What is the Metaverse, how to access it, and how will it transform the world

The Metaverse: Shaping the Future of Digital Interaction

In the digital era we live in, the term “metaverse” is gaining more and more relevance, evolving from mere science fiction to tangible reality.
This concept, concerning the creation of virtual worlds where individuals can interact in previously unimaginable ways, is redefining our conceptions of social interaction, commerce, and digital identity.

Metaverse: Redefining Social Interaction and Digital Identity

The definition of the metaverse reflects the evolution of technologies and human needs, offering a glimpse into how we might live, work, and play in future virtual realities.
Its significance goes far beyond mere entertainment, indicating new frontiers for the digital economy, education, and even governance.

In recent years, the metaverse fever has literally exploded: everyone is talking about it, everyone wants it.
Facebook, in particular, is pushing its Metaverse project.
But Mark Zuckerberg’s company is not the only tech company exploring the potentials of the metaverse.
Epic Games with Fortnite, Microsoft with HoloLens, chip manufacturer Nvidia, the online gaming platform Roblox are outlining their own vision of the metaverse, and many other world-famous brands are ready to profit in the metaverse.

So, it is a good time to ask: what exactly is the metaverse? How do we enter it and how does it work? Let’s try to explain it simply, providing a clear and comprehensive overview, from its definition to its potential applications, present and future.

Metaverse: A Complete Guide

What is the Metaverse and What Does it Mean?

The metaverse can be defined as a three-dimensional space where physical individuals can move, share, and interact.
This virtual living environment overlaps with the physical world, allowing users to interact more directly and immediately than on common social networks.
Activities within the metaverse are immersively engaging, erasing the spatial limitations of the real world.

To give a more concrete definition and better explain its meaning, we can say that the metaverse is a virtual expansion of the real world, where we live and interact through an avatar and via technological wearable devices, such as smart glasses, VR headsets, gloves, and haptic suits.
A digital world where virtual reality is deeply connected to the web and where people can live a parallel life to that of the real world.

The term “metaverse” is a “mash-up” word formed by “meta,” derived from Greek meaning “beyond,” and “universe.” The term was coined by cyberpunk science fiction writer Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, where the metaverse is described as a virtual world that people connect to via augmented reality devices and where they can create in 3D whatever they want: shops, offices, places where everyone can meet and interact.

But let’s not fall into the mistake of thinking that the metaverse and virtual reality are the same thing.
To put it simply, the metaverse is virtual reality projected onto the internet and shared by many people at the same time.
In the metaverse, you can assume your own identity or a new digital identity, connect with other people and things, and engage in social activities.
Live a parallel second life, like in a huge video game.

How Does the Metaverse Work?

Today, the metaverse is represented by platforms where people can access simply with a computer and an internet connection.
However, to use most of these platforms, interact, and perform actions, you need to have a crypto wallet and cryptocurrency.

To experience the complete metaverse, a PC or smartphone is not enough: the processing power may be too limited to handle entire universes populated by millions of users.
That’s why access to Facebook’s metaverse, for example, requires special tools such as headsets or augmented reality glasses.

Moreover, the metaverse is based on a set of advanced technologies that include augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), super-fast connections, and blockchain.
These tools allow for creating an immersive and interactive experience where users can actively participate in a wide range of activities.
3D modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) play a crucial role in making the environments and interactions within the metaverse more realistic and customized.

How to Enter the Metaverse

To access the metaverse, it is not strictly necessary to own a virtual reality (VR) headset, although this tool can significantly enhance the immersion experience.
However, for those interested in fully exploring these digital realities, it is advisable to consider purchasing a VR headset suitable for the specific metaverse of interest.

Platform Selection: First and foremost, it is essential to select the metaversal platform that best meets your needs.
Platforms like Decentraland, Roblox, and The Sandbox offer different experiences and require registration to access their unique features.
Registration and Access: Once you have chosen the platform, the next step is to create an account.
This process may vary from one platform to another but generally requires entering personal data and creating login credentials.
Avatar Configuration: After registration, the user can proceed to customize their avatar.
This represents their digital identity in the metaverse and can be customized in various ways, such as choosing gender, skin tone, and other physical characteristics.
Navigation in the Metaverse: With the avatar configured, you can navigate the metaverse using simple commands.
For example, in Decentraland, you use the WASD keys to move and the mouse to change the direction of view.
You can also switch between first and third-person views and use the microphone to interact with other users.

These steps outline the process through which an individual can enter the metaverse, actively participating in its multiple dimensions and opportunities.

What Can You Do in the Metaverse: Some Examples to Understand

Metaverses can create their tokens (virtual coins or NFTs), their governance, and their economy.
The metaverse can expand the possibilities of the technology in reducing the limits of time and space.

Imagine, for instance, seeing an advertisement for a house for sale and wanting to visit it, but it’s in another city, or even country, and you can’t be there quickly.
Well, your avatar can meet the real estate agent’s avatar in the metaverse and see the perfect virtual representation of the apartment, without having to move from your office or couch.

