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The post-pandemic world is changing rapidly, and technology is being used to shape new realities. The metaverse will be (and already is) the most significant trend in the technological landscape in the next few decades.
These five technologies are directly or indirectly related to the creation of this interactive and impressive virtual platform, and here is how it will be used in the future.
1. Virtual reality headphones
Virtual reality devices will be an integral part of communication in the future. VR headsets will be used to access and interact with the metaverse. No matter what we do, whether we want to work or play, we will use virtual reality headphones. Just as every company created a website two decades ago to be present on the Internet, companies will have to create a presence in 3D virtual space.
It is also likely that VR will also replace game consoles by the end of this decade. This means that the world of online gaming and traditional business will merge at some point - traditional companies will team up with game developers such as Fortnite and Roblock to create interesting VR experiences.
However, there are several complex challenges that product designers must overcome. For example, it is important to increase the resolution of VR devices (ideally with 8k resolution because it will help create a more realistic virtual space) and design VR headphones with a refresh rate of 120 Hz because this speed will help prevent motion sickness that many VR users suffer immediately. In addition, it is necessary to pair VR headphones with other body sensors to create a better illusion of reality. Meta is already working on a haptic glove that will pair with the headphones to create an even more impressive experience.
Related: 5 reasons why AR and VR strategy is necessary for your business
2. Augmented reality glasses
Like VR, augmented reality will naturally be a part of our daily lives. But instead of complete headphones, AR will be integrated into the glasses we use. The Google Glass concept, first introduced a decade ago, will be back, and this time it will stay with us. Augmented reality will be our new reality. AR will enrich our daily interactions with real objects. For example, when we visit a brick and mortar store, we will communicate with the seller’s hologram instead of the actual seller. This hologram will only appear if we need to see it (ie if we want to ask for help).
AR is likely to be used for live scanning of real-world environments. An environment like a city district will naturally transfer to virtual space by AR users. AR will also be used to explore new architectural structures even before they are actually built. Imagine being able to design a new building and then use AR goggles to navigate this space before it is built to understand the potential problems.
VR headphones and AR glasses will also change the way we communicate with technical devices. Voice-based interactions will be a natural part of AR and VR devices. With so many different options offered by AR devices, it will be easier for users to say “Do (action)” instead of finding the right option in the navigation menu.
Related: Why augmented reality and virtual reality will be important to your business
3. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Irreplaceable Tokens (NFT)
Decentralized finance will be the heart of the digital economy of the metaverse. Digital currency (coins) will fit perfectly into a virtual environment. As long as users stay in the virtual environment, they can sell and buy things using digital currencies. It is unlikely that they will have only one metaverse; we are more likely to have more metaverses created by different companies, so it is unlikely that we will see a universal currency that will work for all metaverses. Every company that will create a metaverse will also release its own currency, and one of the challenges that product designers will face is creating a mechanism that allows them to easily exchange one currency for another.
NFT is a technology that most people today associate with collecting and selling digital items. But this technology has much greater potential than that. In the future, NFT will be used as an indicator of ownership of any digital asset in the metaverse - it will be used for all digital items in virtual space, from digital land ownership to the virtual suit your avatar wears.
Related: Make your brand a household name using the power of NFT
4. Digital identity
Many believe that the metaverse will be a space where anything is possible. This is not true. Just as the real world has some rules and policies that people must follow, the virtual world should also have a set of basic policies that people must follow. And digital identity is something that will help control those policies.
Digital identity will function in the same way as real-world identity. It will be connected to your digital avatar, a virtual user presentation. When a user joins the metaverse, his avatar will provide a digital identity to access various services. Creating digital identities is likely to require the collection and analysis of some biometric data. Most likely, users will go through face scanning and recognition.
The question is whether the companies that created the metaverse will verify the digital identity or ask the service providers to do so. Metaverse creators will also need to address the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to protect the privacy of personal data. Given how much information companies can gather about their customers in the metaverse, this can be a big challenge for service providers.
Related: 4 things you need (and one you don’t need) to form your brand’s digital identity
5. Advanced sensors for health monitoring in wearable devices
The pandemic has proven that health is our most valuable asset. Technology will be used to create a healthier life. The next generation of wearable devices will enable more precise monitoring of our health. Not only will the list of devices that will be able to monitor be expanded, but the way in which the devices will monitor our health will also change. Portable devices will monitor your health by measuring the gases that come out of your skin. They will monitor biomarkers associated with metabolic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes. Most likely, such sensors will be integrated into all the devices we use every day - smart watches, AR glasses and VR headphones.