WRIT TEN BY: AL NOL AN,
HEAD OF TECHNICAL CONSULTING, BOTTLE ROCKET
meta/human
A People-First Look at the Metaverse
Meta wants you to think that it invented the
commonplace. They have been teaching us
metaverse. In a number of ways they will -
how to co-exist in persistent 3D spaces for
just by deciding. In 10 years there will be no
years now. Without the burden of promoting
shortage of white papers and case studies
something as grand as a “Metaverse” the
written about how the Facebook transition
groundwork is now laid for what is now not
to Meta was a watershed moment that saved
so scary. What was novel before is now a
the notion of a sustainable, capitalized
proper noun that one of the most powerful
metaverse. Why wouldn’t a hiring blitz, a
companies in the world is renaming itself
full-throated rebrand and an intentional
after.
multi-year, multi-billion dollar investment give them that moniker – the inventors of the metaverse?
What is also unique are the circumstances by which this conversation has arisen. There are now several conglomerates worth $1
We will not remember that before October
trillion who have maybe maxed out their
of 2021, the metaverse existed in the form
market cap for the moment. There are only
of Fortnite, Roblox, Second Life and even
so many companies to buy that make sense
physical installations like The Void in San
so combined revenue and brand equity may
Francisco have existed for years. The idea
have apexed. Incomes might be stabilizing
of shared virtual environments had been
soon and consumers need new stimuli; to
popularized long before the term metaverse
supplement travel. And social media has
and tales of its lore will hopefully persist.
taken it’s share of blows over the last several
However, where we are now feels different. With the advent of democratized technology from Nvidia & Microsoft’s Mesh and even Apple’s Memojis have done something powerful: they’ve made shared virtual spaces
years. Consumers need to be inspired to consider new things but what is there that can inspire a jaded social itch? And home is the new work... is the new home. People are falling back in love with their own living
ENTER: THE METAVERSE. spaces and making investments to ensure their qualities of life. What is needed is new real estate – new digital real estate.
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