Tech advancements shaping the future of the Metaverse

Discover the limitless potential of the Metaverse as it merges the physical and digital worlds. Gain insights from experts on the technological advancements and increasing user adoption that are shaping its future, and unlock opportunities for innovation and growth.

The Metaverse, an immersive Virtual Reality universe that merges the physical and digital domains, has sparked enormous interest and is rapidly expanding. With technological developments and an increasing user base, industry professionals are keenly analyzing its potential. In this essay, we delve into the insights provided by these experts, investigating the fascinating possibilities and ramifications of the Metaverse in terms of technological developments and user adoption. Discover how this game-changing notion is changing our sense of reality and creating new opportunities in a variety of industries.

Let’s know from the industry experts what they think about the future of the Metaverse –

Sooraj Balakrishnan, Head of Marketing, Acer India

We envision the future of the Metaverse evolving with rapid technological advancements and increasing user adoption. As technology continues to advance, we expect more sophisticated and accessible hardware and software solutions to be developed, making the Metaverse more immersive, realistic, and accessible to a broader audience. Additionally, as user adoption grows and more industries embrace the Metaverse, we anticipate the emergence of innovative applications and experiences that will further drive its evolution.

Devangana Mishra, CEO and Founder, Brain Bristle

My hope is sheer optimism for the most of it. I reckon it will give every common man, not just the privileged elite or educated people, no matter their personal or professional histories, the opportunity to utilize Metaverse to be seen, heard, understood, made space for and known digitally without having to leave the comfort of their homes or corners. My worry to user adoption is what my worry with all virtuality is, technology, how much, to what extent, to who's naivety and for who's shrewdness will it go, how much will we be willing to let go of our real lives to the lure of the Metaverse—who are our standards set by or influenced by and for who and for what gain. This human fanaticism or folly could be how we get trapped in the ongoing, circular circuit of the Metaverse without realizing its cost on our humanity and our internal systems of function.

Vivek Kumar Anand, Chief Business Officer - DViO Digital

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) suggests that users are more likely to embrace new technologies, such as the Metaverse, if they perceive them as valuable and easy to use. Recent advancements in the Metaverse, like Apple's Vision Pro, make it more accessible beyond the gaming community. In terms of technological advancement, it operates in reverse. It is the adoption of a technology that leads to its technical progress rather than the other way around. The "Technology Acceptance Life Cycle" theory supports this notion, suggesting that users adopt and accept a new technology before significant improvements are made. The adoption and evolution of mobile phones exemplify this pattern, as early adoption drove the development of more advanced and feature-rich devices. As user acceptance increased, telecommunication companies expanded network coverage and reduced data costs, resulting in ongoing innovation within the industry.

Shouvik Mazumdar, Head of Immersive Technology and Experience (Metaverse) at Ascendion

There is a short-term and a long-term element while commenting on the future of the Metaverse. Today the majority of the Metaverse is in its conceptualization phase. So, in the short term, we would continue to see significant advancements in its components.

In the first wave, AR/VR headsets would first have massive improvement on the usability front along with the maturity of the ecosystem. Head-mounted devices would start resembling everyday spectacles. Ultra-niche devices like Apple’s Vision Pro or Meta Quest Pro would become more affordable. Today the adoption is limited to enterprise and niche enthusiasts but by the end of this wave, the adoption would penetrate to larger user groups.  This is also where standards and protocols, security, and ethics that govern the online virtual experience would be framed and adopted widely.

In the second wave, XR will become as ubiquitous as a smartphone. You would witness massive optimization in silicon where the best-in-class graphics can be processed in the blink of an eye. Generative AI will drive the content, so the time it takes to build immersive experiences would come down dramatically. This would further lead to fresh content being available easily thereby improving user engagement and adoption. 5G and Private 5G will lead from the front in delivering these experiences over the air. With countries adopting a digital version of their currencies, Web3 andblockchain’s adoption would increase as risks and uncertainty are lowered.

So, in the short term, the components of the Metaverse will evolve rapidly and at each phase would continue to solve a lot of business problems like training, remote assistance, Industry 4.0 visualization, rapid prototyping, revolutionizing healthcare, and more. Companies like Meta, Apple, Qualcomm, Lenovo are working round the clock to make the vision of mass consumerization a reality.

The long-term vision of the Metaverse as a replacement for the current Web is fairly debatable. It is a utopian vision that doesn’t solve a real business problem today so commenting on it would be unfair. However, the ecosystem would continue to evolve and redefine the way we do business. There is no doubt that this technology would is here for a very long time. You may call it by different names, but you would continue to use it knowingly or unknowingly.

