Raphael Thys
Image Credit: Barbara Zandoval on Unsplash
Meta’s critics have been questioning:
What “problem” does the Metaverse solve?
For simplicity, we will define Metaverse as virtual & augmented reality.
I always find it amusing that people ask this question as if people buy/use products *only* to “solve problems”.
I’d bet if Apple were to launch VR/AR headsets tomorrow, we’d be flocking outside Apple stores obsessing over the “solution” and wouldn’t care asking “what problem are you solving”. If I’m being honest with myself, I have done that before with both hardware & software.
In any case, I’d like to outline 3 real “problems” AR/VR can solve in everyday life:
1. Big, Bulky & Expensive Devices
My WFH setup is minimal, I’d like to have large monitors to project my screen but I don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on those. I’d love to train myself on new musical instruments and/or lab appliances but they’re big & bulky I am constrained by physical space & funds.
2️. Cluttered Surroundings
My space is cluttered, and I want to do focus work in a coffee shop but there’s none near me. My space is cluttered, and I want to escape without having to actually spend time and money on a vacation.
3️. Long Distance Relationships
I want to spend Christmas with my family — wine, dine & chat but they live thousands of miles away. And, doing a Zoom call awkwardly holding my phone selfie camera is not intimate at all.
To make these happen, Meta’s working on a lot of disruptive technologies ranging from the hardware, the graphics, spatial audio, haptics & more. But, the one that’s talked about the least is the role Meta’s AI will play in the virtual reality world.
For all of the above “problems”, I see Meta AI generating & reconstructing hyper-realistic graphics of people, devices & surroundings from scratch. The possibilities with that are limitless.
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