Metaverse is inevitable. Technology will make this possible. There are some key technologies essential for the metaverse as of now. And more technologies need to be developed to sustain the metaverse of the future.
Key technologies shaping the metaverse as of now are blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, AR, VR, etc. Upcoming 6G mobile technology will be an important technologies essential for the metaverse.
This blog post will highlight the 7 most important technologies essential for the metaverse. But before that, I will briefly give you an introduction on metaverse and the latest development of the metaverse.
WHAT IS THE METAVERSE?
Metaverse is a virtual 3D world with virtual items, land and avatar of real people. Imagine a world where you can work remotely, go to virtual museums to see the latest art and even attend a virtual concert of your favorite artist by sitting in your home.
Axie Infinity, Decebetraland, The Sandbox, etc are some of the major metaverse you can experience as of now. These metaverses have implemented some of the metaverse features into it.
The metaverse is still being developed and it is not known till now, whether there will be one single metaverse or several metaverse across which you can travel. But mind that, the concept of metavers will grow far beyond.
LATEST DEVELOPMENT OF THE METAVERSE
The metaverse became the new popular buzzword after facebook changed its name to meta in october 2021. Meta established a new branch called Reality Labs which would spend at least 10 billion dollars by 2021.
The goal is to create a metaverse content software, AR and VR devices and to make a social metaverse platform. Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes one day metaverse and its related devices like VR headset will be as common as smartphones.
The lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic heightened interest in metaverse development. During this period more people began to work remotely and there was a growing demand for more interactive ways to communicate with other co-workers.
Products like Microsoft Mesh, Meta Workroom, Nvidia Omniverse, etc became popular. Users can socialize and communicate using their avatars in virtual locations making remote team meetings more engaging and exciting. Some online games have also begun to embrace the metaverse like pokemon
7 KEY TECHNOLOGIES SHAPING THE METAVERSE
Key technologies that power the metaverse project are combining cutting-edge technologies. Technologies like
- Blockchain Technology
- Cryptocurrency
- Artificial Intelligence
- Internet of Things (IOT)
- 3D Reconstruction/Modeling
- Internet Infrastructure
- Mobile Technology
Is used to power the 3d world in order to make the metaverse experience more immersive.
Each of the technologies will be explained briefly in the section below.
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Blockchain technology is the most important key technology shaping the metaverse. It is essential as it provides the following features.
- Digital evidence of ownership
- Digital collectibility value,
- Transfer governance accessibility and
- Interoperability
- Decentralized and
- Transparent transaction.
CRYPTOCURRENCY
Cryptocurrency is one of the technologies essential for the metaverse. It allows people to transfer wealth in the 3D digital environment of metaverse while working and socializing.
In Decentraland, you can purchase their virtual land with ther in game cryptocurrency, $Mana. To get a good idea about virtual land, you can refer to the following blog post.
VIRTUAL REALITY, AUGMENTED REALITY & MIXED REALITY
Virtual environment is one of the most important technologies essential for the metaverse. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) creates computer generated immersive environments.
Creating an immersive environment is a must for any metaverse. These immersive environments with scenes and objects makes the user feel they are immersed in their environment.
But is the difference between AR, VR and MR? The difference is very simple. Virtual Reality (VR) makes a fully artifical environment for the user. In Augmented Reality (AR) virtual objects are overlaid on real world environments. And in Mixed Reality (MR) Virtual Environment is combined with the real world.
The table below will clear your doubt about Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR).
| Virtual Reality Technology | Environment | Objects |
| Virtual Reality (VR) | Virtual | Virtual |
| Augmented Reality (AR | Real-World | Virtual |
| Mixed Reality (MR) | Virtual & Real-World | Virtual & Real-World |
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
A metaverse cannot work without Artificial Intelligence (AI). This makes Artificial Intelligence (AI) one of the important technologies essential for the metaverse.
You have heard of the term AI. But What really is Artificial Intelligence (AI) ? In the simple world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that makes a machine like a computer to think like humans and make decisions like humans.
What is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the metaverse? Metaverse is dubbed to be the next 3D version of the internet where you can be virtually present in it and do whatever you do on the internet now.
