The metaverse is gaining popularity at an exponential rate, with thousands of articles and videos about it being published on the internet in recent months. The term "metaverse" is credited to Neal Stephenson, author of the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash, yet it is no longer just a far-fetched concept. So, what precisely is the metaverse, and how will it develop in the future?

The term "metaverse" does not relate to any specific gadget or technological branch. Rather, it reflects a change in how we engage with current technology, allowing for more overlap and seamless integration of our digital and real lives. Smartwatches can readily measure a person's activity and heart rate, Spotify evaluates users' musical preferences and even makes personalized playlists based on songs you've listened to, and applications like DoorDash show the user exactly where their meal is and its expected arrival time.

https://www.uctoday.com/collaboration/can-we-work-in-the-metaverse/

The metaverse aspires to go one step farther in connecting the actual and virtual worlds. It brings together technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and video to create a digital realm in which users can "live." The metaverse can now be accessed using digital devices such as phones and tablets, but it is intended to be used with advanced VR or AR headsets in the future.

Since Apple's release of the contemporary touchscreen smartphone in 2007, devices that transport their users to these digital and fictional worlds are expected to open up the next great industry in technology. Major corporations are pouring billions of dollars into metaverse gadgets and technology, and it's not unreasonable to believe that, smartphones, VR headgear, or devices will become just as widespread and widely utilized shortly.

Facebook's rebranding as Meta in October 2021 reflects the company's new market focus. Its goal is to build an immersive virtual environment in which users may communicate with one another using virtual reality headsets and avatars. Other businesses are working on metaverse technologies, with Microsoft revealing intentions to produce holograms and virtual avatars, and Google working on AR operating systems.
Will the metaverse usher in a new era of technology, erasing the internet as we know it?

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