IN FOCUS: Is the metaverse one other fading tech fad or our future on-line existence?

One of many important limiting elements that has stopped the growth of the metaverse has been that folks have gotten it unsuitable a lot, added Dr Lu, who stated that video games hosted on platforms like Roblox are “virtual worlds” somewhat than “true” metaverses.

Mr Warren Woon, co-founder of native metaverse platform Xctuality famous that the general degree of understanding of the metaverse is “relatively shallow”. This typically results in “misconstrued concepts” and restricted utility of know-how, he added. 

“More often than not, large organisations will just check off its KPI that a metaverse has been rolled out, but without viable long-term commercial planning,” stated Mr Woon, who works with shoppers trying to digitally rework their companies from Web2 (the present state of the web) to Web3 (the web’s subsequent evolution which contains ideas similar to blockchain know-how and is used to entry the metaverse),

Accessing the metaverse by way of digital actuality and augmented actuality doesn’t come low-cost both. 

Whereas there are a number of cheaper headsets which price lower than S$100, most sit in a worth vary of S$100 to S$1000.

“The costs of buying VR headsets or future AR glasses are unavoidable and potentially prohibitive, despite our best efforts in making our headsets as affordable as possible,” stated Meta’s Mr Kim.

“This is why we are also focused on building up other entry points to the metaverse, for example, through mobile phones, apps and AR technologies.”

Specialists too agree that the metaverse can nonetheless be accessed by way of different means similar to smartphones and computer systems.

“We can have other toned-down versions, stripped-down versions, so that those who don’t have access to the full immersive experience can still participate in the metaverse using their own devices or other ways that they can have access to,” stated NTU Assistant Professor Benjamin Li.

“Right now we can access the metaverse through our normal desktop computers. It’s just not going to be as rich or as immersive as the immersive type technologies, but you can still access the metaverse through these other means,” added Dr Lu.

The entry level of the metaverse is commonly additionally restricted by parts similar to web velocity and the capabilities of cell gadgets, famous Mr Woon.

“The limitations are that the current state of technology and telecommunications still make it difficult to access and consume (the) metaverse in its optimal form, and we need to create entry points into the metaverse that are easily accessible by the masses across different geographical markets,” he defined.