- The metaverse is not a new idea, science fiction writer Neal Stephenson coined the term in 1992, and the concept is commonplace among video game companies.
- Metaverse is the next version of the Internet focused on social connection.
- It can be imagined as a 3D virtual world, with ever-evolving aspects which are collectively shared by its inhabitants - a virtual world with real-time events and an online infrastructure.
- Virtual communities, activities, events, all seamlessly accessible without the need to sign into multiple apps.
- For a user-centric approach, a key aspect of the Metaverse that will work in its favour is the effortless transition from one to the next step without discrepancies.
- With the Metaverse, the virtual marketplace will be a serious business affair.
- Several women have reported incidents of harassment, including a beta tester who was virtually groped by a stranger. There has been a reported incident of gang-rape as well.
- It could also lead to new scrutiny of old issues like privacy and managing who does what to whom in a virtual world.
- Psychologists and social scientists across the world are now worried about the psychological impacts of dual reality.
- Upgrading Technologies: The metaverse is being seen as the Internet 2.0 and for a smooth transition to it, new tech infrastructure needs to be created and protocols written. Today’s internet as a file-sharing protocol will need to be re-imagined for the metaverse.
- Ensuring Safety in Metaverse: Metaverse should be made more secure by making safety features easier to find, like a fire extinguisher, and get volunteers to monitor behaviour.
- India’s Role in Metaverse: India’s talent at producing and exporting software and software developers gives the country a unique advantage in the coming world of the metaverse, where our digital personas would be as important as our physical selves.