In this article, we will discuss what the Metaverse is, its history and development.
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Introduction
What is the Metaverse, which has become increasingly popular every day after Facebook announced that it would change its name to Meta? Great events, great ideas or popular terms are always remembered in world history. Terms such as virtual world, AR (augmented reality), NFT etc. have been very popular in recent years. The term Metaverse has also taken its share from this trend environment and has risen and become a trend that many people talk about and discuss.
Now we are thinking and discussing. How will the Metaverse affect our lives? When will we start using it? What are the Metaverse cryptocurrencies? I will tell you about these in this article.
Details are in our content, enjoy reading!
What is Metaverse?
"Meta-Universe", which is short for the words Meta and Universe in English, is a digital world where the real and the virtual merge in a science fiction vision, allowing people to move between different devices and communicate in a virtual environment. In practical terms, it refers to augmented and virtual reality products and services.
We can define the Metaverse as virtual worlds where people come together, have fun, work, and live a life or a slice of a life.
The Metaverse, or "Virtual Beyond Universe", is a hypothetical iteration of the Internet that supports persistent online 3D virtual environments through virtual and augmented reality devices as well as traditional personal computers.
The Metaverse enables human cognition to be included in an artificial physical environment through computers, android devices and 3D devices. The Metaverse can be defined as a cyber-social plane that offers a new reality, a world of meaning and collaboration opportunities from a communication perspective; provides infrastructure and interaction opportunities for cultural, intellectual and economic production; where different advanced technologies are used simultaneously and in an integrated manner.
The Metaverse concept is a concept that includes all technologies. Blockchain technologies, the internet, social networks, video games, virtual reality, augmented reality, extended reality technologies, the internet of things (IoT) 5G and of course artificial intelligence. They are all integrated with the Metaverse and this concept, which was a theory in the past, is now at a level that can be put into practice.
People in the Metaverse universe access this parallel world with glasses, clothes and various devices.
Today, one of the most important Metaverse investors in the world is Facebook, which bought Oculus, a company that works on virtual reality devices, for $2 billion. In fact, Facebook has signed cooperation agreements with important software companies such as Microsoft in this field.
Gaming platforms such as Roblox are also making major investments in this field. It is also a matter of curiosity what Sony will do in the Metaverse field with PlayStation VR Technology.{alertSuccess}
Metaverse Market Map
Atıf: Jon Radoff - Metaverse Market Map, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114551452
Historical Development of the Metaverse
The concept of the Metaverse first appeared in Neal Stephenson's 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. {alertSuccess}
In the novel Snow Crash assumptions are made about what the internet might look like in the future.
The concept of the Metaverse has characterized a fictional world. In fact, the Metaverse concept was criticized for being an overly exaggerated and speculative future perspective when it was first introduced.
The concept has come to the forefront, especially with Facebook's interest in the subject. In the novel, people live in the Metaverse world parallel to the world with their avatars.
As a matter of fact, Facebook, which has a large data pool, has the metadata of millions of people. This has raised concerns that an artificial world based on artificial intelligence will threaten people's individual boundaries.
The Metaverse promises to create a virtual public space. The virtual currencies of this public space are currently traded in the cryptocurrency market. In this respect, the concept is seen as the future of the internet.
The first city to enter this artificial universe called the Metaverse is the city of Seoul.{alertWarning}
If this technology develops sufficiently, people will have the opportunity to do many actions such as shopping, going to the cinema, spending time in a cafe, without any physical effort, thanks to the virtual reality devices they acquire. In fact, in 2020, the famous rap artist Travis Scott organized a virtual concert in the Metaverse environment within the Fortnite platform.
With WEB 3.0, people can already communicate with each other online through digital platforms.
However, the Metaverse idea plans to take the dimension of human interactions to a much different place. Thanks to the Metaverse, people will be able to find themselves in a digital universe through virtual reality or augmented reality and get lost in this universe.
Virtual reality technology is currently mostly used in games.
However, the Metaverse will significantly expand the use of virtual reality and augmented reality. In other words, it is expected that in this digital universe, it will be possible to perform many daily activities such as working, traveling, playing games, going to concerts, and shopping, probably by creating a three-dimensional avatar. However, it is worth noting that these are just dreams for now.
