Metaverse
The most common definitions of the metaverse are:
1) an embodied virtual-reality experience;
2) a Web3 framework for economic interoperability;
3) a creative platform for experiences (e.g., Sandbox).
The Metaverse is an iteration of the Internet that functions as a single, universal, and immersive virtual world made possible by the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets. A metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds centered on social connection. The term “metaverse” originated as a portmanteau of “meta” and “universe” in the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. Because of the increasing demand for immersion, metaverse development is frequently linked to the advancement of virtual reality technology. Web3, a concept for a decentralized iteration of the internet, has influenced recent interest in metaverse development. Web3 and The Metaverse have been used as public relations buzzwords to exaggerate the development progress of various related technologies and projects. Concerns in the metaverse include information privacy, user addiction, and user safety, which stem from issues in the social media and video game industries as a whole.
The metaverse can be accessed through general-purpose computers and smartphones, as well as augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality. The reliance on VR technology has hampered metaverse development and widespread adoption. Because of portable hardware limitations and the need to balance cost and design, there is a lack of high-quality graphics and mobility. Lightweight wireless headsets have struggled to achieve the pixel density required for visual immersion on retina displays. Another barrier to widespread adoption is the high cost of consumer VR headsets, which range in price from $300 to $3500 as of 2022. Current hardware development is centered on overcoming the limitations of VR headsets and sensors, as well as increasing immersion through haptic technology.
There has not been widespread adoption of a standardized technical specification for metaverse implementations, and existing implementations primarily rely on proprietary technology. Interoperability is a major concern in metaverse development, stemming from transparency and privacy concerns. Several virtual environment standardization projects have been undertaken. Pixar created the Universal Scene Description specification for 3D computer graphics interchange, which is supported by Blender, Apple’s Scenekit, and Autodesk 3ds Max. NVIDIA, a technology company, announced in 2021 that they would use USD for their metaverse development tools. OpenXR is an open standard that allows anyone to gain access to virtual and augmented reality devices and experiences. Microsoft has used it for the HoloLens 2, Meta Platforms for the Oculus Quest, and Valve for SteamVR.