In 1992 when the internet was still new . American novelist Neal Strphenson spoke about virtual reality. A virtual world where people will use Digital avatars to live work and play online we call it the Metaverse . A blend of Meta beyond and Verse derived from Universe . He said this word the metaverse would be the successor of the internet and the escape from a dystopian reality. What kind of dystopian reality? The Global Economy has collapsed, federal government have lost power and a hand full of Giant Corporations are in control . That was his projection three decades ago . Today big tech is working on building the same future . As we see like Apple , Microsoft, Google and Facebook are raising to calim the Metaverse. Avirtual universe that can coexist with the physical one. Facebook had even changed it's name to Meta to stay on top of the curve. To a lot of their users Meta Verse may sound like a idolic place to spend time especially now when the pandemic had knocked us . Enter Metaverse with the promise to revolutionize our lives to become an extension of the physical world .Do we really need an imaginary world controlled by the tech giants ? . Will it really make our lives better on the internet? Or will it manipulate our perception? Of reality? . 2022 is poised to be The year of Metaverse. A technology based augmented reality space that will change how we live and interact forever. Think of it has an internet that you are not just looking at but also living in . Your Digital Avatar will inhabit the Metaverse instead of watching or reading about topic you will be experiencing doing those actions digitally along with other people you want to be part of your experience. Let me simplify . Imagine you are under lockdown far away from your family .How do you stay in touch with them? Through video calls that is the closest you can to be today and it is not close enough we all know that . As your family sits together plays your favorite card game you feel left out . Well Metaverse promises to change that here you can meet your family in a virtual space you can play that game in your Digital Avatar actual movements and conversation will take place .This is what the metaverse offer . Experience not just sight and sound and the concept is not really new video games have for a while now. Ask your cousin she maybe playing biggest game in the world Roadblox , fortnight, grandtheft auto have already build there own virtual world with there own virtual economies , there own virtual currencies , virtual storyline, virtual characters . The Metaverse to may have some of these gaming element but it is not going to be some kind of a video game it will be a cyberspace where reality makes imagination characters will be real human beings but there world will be entirely fictional made up of virtual Elements parallel real life . Mark Zukerberg told it will be like a teleportation device where younare going to explore the virtual world while being Physically present at home . How many Virtual world are there going to be ? Will there be one Metavers or different metavers ? There are different metaverse in the making Facebook wants to be the biggest one . Apple is currently working on an advanced virtual reality gadgets . It could revolutionize the metaverse experience. Google is set to be working on an Innovative augmented reality device . This year is told to create a separate and unique metaverse platform. Microsoft is also joining it is creating a Digital World called mesh this will incorporate virtual experience directly in Microsoft teams . Then we have Disney currently indicating Disney Theme Metaverse . It would be an extension of films and streaming services . Even goverments have metavers . In 2021 the South Korean government announce the creation of a national metaverse alliance what will they do making different virtual worlds under one umbrella. Barbados is one step a head plans to set up an embassy in the metaverse believe it or not .last year they signed an agreement they tied up with a with a crypto backed virtual world to setup a Digital diplomatic mission. In the United States the city of Santa Monica is something similar it partnered with a metaverse company to launch a Digital version of Santa Monica a version where players can win rewards by collecting items at various locations in the city of course the Digital version. So almost everything every where becoming the Metaverse. Ot is no more just an experiment by a few tech geeks it is becoming an inevitable alternative reality so resisting it or being in denial is a bad idea . Asking questions about how to operate is a good one . Does the Metaverse ensure privacy ? Is the metaverse an equitable space ? How democratic and open source will it be ? What lines do we need to draw ? Will the metaverse be safe ? . Already they have reported crimes against the metaverse. In December last year a women in Sanfrancisco srabbed Meta Oculus headset to play her favourite game once she entered the game the Digital Avatar was approaching by a stranger robbed and harassed Avatar digitally when asked to stop . According to Metaverse a harassment starts very 7 mins in a virtual world via chat this makes the concept problematic. Virtual reality into a Digital environment slightest of touch is exaggerated to give you an immersive experience. Every crime that is committed can feel much more real and intense and these issues are likely to magnify once the metaverse expands . How do the tech companies plan to address this conversation? Well they said they can't. Especially will Children , teenagers , subjected to harassment. It can overstep it's purpose . It can become food for predators, dangers and unhealthy escape from reality. We are relying on technology to fill the void . None of it is real . Forget reality to escape the human Elements of life hugging a child , having lunch with friends , walking your dog. Buying first car. Stepping into new house . Holograms cannot replace human relationship. Sensory experience cannot replace emotions . Metaverse cannot become a second life . It is at best an imprisoned reality.
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