Ngozi NwaubaniMeta comes from the Greek word which translates to “next” or “beyond.” The metaverse simply means “the next universe” or “beyond the universe,” which we can understand as “the next internet.” The phrase was coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 sci-fi novel Snow Crash. In his book, he described the metaverse as an “all-encompassing digital world” that will come after the internet we have now.
Another way to understand the metaverse is through the movie Ready Player One. It’s simply a digital universe we are enabled to enter and explore the internet like a real city. It sounds like a dream come true for most netizens, online entrepreneurs, and gamers, but what would it mean for regular humans?
The question is, How will the metaverse shape human living?
It would take a while to adopt the technology to saturate and become as common as the internet we have now, but this development might change the world as we know it. We can’t ignore this massive change and the functional changes that might be staring us in the face tomorrow.
These predictions may be good or bad, but it’s something to make you think and plan ahead. Here are ten (10) ways the metaverse may change the world.
1. Schooling abroad might become hard
One of the reasons and selling points for the metaverse is virtual classrooms and education. Imagine if your online courses became like virtual classrooms that you attend in the metaverse; what stops the regular courses from becoming virtual too? If that happens, the option of traveling to school abroad may become difficult to attain if your courses are offered virtually. Countries may use this to not grant visas for immigrants choosing to accept only skilled workers and such.
2. Money transfer restrictions may be solved
This might destroy the black market once and for all. If the metaverse becomes and replaces the internet as we know it, money transfer restrictions through countries will be resolved. The metaverse runs on the blockchain and NFT technology meaning its currencies will be none other than cryptos. Sending and receiving money shouldn’t be an issue by then.
3. The need for virtual Guides in the metaverse
So, they say people can use the metaverse to travel or “teleport” to actual digital places that exist in real life. That will be like traveling across the world to Paris, Japan, and other countries you haven’t been to explore. If there are tourists, then there eventually are tourist guides. These guides can be programmed as AI bots or real people in the metaverse. It might be a way to earn both within and outside the metaverse for guides.
4. Nigerians may be restricted in some places because of scams
Nigerians and other countries of interest may be limited in some areas of the metaverse. Remember when you download an app or open a website, and you get the “not available in your country” message. That can hurt people and limit individual experiences of the metaverse. It would definitely be sad if the metaverse had some restrictions.
5. Medical surgeries in the Metaverse
It is also speculated that someday in the nearest future, a specialist can ‘operate on patients thousands of miles away’ from remote locations using unique precision robots. The specialist, of course, will be in the metaverse as well as the patient on whom say kidney surgery is done. Robots will mimic his commands and actions on a strong 5G network as they carry out the surgery in place of the specialist. Do you think it’s weird? No, it’s not but the future we are heading to.
6. Awards, concerts in the metaverse
Awards and concerts are already taking place in the metaverse. An arena that can fit a limitless amount of people is now possible for all entertainment fans and socialites. Traveling for concerts and award shows will now become a thing of the past. If it were hard to see some foreign stars perform, it wouldn’t be once they host their concerts online. Imagine throwing the bra or shoes you bought with NFT at Burna boy, wild!
7. Marrying or virtually interacting with fictional characters
This will be a dream come true for the fandom, especially the movies, gaming, and anime community. In the metaverse, it will be possible for your favorite fictional character to become virtual people with whom you interact. They will be run by their AI profiles, plot memories, and so on –enough to give you the full experiences as if they have really come alive.
8. Living together
For families that live apart, the metaverse can be a way for them to continue living together as one. Someone can buy land and build a house on it where he can live with his real family from the real world. Every evening they can meet up at home, share their stories about how their days went, eat digital food while they eat their real-world food, and connect. Just think of it as an upgraded WhatsApp family chat where you can see, smell, sense, and maybe touch.
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