How the Metaverse will Change the Way We Work, Live and Play.
In 2002, Reki Kawahara began writing Sword Art Online, a web novel related to the metaverse. The series revolves around humans using virtual reality devices to play through different virtual worlds. Each character could interact with the other and could also earn real money.
Characters in this franchise have to work together to beat the game before they can get out. Their avatars live typical everyday lives throughout this period within the game ecosystem. More so, the characters play the game from the real world.
Although Sword Art Online is fiction, the activities are synonymous with metaverse. In what sense? According to Webster’s dictionary, “metaverse refers to the concept of a highly immersive virtual world where people gather to socialize, work and play.”
Technology is further thinning the line between the real and virtual world. Prompting the question, how will the metaverse change how we work, live, and play?
One principal aim of developers is to make people do in the virtual world things they do in the real world. So, whether you want to go shopping, to school, or work, you can do it all with a hardware device that connects you to the metaverse.
How the metaverse will change how we work
The advent of covid-19 made companies mandate some of their workers to work from home. While it might sound like a relief, workers still face the same work stress. Also, they have to cope with distractions from other family members.
However, the metaverse will change the way we work. Using a headgear, you can connect to other coworkers in a virtual space and cut off distractions from the natural environment. Users can exchange ideas and proffer solutions to real-life problems within the platform.
Interestingly, there are no boundaries of location as you could work in any country from your bedroom. Unlike video conferencing where users can only see each other, the metaverse will make others feel your presence as if you are right there with them.
As a result, coworkers will work from different parts of the world using an avatar, and it will seem as if they are all in the same place. Moreover, the immersive experience will help people more willing to work without coaxing.
Regarding business, the metaverse allows organizations to market and showcase their goods and services further. Hence, large tech companies are already purchasing virtual lands, which they plan to develop into their brand’s metaverse outlet. Organizations can reach a wider audience without boundaries. At the same time, the cost of producing ad content will be much lower.
The gaming industry alone amasses billions of dollars from players annually. However, the virtual world is beyond playing games. Other activities such as shopping, live streaming, virtual tourism, etc., are also gaining momentum within the metaverse.
Our way of life in virtual worlds
Virtual life, which sounds odd now, might become more common. A good number of people spend countless hours daily exploring the metaverse. Although most people play games in the metaverse, it can become their full-time job since blockchain games reward players with real money.
At the same time, people who lack communication skills can easily relate to others in virtual worlds and develop a better social life. After all, avatars representing humans in the metaverse communicate like real people. So, virtual communications might eventually improve people’s relationships with others in the real world.
Meanwhile, the lockdown also took education to a new dimension. Students had to involve in distant learning since they could not meet physically at school. Video conferencing was the primary means teachers, and lecturers could meet with their students.
When the metaverse fully evolves, learning will likely take a new dimension. Students will meet in immersive classrooms, using their avatars to relate with virtual objects, which would make learning more productive.
Imagine shopping in a virtual store where you can hand pick the items to a virtual cart, not just a web page. After making a purchase, buyers will receive the real version of the items at their doorstep.
Furthermore, virtual models of physical cities, tourist centers, and museums will be in the metaverse. Using VR or AR devices, we will be able to journey and teleport through the endless horizon of 3D virtual worlds without boundaries.
Entertainment in the metaverse
Entertainment has always been a way we relax and have fun. Whether you choose to see a movie, go on a tour, or play a video game. It does help us ease the stress of work and life.
Currently, virtual reality games deliver so much fun that they will only improve. Players can explore fantasy worlds, battle virtual robots, and move across destinations while sitting in the comfort of a couch.
Sony PlayStation has improved the video gaming experience. With a virtual reality headgear, players can be immersed in the virtual world and have enjoyable gameplay. Also, other games like Fortnite, Roblox, and The Sandbox have taken video gaming to another dimension.
If you enjoy attending concerts, the metaverse promises to bring the whole show right into your home. The audience in immersive virtual concerts such as the ones hosted on Roblox and Fortnite won’t just watch the show but will be in the show, while in the real sense, they are still at home.
Currently, the virtual reality industry is worth over $18 billion. Experts estimate that with the massive influx of people, investors, and leading companies, the metaverse will reach a trillion-dollar valuation by 2030.
Soon, millions of jobs will be available in virtual worlds. Our way of life and work will change. Additionally, entertainment and virtual tourism will be amazingly immersive. People around the world will have to blend with the new way of living and communication.