The Metaverse – Everything you need to know

THE METAVERSE

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

IMAGE: GETTY

We speak to some of the Middle East’s leading figures in social media, business and education to get their take on what the future of the metaverse looks like

DERYA MATRAS

VP MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA AND TURKEY AT META (FACEBOOK)

How would you define the metaverse? The metaverse is the next evolution in a long line of social technologies and will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions, or projected into the physical world – and seamlessly stitched together so that you can easily jump from one thing to another. And because it is immersive and engaging, it makes it easier to really feel like you are experiencing things together - through sharing a space rather than simply a screen.

While nothing beats being together in person, recent months have highlighted how, when that’s not possible or practical, the digital world can still help us feel connected. The metaverse helps us answer this challenge by helping get us even closer to feeling that in-person connection. What will people be able to do in the metaverse? The mobile internet has already allowed people to work, learn and socialise in ways that are less limited by their physical location. The metaverse will help expand these opportunities even further. For example, the metaverse will enable more immersive experiences. Imagine standing on the streets, hearing the sounds, visiting the markets of places far away from where you live or could ever travel to. In the metaverse, you’ll be able to teleport not just to any place, but any time as well. Imagine learning how historical cities and buildings were built by actually seeing them get built, right in front of you. While the metaverse feels like a far-off vision, glimmers of it can already be experienced today.

Virtual Reality (VR) is already letting us create immersive experiences that deepen our sense of presence online. For example, we recently launched Horizon Workrooms, which lets people collaborate in digital spaces – letting you turn your gaze to see a group of people around you, read people’s body language, and use spatial audio to hear quiet chatter, interruptions or laughter from wherever it is coming from in the room. How will it redefine society as we know it? Nothing beats being together, but when we can’t be together in person, the metaverse will help us get even closer to feeling that inperson connection. Because it is immersive and engaging, it makes it easier to really feel like you are having a shared experience even when you can’t be together. It won’t happen overnight, but over time, the metaverse will unlock new opportunities for people and communities. Immersive and engaging experience means more people will be able to choose to study and train in places that felt off-limits because of where they live or what they can afford. And more people will be able to choose to turn their passions into careers because they won’t have to rely on access to expensive tools, vast workshops or precious materials to train, study or make digital art, games or experiences for people to enjoy. Similarly, how will it shift the way we do business? In the metaverse, as users spend increasingly more time there, it makes sense for brands to advertise in virtual reality spaces as well. Companies can take advantage of the potential of the metaverse by offering their customers a highly personalized and interactive experience. For example, Ray-Ban Stories already lets you take pictures and videos, listen to music and take calls, all while keeping your phone down, and eyes up. This is a step on the way to being able to eventually wear normal-looking glasses that allow screens to appear in front of you and that you control with your fingertips, where you can pull up holograms of your friends to sit across from you wherever you – and they – are. The metaverse is only in its early stages – when do you think it will become the norm? Our vision is for the metaverse to reach a billion people in the next decade, but for that to happen, access to hardware has to improve and connectivity across the world has to increase. As we build towards the metaverse, it will be more important to be smart than be fast.

It is important to note that Meta is neither going to build, own, or run the metaverse on its own. It requires collaboration with policymakers, experts and industry partners to bring this to life. Although it’s a long road ahead, we have already launched a two-year, $50 million investment in global research and program partners to help us in this effort. Collaborating with industry partners, civil rights groups, governments, nonprofits and academic institutions to figure out how to build these technologies responsibly. We are also a founding member of the XR Association (XRA). Together, member organisations will help build a responsible metaverse in XR (Extended Reality), which includes VR, augmented reality (AR), mixed-reality, and future immersive technology. What role will social media play in this? Social media will play a crucial role as the metaverse will be the next evolution in a long line of social technologies and will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences. And because it is immersive and engaging, it makes it easier to really feel like you are experiencing things together – through sharing a space rather than simply a screen.

For a while yet, the primary way people will experience the metaverse is through 2D

“TECHNOLOGY ALLOWED US TO WRITE, THEN TALK AND NOW SEE EACH OTHER. THE METAVERSE WILL BE THE NEXT STEP – LETTING US FEEL LIKE WE ARE SHARING A SPACE TOGETHER. THE LAST DECADE SAW A SHIFT FROM DESKTOP WEB TO MOBILE INTERNET AND THE NEXT DECADE WILL BE ABOUT SHIFTING INTO THE METAVERSE.” – Derya Matras, VP Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Meta (Facebook)

apps. And even beyond that, we are focused on building ‘bridges’ from our apps on 2D screens into more immersive virtual experiences in the metaverse.

