Meta, the new identity of the social media giant Facebook, has been directly linked to CEO Mark Zuckerberg‘s idea of a “Metaverse”, a concept that the company says is “the next evolution of social connection.”

What is Metaverse?

Essentially, the Metaverse is a world of endless, interconnected virtual communities where people can meet, work and play, using virtual reality headsets, augmented reality glasses, smartphone apps or other devices, according to reports from Associated Press.

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How will the Metaverse impact the user?

The Metaverse is being seen as a step towards boosting convenience for humankind and giving access to the whole world in a virtual manner. It is expected that tasks like virtual concerns, trying on clothes and even travel will all be possible digitally.

In the COVID-19 pandemic, the Metaverse is likely to be a gamechanger for many, according to reports from Associated Press. For individuals working from home, a shift from seeing colleagues on a video call grid to meeting them virtually would be a significant change.

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Facebook has launched meeting software for companies, called Horizon Workrooms, to use with its Oculus VR headsets, though early reviews have not been great. The headsets cost $300 or more, putting the metaverse’s most cutting-edge experiences out of reach for many.

“It’s the next evolution of connectivity where all of those things start to come together in a seamless, doppelganger universe, so you’re living your virtual life the same way you’re living your physical life”, analyst Victoria Petrock, Associated Press reported.

In a statement, Zuckerberg explained that the details of the Metaverse and said that a lot of it going to be based on teleporting an individual from one experience to another.

According to media reports, Facebook is not the only tech company that has laid hands on the idea of a Metaverse. Organisations like Nvidia and Microsoft have also explored the opportunity.