Metaverse. The term you might be hearing a lot, especially these days. But, do you know what exactly metaverse is?… Any Idea?… Ok. I know, many of the readers would have some ideas about it but are still insufficient to understand it deeply and some of them don’t even have clues. So, let’s make it super easy to understand; from where did it begin to the future updates & opportunities in this particular world of Metaverse.
What is Metaverse- How does it work?
While thinking of Metaverse, it reminds me of “Marvel stuff” and especially the Iron Man & the Wakanda. Where we see the next to the next level of technology, the screen of Iron Man’s suit, the EDITH, and the VR – AR projected functions which they perform with their hands even when it’s virtual. Likewise, while reminding this in mind, we can say that:
Metaverse is an online network of 3D Virtual Worlds, focused to build social connections among virtual spaces in multiple virtual universes. –Still not clear?… Let’s elaborate!
Not fully in existence, the Metaverse is still a concept that is about to become a reality. It is like a next-level version of the internet connecting multiple virtual spaces, building social networks with a new Decentralized finance system called Blockchain. That will allow users to perform activities together such as; playing games, meeting, working, socializing, and even earning assets in the form of cryptocurrencies.
Definition of Metaverse
The term “Metaverse” doesn’t refer to a specific type of technology. So, the technologies that make up the metaverse could include, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.
Let’s, take an example. Nowadays, people meet each other in online video chats or conduct virtual meetings, and online classes and do so much online stuff. No doubt it’s a great experience in a virtual meeting room but, there are still limitations. We can meet each other but can’t do something together as we do offline. We can see each other but on a screen only (as a picture); There are a lot of limitations to different prospects. If we compare it to the metaverse, then we would be able to not only meet but also sit, talk, discuss, handshake, and do tons of activities with each other in a digital-virtual room. And that won’t appear like a picture, it will be like an almost real experience. (That will need an AR Headset)
The metaverse and those spaces across it can be accessed not only via VR or AR headsets. If you have played Fortnite then you must know that it can be played or controlled by PCs or Smartphones which could be considered a metaversal.
The Rules to the Metaverse
According to Tony Parisi (Unity), there are some unconfirmed rules to the metaverse:
- There is only one metaverse
- Nobody controls the metaverse
- Metaverse should be for everyone
- The metaverse is the internet
- The metaverse is a network
- Metaverse must always remain open
- The metaverse is hardware agnostic/independent
The History- Where did Metaverse start?
From Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook to Satya Nadella, Present CEO of Microsoft, almost every lip has the same word “The Metaverse”. Even FaceBook changed the firm name to Meta Platforms Inc. to make everyone familiar with Metaverse. But wait, where did it start? Who defined the term Metaverse for the first time, when, and where? Let’s see all that.
Year, 1992
The term Metaverse was first defined in 1992 in a science-fiction novel called “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson. Where inside a 3-dimensional virtual space- that uses the metaphor of the real world, humans as programmable characters and avatars to interact with each other and the software agents.
Year, 2011
Then in 2011 a dystopian sci-fi novel “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, with a film adaptation in 2018 and the second part of the novel in 2020. The story demonstrates a shared VR landscape called, “The OASIS” and the year 2045 where the world is clashing with global warming, energy crises, economic stagnation, & a lot of problems and the only way to escape for people is that shared VR landscape which is accessed with a VR headset and wired gloves.
Year, 2021 – 2022
An example of the Metaverse can also be seen in another sci-fi film released in 2021 called “Free Guy” played by some famous personalities such as; Rayn Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and many more. Where they play a PC game called Free city, chose a unique Avatar or Character and build social connections, and do whatever they like in that particular universe with some real players and some NPCs (bots) as well.
On October 28, 2021, Mark Zuckerberg; Founder & CEO of Facebook announced and staked a claim on the Metaverse by changing the firm name to Meta Platforms Inc. or In short, Meta. And shared the concept of Metaverse in a Keynote of about 80 minutes. Then Satya Nadella, the present CEO of Microsoft, also shared a Keynote, and this got continued. More and more people shared their thoughts, ideas, and concepts about the Metaverse.
The Requirements – How to access the Metaverse?
In terms of accessing the Metaverse, almost everyone will suggest purchasing or using VR & AR kits but, this is not the only way to access the Metaverse. As mentioned above, we can also access the metaverse via our PCs or Smartphones. A bunch of Metaversal applications and video games are already on the market. Even some (non-metaversal) popular applications are working to upgrade them as metaversal applications.
Personal or Gaming Computers
To make a metaversal experience it will need either VR-AR kits or a PC with high configurations or a Gaming PC. Normal PCs with low configurations can’t access any of the metaversal applications. The minimum and recommended configurations for best performance on a Windows machine are as follows:
Random Access Memory: 8GB Hard Disk Drive / Solid-State Drive: 500GB CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K Processor Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT File Size: 8 GB Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 11
How to join Decentraland Metaverse
For this article, we’ll take Decentraland and explain the steps to enter it. Decentraland is one of the huge platforms that gives the user a metaversal experience based on blockchain technology. It is a virtual world where the community build, owns, or purchase piece of land, artwork, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Decentaland has its own native cryptocurrency called Mana. Mana and all the in-game assets are on the Ethereum Blockchain (ETH) (Ξ).
Now, if you have a computer system with such configurations or even higher then you are ready to go. It’s not Rocket Science!
- Make a Crypto wallet based on Ethereum Blockchain (Recommended: Metamask). Then head to Decentraland. Click on the Get started button and connect your wallet.
- While at a metaversal application or to make a metaversal experience, it’s obvious that you’ll need an Avatar to explore the Virtual world. You’ll see a panel at Decentraland to equip and customize an Avatar. Where you’ll be able to select or change gender, eyes, hair, nose, face, color, outfits, and everything you would like.
- Once, you’re done with gearing up your Avatar, you will be dropped at Genesis Plaza (kind of a default lobby) where you will see some other Avatars as well popping around you. It will take you a bit to understand the controllers and to adjust yourself to the space. Once you catch that all, you will be able to teleport yourself to a space of your choice.
- After choosing a space, you can feel independent as you could do anything you like. Make new friends, Play games, build new creations, and have fun.
Note: Before moving ahead and following any of the steps above, kindly make sure to read the User guides and Terms & Conditions. Don’t take any risks!
Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality
To make an almost real and immersive experience of the virtual spaces around the metaverse, You’ll need either VR or AR MR kit. The best and most popular devices are mentioned below, you can check them out.
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer code-generated surrounding condition with 3D objects & scenes that appear almost real and gives user immersive feelings of the environment.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that allows users to see and interact with virtual objects and information superimposed onto the real world. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a completely immersive digital environment, augmented reality adds digital elements to the user’s existing environment.
Mixed Reality
Mixed reality (MR) is a technology that combines elements of both virtual reality and augmented reality to create a hybrid digital-physical environment. In mixed reality, virtual objects and information are seamlessly integrated into the user’s real-world environment, creating a sense of immersion that is more realistic and lifelike than either VR or AR alone.