So maybe you will be able to click on an Instagram photo of your recent holiday and it will take you into a space in the metaverse where you can see all of your holiday pictures hung on the walls of a personally curated gallery that your friends can drop in on.

This year we are bringing Messenger Calls to VR. So soon you could tap a link that lets you enter your parent’s virtual living room, with photos of the family hung on the walls and familiar furnishings that make you feel at home, and continue the conversation as avatars or holograms all sharing a space.

Or while watching a video of your favourite comedian in a Facebook Event you might be able to tap on an icon behind the performer and be transported into the front row of a virtual audience, where you can hear other people sitting next to you laughing at the same jokes.

Just like the mobile internet started as a feature of Facebook and went on to become the centrepiece through the Facebook app, the metaverse will follow a similar path, starting off with more basic bridges and glimpses in our 2D apps, and eventually becoming central to the way we connect online. In your opinion, for those who don’t adapt, what will happen? The metaverse is the next evolution in social technologies and the successor to the mobile internet. Technology allowed us to write, then talk and now see each other. The metaverse will be the next step - letting us feel like we are sharing a space together. The last decade saw a shift from desktop web to mobile internet and the next decade will be about shifting into the metaverse.

DR SAMEER KISHORE

HEAD OF IMMERSIVE VRX LAB, MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY DUBAI

How would you define the metaverse? Currently, we’re still very much in the conceptual stage of the metaverse, so definitions vary depending on who you ask and how much they ‘believe’ in the future of this concept. However, broadly speaking, the metaverse describes a vision of a parallel, fully connected, 3D ‘virtual’ reality that would exist alongside our actual reality. We would access this virtual world using immersive technologies such as VR or AR headsets. What will people be able to do in the metaverse? The idea of the metaverse is to give users the ability to connect with each other virtually as avatars. We could think of the metaverse as this virtual ‘physical’ space where people can socialise, work, play games, learn, explore new areas and even create content. In this sense, the concept isn’t new. Second Life, an online platform for people to connect and communicate with each other using avatars, has existed since 2003. More recently, VR apps such as VRChat and Rec Room provide the same functionality. However, similar to how a single website is a small part of the internet, these individual experiences will become a building block of the metaverse. How will it redefine society as we know it? This is a tricky question, but an extremely crucial one to address. As with every new technology or innovation, whether related to robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), or the metaverse, the technology itself isn’t inherently good or evil. However, the way it is used by people and businesses could potentially have a significant influence on society.

Thus, this question cannot be answered just from a technological perspective but requires ethical, legal and a social psychological point-of-view as well. Issues related to data collection using relatively less complex apps such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have already gained significant attention in the last few years. The sheer detail of user data that could be collected in the metaverse could even include personal physiological data (heart rate, facial expressions, eye tracking, emotions), posing strong ethical questions about how it could be used and monetised. While this isn’t meant to scare people away from the concept, it’s an important discussion to be had at this stage, when the metaverse is still being shaped. Similarly, how will it shift the way we do business? We are already seeing how dependent we are on the internet to communicate with each other, a fact that has been accelerated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With remote meeting platforms such as MS Teams, Zoom and Cisco Webex driving so many industries forward, the metaverse could be an extremely powerful platform that provides an even richer experience. While we don’t have a clear vision yet on specific examples, we have already seen to some extent the potential of VR/AR technologies in various sectors such as education, tourism, business, medicine, as well as manufacturing. In addition, the announcement of the metaverse has already led to several new business avenues that didn’t exist earlier. For example, selling and buying of ‘virtual’ real-estate and other NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) that could be used in the metaverse. However, again, the question of their legality, ethical considerations and future value remains to be seen. The metaverse is only in its early stages – when do you think it will become the norm? The idea of a parallel, ‘virtual’ reality has been a recurring theme in science fiction literature and movies, including The Matrix, and more recently, Ready Player One. However, now this concept is being touted as a very real ‘successor’ to the internet by many. Especially with the interest being exhibited by tech giants, such as Microsoft, Apple, and most significantly, Meta (formerly known as Facebook), faith in the metaverse is clear to see. While it’s difficult to say when this will become the norm, or if it will even become

