What is Metaverse?

If you've been following any of the news around virtual reality, you've probably seen the term metaverse or virtual reality metaverse mentioned more than once. What exactly is the metaverse? It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, and it refers to the concept of virtual worlds that are connected through the internet.

The Metaverse – Alternative Reality

The metaverse (or in short, meta-world) is an alternate reality built on top of the internet as we know it today. The idea has been conceived of by authors and film makers alike, but what it means to be part of the metaverse will take a lot more time and technological advancements before it comes to fruition. In fact, there are quite a few things that need to happen before we see something like the movie Ready Player One make its way into our lives... if ever! And even then, such a thing would likely have very little resemblance to how it was portrayed in Spielberg's sci-fi adventure flick. Nevertheless, here's a quick rundown of some of those steps: -Virtual Reality: For starters, virtual reality technology needs to advance considerably. While headsets exist now and they do create immersive environments, they aren't nearly good enough for what we want out of a metaverse. The graphics don't look real enough, nor do they feel real enough when you move your head around.

Virtual Reality (VR) Explained

Virtual reality is an entirely computer-generated experience in which a digital environment is designed to replicate the physical presence of the real world or imaginary world, to provide the experience of being immersed in that world. Virtual reality experiences can be created with headsets such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, which use screens, tracking devices, and motion controllers to create a digital environment. This headset is linked to a powerful computer (known as a host machine) that makes what you see and hear consistent with your movements. The result is an amazingly realistic experience, whether it's exploring ancient ruins or sitting courtside at a basketball game. Other ways to experience virtual reality include using other headsets like Google Cardboard, using PCs, and gaming systems. You may be able to explore 3D environments on your smartphone if your company offers that app. Others will have video games on a large screen for you to play, but you can also use handheld controllers.

How VR Works

The term virtual reality has been tossed around for decades, and while it's often used in science fiction books and movies, it has never become part of everyday life. However, technology has finally advanced to a point where most people have access to VR headsets like Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. In fact, some estimates suggest that over half a billion people will use VR by 2020. So what exactly is virtual reality? How does it work? And why should you care about it? Let's take a look at how VR works. 
Virtual reality is fundamentally different from augmented reality because it takes place inside your headset or goggles, rather than on top of them. Most commonly, you'll hear VR being used as shorthand for an immersive head-mounted display (HMD). Put simply, these are devices that allow wearers to immerse themselves in 360-degree environments with stereoscopic depth perception. They can be linked with accessories such as gloves or haptic vests which stimulate various senses.

VR Uses

The term metaverse was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel The Diamond Age, as a collective virtual shared space, created by a computer network and populated by avatars. Our current state of technology doesn't allow for nearly as expansive VR spaces as we see in sci-fi movies, but VR apps are already creating smaller versions of these dream worlds. Facebook Spaces and Oculus Rooms let you create your own personal avatar to interact with friends on Facebook or play games with them; AltspaceVR lets you meet up with friends to watch TV shows or attend live events together; Rec Room lets you play games like paintball against other players; even dating apps like Tinder now offer users a chance to meet up virtually before they decide if they want to take things offline. Some may scoff at comparing today's VR apps to futuristic visions of an immersive digital universe. but that may be shortsighted—after all, who would have thought 10 years ago that everyone would soon be carrying around pocket computers capable of connecting us all over the world? Just imagine what will seem possible once we have fully untethered headsets that can transport us anywhere imaginable.

VR in Business and Marketing

the next breakthrough year for virtual reality (VR) will be 2016. Previously, Google Cardboard had come out in 2014. This helped move VR into the mainstream and make it seem commonplace for us to be able to find VR at our local Best Buy or Walmart. Then, on February 29th of 2015, Facebook acquired Oculus VR for $2 billion - which solidified VR as a clear-cut innovation. The marketplace will continue to grow, but how will virtual reality fit into it and how can it be used effectively by businesses? Here are some current usages of 4D: 360° film technology. An immersive film creates a sense of presence with motion images surrounded by panoramic views. Consumers view the films by wearing special glasses, giving them the freedom to look in any direction they want. 4D-360° films are mostly being used for travel-related videos right now, with real estate companies such as Redfin utilizing 360° videos of properties for sale.

Rift or Vive?

What Kind of VR Headset Do You Need to Be Excited About This New Age of Immersive Technology? Two new competitors for gaming like Microsoft's Hololens and Sony's PlayStation VR have emerged.

but the most popular VR devices that have been on the market for several years are the three market leaders. If you're still confused about which one to purchase, there are lots of options, such as Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, and Oculus Rift. So, for simplicity's sake, let's break down some of their key differences! ## Option 1 Despite not being an actual headset, mobile virtual reality has seen a lot of success in its first year of release. That's not surprising at all! It's an affordable way to use immersive technology on your phone--though the quality could be better, it can't be beat for an introduction.

Summary

The metaverse, an extension of what we now call virtual reality (VR), will be a universe in which people are able to interact with each other through virtual environments. A person will be able to visit another person's home and communicate as if they were in real life, as well as share experiences with friends or even strangers on other planets. It will change every aspect of our lives and create a new world. If you have been searching for that epic technology advancement, then keep reading!