{"id":189284,"date":"2022-03-31T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T00:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=189284"},"modified":"2024-11-20T20:48:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T12:48:38","slug":"metaverse-basics-hong-kong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/metaverse-basics-hong-kong\/","title":{"rendered":"Have you heard of the metaverse? Here are the basics you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unless you\u2019re an avid gamer or in the FinTech sector, chances are you wouldn\u2019t have heard of the term \u201cmetaverse\u201d until it hit the headlines last year, with tech giant Facebook changing its name to Meta. Along with the global rise of cryptocurrency<\/a> and virtual banks<\/a>, there\u2019s no better time for us to learn more about the virtual reality<\/a> world. Does the metaverse appear far-fetched, or even dystopian<\/a> to you? Read on to understand how this seemingly futuristic technology is already affecting our present lives, and how it\u2019ll continue doing so for years to come.<\/p>\n

Metaverse 101: Your guide to the metaverse<\/h2>\n

What is the metaverse?<\/h3>\n
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Have you heard of the metaverse? (Photography: Josh Hild via Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The metaverse is a virtual space that enables users to carry out activities similar to their real daily lives, but without any geographical boundaries. \u201cThe metaverse is often described as the future of the internet,\u201d says James Lindsay, Director of Business Development at Q9 Capital<\/a>. \u201cUsing new technologies such as VR, AR, and blockchain, the metaverse is shaping people\u2019s online social interactions, and its core value is to build values around users rather than platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s a little history lesson: the term \u201cmetaverse\u201d was first coined by Neal Stephenson in his dystopian novel, Snow Crash<\/em>, where he described a virtual reality world with real-life elements, such as where real estate could be bought and sold. There would also be virtual reality goggles that produced a sense of actual presence for an individual within that environment.<\/p>\n

The concept of metaverse has inspired films, games, and other works in our pop culture, such as The Matrix <\/em>(1999), Second Life<\/em> (2003), PlayStation Home<\/em> (2008), Avatar<\/em> (2009), Ready Player One<\/em> (2018), among others. These examples depict an early metaverse which offers us an insight into what could potentially be our reality in the future \u2013 one where we\u2019ll be able to experience our real lives, virtually.<\/p>\n

Where can we find, or use, the metaverse?<\/h3>\n
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You can build your own world on Minecraft, just like how user Owlhouse created his stunning \u201cSea Diary\u201d (Image: Minecraft via Facebook; rendered by LordKingCrown)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two best known Metaverses nowadays are Decentraland and Sandbox. The former allows users to purchase digital land and create a \u201chome\u201d for themselves with avatars \u201cliving\u201d in cities; whereas the latter enables users to create and possess their own NFTs. Since people are always seeking ways to express themselves in the real world, many businesses are also looking to address that need in the metaverse. One such example is neuno<\/a>\u2019s recent collaboration with Diesel, in which avatars can use their digital wearable NFTs in the metaverse and, quite literally, wear the shoes in the virtual world. \u201cWe want people to express themselves through fashion and build their identity in the metaverse,\u201d explains Ashwin Mahtani of neuno<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s why we are bringing the real-life world into the metaverse through luxury fashion brands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently, there are closer analogues to the metaverse than we think, as virtual reality experiences<\/a> have already cemented their place in our world. For those who enjoy online gaming<\/a>, Roblox<\/em>, Fortnite<\/em>, and Minecraft<\/em> all mimic a virtual reality world, where users select their avatars, connect socially with others, and co-exist in the digital environment. Even big brands like Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Nike, and Vans have all opened virtual spaces on Roblox<\/em>! In a similar vein, artists have begun to connect with their fans through VR concerts. This was seen in Travis Scott and Marshmello\u2019s concert inside Fortnite<\/em> and Justin Bieber\u2019s meta-universe concert through Wave<\/em>.<\/p>\n

One of the other Big Five companies, Microsoft, has also created its own metaverse \u2013 Mesh. Using holoportation, users will be able to step into the virtual world through holographic projections of their custom avatars. While Mesh focuses more on virtual environments and workplace collaboration, Mesh for Teams has also been launched to allow companies to experience a virtual, 3-D working environment.<\/p>\n

Facebook and the metaverse<\/h3>\n
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