What Is Metaverse

The Metaverse is a 3D digital space where virtual and mixed reality is combined with social media to create new cyberspace where people can play games, work, and interact with optimized user experience. The new digital world promises a 3-dimensional experience away from the 2-dimensional one we have right now. Metaverse could be a whole new level of an online economic platform from the one we know now. Imagine a digital metaverse where you don't just order apparel online, but you get to try them first from your home before making an order! All this will be made possible using the virtual reality elements of this new digital media. Metaverse digital is yet to be officially launched, but we have platforms with a few Metaverse concepts like gaming platforms such as Fortnite. Online computer video games have virtual reality concepts incorporated into the gaming user experience where players purchase virtual merchandise and socialize with other virtual players. Metaverse, however, will have both virtual and reality elements incorporated into the new digital space.  Let us look at what exact elements make the Metaverse, the sudden popularity of the Metaverse, and the involved key players.

Part 1. What Does the Metaverse Include

Metaverse sells the idea of a new digital social media that is upgraded where you can recreate a digital version of yourself in a 3D space through virtual reality headsets. The highly anticipated new media and social media comprises augmented reality, virtual reality, and devices for Virtual reality and actual reality. Let us look at these components separately.

Augmented reality is the concept of new digital media for achieving real-world scenarios in the digital space by using digital visual components. For example, when making a product purchase on Amazon, you can use the Amazon decorator system to view how a product will look in your real-life space.  An example of a new metaverse purchase can be viewing a watch on your wrist before the purchase. Virtual reality is the opposite of augmented reality. It is a computer-generated world with an imitation of real-world elements. In Metaverse digital, you must use virtual headsets to navigate the new digital media space to stimulate presence. Multiplayer virtual reality online games such as Fortnite use virtual reality elements to interact with each other and optimize their experience.

Virtual and actual reality devices will make access, interaction, and the general experience of a simulated new Metaverse possible. These devices will be computers, mobile phones, headphones, and similar items.

The key features of Metaverse will include:

• Combined technologies.
• 3D virtual reality and actual reality.
• Interoperability.
• Countless users.
• Real-time multi-user interface.

Part 2. Why Is Metaverse Getting Popular

The new metaverse effect took full force discussion and popularity when Facebook announced its name change from Facebook to Meta. Gradually Facebook is transitioning from just being a social media company into a metaverse social media company.

The internet has made us believe in even better possibilities and experiences, and the Metaverse concept is one of those expectations. The new digital world promises a convenient user experience. I don't think anyone can b be opposed to being able to create a digital version of themselves in a selling store instead of showing up physically. The new Metaverse is a wave everyone has embraced. The embrace is attributed to the fact that it will make life easier and improve internet interactions and experiences with the social media metaverse. 

Part 3. Who Is Involved in Creating the Metaverse

Metaverse development is backed up by both giant and small companies. The development phases of the new Metaverse have aspects contributed by small and giant gaming companies, big giant tech companies, and meta platforms. These players have critical components viewed as important aspect to the success of the build and launch of Metaverse. Let us have a glimpse of the main central players.

1. Facebook and Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is the home of many established tech companies and is known to be the world's tech hub. Facebook started and is based in Silicon Valley, and the tech giant invested in Oculus VR, the 3D headsets used in Metaverse to optimize the user experience. Owing to its recent high cost of living, Silicon Valley has become undesirable for tech startups that cannot afford the high costs.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook(Meta) CEO, has publicly stated that Silicon Valley is not startup friendly, and he has introduced the idea of virtual workrooms. Silicon Valley has always been on the table of tech companies like the new Metaverse. Still, it seems that will change since the Facebook CEO is considering a space away from Silicon Valley. The Silicon Valley buzz is about the money streams the Metaverse will create selling as one of the Silicon Valley Tech Companies.

2. Roblox and Epic Games

In 2021, Epic Games announced a million-dollar investment in Metaverse. The company is a big contributor in the virtual world space and it is home to popular virtual games played in a semi-digital Metaverse. Roblox Games already has a virtual reality digital metaverse where players interact and socialize with one another. It however lacks the fundamental reality aspect that Metaverse is looking to combine with virtual reality to achieve a completely new metaverse. For this reason, Roblox believes it is the originator of Metaverse, and it can build the internet's most powerful digital Metaverse.

We are immersed in traditional social media, but with the new Metaverse, the aim is to connect better with an improved interaction experience. Social media interactions with Metaverse will be more than just chatting and exchanging pictures and videos. Working without leaving home can be almost everyone's preference with the new digital world that Metaverse is building. A key element that is not being mentioned is the safety that Metaverse will bring for children who will now have both virtual reality elements combined to enable them to play games without leaving their homes. Recently, playing virtual games with strangers on the internet space has seen a spike in children cyberbullying. The new digital world from Metaverse seems to offer a solution.