the norm in the way we imagine it today, we can be sure that immersive technology (AR/ VR) will soon become a part of our lives in some way or the other. As is the case with many predictions related to the evolution of new technology, not every idea comes true. What role will social media play in this? Social media has shown to be an extremely powerful tool for shaping choices and influencing outcomes related to the next meal you’re going to have, all the way to deciding the next US president. Similar to the previous question about redefining society, we have to carefully consider the effect of social media from a user’s perspective and also from the perspective of the companies that run these platforms. Meta owns Oculus, one of the most popular VR headset manufacturers, and thus also owns all the usage data connected to these devices. More recently, there has been criticism towards them for forcing Oculus Quest users to link their Facebook account to their Oculus account. While it might seem like an innocent requirement, this kind of profile and data linking is what could potentially have a huge impact on the future of the metaverse. In your opinion, for those who don’t adapt, what will happen? Since the technology is still quite conceptual, it is difficult to say what will happen to those that don’t adapt. Some experts predict this technology will become as ubiquitous as the smartphone, so you can imagine life for someone today without one – how would a day be for someone that doesn’t have apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Google Maps in the palm of their hands? On the other hand, some compare it to owning a gaming console, like an Xbox or a PlayStation, which is not as universal and critical in terms of impact.

BRIAR PRESTIDGE

CEO OF PRESTIDGE GROUP

How would you define the metaverse? Whether we feel ready for it or not, the metaverse is the future. It will disrupt and shape our society at large. To an extent, talking about the metaverse and where it is currently at today, is a bit like us discussing the internet in the 1970s. No one could really describe exactly how the internet was going to evolve and ultimately turn out, just like no one can describe what the future of the metaverse entails. It’s the next generation of the internet known as web 3.0.

Though a consistent definition is yet to emerge, in broad terms the metaverse is the internet that you can go into using VR or bring to you using AR. Experiences in the metaverse are interconnected, building a social connection and driving a new digital economy. Some virtual worlds can also be accessed through PCs, game consoles, and phones, and often users appear in the form of an avatar, a digital version of themselves that shows up and interacts within the virtual world.

The metaverse also includes the digital economy, where users can create, buy, and sell virtual and real-world goods and services as NFTs, using cryptocurrency as the medium of exchange. What will people be able to do in the metaverse? Despite getting a lot more airtime lately with Facebook’s announcement to rebrand as Meta, the concept of the metaverse is not new, dating back to sci-fi series as early as the ’90s.

Already there is a lot happening which is forming the future of the metaverse. More than 12.3 million people tuned in for a VR concert in online game Fortnite featuring Travis Scott. Snoop Dogg is developing property within The Sandbox (for $450,000), and a plot of land was purchased for the equivalent of $2.4 million on Decentraland. Millions of people are spending a lot of time each day in virtual social spaces like Roblox. Nike announced the acquisition of virtual sneaker creator and collectable creator RTFKT and opened Nikeland on Roblox. Bill Gates predicted that, within two or three years, most Zoom meetings will migrate to the metaverse.

Since mobile phones were invented we are spending more and more time on our devices, placing huge weights on our digital identities (for teens, how they appear on social media sometimes means more to them than real life). Today’s younger generations have grown up as digital natives. The metaverse will continue to be a natural progression for how people will interact digitally in the future and it will impact all parts of our lives.

Right now, as the metaverse hasn’t seen singularity and the tech is still developing, most of the platforms have their own avatars and inventories that are tied to only that platform. In the more idealistic future visions of the metaverse, your avatar and digital belongings can easily travel with you between platforms. How will the metaverse redefine society as we know it? The metaverse will completely change how we understand the concept of ‘society’. AR glasses (more sleek versions, unlike the clunky ones we see today, or even contact lenses) could be ubiquitous as they become completely necessary to shop, work, and socialise. But what happens if the metaverse becomes better than reality? Will pandemic or climate-induced lockdowns force us into the metaverse? As excited as I am about the future and technology evolving, a part of me is concerned about a dystopian future where humans don’t even move from their couch. Similarly, how will it shift the way we do business? The metaverse is poised to transform business by pulling every industry into a digital economy. More and more goods and services will go digital. Companies will protect them with NFTs and then trade using smart contracts. Similarly, brands who deal with consumers in live retail spaces, or through one-dimensional internet shopping sites, will now be able to interact with them 24 hours a day in live virtual retail environments that, unlike the mall, won’t simply close because it’s midnight.

