When it comes to emerging technologies that companies should know about, there’s one that sounds as if it was ripped from a science fiction novel: the metaverse.
In some ways, this is like the cloud or the internet. It’s not a type of solution that a company can own, according to an extensive story on the metaverse in the Washington Post. Instead, it’s another platform for doing business as well as providing entertainment — but with virtual reality as the new angle.
The Post story points out one of the main concepts behind the metaverse. By using it, you can embrace both augmented and virtual reality, while moving from task to task or activity to activity freely.
Making connections in the virtual world
One of the biggest proponents of this concept is Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook. The social media giant is already starting to set the metaverse stage by creating a workspace that exists in VR for remote employees. It’s also investing in less cumbersome VR materials — such as wristbands and goggles — to bring it further into the mainstream in coming years.
As far as motivation for companies goes, the Post article cites a need to change up the way people connect online, whether it’s in the workplace or their personal lives. It’s also clearly a new revenue stream for companies that provide solutions or services that tie into metaverse infrastructure.
When will this all take place? That’s a date for which people are not setting a timeline. The Post story notes that VR so far is still the province of gamers, and even then it’s not widely in use. The investment would have to be robust for it to extend beyond that market.
Businesses getting in on the ground floor
An article in AdWeek goes into some potential reasons why companies should start thinking about investing in the metaverse. One major factor is the Gen Z audience, who were born from 1997 to 2012. The article notes that they want more creative experiences and ways to participate in ever-changing structures. Having this audience involved as co-creators in an open environment ripe with experimentation is something that would appeal to Gen Z.
Companies can also make sure they speak to the metaverse with specific experiences they sponsor, sometimes opening up an untapped audience or a broader one. This can also be something private companies do for in-house systems and training, bringing a more immersive experience to the workplace, especially as “work from home” becomes more of the norm.
Whether it intrigues you as a business owner on the leading edge — or you see it as another folly — the metaverse will be talked about a lot in years to come. As any technology develops, we can offer solutions to help with security and other concerns. Go to our website to learn more about what we provide companies.
