CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE METAVERSE IS?
There are a few definitions. You can think of it from a technological viewpoint, where it’s simply the successor of the internet. Computers once took up big rooms, but they’ve shrunk until we got things like pocket-sized smartphones that you constantly interact with. The metaverse takes this a step further, making the actual environment you interact with virtual, removing the interface of computers completely.
Most people define the metaverse as an embodied internet. This means it allows you to interact and have visceral experiences in a surrounding that’s almost like real life but isn’t. The third common definition is where it’s a tipping point. It’s a moment in time where everything goes digital. Your friends, your job, your identity, and your currencies.
HOW FAR OFF DO YOU THINK THE METAVERSE IS FROM OUR DAILY LIVES?
It’s here. In the city of Seoul, they’re investing about €3bn into creating a virtual Seoul cityscape. They’ll be able to interact with people and create a virtual communications ecosystem where the municipal administration will take place. It’ll include things like cultural interaction, tourism, education, civil services, and more.
This story is from the February 2022 edition of BBC Science Focus.
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This story is from the February 2022 edition of BBC Science Focus.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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