The metaverse is coming to our lives at an astonishing speed — everything from games to meeting with our friends may change soon. However, not many people expected it to take over the workplace so quickly, changing the way we interact with our colleagues and bosses since the COVID pandemic. Here’s what you need to know.
Why Would Anyone Need the Metaverse?
When we think about the metaverse, images of gaming worlds and digital social spaces like Second Life or Habbo Hotel probably come to mind. But the truth is, the metaverse is already changing the way we work — and it’s only going to become more integral in the years to come.
Over the past decade or so, the metaverse – often thought of as a kind of futuristic, digital equivalent of the real world – has been steadily evolving into something more mundane and integral to our everyday lives. And, as is often the case, that evolution is driven by a need we didn’t even know we had.
Take, for example, the way we work. For centuries, we’ve relied on physical offices and machinery to do our work. But, as the world has become increasingly mobile and our working habits have increasingly become multi-tasking, this model has become increasingly limiting.
That’s where the metaverse comes in. As a virtual space, the metaverse can host all kinds of interactive objects and applications – including computer programs, websites, and even whole business ecosystems. And, because it’s a digital space, it can be created and edited using any number of devices, from laptops to smartphones.
How Is the Metaverse Implemented in the Workspace?
We know it sounds incredible — who would want an online avatar when you can do everything in person? Well, it might have something to do with the COVID pandemic.
Over the last couple of years, workplaces have become less and less crowded. More people are starting to realize that they can work from home with almost the same efficiency, and most modern companies are allowing it. Yet, this often causes loneliness among workers, and the feeling of walking around an office is nowhere to be found.
The metaverse allows us to create everything from online avatars to a simulated physical space where our offices would be. Imagine entering an online meeting and, instead of staring at black screens with the name of your co-worker, seeing a colorful avatar that’s full of life. Or picture walking over to the secretary’s desk to leave your paperwork before leaving work — all from the comfort of your own home.
I Don’t Get It… Why Would Anyone Want This?
From the comfort of your home, implementing the metaverse into your workspace may seem like a catastrophic idea. Why would you want to go through the hassle of actually simulating your life at work? Well, it carries more benefits than you might think.
For example, we all know that there’s nothing like taking a break from work and bumping into your colleague at the water dispenser. With the recent immersive technology developed by PixelMax, you can see and interact with your colleagues’ avatars in real-time. This allows you to return to these old costumes of chatting spontaneously at the office — which, by the way, helps ease our everyday work-related tensions.
Similarly, you can just walk around in your workspace and take a look at what your coworkers are doing. If you’re a manager, a quick panoramic sweep can greatly help in keeping everyone in check. Did we mention that you can chat with anyone, at any time? You might just catch the right moment to talk with your colleague about your future vacation.
However, not every benefit from the metaverse comes from reality. Imagine the possibilities — working from the moon, taking a walk through a jungle when uninspired, or simply attending a meditation class in India. Everything’s possible with the metaverse, and most modern enterprises are taking advantage of it to improve their workers’ quality of life.
How Long Will It Take Before the Metaverse Is Everywhere?
There is no question that the metaverse is a rapidly growing technology with a bright future. However, it is still in its early stages, which means it will likely take a while before it becomes ubiquitous.
One of the main reasons for this is that the metaverse is still in development. Currently, it is only available as a software platform, and there are not many businesses or individuals who are using it in its current form. This is likely to change in the near future, as the metaverse is expanding its capabilities and becoming more mainstream.
There are also many challenges that need to be overcome before the Metaverse can be fully embraced by users. For example, there is still a lack of trust among some people, and it is not yet clear how the metaverse will be able to overcome this. Additionally, there are some security issues that need to be addressed before the metaverse can become a widespread technology. However, these challenges are likely to be overcome in the near future, and the Metaverse is set to become a major player in the digital world — both outside and inside the workplace.
