The Journey to the Metaverse
This is essay #5 of 7 as part of The Tech Progressive Writing Challenge. Join the discussion with build_ in the Discord.
The Metaverse sounds far off, but the progress towards it is all around us. Millions of people now spend a large part of their day talking to avatars and videos of people superimposed on virtual backgrounds.
Even just the names of companies and products are moving from being named after paper products and electronic devices to more expansive names evoking new worlds. Then: Facebook (named after the facebooks that used to be printed at colleges) and Instagram (instant camera + telegram). Now: Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces and now Meta (formerly Facebook) is betting big on virtual presence in Horizon Worlds (previously known by the humbler and more awkward title Facebook Horizons).
Balaji Srinivasan is putting on a series of lectures in VR. It might sound gimmicky, but it works. The graphics are basic, but there really is a sense of presence, like being at a lecture. Of raptly learning alongside other likeminded people. Nobody moving, just looking at the slides and listening. We were transported to a lounge afterwards, with spatial audio so that as you moved closer to people their voices became clearer. We keep saying that digital substitutes are a long way from in-person socializing, but it is not hard to extrapolate from this to a pretty good substitute.
I am in the process of moving. But it doesn’t feel like that big of a move. Same remote job, same online communities, still in close touch with family and friends.
It’s happening. We’re building up the digital world. Getting more imaginative. Maybe a little more playful. The better our tools get, the greater our abilities. The Metaverse is really just an inspiring vision for technologists and creatives and everyone to aim for. A layer on the physical world that creates opportunity to connect, create, and even build wealth with people all over the world. And it’s still very early, which means there’s endless opportunity to participate in building it and taking part.