Metaverse — The New World of Technology

By: Tessa Burke

Upcoming Metaverse Technologies

AR Cloud

When considering AR Cloud, it is important to remember that it is a fairly new technology, but it is expanding drastically. It is thought that AR cloud will become the single most important software infrastructure in computing, so hold on, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Although, I do find it challenging to understand how so much data can be compiled into one software. AR Cloud will allow collaboration in real time to create shared experiences that are more than just a video or a phone call. Since it seems to be possible, it is extremely fascinating that there will one day be a complete 3-dimensional copy of the world that we will be able to interact with and learn from.

Magicverse

Magicverse is a system of systems that is designed to bring communities together by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. I think it is most important to remember this system as a group of layers — a group of layers that aids cohesiveness in communities. It is difficult to imagine how a system like this is predicted to be more affordable than other systems we have in place, but no one is complaining about that! This idea really catches my eye and my interest, and the fact that it is developed off of an idea that the late Walt Disney had, makes it even better.

Mirrorworld

Just like Magicverse, Mirrorworld is a way to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. An example of Mirrorworld is the ability we have on websites to see what we are purchasing as virtual reality in our own home. When picking out paint colors, you are able to see what it would look like on your walls just by a click of a button and panning your room with your phone. I am a big fan of this technology, and just recently used it to virtually try on my class ring before ordering it which I found to be extremely helpful. Although it is hard to understand that this is real and not just an imaginary concept, it is important to remember that Mirrorworld is already a reality in a lot of ways.

Cyberverse

Cyberverse is a new technology that once again, integrates the digital world with reality. It does this by connecting users, space, and data and then allows you to interact with the system in real-time. Cyberverse is heavily focused on your phone camera so that data being viewed through the system in virtual reality looks so realistic. I have never really thought about the importance of phone camera positioning, so it was puzzling to think about how they developed that system to be so precise. This idea is interesting to me in that it can be used for so many applications including tourism, campuses, commercial buildings, and anywhere else you see fit.

Planet-Scale AR

Planet-scale AR is a platform that enhances experiences worldwide by creating new ways to interact with our world. It can be used for practical applications, but a lot of fun and games too! Niantic, the company developing Planet-Scale AR, is the creator of games such as Pokemon Go, which we all know blew up a few years ago. How they are able to gather so much real-world data into their products, I will never understand, but it makes for some amazing products. I love that Niantic and Planet-Scale AR is taking technology and using it to get people off their feet and moving, I think this is very important!

Spatial Computing

Spatial computing involves using the physical world for input, and receiving the output from a computer. When I think of this technology, I imagine the clips we have all seen of technology displaying images in mid air that we are able to interact with. It is difficult to understand how technology can be so advanced that we can even take away the touch controls on a computer, for example, and display the information in the air. I think that this technology will be extremely important in fields of education and medicine and I am excited to see where it advances from here!

Key Ideas

AR Cloud — The most important takeaways from learning about the technology of AR Cloud, is that it will one day be a staple software in all of our lives and its possibilities are endless. This technology is expanding so rapidly and with the amount of data that can be collected, which will be put towards practical uses such as real-time collaborations.

Magicverse — Magicverse is a technology that could prove to be so important, especially because it is unlike any others that I have seen. The uses for this technology could have such an important impact across communities which makes me excited to explore future uses of it. It is always important to bring people together and this technology does just that. It is also key to know that this works off of a dynamic system of layers.

Mirrorworld — It is key to know how many applications Mirrorworld has already produced. The ability to have virtual reality and mirror your space onto the internet is an amazing feature, especially in a time where we are all spending our lives at home. Mirrorworld is an efficient system that has many uses, many of which are already accessible to everyone.

Cyberverse — Cyberverse focuses primarily on phone cameras, which is important to know when trying to understand this technology. It creates such a precise focus that allows the technology to look extremely realistic. We also must remember that this technology is phone based which makes it always portable.

Planet-Scale AR — This technology takes worldwide data and creates the ability to interact with it in such an amazing way. The goal of Planet-Scale AR is to use their technology to get people moving. Technology can become so sedentary which makes this so special because it is different from anything else we have seen. Another key idea is that it allows you to interact with your world from a new perspective.

Spatial Computing — It is important to know that this technology is up and coming and can have some applications that might be more important than these other technologies. The development of this technology can be used for education and medicine which will advance how we learn, live our lives, and even save lives. It is also key to recognize that this eliminates touch controls of technology, such as buttons on a keyboard.

The Ups and Downs

When researching these new technologies, it is easy to forget that they are actually a reality and can be applied in our day-to-day lives. Although they will be ever evolving, it is amazing that we have come as far as we have with the metaverse. The development of the metaverse has created broader implications that weren’t even intended by the designs. For example, Planet-Scale AR was developed for games and entertainment, but what we realize is that the scope of the technology can develop into a wide array of applications that will advance the way we live our lives. Having control over our space and objects around us gives us the ability to learn, create, and interact in ways that we never have before.

With the development of the metaverse, it is easy to be awestruck by what has already been developed and ideas that will be around in the future. Even though it is incredible what it can do, I also see a downside to it. For example, cyberverse is designed in a way that you must hold your phone in front of your face to view the virtual reality. This is great technology, but do we really want to see everyone walking around with their faces in their phones even more than we already do? I think that interaction with our world outside of technology is also important to develop and learn as human beings. There is also something to say about keeping a barrier between reality and virtual reality. Constant use of the metaverse could cause emotional, physical, and mental damage because there is such a fine line between what is real and what’s not. Just like anything, the metaverse has its downside, but I think that its possibilities outweigh them by a landslide. I am excited to see future developments in the realm of the metaverse.