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Social media Facebook announced that it will hire 10,000 people in Europe to develop the “meta universe”.
The concept of “meta universe” has been praised by many technology companies, technology professional analysts and marketers as the future of the Internet, but what exactly is it?
What is the meta universe?
The metaverse is a bit like an enhanced version of virtual reality (VR), but some people believe that the metaverse will become the future of the Internet, just as the emergence of smartphones has completely changed the bulky mobile phones in the 1980s, and now people understand the Internet. , It will evolve into a meta-universe in the future.
Instead of sitting in front of a computer and surfing the Internet, people can use wearable devices to enter the meta-universe, a virtual world connected to various digital environments.
Most of the current virtual reality applications are in games, but the virtual world of the metaverse can be applied to any practical aspect, such as working in the metaverse, meeting with friends, watching a concert, watching a movie, or just strolling in it. It’s okay to have a look.
Most people will have a 3D avatar representing themselves in the meta universe, and you will engage in various activities in the meta universe through this avatar.
However, the meta-universe is still a developing concept, so there is no universally agreed definition.
Why has it suddenly become a hot word?
Regarding virtual worlds and augmented reality, some new hot concepts will appear every few years, but most of them will gradually disappear in the end.
However, investors with strong financial resources and large technology companies have shown a strong interest in the concept of Metaverse. If Metaverse becomes the future of the Internet, no one wants to be the last.
Moreover, with the technological advancement of virtual reality games and the acceleration of Internet connection, many people believe that the technology of Metaverse has finally matured and is finally possible.
Why should Facebook join?
Facebook has listed the construction of Metaverse as one of its most important priority projects.
Facebook, through its Oculus virtual reality headset company, has invested heavily in the development of virtual reality devices to make them cheaper than competitors. Some analysts say that Facebook is even at a loss for this.
Facebook has also launched virtual reality applets for social networking and work purposes, one of which can interact with the real world.
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Facebook invests heavily in the development of virtual reality devices
Facebook used to invest heavily in mergers and acquisitions of competitors, but now Facebook says that Metaverse “will not be built by one company overnight” and promises to cooperate.
Facebook stated that it has invested 50 million US dollars in non-profit organizations to assist in the “responsible development and construction of meta-universe”, but the real meta-universe will take 10 to 15 years.
Who else is interested in the meta universe?
Epic Games, an American video game development company that launched Fortnite (Fortnite, fortress hero) games, is also actively developing Metaverse. Its head, Tim Sweeney, has repeatedly talked about the eager vision of Metaverse.
As early as a few decades ago, some online games participated by multiple players have shared interactive virtual worlds. Although they are not meta-universes, they share some common concepts with meta-universes.
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The Fortnite game holds concerts and other events in the virtual world to attract many people to participate
In recent years, the Fortnite game has expanded its content and held concerts, brand events and other activities in the virtual world, which impressed people with the various possibilities of the virtual world, and also pushed Sweeney’s vision of the meta-universe. Before people’s eyes.
Other game companies are also developing the meta-universe concept. A game called Roblox (Roblox) is a platform on which there are thousands of games created by developers. Players enter this ecosystem. The system can interact with other people in this virtual world.
In addition, a 3D development platform called “Unity” is also investing in the development of a digital version of the real world “digital twins”, and Nvidia (Huida) is also building its own “Omniverse”, a platform that connects to the 3D virtual world.
Are all meta-universes games?
No, although there are many different ideas about the metaverse, most people think that social interaction between people is the core of the concept.
For example, Facebook is testing a virtual reality conference program called “Workplace” and a social space called “Horizons”, both of which use their avatar system.
Image source,Reuters
Facebook tests a virtual reality conference program called “Workplace”
Another virtual reality program, “VRChat”, is completely focused on online gatherings and chats, allowing users to enter the virtual world to explore the environment and interact with other people without any elements of online games.
Sweeney of Epic Games recently told the Washington Post that he can foresee that when automakers launch new cars in the future, they “will launch test drives in the virtual world at the same time.”
Maybe you will shop online in the future, or you can try on virtual clothes first, and then deliver them to a real-world address after payment.
Does this technology exist now?
In recent years, there have been many advances in virtual reality. High-end headsets allow wearers to see themselves walking in a 3D virtual world. Virtual reality has also entered the mainstream. Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality gaming headsets will be very popular in 2020. Popular Christmas gift.
The interest in “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs) that can reliably prove the ownership of digital products has increased, and it can also illustrate how the virtual economy works.
A more advanced virtual world requires better and more reliable mobile connections. The gradual development of the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5G) will be able to achieve such technical requirements.
At present, Metaverse is still in its early stages. If the future can come true, large technology companies will determine its development and evolution in the next 10 years or even longer.