I know that the Metaverse sounds like something out of a comic book. But in reality it is very real, sort of, and ready for you to use. Today we will see what it is exactly and how you can use it. It sounds intimidating but it is really pretty simple. And we will also look at Oculus Rift and how that ties in with the concept of the metaverse.
The Metaverse is a virtual world, where real humans can go, as their avatar, and explore a bunch of different spaces and areas. We will explain it in a bit more detail as we go along. But for now all you need to know is that the Metaverse is a virtual world, where real people go to enjoy real interactions with other people and make their own reality as they see fit.
What is Oculus Rift?
This might just be the next big thing in the world of tech. The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that allows users to enter the metaverse. It allows for a much more complete experience, where you actually feel like you are walking around and exploring these worlds.
Admittedly you can enter the metaverse with only a computer but it won’t give you the same experience of submergence in the world. At the same time even if you do purchase the Oculus headset you still need to have a really strong computer that allows you to run the app that will be your gateway into the metaverse.
But with so many people getting seriously involved with this world it might be a worthwhile investment. People who adore gaming and a bunch of other activities will want to have the opportunity to enter this new world and explore and use it to the fullest.
What else do you need in these worlds?
Source: Flickr, Sese87, CCBYSA2.0
You would need to download the Oculus VR app that is run by Meta, the new name of the Facebook group. And then you will be allowed to create an avatar for yourself. Remember these worlds are three dimensional. You need a virtual person who represents you to be able to walk around in the world, go into different rooms and areas and do a bunch of things. On some platforms you might also need your own crypto wallet. Some areas will cost you money, just like in many mobile games and it’s not like you can carry real cash with your avatar.
But in many cases you can skip the headset and the crypto wallet and explore the area on your computer first. That way you can know if it is actually something that interests you before you make large investments.
You also need to know that inside the metaverse there are a few different platforms. These are like the worlds that combine to create the metaverse. For example there is Decentraland and Sandbox, and in each of these platforms you can do different things and interact with different people. Snoop Dogg is for example creating his own virtual world on the Sandbox platform called the Snoopverse.
Who are the creators of the Metaverse?
One of the creators of the metaverse is Meta, but they are by no means the only company who is working on new solutions to make this world bigger. When Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would become Meta, he also announced that they would be spending $10 billion in developing the metaverse project this year.
But other companies, like Microsoft and Sony to name a few have also been investing time in creating their own part of the metaverse. Many believe that it will become the next version of the internet. You can even join some of these worlds on your phone, for example in the game Roblox.
What can you do in the Metaverse?
Source: Flickr, ZZ Bottom, CCBY2.0
Eventually the plan seems to be that you will be able to do just about anything that you can do in the real world in the metaverse too. You can already buy plots of land in the metaverse. For example the guy that bought virtual property right next to Snoop in the Snoopverse paid $450,000 to be Snoop’s virtual neighbor.
You are going to be able to buy tickets and attend concerts by your favorite artist even if you are on the other side of the world. Just imagine how many more live experiences that would open up the door to. Or you could become friends and hang out with those same artists.
Some of the people getting involved in Snoops world now will have the opportunity to hang out with him and ask him anything they want.
In some platforms you can mine crypto and finance your virtual lifestyle by doing it. You can play games. And that is something that attracts a lot of people. Gaming is not only fun but virtual reality gaming is set to become really lucrative and really massive.
You can also chat and interact with people from all around the world. Making friends that you would never have had the opportunity to see face to face without the virtual world. Remember while you are exploring this virtual reality world there are people doing the same thing everywhere. And if you happen to be in the same room at the same time then you get to speak to those people.
Virtual parties are also becoming a big thing. Right now, more than ever, we know what isolation can do to people. And the hope is that the virtual world and the metaverse will allow people to come together and interact again. It should bring people together. Even in areas that are still in lockdown.
Fans of the concept are really excited about the idea and excited to see what the Metaverse will have in store for all of us in the next few years. With so many big and small groups working to make it bigger we are really living in an interesting technological time.
