When Will the Metaverse Become Part of Daily Life?

The Metaverse is a topic that has divided different kinds of internet users since the day of its inception. Some believe it will never fully come to be, others believe it should never fully come to be, and others still hold onto hope that it’ll become a practical part of our daily lives as soon as possible. Whatever you use the internet for, be it to shop, play bingo online or connect with friends and family all over the world, it’s easy to see that the way we connect to the internet and the way we use it to connect different pieces of our lives is changing, and fast. Is it changing fast enough that we can expect the Metaverse to come into full existence in our lifetime? Let’s take a look at what the experts have to say.

What is the Metaverse?

Instead of using the internet in its current format, the Metaverse would enable users to “live” inside a digital world. Different aspects of modern technology would come together: virtual reality and augmented reality, and video technology will enable users to interact with their digital universe in an entirely different way. Those who look forward to the Metaverse becoming a practical alternative reality see themselves finding work, play, and connection opportunities when they do things like go to online VR concerts or conferences and even take VR trips to their favorite places in the world.

Where Can We See The Metaverse Emerging?

Facebook/Meta

It’s no coincidence that the new version of Facebook is called Meta. Even before the name change took place, Facebook had begun making significant investments in VR; their acquisition of Oculus is a prime example. The social media giant sees a world in which avatar versions of us can connect in a far more authentic way than we do now. Mark Zuckerberg is convinced that the Metaverse is the only sensible next step in the evolution of the internet, and he’s putting all of his considerable weight behind it.

Microsoft

Though they might not have been as outspoken a supporter of the road to the Metaverse as Facebook, Microsoft has been working in that direction behind the scenes for some time now. Extended and mixed reality aren’t terms that we hear every day, but with Microsoft Mesh coming out (a platform that embraces all kinds of virtual and augmented reality technologies). Holograms and virtual avatars were slated for Teams for this year, and next year might see 3D online retail and work spaces for those who really, REALLY don’t like leaving the house. These spaces may even be used by the US armed forces for training.

Epic Games

Epic has hardly been tight-lipped about the fact that it is invested in a future in the Metaverse. It has already started staging online concerts by some of the world’s biggest music acts like Ariana Grande and Travis Scott, not to mention its intense and incredibly immersive staging and re-imagining of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Digital humans (yes, you read that right) for you to use as game avatars are also underway.

So…When Will It Be Realized?

One of the biggest impediments to the metaverse taking over in a meaningful way is the current cost of the technologies that a huge number of internet users would need to have access to. VR headset and gloves and eventually full bodysuits will be the only acceptable Metaverse fashion, and being completely connected and able to interact won’t be possible without them. Technology typically gets less costly as it is further developed, so with that in mind:

• 54% of experts surveyed in 2021 say that they believe the Metaverse will be fully active in the lives of more or less half a billion people across the world by 2040.
• The other 46% of experts polled believe that the Metaverse is just a pipedream that will never be fully realized.
• The man himself, Mark Zuckerberg, has stated that he believes we can expect to see more Metaverse action in the next decade.

Whether the Metaverse should or should not become a part of the daily lives of the masses is a different question entirely and one that causes a lot of heated discussions for a number of different reasons. As it stands now, technology has a way to go before we can immerse ourselves in all the wonders of the internet, but it’s always evolving!

Wrap Up

The metaverse is no longer the stuff of sci-fi and fantasy movies: it’s a real possibility. How do you feel about it?