AR, MR, VR, Metaverse – Does it all mean the same?
AR and VR have been in the conversation for decades now. But with the sudden outburst of popularity that Metaverse has garnered, all thanks to Facebook rebranding itself as Meta and flexing its marketing budget, the terms have lost their real meaning.
People involved with the metaverse are barely concerned with what these technologies actually are. They just want to explore what the buzz is actually about. And in the buzz, these terms are being used interchangeably, adding to the massive confusion.
What is AR?
AR or Augmented Reality is the extension of user experience through sound, visuals, or touch in the physical world itself. Where users can interact with objects from the digital world in first person. A mixed experience for users that blends the real and the physical world.
One of the best examples of Augmented Reality is a Hologram. 3D representation of objects in the physical world. The closest I have been to experience AR is with an iPhone that has a LiDar sensor at the back, that can model real-world objects as 3-D digital objects in the virtual space.
What is MR?
It is another technical term from web3 that means “Mixed Reality”. And it consists of the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real-time. Mixed reality does not exclusively take place in either the physical world or the virtual world, but is a hybrid of augmented reality and virtual reality.
What is VR?
Virtual Reality is a first-person experience of a digital world through a VR headset. The VR headset teleports you into a virtual world where you can live and interact with others. VR gaming has been around for many years now. Sony’s PlayStation 3 was one of the best VR gaming setups, where users could use motion sensors and a VR Headset to play interesting games like tennis, golf, basketball, baseball, cricket, and even play musical instruments!
I was 16 years old when my father bought me a Playstation 3 and the entire VR setup for playing cricket. Of course, a physical cricket kit would’ve cost much less, but no one else had a digital bat and ball in my neighborhood. And the selfish intent to have what nobody else does had taken over my sense of reason, so my father had to yield.
The first time I put the VR headset on and held the bat in the virtual world, I could not believe what I saw, it was as if I was dreaming with my eyes open.
I knew it was a game, but to experience a game beyond the borders of a square display made it so much more fascinating and surreal.
Metaverse
There are many different definitions of the metaverse. However, the most common definition is a digital world that exists beyond the physical world. A world where you exist as an avatar that can be customized to your preferences.
The metaverse can be seen as an extension of the real world. It is a digital world that people can visit and enjoy countless experiences and conversations.
The metaverse is often misunderstood as a game while it barely pretends to be so. It is simply an experience where you can live as you wish and enjoy exclusive digital experiences while interacting with others.
It has been around for many years. However, it has only recently become mainstream due to advances in technology. The most popular metaverse platforms that are currently engaging a high number of daily users are Second Life and Habbo Hotel.
Although the popularity is soaring and is far from its peak, the future of the metaverse is uncertain. However, it is likely that it will continue to grow in popularity as more people begin to explore the infinite possibilities of the virtual world!
History of the Metaverse
The Metaverse is a term coined by Neal Stephenson in his science fiction novel Snow Crash in 1992. It is the story of Hiro, a pizza delivery guy in the physical world who is a prince in the virtual world and is fighting a villain to prevent the collapse of his empire.
The term “Metaverse” is quite a dated term, and its origins can be traced back to the 1990s, when science fiction novels and movies were pushing the borders of human perception with the infiniteness of their imagination.
One of my favorite sci-fi movies of all time, The Matrix, written and directed by Wachowski, is one of the most realistic manifestations of the virtual world. It is the story of a shared virtual space where humans are trapped and targeted by dangerous machines in order to keep them from leaving, while their actual bodies are being held hostage and are being used as sources of energy.
Some of the recent movies that I loved watching and that came really close to depicting what the future of virtual reality might actually look like are “Ready Player One“, and “Alita Battle Angel“.
While Ready Player One explores the world of VR gaming and interaction in the digital world called Oasis. Alita Battle Angel is a different story. The tale of an AI-based combat cyborg, rescued from a scrapyard and lost in the world of humans exploring her emotions and trying to figure out who she really is. The movie perfectly captures the deep relationships AI and humans can develop over time and the future of AI and AR in our own world.
People compare often the Metaverse to Second Life, a popular online virtual world launched in 2003. Both Second Life and the Metaverse are 3D virtual worlds where users can create their own avatar and interact with others. However, there are some key differences between the two. First, Second Life is based on 2D graphics, while the Metaverse is based on 3D graphics. Second, Second Life is designed for adults, while the Metaverse is designed for all ages.
