“Metaverse” that we often hear in recent years
Many people probably don’t know what it is. In a word, it is “virtual space”. The feature is that you can project yourself as an avatar in a 3D world configured on the Internet and enjoy it. I will explain how the Metaverse development is used and why it is attracting attention.
What is Metaverse?
Metaverse is the next evolutionary form of virtual reality, and refers to a digital space beyond the real world. You can enjoy projecting yourself as an avatar in a 3D world constructed on the Internet.
The biggest feature is that you can freely act in the virtual space in a state close to the real space. Within this space, you can represent yourself as an avatar, interact with others, own virtual properties and modify them to your liking.
I think that many people have a strong impression of games when they hear the word “avatar,” but the Metaverse is not only used for games and entertainment. Future development is expected in a wide range of fields such as medicine, education, and business. For example, it is possible to realize telepresence, a technology that allows you to enjoy communication with remote members with a sense of presence, and enable collaborative work.
In addition, it is strongly linked to virtual currency and blockchain technology, and can be used to manage economic activities and digital assets.
However, it is also true that there are still challenges and risks. I will explain the usage examples and the advantages and disadvantages.
Is it different from VR?
VR (virtual reality) is a technology that allows you to experience a virtual space that is different from reality, created using computer technology. In general, wearing a VR headset is characterized by the fact that you can get the feeling that you are in another place.
The specific differences are as follows.
1. difference in scale
VR is primarily aimed at one user completely immersing themselves in themselves, with headsets for that purpose. On the other hand, the Metaverse can be accessed by many users at the same time and can be active in a large virtual space.
2. difference in purpose
VR is primarily used for entertainment and gaming. Metaverse is widely used, but it is also expected to be deployed in a wide range of fields such as medical care and business.
3. Interaction difference
VR is mainly aimed at completely enveloping oneself, and the user personally moves and manipulates the real body. On the other hand, in the Metaverse, you can enjoy communicating with other users through avatars.
4. difference in the world
VR is primarily focused on one environment. On the other hand, the Metaverse Development solutions often has multiple environments and worlds, and it is characterized by being able to operate in them
VR is mainly intended to be enjoyed by one person in a self-contained manner, and is immersed in a virtual space using a dedicated headset. However, in the Metaverse, it is possible to communicate with multiple people in a virtual space, and there is a tendency to emphasize communication with a large number of people.
what can you do
The Metaverse enables a variety of things, but what exactly can it do? Here are some of the things you can do in the metaverse.
1. business activities
You can use the Metaverse to hold meetings, presentations, exhibitions, and sales activities. You can communicate in real time with people all over the world through the Internet, regardless of time and place.
2. entertainment
You can enjoy adventures and sports in virtual world games, and live music and performances in virtual space. You can play games online with friends who are far away or difficult to see, and you can go to live events together.
3. Education/Training
It may come as a surprise, but the Metaverse is also used in the field of education. Examples include remote student interaction, real-time experimentation and training, and arts and culture learning.
4. community social
The feature of the Metaverse is that multiple people can gather at the same time and form a community. For example, parties, live performances, shopping, watching sports, exchanges and friendships can all be done on the Metaverse.
5. creative activities
Users can create their own avatars and 3D objects.
In addition to avatars, there are also the design and production of costumes, furniture, buildings, etc., the production of photographs and videos in virtual space, and the exhibition of art works in virtual space.
The Metaverse is still in the process of developing, and research and development is underway on how to utilize it in many fields in the future.
Merit and Demerit
So what are the pros and cons of actually using it?
Merit
Although there are some overlaps with the above-mentioned notable background, the following are the advantages of using the Metaverse.
1. new economic zone
You can actually shop using virtual currency in the Metaverse, and buy and sell real estate in the virtual space. Furthermore, by eliminating physical stores and moving stores to the Metaverse, companies can expect a lot of cost reductions.
2. Feel free to participate in events
When the new coronavirus spread, many live concerts were canceled to prevent infection, and entertainment was undermined. However, in the Metaverse, where you don’t have to actually go to the event venue and meet people directly, you can easily participate in various events.
In addition, since you can share the space with friends who are far away using avatars, it is difficult to feel the physical distance and you can feel like you are participating in the event together.
3. A place where truants and hikikomori can connect with society
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the number of elementary and junior high school students who do not attend school in 2021 will be 244,940, a sharp increase from the previous year to 48,813 (24.9%). The Mie Prefectural Board of Education is using the Metaverse to provide opportunities for such children to connect with society.
Quote: Mie Prefectural Board of Education
4. Can act anonymously
When using the Metaverse individually, it is possible to use it anonymously by using a handle name. As a result, many people can cut off the connection with the real world, which leads to stress release and psychological liberation.
Demerit
1. Dilution of human relationships
There are also concerns about the possibility that more people will rely on activities on the Metaverse, even at the expense of human relationships in the real world. Also, communication on the Metaverse Intergration Services may be weaker than human relationships in the real world.
2. Technology and cost burden
In order to comfortably operate avatars on the Metaverse, special operations and environments may be required. In some cases, the disparity between those who cannot prepare them and those who can will become a problem. Security measures are also indispensable, so Metaverse’s own measures are also essential. If the countermeasures are weak, there is also the risk of hacking.
You can also enjoy the Metaverse on your smartphone, but compared to a PC, the operability is poor, so you tend to need a PC with high specs to fully enjoy it.
3. Legal issues
At present, the legislation regarding the Metaverse has not yet caught up. As a result, there is insufficient provision for harassment issues and troubles caused by minors. We think that maintenance advances in future, but must be careful until maintenance advances.
4. mental health issues
Since the avatar is different from the real self, there is a possibility that mental health problems may occur due to the gap between yourself and yourself.
Furthermore, because of the high degree of immersion, there is also the aspect that it is viewed as a problem that more people will become dependent on the Metaverse and become immersed in it.
Make sure you understand the pros and cons and use them.
Business
Metaverse is also used in various ways in the business field. Here are some usage examples.
1. virtual shop
Using the Metaverse, it is possible to create shopping malls and stores in virtual space and sell products. As online shopping spreads, it is possible to provide a more familiar and realistic shopping experience in addition to conventional websites.
2. virtual event
Events such as exhibitions, conferences, and music festivals can also be held in the Metaverse. Because it is not subject to many restrictions, larger events and experiences and communication that are difficult to achieve with conventional events are possible.
3. virtual office
In a virtual office, you can work just like you would in a traditional office. Suitable for remote work and distributed teams, it encourages communication and collaboration among team members without the constraints of a traditional office.
4. virtual real estate
Metaverse is also used in the real estate industry. Real-life properties are reproduced in virtual space, allowing visitors to tour the interior. In addition, as remote work increases, the number of real estate companies that provide virtual offices and virtual housing is also increasing.
As mentioned above, new business opportunities are created that are more accessible and free from physical restrictions. By utilizing the Metaverse, it is becoming possible to communicate with customers, streamline business activities, and innovate through creative approaches.
Summary
There are many cases where the metaverse is already being used, so if you are interested, please check it out in detail.
Many companies are starting to focus on the Metaverse, and I’m looking forward to future developments! It may be a good idea for individuals to consider the advantages and disadvantages and use it to enrich their lives.
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