Therefore, the metaverse should behave and think like any humans and here Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes to play.
INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)
Internet of Things (IOT) are different devices (things) connected in a network to exchange data and perform activities based on these data. You can use the internet for devices or things.
But what is the use of Internet of Things (IOT) in the metaverse? For a metaverse to work properly it has a lot of connected devices like the things listed below.
- AR/VR Headset
- Sensors
- IOT devices
A lot of communication, interaction, transfer of data takes place every seconds/microseconds for the metaverse to function properly.
So, the Internet of Things (IOT) is one of the important technologies essential for the metaverse.
3D RECONSTRUCTION / MODELING
As you know, the metaverse is the 3D world or digital twin of our world. To construct the metaverse 3D reconstruction and modeling is must. So, 3D reconstruction and modeling becomes one of the important technologies essential for the metaverse.
There are many 3D software to build metaverse environments and objects. There are many 3D software in the market but software like 3D Max, Blender, Cinema 4D, etc are popular one. Blender is a free and open source popular 3D software essential for metaverse.
3D reconstruction and modeling are essential for metaverse to build the following things in metaverse.
- Create Digital Twin in Metaverse
- Create Games Character in Metaverse
- For Creating 3D NFT Art, 3D NFT Character, etc in metaverse.
INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
Without the internet, metaverse is impossible. Metaverse is a collection of different technology and devices.
For all these devices and technology to connect you need a good internet infrastructure. That’s why internet infrastructure is an important technology essential for the metaverse.
Wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors are a medium of interaction in the metaverse. These devices collect a lot of data from the physical world in real time. Most of this data is live streamed into the metaverse.
In any metaverse, you need the following things
- Live Data Streams
- Pre-Produced Digital Assets
This requires a lot of interaction and requires large bandwidth. As of today metaverse drives mostly video traffic that amounts to 80% of today’s internet traffic. So, you need a good internet infrastructure to sustain the metaverse in future.
MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
The future is portable. This means every technology of the future is going to be in your hands or it is going to be portable. And in this mobile technology is going to play an important role and be one of the technologies essential for the metaverse.
We are already in the 4G and 5G stage. Some of you might be stepping into the 5G stage. But to get fully immersive metaverse 6G Mobile technology will be a must and important technologies essential for the metaverse.
If you see metaverse architecture and the infrastructure required, it is a complex virtual world. The metaverse involves human senses, psychology, thought, emotions, etc.
6G VS 5G technology for Metaverse
Virtual Reality technologies required zero latency. This can be provided by 6G mobile technology. The below table will show the difference between 5G and 6G mobile technology.
| Performance Indicators essential for metaverse | 5G Technology | 6G Technology |
| Peak Transmission Rate | 10 ~ 20 Gb/s | 100Gb/s ~ 1Tb/s |
| Time Delay | 10 ~50 ms | 0.1 ~ 1 ms |
| Reliability | 10 -5 | 10 -9 |
| Postiting Precision | 1 ~ 10 m | 0.1 ~ 1 m |
| Connection Density | 1 million/km3 | 10-100 million/km3 |
| Network Efficiency | 100 bit/s | 200 bit/s |
| Mobility | 500 km/hr | 1000 km/hr |
| Spectrum Bandwidth | 30 ~ 100 bps/Hz | 200 ~ 500 bps/Hz |
| Base Station Computing Power | 100 ~ 200 Tops | 1000 Tops |
| Coverage | Partial | Global |
| Security | Patch Security | Endogenous Security |
| Information Timeliness | High | Extremely High |
ENDNOTES
I have discussed all the 7 important technologies essential for the metaverse. I have discussed how blockchain technology and cryptocurrency plays an important role in the metaverse.
Next, I have discussed how Virtual reality technologies like VR, AR and MR are required to get an immersive metaverse. 3D reconstruction and modeling plays and important role.
Later, I discussed how Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (IOT), Mobile Technology and Internet Infrastructure are important technologies essential for the metaverse. Keep visiting www.metaversetroop.com to get information and news on metaverse, crypto, Web3, etc.
