In the weeks since, the metaverse has become the hottest topic in tech.
Unfortunately, it seems like most people dont get the metaverse.
Its being referred to as a VR/AR/MR technology or as a marketplace for digital goods and NFTs.
Its not incorrect, but it only accounts for a tiny part of the big picture.
Forget VR
Throw away your preconceived notions about what Facebook and Microsoft are doing.
Stop thinking about the metaverse as a VR tech or as something where you have a digital avatar.
Forget VR and avatars for a few minutes.
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The process usually took hours, if not days.
There were no customization features, and some models werent even listed.
Would that give you confidence as a consumer?
Imagine extending that concept beyond AR/VR/MR.
You could paint your walls white and use a projector to display digital art in your real studio apartment.
What if that art was worth more than its physical, corporeal counterparts?
Best of all, nobody could steal it.
Because it doesnt actually exist in the real world.
It exists in the metaverse, youre just enjoying it in the real world.
And sure, people could make digital copies of your Banksy.
The difference is that its actually easier to authenticate a digital artwork in 2021 than a physical one.
And we can extend the metaverse far beyond art and media ownership.
Imagine a company that sells furniture in the metaverse.
But what if that companys business model included real-furniture-as-a-service?
Our wardrobes would be as big our music libraries.
Sure, you cant wear a digital shirt like you might listen to a digital song.
But moving shirts around in the physical world becomes trivial once youve developed a large enough platform.
Anyone whos ever taken advantage of Amazon Primes 2-day shipping knows what Im talking about.
Return of the Wii
I spoke with Devin Reimer, the CEOwl atOwlchemy Labs.
His companys one of the premiere VR gaming outfits in the world.
Their gamesJob SimulatorandVacation Simulatorhave dominated the charts since launch.
The companys next game,Cosmonious High,is the next step for VR, according to Reimer.
And we have every reason to believe him because Owlchemys games are unparalleled.
You already know how to play theSimulatortitles even if youve never played a VR game.
You throw things by making a throwing motion with the controller youre holding.
You wave at characters in the game by waving your hand.
The best interface is no interface at all.
According to Reimer, its not about recreating whats possible in the real world.
Its about giving people a method by which they can integrate theirreal experiencesinto the virtual one theyre in.
Theres a very fine line betweenwow, thats awesomeandshit, thats creepy.
Basically, you should be fighting the villains in video games, not the controls.
And its the same for Zoom meetings in the real world.
It has to be as easy to work in the metaverse as it is to bowl with a WiiMote.
But… theres a but, right?
The elephant in the room is always going to be VR.
A lot of people cant get past that.
And, to them, Ill say: did you forget about the iPhone?
The first iPhone sold a little over 6 million units.
In 2018 Apple sold 217 million iPhones.
The current generation of VR products have only been around for a few years.
All things VR aside, the metaverse already exists in a splintered, bespoke format.
You might not be reading those posts and tweets, but someone you know is.
Sometimes it doesnt matter, sometimes it changes a presidential election.