It is likely that in the future, the possibilities of the metaverse will be limitless, but what can you do today? Platforms like The Sandbox and Decentraland perhaps offer the best example of how metaverses and an economy based on cryptocurrencies and blockchain could work.

Gaming and Entertainment

In the gaming sector, the metaverse offers immersively engaging experiences that transform how users interact with games.
Platforms like Roblox and Fortnite have become pioneers in this field, with live events and virtual concerts that attract millions of viewers.
Notable examples include virtual performances by artists like Ariana Grande and Snoop Dogg, who have experimented with new forms of entertainment in the metaverse.

Gaming companies are leveraging these opportunities to create games that not only entertain but also promote social interaction and community building.
Think of games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Second Life, which today represent the closest representation of the metaverse concept thanks to their creator-driven economy and vast sandbox world.
People can live in the game, buy virtual goods and lands, build houses, earn coins, and participate in events.

Education and Training

The metaverse is also revolutionizing the field of education and training, offering immersive learning modes.
With the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), students can participate in virtual lessons that simulate real experiences, such as visiting the Egyptian Museum or witnessing historical events.
These technologies enable a form of “learning by doing” that enhances engagement and information retention.
Moreover, the metaverse facilitates professional training, allowing students to experience complex or dangerous procedures in a controlled and safe environment.

E-commerce and Retail

E-commerce in the metaverse, or “m-commerce,” is transforming purchasing methods.
Brands like Nike and Gucci have created virtual stores where avatars can buy digital products with virtual currencies.
This new dimension of commerce not only increases sales but also enhances brand awareness and customer loyalty.
Shopping experiences in the metaverse combine digital and physical elements (“phygital”), offering a richer and more engaging user experience that surpasses traditional online interactions.

Investing in the Metaverse: Is It Possible? How to Do It?

Directly investing in the metaverse represents a growing opportunity thanks to the popularity and expansion of this technology.
Companies and investors are exploring various ways to capitalize on these new virtual platforms.

Those involved in the stock market can invest in listed companies with business models or projects related to the metaverse, such as Meta, Microsoft, Roblox, Unity, and Nvidia, just to name a few.
Alternatively, you can play games based on NFTs (e.g., Axie Infinity) or buy and sell virtual real estate on platforms like Decentraland and The Sandbox.

Another strategy is to buy cryptocurrencies linked to the metaverse (also known as metaverse tokens or metaverse crypto), hoping that the project they are linked to gains traction, making them more widely used and increasing demand, thus raising their value given a fixed supply.

Many opportunities are opening up in this sector.

When Will We Live in the Metaverse?

Considering the technological advancements and significant investments involved, it is estimated that within the next 5-6 years, a large portion of the population will spend a significant part of their lives in a metaverse.
Whether it will be Facebook’s, Fortnite’s, PlayStation’s, Roblox’s, or Google’s metaverse, we do not know, but what is certain is that the competition will be incredible, and the transformation will be far greater than that brought by the internet and smartphones.

Analysts envision a world that will be the homeland of cryptocurrencies, NFTs, digital assets…
where social, economic, and many other aspects of our lives could be disrupted.

Films to Understand What the Metaverse Is

The metaverse was just an abstract concept from science fiction novels or Hollywood films until the gaming and technology industries breathed life into it.
However, as often happens, it is cinema that helps us understand the metaverse better.

Perhaps the most famous example is Matrix, where humanity is unknowingly trapped within a simulated reality, Matrix, created by intelligent machines to distract humans while using their bodies as a source of energy.
But also think of Minority Report and Avatar.

In recent cinematography, the best example of the metaverse is Ready Player One, a 2018 film by Steven Spielberg based on Ernest Cline’s novel Player One.
Here, the metaverse is called OASIS and is an immersive and parallel virtual universe where most of humanity spends their time.
This world represents humanity’s only salvation as the real world is collapsing due to overpopulation, poverty, and pollution.

Ralph Breaks the Internet and its sequel also present a sort of metaverse: the protagonist Ralph’s journey into the inner world of video games first and the entire Internet later shows the potential interconnection between the real and virtual worlds.

FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions

How do you access Meta’s metaverse and Decentraland’s metaverse?
To enter Meta’s metaverse, you need to have a Facebook account and use the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
To enter Decentraland’s metaverse, you need a wallet and the use of the MANA cryptocurrency.

What is the process to start exploring the Decentraland and Sandbox metaverses?
To enter the Decentraland Metaverse, simply visit their website, create an account, and configure your avatar to start exploration.
As for Sandbox, it has become a very popular virtual metaverse, especially after its partnership announcement with Meta.

How do you navigate within the metaverse?
In the metaverse, people move using “digital twins,” which are digital and three-dimensional representations of themselves.
This virtual space offers an immersive experience that simulates reality.

What is the purpose of the metaverse?
The metaverse consists of interconnected virtual worlds where users can interact, create content, play, work, and make exchanges.
It is also possible to earn money by actively participating in these virtual activities.