We all probably know the Matrix universe. Here, Metaverse essentially refers to a virtual universe like Matrix. Just like Matrix, Metaverse also offers you the opportunity to live, work and earn in that universe.
Although it does not offer a reality that is almost impossible to distinguish as Matrix, Metaverse also aims to provide a realistic experience to the extent that technology currently allows. Who knows, maybe in the future, this reality may even reach the level of Matrix.
As we know, games actually offer us a virtual universe. There are various tasks and achievements in this virtual universe, depending on the nature of the game.
Metaverse is a groundbreaking technology that combines these universes with crypto universes and offers the opportunity to earn real crypto money in a virtual universe. {alertSuccess}
What are the Metaverse Cryptocurrency Projects?
It should not be forgotten that cryptocurrencies also have an important place in the Metaverse. If you are already aware of the increasing NFT sales in recent months, you can guess the connection between Metaverse and them. Many works sold as NFTs are protected in digital worlds.
It is planned that these works will also be exhibited and sold in the Metaverse. Metaverse will be able to provide the opportunity to use any virtual asset in the digital universe thanks to Blockchain technology. In short, cryptocurrencies can enable the successful formation and operation of a virtual economy.
In recent years, people all over the world have been adding cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to their assets. When we step into the Metaverse world in 20 or 30 years, Bitcoin will be a very good alternative to the outdated paper money system. In addition to these, many Altcoins will also support this world.
Metaverse coins can be purchased on cryptocurrency exchanges, just like Bitcoin and other Altcoins. You can buy Metaverse project coins from many global exchanges, especially Binance. Some popular Metaverse projects are as follows:
Enjin Coin (ENJ)
PlayDAPP (PLA)
Gamefi (GAFI)
Yield Guild Games (YGG)
Axie Infinity (AXS)
Decentraland (MANA)
Starlink (Starl)
The Sandbox (SAND)
Aavegotchi (GHST)
UFO Gaming (UFO)
Star Atlas (ATLAS)
Some of these and the list continues to grow every day.
What Can Be Done in the Metaverse?
There is no limit to what can be done with the Metaverse. Everything from a tiny cat feeding simulation to the construction of a universe can be done. Of course, most of these will happen in the coming decades. Because, as I mentioned in the article, the combination of many scientific applications will create the Metaverse. The development of these applications will bring groundbreaking developments in terms of what can be done.
The Decentraland game is an application that works on the Blockchain. This application is a platform where players interact on social and other issues in this game that works on the Ethereum network. Players can buy digital content such as land and NFTs here and interact socially. The MANA cryptocurrency is used on the platform.
Facebook has entered this universe with its new game called Meta Horizon Worlds. Social interaction and job interviews can be made with this game. You can use Oculus VR glasses in this game.
We can increase these examples even more. Although this is the point we have reached with our current technological level, the Metaverse experience will be experienced at much more advanced levels in the future.
How Does the Metaverse Work?
We do not yet have a Metaverse that is exactly the same as the real universe. That is why we need to take a brief look at the history of the game world. The game industry, which started to be known with the Atari 2600 in the early 80s, consisted of 1-bit graphics. When we look at the video games made by game giants such as Sony, Nintendo, SEGA, Microsoft, which currently produce or have games produced with PlayStation 5 and Xbox OneX game consoles, we see that game graphics have developed a lot and are now pushing the limits. Games made with Unreal Engine 5, RE engine, Crystal Dynamics and Decima game engines, which are game production engines, have become difficult to distinguish from real-world visuals.
The development of the Metaverse will be like that. Right now, Metaverse technology is just like the 80s when games were first recognized, that is, it is still at the beginning of the road.
In the Metaverse environment, users choose a silhouette called "Avatar" to express themselves. These avatars depict people or can be made in any way that depends on imagination. These avatars, which we can control certain stages with limited technology, can also be thought of as a Metaverse reflection of a personality.
Content can also be produced in the Metaverse environment. Certain tools are needed when producing this content. Such as virtual keyboards, special gloves or a 3D object creation device.
The development of current Blockchain technology will also affect trade in the Metaverse over time. Trade development will be achieved by integrating cryptocurrencies into the current Metaverse universe. In fact, many virtual meta universes will merge to form a meta universe community.