Just as Zoom allowed us to connect and conduct business throughout the pandemic from our home, virtual meetings and

“NO-ONE COULD REALLY DESCRIBE EXACTLY HOW THE INTERNET WAS GOING TO EVOLVE AND ULTIMATELY TURN OUT, JUST LIKE NO ONE CAN DESCRIBE WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE METAVERSE ENTAILS.” – Briar Prestidge

conferences, perhaps through holograms, will continue to become the norm. The metaverse is only in its early stages – when do you think it will become the norm? We’re already seeing a move towards the metaverse by many forward-thinking individuals and companies. I foresee greater experimentation and investment this year spurred on by the ‘buzz’ that we are currently seeing about this topic. It is also suggested that a more widespread adoption of the metaverse as a part of day-to-day life would be available worldwide by 2030. What role will social media play in this? It’s hard to say at this stage how all that will play out. Certainly, discussions about the metaverse – literally whole narratives about it – are unfolding on social media platforms as they exist right now. This will shape when and how quickly many consumers move over to the metaverse. Will social media platforms continue to exist in the metaverse? If they do, it will most certainly be in new three-dimensional forms. Numerous brands, such as Gucci, Coca-Cola and Louis Vuitton, are already experimenting marketing with ‘multidimensional’ and spatial campaigns, much like what the future of the metaverse will be like. Facebook is also pushing creators to make and extend virtual worlds in the Metaverse using their new platform. This is just one example of how social media will help usher in the metaverse. Though, I wonder if Facebook will push for singularity and ownership of what’s created there because they have people’s data. In your opinion, for those who don’t adapt, what will happen? This shift will be like any other great shift in history: those who don’t adapt will find themselves ultimately shut out of business, culture and society. This won’t happen overnight, of course, but the effects of inaction or even of late adoption are considerable, just like what happened to companies that didn’t embrace the internet, social media or digital marketing. How are you implanting aspects of the metaverse into your life? I’ve got avatar versions of myself, and I spend time in virtual reality exploring what’s there. I socialise with friends around the world there – we exercise on VR Workout, have boxing matches in a virtual ring, and movie nights on Big Screen using our Oculus headsets. Our team at our personal branding and PR agency, Prestidge Group, are conducting virtual meetings, recording podcasts, and creating strategies to position its clients’ personal brands on virtual platforms. My suit label, Briar Prestidge – The Label, has created digital versions of our power suits that you can wear to virtual conferences. Remember, the only constant in life is change, so embrace it and enjoy what the metaverse brings.

WAQAS NAKHWA

CEO AND FOUNDER OF AQARCHAIN

How would you define the metaverse? The metaverse is an abstract space on the internet that can be created using AR and VR. Any digital creation of space that can be accessed through the internet is a metaverse creation, the experience can be enhanced more by using AR/VR headsets and 3D characters with animation. What will people be able to do in the metaverse? Since the metaverse is virtual and not a physical space there is no limitation to what can be done – it is beyond imagination. The whole concept is new and explorations are being done on what metaverse can achieve. Primarily gaming looks like the best use case but real estate, social platforms and entertainment are evolving in developing real world use cases. How will it redefine society as we know it? It is the new change and since change in the last decade has been so fast, millennials are beginning to adopt it at a rapid pace. The first change was the use of social media which gave social connections a new paradigm, and now the metaverse will bring in another social connection in the virtual world, with many internet giants adopting the metaverse. Similarly, how will it shift the way we do business? Just like how the internet and social media made a big wave in all sectors, businesses adopt it to create a presence. For example, a construction company has a website and social media profiles. In the future it will have the metaverse to conduct business meetings, discuss projects etc. So eventually there will be mass adoption in the longer run. The metaverse is only in its early stages – when do you think it will become the norm? We have become fast adopters of change and the pandemic has taught us to adopt change much faster. Just how we have evolved from bricks and mortar to the internet, VR will be the next adoption. What role will social media play in this? Social media is a catalyst, just like spices in food. In the internet age it is impossible for any business to not have any social media presence. Which platform each business chooses depends on the target audience but a social media presence is there for sure. So therefore social media has made the metaverse knowledgeable to everybody today and it will continue to be the conduit in the real world adoption of metaverse. In your opinion, for those who don’t adapt, what will happen? There is no first comer advantage, it all depends on what use case is more practical than the other. Eventually all businesses will have a metaverse presence. Like we have seen internet giants in the early 2000s and social media giants in the 2010s, the 2020s will see the rise of metaverse giants. How are you implementing aspects of the metaverse into your life? We will all adapt to the metaverse in our day-to-day life as the technology evolves, it becomes cheaper and more practical in real-life use cases. Today mobile phones have been replaced with smartphones and now wearable devices, so we all are implanting aspects of the metaverse knowingly or unknowingly. Today as we enter the evolution of technology from basic internet to web 3.0, blockchain and AI / ML (Machine Learning), the use of VR is becoming more accessible. With the pandemic technology adoption has increased and now in the digital age, we see immense growth in this sector.

“THE METAVERSE HELPS US ANSWER THIS CHALLENGE BY HELPING GET US EVEN CLOSER TO FEELING THAT IN-PERSON CONNECTION.” – Derya Matras, VP Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Meta (Facebook)

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