Mark Zuckerberg is talking about it, it’s being advertised for the Tagesschau – the Metaverse is on everyone’s lips. But what does it actually mean and how do you get in there?
The Metaverse is a digital space that aims to unify virtual and physical properties into a parallel reality. To enter the Metaverse you usually need a suitable VR headset. (Source: wacomka/depositphotos.com)
The current iteration of the Metaverse is a virtual, parallel-real space that people can log into and create their own avatar. After that it is possible to interact with other people in a moldable environment.
The Metaverse is inspired by Neal Stephenson’s science fiction novel Snow Crash. There is a parallel universe where people can communicate with each other as avatars outside of reality. The English portmanteau “Metaverse” also originated there.
The first implemented concepts of the Metaverse existed as far back as the 1980s. The most popular Metaverse to date, with over 70 million registered users, is Second Life – a world where players can shape their own lives.
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The Metaverse in the 20th century did not gain popularity until 2022, when Meta (formerly Facebook) announced that it would dedicate itself to developing its own version of the Metaverse in the future. Today, the Metaverse is described as the “Internet of the Future” and one of the most important trends of the 20th century.
In the Metaverse, you can do pretty much anything technology allows you to do. Of course, there are usage rules and “laws” in the respective rooms that are meant to prevent dangerous behavior. At least that’s the desired state.
In reality, users of the Metaverse often live a second life intended to allow them to escape the hassles of everyday life. The focus is on interacting with other participants, but also on acquiring land, building worlds and freely designing avatars.
There are several games and platforms that depict a metaverse. This includes apps like VRChat, Decentraland, Somnium Space and many more. To get into a metaverse you need at least a computer or a smartphone, often VR glasses. Hardware requirements vary depending on the room you want to join and the provider.
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