last week [Facebook] Announced a new strategic direction.And it’s a little science fiction.In a private address to staff, CEO Mark Zuckerberg (inset) announced that the company’s comprehensive goal is to “help the Metaverse come alive.” The Metaverse is considered the successor to the Internet.But unlike today’s Internet, it is a set of immersive, interconnected, always-on virtual spaces.Yes, this seems distant, but not completely foreign.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are well-established technologies.And the pandemic has increased exposure to many virtual experiences.We work and collaborate on Zoom or Hangouts.Share information via email or Slack.You can stop physical retailing and shop online.
You can move with protons.Play games in a virtual world like Roblox.
Today, all these elements of our online life are separated.He promises Metaverse to put them all together.Facebook has created a new Metaverse product group — — Currently, there are more than 700 open positions in AR and VR.Its Oculus and Portal products are a component of the new vision.Here’s what Mark Zuckerberg said in an interview with Casey Newton: The Verge: “I think it’s far more natural for us to be able to do virtual reality and augmented reality, and for the Metaverse to help people’s experiences widely, in a way that we are designed to interact with.Is … in the future, instead of doing this on the phone, you could sit on my couch as a hologram, or I could sit on your couch as a hologram, and it’s You’ll actually feel like us again in the same place.
“ But Facebook isn’t the only one looking at the potential of the Metaverse.Zuckerberg’s ideas are very similar to Roblox’s Chief Product Officer, Manuel Bronstein.
“The experience shared in today’s Metaverse is to have fun together, but in the future, literally, what people can do together in real life: learn together, play together, together.
It’s about working, “he said earlier this year.Are you familiar with it? Snapchat has announced the launch of 3D Bit Characters, a unique first step towards the Metaverse.And Fortnite owner Epic Games closed a $ 1 billion round of funding in April.
This supports Metaverse’s ambitions.There are other well-funded players.VRChat, Core, Sansar, Decentraland and more are all competing for positions.“That’s certainly not what any company is trying to build,” said Mark Zuckerberg.“I don’t think Metaverse’s great vision is built by any particular company, but it requires a sense of interoperability and portability.You have an avatar and digital product and can teleport anywhere.I don’t want to get caught up in a company.“ Games are clearly an important area — — And it’s a big business.
Video game industry revenue is projected to exceed $ 180 billion in 2021.However, there are big questions about non-gaming customer demand.Zuckerberg’s vision for virtual work may be a bit distant for many companies that focus on safely returning staff to offices and hybrid work models rather than 3D virtual space for collaboration and productivity.
Hmm.When it comes to the world of work, the Metaverse may be the right idea at the wrong time.But Facebook’s ambitions are clear and the logic is sound.The company wants to capture as much human activity as possible in the new virtual space and connect it to existing and uncreated ecosystems.Facebook is in a very good position in this area as the de facto identity layer of the Internet.
In addition, products such as Libra cryptocurrency may actually take off in the Metaverse.Facebook’s new Metaverse product group will initially focus on building connections that help users navigate between different systems with persistent identities and virtual spaces.
This means that even if Facebook’s Metaverse vision isn’t realized in terms of user experience, the company can own and control as much of the infrastructure as possible for the next phase of the Internet.Facebook adopted the mobile Internet in 2011 because it recognized it as a direction of user habits and attention.Developed mobile product and laser focus experience — — So you wouldn’t bet on the company.
But this time there are two important differences.First, user demand for this space is fragmented and often associated with individual platforms such as Fortnite and Roblox.As a result, consumer demand for interoperability, lasting identities, etc.must be created.
Persuasive use cases and collaboration are essential.Second, and more importantly for Facebook, will users, other businesses, and legislators be willing to trust Mark Zuckerberg and his associates, given the many issues surrounding misinformation and transparency? As an architect for the next stage of the Internet? The future is so bright that I’m forced to wear augmented reality shades! [Source link](//www.independent.ie/business/technology/the-futures-so-bright-im-forced-towear-augmented-reality-shades-40705807.html) The future is so bright that I’m forced to wear augmented reality shades!.