In order for the Metaverse term to be successfully implemented and work, it needs to be socially accepted. There are hundreds of countries, races, languages, religions and money distinctions on our planet. These problems can also be in a virtual universe created on the Metaverse. This will lead to some acceptance problems. The solution to these is to be accepted by people socially and culturally.
Extended Reality (XR) and Beyond
You've all heard of VR glasses. Especially with the SONY VR and VR2 models, games compatible with these glasses can be played using the characters' limbs such as hands and feet, and they complete the in-game interaction with head and eye movements.
The aim of the Metaverse is to shape the interaction in a way that is strengthened with AR and MR beyond VR design. This seems possible in the future with XR. Systems made with current technology are very heavy and cannot be carried. In the future, this problem will be eliminated with the evolution of technology and a further stage will be opened.
Human Brain and Machine
For a complete Metaverse experience, our brain must be completely connected to a network and integrated with that network. If in the Matrix movie, Neo connects to the matrix through the main network in Zion through his brain, the complete formation of the Metaverse experience depends on this interaction.
Current VR, AR, MR and XR technologies do not even come close to this idea, unfortunately, but it is certain that each of us will have a matrix world in the future.
The development of technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) features will bear the first Metaverse fruits. You will be able to control the objects and electronic devices in your home with these glasses that will be connected to the internet with special lightweight glasses.
Humanity will use the power of artificial intelligence very well here. The combination and interaction of the human brain and the artificial intelligence brain will be a groundbreaking development. This interaction will be a historical point in the formation and development of the Metaverse concept.
Blockchain Technologies and Power
One of the biggest load carriers in the Metaverse will be Blockchain networks. It is certain that these networks will increase data transfer and integration and operability in many areas.
Current web technology is limited in terms of data transfer and rendering. The search for a faster web continues and this is where Blockchain comes into play. In the Metaverse world, where cloud technologies and data storage are very important, fast, continuous and accurate information will be needed. The software that can provide the fastest cloud storage solutions is being developed in Blockchain networks.
Software infrastructure developers are also slowly shifting their investments towards this technology.
What is the situation of hardware and software size?
Hardware manufacturers continue to produce VR and AR devices. Oculus, Meta, HoloLens, SONY and Microsoft and many more companies are among the manufacturers. Valve Index and Magic Leap are used to interact with wearable glasses. The latest AR experience introduced by Apple was highly appreciated.
Virtual software producers are not sitting idle either. Companies such as Survios and Epic Games, which produce virtual worlds, VRChat, which writes social worlds, Immersed, which is used for workplaces, and many other software giants are focused on Metaverse software. People can attend online concerts with an application called Wave. You can create your own avatar with Genies or CrypotAvatars.
Amazon is working on a new VR shopping experience. There is a plan to build a shopping mall through the Metaverse and allow people to interact with digital products. Many other companies, including Microsoft, Intel, and Qualcomm, seem to have plans for the Metaverse.
How Will the Future Shape the Metaverse?
MMORPG-RTS games, which started with Ultima Online in the 90s, are actually the beginning of the Metaverse concept. In MMORPG games, you create a character, develop that character in the game's own world, and discover new places. Knight Online, Rappelz, World of Warcraft, Perfect World and more are the ancestors of the Metaverse concept. {alertSuccess}
In addition, I said that the Metaverse will not be a universe only for games, but a virtual universe where you can perform many functions.
Leading figures in the technology industry also say that there are many things they are excited about besides games. These names want the Metaverse to have real-time 3D graphics, personalized avatars, more goal-oriented social interactions rather than stereotypical games, the creation of virtual environments for people, and an economic system that makes people earn money.
In short, the Metaverse will be able to make most of the things you can imagine take place in a virtual universe.
People like Tim Sweeney and Mark Zuckerberg also state that they are only building a part of this large database. You can think of it like the internet today.
According to experts, the Metaverse is to today's virtual reality technology what smartphones were to mobile phones in the 1980s. In other words, the Metaverse is a much broader concept than one might think.
As a result, the Metaverse, although it may sound like science fiction at the moment, is defined as the future of the internet. {alertWarning}
Although many people are skeptical about this issue, it would not be wrong to say that the existence of a virtual universe where anything can be done in the future is exciting. Maybe we will spend all our time here in the future, or who knows, maybe this technology will develop so much that situations such as transferring consciousness to the Metaverse will be possible. We will see whether these will happen in time.
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Source: Wikipedia