Sukrit Singh, Cofounder – XP&DLand

There's been a long-running debate between the Metaverse and AI, both of which are part of the Web 3.0 ecosystem. Cognate to any other tech convergence journey, the Metaverse is in its nascent stage and has a long way to go. The future of the Metaverse is likely to see advancements in technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, and blockchain. These advancements will lead to more immersive and interactive virtual experiences, seamless integration between physical and virtual worlds, and enhanced social interactions. As users become more familiar and friendly with the Web 3.0 ecosystem and VR technology becomes more accessible and cost-effective, the Metaverse will permeate the masses.

Raj Kumar Dwivedi, Associate Director, Orion Innovation

The Metaverse has use cases in different industries that can help solve life-saving problems. The gaming industry is one of the early adopters of the technology followed by film making industry. Production houses are using metaverse technology to create digital movie sets, which can be used as it is in final versions. Many US states are using digital twin technology to re-create wildfire in digital form and then predict future fire behaviours so fire-fighters can easily strategize their actions. Companies like Nvidia have invested in creating a digital twin of the climate and this can help predict the future of climate change. The manufacturing industry is also using the Metaverse to re-create the digital version of actual production process and train the robots in digital format before actual deployments. Renowned surgeons are using AR headsets to accurately perform complex spinal and heart surgeries.

Companies like Apple, Microsoft, Meta, etc. have invested in creating AR headsets and spectacles to experience the metaverse. I believe technology companies will invest more in creating innovative AR and VR products, which will solve some of human history's most critical problems and improve efficiency in different industries.

Vijay Pravin Maharajan, Founder & CEO, bitsCrunch

The Metaverse holds immense promise as it rapidly evolves and captivates our imaginations. We stand on the brink of remarkable breakthroughs across various technological domains. With advancements in hardware, VR and ARis transcend boundaries, offering us unparalleled levels of immersion and realism.

Moreover, the power of AI will breathe life into intelligent avatars, crafting tailored experiences that resonate with each individual. In this exciting journey, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies will safeguard transactions and revolutionize digital asset ownership. Enhanced internet infrastructure, including lightning-fast networks like 5G, will pave the way for seamless real-time interactions and content streaming.

As the Metaverse progresses, it will become an integral part of our lives, empowering businesses, revolutionizing education, redefining entertainment, and fostering social connections. However, to ensure widespread adoption, we must earnestly tackle problems such as privacy, security, ethics, and inclusivity. The future of the Metaverse hinges upon relentless innovation, collaborative efforts, and valuable user feedback, holding the transformative potential to reshape the way we interact and experience the digital world.

Jaideep Kewalramani, Head of Employability Business and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TeamLease EdTech

The future of the Metaverse holds immense potential for technological advancements and widespread user adoption, particularly in the education space. As technology continues to advance, we can expect more seamless integration of the physical and virtual worlds, enabling educators to create immersive and interactive learning environments. Students will have the opportunity to explore historical events, scientific concepts, and cultural experiences in ways that were previously unimaginable. Imagine experiencing geography concepts like volcanoes or planetary surfaces in 3D or understanding complex concepts like rock mechanics in safe AR environments or experimenting with chemicals in a VR lab with abundant resources and equipment.  Collaborative virtual spaces will facilitate global connectivity, enabling students and teachers from different parts of the world to interact, share knowledge, and learn together.

Moreover, advancements in AI and Natural Language Processing will enhance personalized learning experiences within the Metaverse. AI algorithms will adapt to individual learning styles and preferences, providing tailored educational content and support. Gamification elements and virtual simulations will make learning engaging and experiential, fostering deeper understanding and retention of knowledge.

The ultimate goal of technology in education is to democratize high quality content in an extremely cost-effective manner. The Metaverse has the potential to enable this vision.

Kaavya Prasad, Founder, Lumos Labs

Technological advancements will play a crucial role in shaping the Metaverse's evolution. One notable development is Apple's Vision Pro AR/VR headset. With Apple's history as a trendsetter in mind, the Vision Pro is set to push the boundaries of AR and pave the way for widespread adoption. The headset's advanced capabilities and integration with Apple's ecosystem will contribute to a more seamless and immersive Metaverse experience for users which could serve as a catalyst for other industry players to invest in this sector and propel the growth of the Metaverse. Furthermore, as more eyeballs get attracted to the extended reality (XR) and metaverse spaces, more capital, innovations, and users can be predicted to enter into the industry leading to renewed interest and inflow of funds.

The future of the Metaverse holds immense potential for technological advancements and user adoption. As hardware and software solutions become more sophisticated and accessible, the Metaverse will become more immersive and realistic. With the integration of AI, blockchain, and other cutting-edge technologies, the Metaverse will revolutionize various industries, including education, gaming, marketing, and entertainment. However, it is crucial to address concerns related to privacy, security, ethics, and inclusivity to ensure a responsible and sustainable evolution of the Metaverse.