Term of the Moment
exFAT
Definition: metaverse
(1) For the science fiction term, see multiverse.
(2) In 2021, the metaverse term caught on as the next version of virtual reality (VR) where everybody gets together in a simulated 3D world. The term became a hot buzzword due mostly to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, who even changed the name of his company to Meta Platforms to be the leader in the field (Facebook was already selling VR headsets). See Meta Quest and Meta Platforms.
Lots of Investment
Video game company Animoca Brands raised $500 million to fund a "gaming metaverse." Microsoft expressed interest in an "industrial metaverse" but later switched focus to AI. Billions were invested in Meta Platform's Reality Labs for metaverse development; however, by 2024, Meta's emphasis also switched to AI. Apple entered the VR field in 2024 with no mention of the metaverse (see Apple Vision Pro).
Will the Metaverse Ever Happen?
The following is an abbreviated excerpt from Cathy Hackl, chief futurist at the Journey design and innovation consultancy and self-proclaimed "Godmother of the Metaverse." She said "one of the following will be proven right: #1: metaverses offer a new way of living and interacting with others, and #2: metaverses are over-hyped fantasies." See virtual reality, augmented reality, VR headset, smart glasses, virtual world and Meta Quest.
The Origin of the Term
The First Metaverse?
Getting Better All the Time
(2) In 2021, the metaverse term caught on as the next version of virtual reality (VR) where everybody gets together in a simulated 3D world. The term became a hot buzzword due mostly to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, who even changed the name of his company to Meta Platforms to be the leader in the field (Facebook was already selling VR headsets). See Meta Quest and Meta Platforms.
Lots of Investment
Video game company Animoca Brands raised $500 million to fund a "gaming metaverse." Microsoft expressed interest in an "industrial metaverse" but later switched focus to AI. Billions were invested in Meta Platform's Reality Labs for metaverse development; however, by 2024, Meta's emphasis also switched to AI. Apple entered the VR field in 2024 with no mention of the metaverse (see Apple Vision Pro).
Will the Metaverse Ever Happen?
The following is an abbreviated excerpt from Cathy Hackl, chief futurist at the Journey design and innovation consultancy and self-proclaimed "Godmother of the Metaverse." She said "one of the following will be proven right: #1: metaverses offer a new way of living and interacting with others, and #2: metaverses are over-hyped fantasies." See virtual reality, augmented reality, VR headset, smart glasses, virtual world and Meta Quest.
The metaverse term originated in this 1992 book about a futuristic pizza delivery service. In 2022, Stephenson and Bitcoin Foundation co-founder Peter Vessenes joined to create their own metaverse (see Lamina1).
From 1957 to 1962, filmmaker Morton Heilig's Sensorama had stereo sound, smell, seat vibrations and wind. However, it never went into production. (Image courtesy of MinecraftPsycho.)
In 2016, VR headsets were getting much better. Imagine virtual reality 25 years from now! (Image courtesy of PCMag.com.)