While the hype of new tech grows and dies quickly, and the potential for the metaverse to fizzle out and disappear into the past is still quite high, the tech world has been making considerable moves and attention towards the concept just keeps growing. With the popularity of NFTs1, VR gaming2, and online shopping, the buzz around the metaverse makes it seem like a long-lasting phenomenon.
The Software Behind the Metaverse
If the end goal for this is AR/VR engagement, the tech giants fronting the new iteration of the internet need to pay close attention to software development strategies going forward.
Current businesses rely heavily on mobile apps to reach target audiences, but with the future of the metaverse looming it might be time to change the way they think about how to deliver unique and engaging digital experiences.
While Virtual Reality technologies are still in their infancy, Augmented Reality, or AR3, is already among us. The current numbers don’t exactly show a likelihood of widespread adoption or public validation of VR and AR technology, but this doesn’t mean the concept is doomed from the start.
AR requires only a screen and camera, thus making it highly accessible to the general public. After all, who doesn’t have a smartphone in their pocket these days?
The Hardware Behind the Metaverse
There’s a lot of hardware that goes into Virtual Reality. Headsets, controllers, and it gets even more sophisticated and diverse when you branch out into the technology of Augmented Reality. These need sensitive sensors, sharper screens and higher quality cameras, more sophisticated haptics and feedback systems. Not to mention the need for longer battery life.
Something like Bitmoji or Snapchat AR requires a pretty meaty GPU4, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the potential hardware requirements of the metaverse in its entirety. The newest iteration of the iPhone can track 30,000 points on your face via its advanced infrared sensors, which makes face ID effective.
All of this and more is possible through the absolutely incredible power of the standard consumer-grade hardware commercially available now. The growth in functionality of current tech makes it unsurprising that the metaverse seems to be taking off, with many tech giants chomping at the bit to be the first innovator to bring the initial stages to fruition.
Take a few additional minutes to learn about NFTs, VR, AR and GPUs by clicking the links below!
1 https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/cryptocurrency/nft-non-fungible-token/
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality
3 https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-augmented-reality
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_processing_unit
