The concept of the Metaverse is a groundbreaking innovation that merges the real world with virtual environments, enabling seamless interaction through avatars and holograms. With the potential to revolutionize how we experience the physical world using augmented and virtual reality technologies, the Metaverse is a space where users can explore, connect, and create in ways never before possible.
While virtual environments and immersive games like Second Life, Fortnite, Roblox, and VRChat have paved the way for the Metaverse, it is only recently that the concept has gained significant traction. This study delves into the definition, applications, importance, benefits, and challenges of the Metaverse, shedding light on its potential future developments.
By introducing this cutting-edge technology, the study aims to contribute to the existing literature and serve as a reference point for researchers interested in exploring the Metaverse further. With keywords like Metaverse, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain, the study navigates through the complexities of this emerging field.
1. Introduction
The Metaverse concept was first introduced by Neal Stephenson in his science fiction novel Snow Crash over three decades ago. Today, the Metaverse is a prominent concept in industry and academia, thanks to advancements in technologies like blockchain, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. Initially depicted in Stephenson’s 1992 novel, the Metaverse serves as a virtual universe accessible worldwide through digital avatars and immersive experiences.
The foundation of the Metaverse lies in the idea of an information superhighway comprised of virtual neighborhoods and spaces, known as “the Street” protocol. Users interact via digital avatars, blurring the lines between the digital and physical realms. Parallels can be drawn between the Metaverse and concepts like cyberspace, as seen in William Gibson’s novel.
Continuously evolving, the Metaverse presents a post-reality universe where physical and virtual worlds intertwine seamlessly. This novel environment integrates technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to provide users with immersive sensory experiences. The Metaverse represents a frontier in internet applications and social interactions, characterized by its multiplicity of technologies and spatial-temporal features.
The Metaverse encompasses various perspectives, including network infrastructure, governance technology, core common technology, virtual reality object connectivity, and virtual reality convergence. These components collectively contribute to creating a virtual world interconnected with the real world, offering economic opportunities and enhanced user experiences.
While the Metaverse is still in its nascent stages, researchers are exploring its vast potential through studies that span different domains. From education and medicine to sustainability and social events, the Metaverse is reshaping how we perceive and interact with virtual environments.
Lee et al., 2022Developed and implemented a Metaverse-based children’s social skills training program aimed at improving the social interaction abilities of children with autism aged 7-12. Biometric data collected through wearable devices were compared and analyzed while applying the Metaverse-based social skills training program to evaluate emotional changes in autistic children in stressful situations.
Park et al., 2022Developed a method that uses smartphone functions and data to reduce the burden of high computing power and other related resources in the Metaverse and create a personal virtual space. An intuitive personal virtual space was created using smartphone data, and a new type of metadata repository application was developed using photo data recorded on a smartphone.
Huh, 2022Explored the emergence of the Metaverse in medical education and focused on computer-based testing applications and journal metrics in medical education.
Dwivedi et al., 2022Introduced the concept of the Metaverse, addressing the challenges, previous studies, and opportunities.
Wang et al., 2022Presented a study using the Metaverse to analyze emotional intelligence for the digital native generation. The study highlighted the decline in emotional intelligence due to dissatisfaction with the rapid adaptation to the new normal after COVID-19. The research proposed an analysis to mitigate the psychological side effects of emotional intelligence when people are connected to the new normal life.
Lin et al., 2022Proposed a blockchain-based trusted collaborative management system for Metaverse analysis. The study also demonstrated how the new metadata repository concept could be validated, implemented, and scaled to develop, transform, and revitalize traditional manufacturing industries.
Arpacı et al., 2022Used a hybrid SEM-ANN approach to understand the social sustainability of the Metaverse. This method was developed by integrating UTAUT2 structures and five major personality traits to understand the social sustainability of the Metaverse. The model was tested using a hybrid covariance-based method.
Dinçelli & Yayla, 2022Addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by virtual reality for information systems, focusing on aspects such as regulation, interaction, navigability, sensory capability, and creativity. The study was conducted based on 151 students.
Yung et al., 2022Highlighted the growing importance of virtual events due to COVID-19 but noted that the boundaries between virtual events and the terminology for different types of virtual events were not clearly defined. The study aimed to resolve conflicts in this area by presenting a conceptual model integrating the virtuality of the environment, location, and the three dimensions of social presence as the SPEL cube.
Tlili et al., 2022Demonstrated the importance of the Metaverse in education and its impact on the success of Generation Y and Z in education and training. The study also presented the increase in young people’s interest in learning resources, mobile learning, hybrid learning, and microlearning with the Metaverse. The impact of this concept on learning was compared by adopting it in education worldwide and improving the study areas of disabled students.
Bibri et al., 2022Analyzed emerging trends enabling and driving data-driven smart cities and used the results to design a new framework for the digital and computational processes underlying the Metaverse as a virtual form of data-driven smart cities. The study also examined the risks and impacts of the Metaverse. Concepts such as technocratic governance, governability, privacy, security, and data management, which were discussed in the context of the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent non-spontaneous normality of the social order led by corporate leadership, were also discussed. Additionally, the study described the computational process related to smart cities, including digital instrumentation, digital hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, and platformization, and considered the open synergies to ensure the potential operation of the Metaverse towards virtual cities and their integration.
Schumacher, 2022Focused on the design drivers and core competencies for architecture and society within the Metaverse, addressing studies on the design of the three-dimensional virtual world.
Shen, 2022Suggested that creating a VR world in the form of three-dimensional interaction can deepen the understanding of Chinese culture by transcending the constraints of time and space. The study designed a two-stage task allocation algorithm to achieve the optimal solution for the task of loading problems by applying the Nash equilibrium. This approach can reduce average latency and improve user experience by offloading VR computing tasks to edge servers.
2. Material and Method
The Metaverse, while not a new concept, is rapidly gaining prominence as it bridges the gap between Mixed Reality (MR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies. By offering immersive experiences and redefining online education, meta-education models empower learners with enriched 3D virtual campus experiences. Remote machine management using virtual reality technology enhances precision in avatar expressions and body language, making virtual interactions as effective as physical ones. Social mixed reality in the Metaverse fosters deep and lasting knowledge through interactive pedagogies, democratizing education globally.
As an amalgamation of new technologies, the Metaverse integrates various technological components ranging from 5G and 6G networks to cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. These technologies ensure a seamless connection between virtual and physical worlds, offering secure and interactive experiences for users.
