What is a familiar and easy-to-understand metaverse?

Did you know that the Metaverse actually exists all around us? For example, the following is an easy-to-understand example of the metaverse.

  • fortnite
  • Collected Animal Crossing
  • Minecraft
  • Virtual Shibuya

Even if you have never used the above, there are probably many people who have heard about it somewhere. In particular, "Atsume Animal Forest" has become a social phenomenon.

In addition to the above, Mamoru Hosoda's movie "Summer Wars" has become a big topic in world as a work on the theme of the Metaverse.

In this way, the Metaverse already exists in familiar places, and in the future there will be more opportunities to come into contact with the Metaverse than ever before.

3. Differences between "Metaverse" and "VR"

"Metaverse" and "VR" are often thought of as synonymous, but there are some differences.

Metaverse:

 A word that expresses the virtual space itself

VR:

 Equipment and technology for experiencing virtual space

Metaverse is a term that represents "virtual space itself" that exists on the Internet, and can be used regardless of the use of VR equipment. On the other hand, VR refers to equipment and technology for experiencing virtual space, and means devices such as "VR goggles" and "VR headsets".

In addition, by incorporating VR into the space within the Metaverse, it is possible to experience the virtual space with a feeling closer to reality. VR will be necessary in order to feel more realistic in the Metaverse.

Nonetheless, the Metaverse allows you to experience a variety of things through your avatar, so there's no problem without VR. Just think of it as one of the options if you want to have an experience close to reality.


4. Why the Metaverse is attracting attention

The Metaverse is spreading around the world, but why is it getting so much attention? There are several factors behind this, but the main three are:

  1. Advances in VR technology
  2. Impact of practical application of NFTs
  3. Possibilities as new communication

1. Advances in VR technology

The supply of VR content has increased due to the development of VR equipment technology and its widespread use. Along with this, the fact that VR equipment has become lighter and cheaper has had a major impact on consumers.

In other words, it has become easier to obtain better VR equipment than before, and the amount of content that can use that VR equipment is increasing.

2. Impact of practical application of  NFTs

One of the reasons why the Metaverse is attracting attention is that NFTs using blockchains have been put to practical use.

NFT stands for "non-fungible token" and is used as the only technology in the world to prove that digital data is genuine.

Thanks to this technology, the uniqueness of digital data has become possible, making it possible to buy and sell data such as items and land as NFT even in the Metaverse.

Currently, NFTs obtained on the Metaverse can be bought and sold on the NFT Marketplace, and NFTs obtained on the NFT Marketplace can be used and sold within the Metaverse.

Due to this series of relationships, the metaverse is also attracting attention in conjunction with NFT.

3. Possibilities as new communication

Recently, due to the influence of the corona virus, the spread of online communication tools has accelerated at once as part of measures to prevent infection. It has become commonplace for meetings and conferences to be held using online tools such as ZOOM.

Metaverse is attracting attention as one of these new communication tools.

The feature of the Metaverse is that it allows you to communicate as if you were actually meeting them, and as the technology develops, it will continue to attract attention as a more comfortable communication tool.

5. What you can do with the Metaverse

We have already introduced the features of the Metaverse so far, but let's summarize the features of the Metaverse from the perspective of "What can we do?"

If you classify "what you can do in the Metaverse" in a broad frame, there are mainly the following three.

  1. Various activities and experiences in virtual space
  2. Unrealistic things can be experienced
  3. Metaverse expands business opportunities

1. Various activities and experiences in virtual space

Various activities and experiences are possible in the virtual space within the Metaverse.

For example, games, participation in events and live performances, shopping, travel, business, etc. This experience can be done in a virtual space while staying at home.

You can experience a feeling closer to the feeling of actually meeting or going to the site, so you can enjoy a feeling closer to reality than conventional online tools. It's also attractive to be able to empathize with users all over the world in real time at the same time.

2. Unrealistic things can be experienced

In virtual space, it is possible to have a surreal experience that ignores the laws of physics in the real world.

For example, you can do activities that are not caught in reality, such as growing wings and flying in the sky or going to space.

One of the great pleasures of the Metaverse is that you can experience things that transcend reality.

3. Metaverse expands business opportunities

Since NFT works can be sold in the Metaverse, new business opportunities will expand.

For example, in normal online shopping, it is not possible to talk with the staff and purchase products, but in the Metaverse, it is possible to talk with the staff as if you were shopping at an actual store. You can enjoy shopping with a sense closer to reality.

Both creators and users are looking forward to these possibilities. Look forward to new business opportunities.

6. Metaverse usage genres and future usage

Currently, the metaverse is mainly used in the following fields.

