What is the Metaverse?

A beginner's guide to the digital universe

Imagine stepping into a world where you can be anyone, go anywhere, and do anything, all from the comfort of your home. Think of it like stepping into a video game, where you control a character and interact with the environment, except this world parallels our own reality and is populated by real people in real-time. This is the metaverse—a shared, immersive, and interactive digital universe.

A brief history of the metaverse

The term 'metaverse' was first coined by author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel, "Snow Crash". In the book, Stephenson describes the metaverse as a virtual reality-based successor to the internet. The characters interact with each other and the virtual world through avatars in a 3D space.

This concept was then brought closer to reality by tech companies and game developers. Early renditions of virtual worlds, such as "Second Life" and "World of Warcraft", laid the groundwork for today's evolving metaverse.

The metaverse started gaining more attention and traction with the advent of modern virtual and augmented reality technologies. Advances in blockchain technology and the rise of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have further propelled the development of the metaverse, enabling true ownership and transfer of digital assets in these virtual spaces.

How does the metaverse work?

The Metaverse functions through interconnected digital spaces that exist on the internet. These spaces are built on different platforms and can be accessed using various devices, such as computers, smartphones, or virtual reality headsets. To interact with the Metaverse, you create an avatar and navigate through these digital realms.

One of the key aspects of the metaverse is its interconnectivity. This means that ideally, you can move from one digital space to another seamlessly, like teleporting from a virtual shopping mall to a concert or a gaming world. However, it's worth noting that the level of interconnectivity and compatibility between different metaverses can vary, as the technology and standards for interoperability are still being developed.

In many metaverses, blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) play crucial roles. Blockchain provides a transparent and secure way to establish ownership and provenance of digital assets in the metaverse. NFTs, unique digital assets that are stored on a blockchain, enable users to truly own, buy, sell, or trade items, properties, or even experiences in the metaverse, much like you would do in the physical world. These technologies are particularly significant in decentralized metaverses, like Skybreach, where users have full control over their digital assets.

Characteristics of a true metaverse

A true metaverse adheres to certain key principles:

1. Openness: A true metaverse is open to everyone, allowing participation regardless of who or where they are, much like the internet itself. This openness facilitates a globally connected environment.

2. Decentralization: A true metaverse is not controlled by any single entity or organization. This ensures that no one can ban, censor, or limit anyone else within the metaverse, preserving the principles of freedom and fairness.

3. True ownership of experiences: In a true metaverse, users have complete ownership of their experiences and assets, such as avatars, lands, and tools. They can take these assets, sell them on the open market, or gift them to others, providing a sense of autonomy and control.

4. Verifiable digital scarcity: A true metaverse employs the concept of verifiable digital scarcity. This means that the quantity of items in the metaverse is finite and verifiable, which lends value to the items and interactions within the metaverse.

Watch the video below for an introduction to a true metaverse.

Skybreach, the true metaverse

Types of metaverses

Understanding the characteristics of a true metaverse, we can now delve into the three main types of metaverses:

1. Centralized: These metaverses, while offering a consistent user experience, often limit user freedom and ownership due to their control by a single entity or organization.

2. Decentralized: These metaverses align closely with the principles of a true metaverse. They are open to everyone, with users having complete ownership of their experiences and assets. To date, Skybreach, although not fully launched yet, is the prime example of this type.

3. Hybrid: These metaverses blend elements of both centralized and decentralized structures. They might have a central authority for general oversight, while also allowing certain levels of user freedom and ownership. Decentraland, Sandbox, and Otherside are examples of this type.

After understanding these types, it's crucial to note that metaverses can also differ based on their purpose and offerings. Some metaverses are game-focused, creating immersive worlds for players to explore, compete, and collaborate. Others are more generalized, offering a blend of gaming, commerce, and community-building experiences. This diversity allows users to choose a metaverse that best fits their interests and needs.

Benefits of the metaverse

The metaverse opens up a new realm of possibilities and offers several benefits:

1. Democratization of experiences: The metaverse allows people from all walks of life to access experiences that might be out of reach in the physical world, like attending a concert or visiting a museum halfway around the globe.

2. Economic opportunities: The metaverse offers unique economic opportunities. Users can own digital assets, such as virtual real estate or digital art, and profit from them.

3. Social interaction: The metaverse enables people to interact and socialize in new ways, beyond the constraints of physical distance.

4. Creativity and innovation: The metaverse is a boundless space for creativity and innovation, where users can create and shape their own environments.

Use cases and possibilities of the metaverse

The Metaverse holds enormous potential across various industries, from gaming and social media to education and beyond. Here's how the Metaverse could revolutionize different aspects of our lives:

1. Gaming: Virtual worlds like "Fortnite" and "Roblox" are prime examples of the Metaverse in gaming. Here, players can interact, collaborate, and compete in a shared virtual space.

2. Entertainment: The metaverse can host concerts, movies, and other events in an immersive and interactive way, providing a new platform for artists and entertainers.

3. Social media: Platforms like "VRChat" integrate social media with the Metaverse, creating shared virtual spaces where users can hang out with friends, attend events, and engage in activities together.

4. Education: Virtual Reality learning platforms like "Engage" use the Metaverse to provide immersive educational experiences, making learning more engaging and effective.

5. E-commerce: In the Metaverse, virtual shopping experiences can become more immersive. For example, "Decentraland," a virtual reality platform, allows users to explore virtual shops and interact with products before buying them.

6. Work: The Metaverse can revolutionize remote work. "Spatial," a virtual collaboration platform, enables users to join virtual meetings, collaborate on projects, and work together in shared digital spaces.

Conclusion

The Metaverse is an exciting and promising concept that's set to redefine our digital lives. It has the potential to create a new era of immersive experiences, bridging people from all corners of the globe in a shared virtual universe. As technology advances, the line between the physical and digital worlds will continue to blur, making the Metaverse an integral part of our daily lives. Skybreach and similar platforms are leading the way, showing us what's possible when we truly embrace the potential of the metaverse.