Despite these differences, both the Metaverse and Second Life have been extremely popular. But amid all this buzz around the metaverse looms a simple yet significant question.
Is the metaverse really significant?
To answer this question, let’s rewind back to 2001 when Halo multiplayer mode was launched and took the gaming community by storm. The fact that it gave so many different players a platform to interact made it instantly likable and more interesting.
Now snap back to the present, multiplayer and battle royale games dominate the gaming sector and in-game purchases are at an all-time high and this is all because of a simple human tendency to be better than others. Players want to be unique and own the most exclusive of items, just to be different from others.
So, a world that offers exclusivity and customization in every possible sense is truly magnificent and is sure to draw a lot of attention. So to answer the question in a single line, the metaverse is significant as it offers you a unique identity, and at the end of the day, that’s what people really want.
Metaverse vs. Virtual Reality
There is a lot of confusion about the difference between the Metaverse and virtual reality. The Metaverse is a digital world that people can access using their computers or other devices. It is not a physical place that you can visit. Virtual reality, on the other hand, is a simulated environment that you can experience using special equipment, such as a VR headset.
The Metaverse has been around for much longer than virtual reality. It was first popularized in the 1990s by science fiction novels like Snow Crash and Ready Player One. The term “Metaverse” was actually coined in 1992 by Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash. In this novel, the Metaverse is a 3D virtual world where people can meet and interact with each other.
Nowadays, the Metaverse is becoming more and more popular, due to advances in technology. Social media platforms like Second Life and Habbo Hotel are considered part of the Metaverse. In addition, there are many virtual worlds that have been created for specific purposes, such as education or training.
The future of the Metaverse is still uncertain. Some experts believe that it will eventually become a separate world that people inhabit just like the physical world. Others believe that it is just another technological wave and will eventually perish as people lose interest.
Art projects, Animation, and Storytelling
Art in the Metaverse has come a long way since the early days of 3D graphics and simple avatar customizations. These days, there are entire virtual worlds that have been built for the express purpose of housing and displaying art. Some examples of these virtual spaces include Second Life, Sansar, and VRChat. In these virtual worlds, artists can create anything they can imagine, and there are no limits to what they can do.
Animation is another area where the Metaverse has seen a lot of growth and development. In the early days of 3D graphics, animation was very limited. But now, with the power of modern computers, animations can be incredibly realistic and complex. There are entire studios dedicated to creating animations for the Metaverse, and many animators make a good living creating animations for virtual worlds that have been designed specifically for storytelling.
In these worlds, you can experience stories in a very immersive way. The storyteller can control everything about the world, from the weather to the characters. This allows them to create a very unique and immersive experience for the reader.
Web VR and Game Development
The metaverse is made up of many different worlds, each with its own set of rules and regulations.
One of the most popular uses for the metaverse is web VR. Web VR allows people to visit and explore virtual environments using their web browser. There are many different web VR experiences available, ranging from educational experiences to games.
Game development is another popular use for the metaverse. Developers can create virtual worlds for people to explore and interact with. These worlds cover from educational games to multiplayer games.
The metaverse is constantly evolving, growing, and creating new experiences and possibilities all the time. The future of the metaverse is impossible to predict, but it is sure to be an exciting place to explore.
The Different Dimensions
- Content production and curation: A place where users can create and share digital content. There will be a variety of tools and platforms for users to create and curate content.
- Social interaction: A place where users can interact with each other in a variety of ways. There will be many opportunities for users to connect with each other and form relationships.
- Commerce: A place where users can buy and sell goods and services. There will be a variety of marketplaces and platforms for users to conduct transactions.
- Education: A place where users can learn about new topics and gain new skills. There will be a variety of resources and opportunities for users to learn and grow.
- Entertainment: A place where users can enjoy a variety of entertainment experiences. There will be many options for users to explore, including games, movies, music, and more.
The Metaverse has a rich and complicated history, is constantly changing and evolving, and has a bright future ahead. It is clear that it is here to stay, and it will only become more popular and universally adopted in the years to come. With so much potential, it is exciting to think about what the future of the Metaverse might hold.
