On July 22nd Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Metaverse, but this is not the first time that this term has been used. In fact, it was actually coined a few decades ago, in 1992, by Neal Stephenson. In his science fiction novel, called Snow Crash, the word Metaverse indicated a 3D virtual reality that could be reached with an avatar.
But what is exactly the Metaverse? And what does it have to do with Facebook CEO?
The Metaverse is a future where the digital and real world melt together and become more interconnected. It isn’t a single product one company can build alone, but instead is a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you and it won’t be built overnight. Many of these products will only be fully realized in the next 10-15 years.
Andrew Bosworth, Vice president of the group of virtual and augmented reality of Facebook, announced the project Metaverse Product Group.
“My hope, if we will do good, is that in five years, more or less, in the next chapter of our company, we will pass to be seen as a social media company to be a Metaverse company”, Mark Zuckerberg.
Facebook team just announced a two-year $50 million investment in XR Programs and Research Fund to ensure these products are developed responsibly.
Thanks to Facebook and many other companies we are now approaching a significant change in the VR world and in the way people perceive it, from gaming to another dimension of the real world, where users can work and shop.
Looking forward to this change!