Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi recently hit the news for creating buzz around the topic of the metaverse. He bought land in the virtual world and named it Balle Balle land making it India’s first metaverse land acquisition. The concept of virtual lands seems a bit confusing, doesn’t it? Believe it or not, it’s the next big thing when it comes to the future. Wrapping our heads around this concept is a bit of a task. The introduction of the Metaverse to this generation can be compared to the introduction of the internet in the 90s. So let’s start with the basics – What is Metaverse?
What the hell is the Metaverse anyway?
It is a virtual platform containing different virtual worlds where one can communicate, play, interact, buy or sell products. Users can choose 3D Avatars according to what they want to look like. They can interact with other people through these avatars.
The metaverse is a collection of different virtual worlds. There are different metaverses that exist but there isn’t any one single metaverse that combines all metaverses. Basically, it is like the internet, which isn’t owned by one single person or company.
Metaverse can be experienced in different ways. One can use a VR headset that allows for meeting people virtually or immersive gaming sessions. Experiencing metaverse doesn’t require fancy gadgets. Metaverse VR spaces can be accessed through PCs, game consoles, or smartphones. You can also buy, create or sell virtual or physical products on it.
Rise of the Metaverse
Metaverse is the next big thing when it comes to stepping into the virtual world. It is a game-changer in the world of communication. The virtual world has proved that it is indispensable for us, especially after the pandemic. Most of us had to shift our activities to an online mode including working, playing, taking classes, watching movies, and going to concerts. According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Metaverse will be mainstream in 5-10 years.
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There are popular Metaverse platforms? How do you get access?
Decentraland, The Sandbox, and Axie Infinity are some of the popular platforms. Accessing some of these platforms requires downloading a metamask which is basically a crypto wallet that enables the users to carry out transactions. One can join these metaverses by visiting the website for any of these platforms by signing up and connecting to your metamask accounts. The sandbox is one of the popular platforms where you can build or create your own games and sell them as NFTs. Decentraland is comparatively easier to join as you have the option of playing as a guest without connecting to your metamask account. However, you are unable to buy assets if you do not connect to your metamask account.
What does one do in the Metaverse?
One can use cryptocurrency to buy virtual goods and real-world products like clothes, houses, property, etc. Innovative brands create virtual showrooms for the customers to examine the 3D version of products like jewelry, clothes, or cars. It takes the dress-up games to the next level. The avatars can be personalized with branded digital clothes and accessories like hats, glasses, handbags, or shoes. Gucci, Nike, and Dior have made their products virtually available for this purpose. Nike allows its customers to design their own shoes using 3D technology. Other than these products, it is made up of virtual land which can be bought and sold. These lands are represented as NFTs which are owned by people. Value can be added to this land by creating digital assets like games or 3D buildings.
Metaverse for Education and Entertainment.
The pandemic has majorly hit these two spheres of our lives. For students, missing out on college or school life isn’t easy. But, metaverse comes to the rescue! Although the virtual experience does not make up for the IRL experience, it definitely proves to be better than boring zoom meets. The VR visual learning experience combined with interacting with other students has transformed classrooms into an exciting learning environment. The students have been kept away from physical interaction in recent years, but the metaverse has changed that to some extent.
When it comes to entertainment, going out with your friends to a concert is the trend. But this has declined in the last two years. It was also difficult for the music artists to make a living. But “quarantine concerts” saw a rise on platforms like Facebook and Youtube. Artists like Travis Scott and Ariana Grande have made their mark on the metaverse platforms.
Is the Metaverse good for you?
Platforms like Metaverse can enhance human connection but can also strip us away from it. How we use it is our choice, but we cannot deny the fact that the rise of the metaverse has opened plenty of doors for us.
