6 technologies that will accelerate the build of the Metaverse in 2022.

The Metaverse has been one of the hottest tech topics since Q4 of 2021.

The Metaverse has been one of the hottest tech topics since Q4 of 2021. Most people first heard of it because of Facebook’s rebranding announcement in October 2021. Even though the Metaverse might seem like a new concept, it is not new.

Outside of philosophical concepts that might be traced back to as far as ancient times (Anyone has heard of Plato and his deep reflections on parallel realities?), the Metaverse’s name and conception can be credited to the author Neal Stephenson, who used the term “metaverse” in his 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash” and envisioned people using life-like avatars to escape from the real world.

Since the 90’s there have been a number of technological developments and projects, some more conceptual than others, that have been shaping the foundations of the Metaverse. From online games such as Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox, virtual reality sets to 3D holographic avatars, slowly and steadily, like a pixelated image, the Metaverse has been unveiling itself in front of our eyes, to, in the future, become a hyper-real alternative reality, where the notion of human is inseparable from the technology we use. (Check: “The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology” by Ray Kurtzweil).

When will we live in the Metaverse?

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (ex. Facebook), states that it will take five to ten years before the key features of the Metaverse become mainstream.

Five years might seem long, and right now we are only at the cusp of the upcoming wave of innovation that will come with it, but there are aspects of the Metaverse that can be used and experienced today: ultra-fast broadband, virtual reality sets and hyper-real video games. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated interest in the Metaverse: digital identity, normalised remote-working, 3D co-working spaces are just some of the examples of the new social norms that have been embraced as a result of the pandemic, and that have been accelerating the social acceptance of (if not excitement for) the topic.

6 technologies that will accelerate the build of the Metaverse in 2022.

The build of the Metaverse is a collective notion. Outside of Meta (that poured at least 10 billion dollars into Reality Labs, a new division developing the key aspects of Meta’s Metaverse, in 2021 alone), the number of companies involved in the Metaverse’s ecosystem is rapidly growing, and with them, we can observe faster evolution of key technologies. New York Times reported last month that venture capital funds have invested about $27 billion into crypto and blockchain companies in 2021 alone. That is more than in the previous 10 years combined.

Here is an overview of the technologies, that I believe, will accelerate the build of the Metaverse in 2022.

1. Blockchain

Blockchain technology forms the backbone for the Metaverse. It provides a transparent transfer of value, digital proof of ownership, digital collectibility, interoperability and governance. With the use of cryptocurrencies, the ownership of virtual lands and properties can be established, secured and transferred.

For example, players in Decentraland can currently purchase 16x16 meter land plots in the form of non-fungible tokens, NFTs, using blockchain and the game’s own cryptocurrency MANA.

With new virtual worlds being created, there is going to be an even greater need for custom blockchains that can interact with each other and bring interoperability.

2. Low-code / No-code platforms

The Metaverse will increasingly be co-built by a wider population of creators. With that, there is going to be an increased demand for low-code/no-code platforms and plug-and-play products that will remove the barrier between ideas and applications. Onirix, a low-code platform for creating interactive web augmented reality experience is just one of the latest examples and we will see more of them in 2022. Other low-code platforms to follow in 2022: Knack, Mendix, BettyBlocks, Gravity Sketch.

3. Real-world reconstruction

In order to deliver a fully immersive experience, the Metaverse relies on 3D realistic-looking renderings. The 3D rendering technology has been used in the construction industry for decades, but the level of accuracy and photorealism required by the Metaverse experience demands a whole new level of technological advancement.

Using 3D cameras and 4K HD photography to capture real-world objects and spaces, spatial data is processed to generate a digital replica for users to experience in virtual reality. As the need for more imaginative interactions and experiences increases, so too will the need for higher resolution imagery in 2022. 3D imagery companies to follow in 2022: Vizzio, Occipital, Ef Eve, Unreal.

4. Internet Of Things, IoT

Another way to enhance the user experience of the Metaverse is by using the Internet of things, IoT. Introduced in the 90s, IoT has found applications in connecting home thermostats, medical devices, or voice-activated speakers (Ever heard of Alexa?). But what does your thermostat have to do with the Metaverse?

One of the applications of IoT is to collect data from our physical world. Through sensors, IoT can seamlessly connect a large number of real-life devices to the 3D world, enabling a whole new set of possibilities for real-time simulations in the Metaverse. For example, localised, real-world weather conditions data can be directly fed into the Metaverse and change the way certain Metaverse objects or environments function. IoT companies with interesting developments to follow in 2022: Matterport, Metageo, Helium, Particle.

5. 5G

Building a fully interactive 3D Metaverse, replete with rich media from motion graphics and immersive sound, requires the use of significantly faster upload and download speeds that can handle digital files far denser and bigger than those currently commonly used across the internet. 5G, the fifth-generation wireless technology, can support the ongoing build of the Metaverse by providing the speed and power necessary for digital worlds to function.

Consequently, besides providing a seamless and engaging user experience, the power and stability of 5G will open up new possibilities for users to create and innovate within the Metaverse.

The progressive rollout of 5G across the world in 2022 will not only independently accelerate the adoption of cloud gaming, VR, and AR but also, cumulatively, accelerate our journey towards the Metaverse.

6. Cybernetics

Lastly, probably the most futuristic technology of all on the list — Cybernetics.

Cybernetics, defined as “science which involves developing machines that do things or think like people”, brings both, philosophical and ethical layers to the creation of the Metaverse.

To some degree, machines and digital devices have been gradually becoming an extension of us since the past century with the invention of a car or a personal computer. With even more personalised capabilities and miniaturisation, mobile supercomputers have become the way we project ourselves into the world. Over the past four decades, we have transitioned from looking at computers from an outsider's perspective to occupying, and soon living in, a virtual space where computers form an integral, fully cohesive, part of every one of us.

Cybernetic technologies (voice, visual, motion, biometric data recognition) will be utilised to further the fully immersive experience of the Metaverse. With their development, the devices that we already feel inseparable from will increasingly be able to understand and react to our intentions — perhaps faster than we are able to ourselves, in the real world and in the Metaverse.

Companies to follow in this field for 2022: Neuralink, Next Mind, Mojo.

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Closing thoughts

The Metaverse will be under development for many years to come but with the increased capital injected and big companies involved (e.g. Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta), we are likely to see a number of projects surfacing in this space in 2022.

As a technology enthusiast, I have written this article to give an overview of the innovations underpinning the development of the Metaverse. I know though that besides the immense innovation that will come out of the Metaverse, there is a social and human impact of the digitalisation of our reality that must be studied with caution.

I will leave the topic here for now but I might be following up in the coming weeks with a separate article studying the potential societal impact of the Metaverse. For those who would want to explore this topic now, I would recommend books and articles by Daniel Dennett, Yuval Noah Harari, Leonard Susskind, and Ray Kurzweil.

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Agata