Metaverse is an Augmented Reality (AR) technology that allows individuals to interact with other individuals virtually.
Metaverse is often interpreted as a simulation of the real world of humans implemented in cyberspace or the internet.
Metaverse became, even more, a conversation when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg changed Facebook's name to Meta, taken from the word "Metaverse". Zuckerberg revealed that the metaverse itself is the embodiment of the internet.
In the metaverse, users can create avatars as they wish. A 3D avatar is a replica or user image in 3D animation, and this avatar can be used as a user representation on the internet.
In the metaverse, users can carry out any activities in a virtual form such as gathering or holding meetings, working, playing, holding various events, attending concerts, shopping online, to buy a digital property.
For example, users can shop online by trying out the clothes they want digitally in the metaverse, then ordering them and having them delivered to their home addresses in the real world.
Metaverse also has a relationship with crypto assets, and it is these crypto-assets serve as payment instruments for buying and selling in the metaverse. To date, several crypto assets have been linked to metaverse, such as Decentraland (MANA) and Sandbox (SAND).
Metaverse also opens up digital property investment opportunities that allow users to purchase virtual land on metaverse. Although the future fate is still unpredictable, the metaverse itself has attracted many investors.
To perform these various activities in the metaverse, users need to use additional tools in the form of Virtual Reality (VR) glasses and gloves with haptic technology.
Audio support may also be required to support the "visit" experience in the metaverse. VR glasses, haptic gloves, and audio can create realistic experiences like the real world, such as seeing sights, hearing sounds, feeling various touches, and other sensations.
The term metaverse first appeared in the science fiction novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson in 1992.
The novel describes humans represented by avatars and can interact with each other in 3D space.
When will the metaverse materialize?
To realize the metaverse world is certainly not practical and accessible. According to Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, it took 10 to 15 years to build. Of course, this requires inter-company collaboration.
However, the metaverse experiment has been carried out by Facebook for work and communication purposes. One of them is a VR-based office space called Horizon Workrooms.
This virtual-based office space provides a virtual meeting room that can be used as a means of face-to-face online. The application is operated via Facebook's Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
How it works, participants who are in a virtual meeting room will be illustrated with 3D avatars. Users can also make video calls that will later appear on the virtual presentation screen.
Horizon Workrooms are also equipped with whiteboards that can be used to write meeting materials by relying on the controller from the Oculus Quest 2.
In addition to Facebook, the electronics giant Samsung has also created a virtual store called the Samsung 837X. To visit Samsung's virtual store on the 837X, the user must log into the Decentraland website.
The Samsung 837X virtual store is located at 837 Washington Street 837, Meatpacking District, New York, United States.
Apart from these two companies, several other companies are also interested in experimenting with the metaverse. Some of them are like Epic Games, which develops the battle royale game Fortnite.
Even in recent times, Fortnite has held a virtual concert by cooperating with several top musicians such as Marshmello, J Balvin, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande.
Reporting from the BBC, Tuesday (02/15/2022), graphics processing chip (GPU) manufacturer Nvidia is reportedly building "Omniverse", a real-time 3D platform and virtual world simulation.
Even in December last year, Saudi Arabia presented the Black Stone, a black stone located southeast of Kabar, to the metaverse world. This has led to debates among Muslims on social media whether the Hajj can be performed virtually.
However, according to the Indonesian Ulema Council's (MUI) explanation, it is explained that circling the Kaaba in the metaverse is not legal because it does not fulfil a physical presence.
This can be used as an introduction to the location for preparation for the implementation of the Hajj to have complete and adequate knowledge before carrying out the pilgrimage.
The development of the metaverse in Indonesia
Meanwhile, in Indonesia itself, the metaverse development will be predicted to be a big opportunity. The development of this metaverse takes quite a long time and is carried out in stages.
The government will collaborate with a software company from Indonesia WIR Group to make it happen.
Reporting from the official Kominfo website, the government will encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration in pioneering and realizing the Indonesian version of the Multiverse, which is expected to benefit Indonesian people in the digital era.