  1. Game
  2. Online meeting
  3.  Virtual office
  4. Event live
  5. Shopping

1. Game

Speaking of representative metaverse, games are mentioned. In many games that use the Metaverse, it is possible to experience in-game events by manipulating avatars.

Metaverse games include the following works.

  1. fortnite
  2. Collected Animal Crossing
  3. Minecraft
  4. Decentraland
  5. The Sandbox
  6. Axie Infinity

Metaverse games are characterized by the fact that many people can gather in the game and play freely and act together. Through these games, more and more people are enjoying realistic experiences close to the real world.

2. Online meeting

Metaverse has also been adopted in the business world. Online meetings are an example.

Conventional online meetings have been held using online tools such as ZOOM and Teams, but they did not have the presence of a real meeting.

However, online meetings using the Metaverse make it possible to share the same space while staying at home. By using VR goggles and VR headsets, you can experience the feeling of having a meeting on the spot.

In this way, an increasing number of companies are conducting online meetings using the Metaverse as a new communication tool, as they can feel a sense of distance and tension between people that was not possible in conventional online meetings.

3. Virtual office

In addition to online meetings, virtual offices are attracting attention for business use.

A virtual office is a service that allows you to go to the office in a virtual space with an avatar and perform work and communication. Services being talked about include:

  1. Horizon Workrooms
  2. Mesh for Microsoft Teams

1. Horizon Workrooms

“Horizon Workrooms” is a virtual office released by Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2021. You can talk, hold meetings, and work as if you were actually in the same space. It is also characterized by being able to detect the direction and distance of the person being spoken to, thanks to its unique technology.

2. Mesh for Microsoft Teams

"Mesh for Microsoft Teams" is a communication tool that Microsoft plans to release in 2022.

It is a service based on the concept of conducting meetings, exchanges, and business, with the aim of smooth online communication.

4. Event live

Events and live performances are also held in the Metaverse space. In the past, it was only possible to watch and participate through the screen, but in the Metaverse, it is possible to experience the realism of being there. The pleasure of being able to experience the feeling of being with an artist is truly the real pleasure of the Metaverse.

Among them, the live performance of the artist “Kenshi Yonezu” held in the game “Fort Knight” in August 2020 became a hot topic. Based on these successful examples, opportunities for corporate events and live performances are increasing.

5. Shopping

Virtual shops using the Metaverse are also attracting attention. A virtual shop is a store created on the Metaverse, where you can browse and shop for products as if you were actually in the store.

In conventional online shopping, it is not possible to talk with the store staff, but in the virtual shop, you can purchase products while having a conversation with the staff.

These virtual stores are also useful when the store you want to visit in the real world is not nearby. The famous brand "GUCCI", the sports brand "NIKE", and the apparel brand "H&M" are also developing virtual stores, so please try them out.

Recently, “Metaverse EC”, which means opening a store on an existing metaverse service, has also become a hot topic. It is an image of opening a shop in a commercial facility in the Metaverse that has already been deployed.

By opening a store on the well-known Metaverse service, it is attractive that a certain number of users can be expected to visit the store and make sales, and that it can be opened without incurring costs.

Against this background, the Metaverse will continue to be used in the shopping field.

Recommended Metaverse Platforms

The metaverse also has genres, and various types of platforms have been released. If you're not sure which metaverse to choose, try one of the eight popular platforms below.

  1. Cluster
  2. Decentraland
  3. The Sandbox
  4. VRchat
  5. Axie Infinity
  6. fortnite
  7. ZEPET
  8. Everdome

How to start the metaverse

Here are the 4 things you need to get started with the Metaverse:

  1. virtual currency exchange account
  2. MetaMask
  3. computer
  4. Peripheral devices such as VR goggles and controllers

Since virtual currency is required to start Metaverse, it is necessary to open an exchange account and create a wallet. In addition, if you want to enjoy the Metaverse comfortably, you will need a computer with decent specs and peripherals.

After preparing the above, register on the platform and enjoy the Metaverse.

7. Summary

Metaverse means "virtual space on the Internet". In the virtual world of the Metaverse, you can replace yourself with a character called an "avatar" and operate it, and that avatar can communicate with other users and participate in events.

The Metaverse already exists around us and is used in various fields such as games, entertainment, and business. It is also recommended to try the Metaverse little by little, starting with a field that suits you.

Also, "Metaverse" and "VR" tend to have the same meaning. It means a device such as "VR headset".

By using the Metaverse, it is possible to experience a virtual space with a feeling closer to reality than before. There is also the possibility that it will have a major impact on our social life in the future, so let's pay attention to the development and spread of Metaverse technology.

 


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