How People Expect the Metaverse to Improve Daily Life

As mentioned in a previous post, the creation of the Metaverse has always been destined to be more than virtual reality and whilst it's still in it's early stages, the extension of real world activities are already being put to use following the developments of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, non-fungible tokens, cryptocurrencies, virtual & augmented reality and more.

Whilst it seems that not everyone is yet fully convinced, the customer interest continues to grow and roughly 60% of US teens and adults (age13-60) believe that virtual environments will make the process of finding a fitness or exercise routine significantly better, and the same percentage expect them to improve real estate shopping as shown below in a recent study completed by Statista.

At Tech Hubble we understand that customers want these innovations & technologies to enhance everyday activities and brands shouldn't seek to replicate their already existing operations in the Metaverse. Brands need to identify how they can use these solutions to enhance the customer experience & make it more convenient for a consumer whether it before a virtual house tour, a virtual try on or a virtual representation of that holiday destination.

The effects of COVID will continue to have a long lasting impact on the future of the workplace and whilst working virtually is already a reality for many of us, individuals continuing to work hybrid & remote will continue to rise. This is where a continued requirement of innovation is needed to support that shift and continue to bring people together. Meta is now building Horizon Workrooms as entry points for the metaverse at work. A virtual meeting spaces where teams and colleagues can work better together from anywhere—you can join a meeting in VR as an avatar or dial into the virtual room from your computer by video call.

The hopes for the Metaverse is that it will be a place where people will feel free to go anywhere and do as they please, without fear of being judged by others. A place free of issues such as crime, poverty & pollution, a common issue for many in the real world. The aim is to create an 'illusion' that users are the authors of their own reality, taking user participation to the next level and provider a far greater interactive experience. Their is no confinement of space in a virtual world as users can do more with the environment around them: move around, work with objects and each other, have a greater presence in the space, and create more realistic simulations.

How could it effect our working life's?

We've talked already around virtual workspaces and some may still be unconvinced. However, zoom calls & video meetings have become critical for business due to the cost cutting nature & a wider reach. The issue is that many have become bored of these sessions, particularly with multiple participants and we've been told by many Tech Hubble members that Zoom fatigue, really has kicked in.

The Metaverse could change this whole experience as rather than sit on screen with multiple thumbnails, participants could put on goggle or a hood and fully immersive themselves in the meeting at a virtual boardroom.

When asked what real world problems the Metaverse could solve, Matt Ball, Venture Capitalists and Author of his book 'The Metaverse and How it Will Revolutionize Everything' states "In many cases, if not nearly all, having a 3D immersive environment is a more intuitive and productive way to communicate information and ideas. Humans did not evolve for thousands of years to touch 2D interfaces".

Employees are the most critical business function and perhaps, a function often overlooked? If you're not looking to user AR/VR for customers, how about using it to continuously progress & develop your internal teams?

Whether it's staff onboarding, site visits, a learning course or classroom setting, the use of VR can provide a much more engaging opportunity to develop staff in a way customised to your business to ensure true effectiveness. Whether that's through realistic scene setting to test decision making, on an assembly line, or walking through troubleshooting processes. There are many ways create a relevant, meaningful training program with VR that will benefit your internal team and therefore, enhance your day to day operations.