What started out as a visionary idea to create a social media platform that could connect people from all over the world has devolved into something far more mundane and PR-driven. Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is now dedicated largely to repairing the damage it caused just a few short years ago when it bet the farm on virtual reality technology. While the future of this technology remains uncertain, it seems unlikely that Meta will be able to completely repair its tarnished image anytime soon.
As the multicolored metaverse hype started to take off, tech giants like Meta were forced to dial back their ambitious plans. Now they’re lobbying against a proposal pushed by European mobile network operators who want regional lawmakers to force major content providers (i.e.tech giants like Meta) to pay them a fee for carrying their data – a double-dip scenario they’ve suggested is required to fund network infrastructure upgrades they claim are needed to make the metaverse happen. While it’s uncertain if this proposal will be successful, it’ll be an interesting watch as Silicon Valley juggles its promotional priorities in order to try and bring its lofty vision of the future One Step Closer.
It seems that the telcos’ complaints about their (relative) poverty (vs tech giants) is having some effect in Brussels. In February, EU lawmakers announced an exploratory consultation on the future of network funding and, shortly after that, the bloc’s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton took a turn on stage at an annual telco industry bash – sounding pretty sympathetic to their cause. However, in remarks to press straight after this he maintained that nothing has been decided yet. It’s still unclear how exactly network funding will be distributed in the future – but it’s clear that something needs to be done soon!
The telcos’ argument – that their proposed network fee is necessary in order to cover the costs associated with upgrading network infrastructure – is nonsensical. The claim that telcos need to raise prices in order to address the consequences of basic infrastructure obsolescence is simply false. In fact, there are a number of ways that telcos could offset the costs associated with upgrading their networks without resorting to an arbitrary and hefty fee. For example, providers could charge increased rates for data plans or increase capital expenditure on expandable networks. They could also lobby for government assistance in funding new technology initiatives or expansions; so far, however, none of the major telco providers has advocated for such measures.
Meta has been lobbying for heavier regulation and higher payments from content providers, putting it in the frame alongside other Internet giants like Netflix and Alphabet. Telcos have suggested five or six of the biggest content providers should pay, putting Meta in the frame.
Telecom operators in Europe appear to be balking at paying network fees because they believe that the adoption of the metaverse will cause capacity constraints on the internet. However, this argument is bogus; capacity constraints are not going to come from people spending time online in a virtual world. The development of the metaverse will not require telecom operators to grow capital expenditures for greater network investment – they’ll be able to do so without hindering their businesses.
In their opinion, the metaverse will likely remain a primarily virtual reality environment for a long time to come. This is because almost all VR content is currently consumed over fixed networks through Wi-Fi, which is well established across most of Europe. This means that the metaverse will not be adopted as widely as other online platforms until VR technology becomes more widespread and easier to use.
There is no doubt that Europe’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and building deployments are more easily upgradeable than those in some other parts of the world, which means that there will be plenty of capacity to supply demand for the metaverse and other internet services for many years to come. While this may be good news for consumers who enjoy immersive digital experiences, it may make it difficult to separate virtual reality (VR) from the ‘real world’ for some people.
There’s no doubting that immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are both growing rapidly in popularity, with many people looking forward to the day when they can truly escape their mundane lives and explore new worlds or alternate realities. But which is better? VR offers a completely immersive experience where you feel like you’re actually inside the game or movie, while AR offers the ability to see digital content overlaid onto the real world. They’re both impressive tools, but which one will be more important in the future of the metaverse? It’s still too early to say for sure, but VR appears to be edging ahead of AR at this point.
Given the general skepticism about the potential of mobile (AR) metaverse action, it’s unsurprising that many people now seem to be dismissing the idea altogether. However, this does not mean that there isn’t any potential for a meaningful mobile (AR) metaverse action to emerge in the future. Indeed, while it is clear that progress has been slow so far, there are undoubtedly some interesting ideas being explored and developed in this area.
Perhaps most importantly, it is important to remember that a mobile (AR) metaverse does not have to be entirely static – as long as it incorporates immersive virtual worlds and allows users to interact with them in ways that feel natural and tangible, it could be a very powerful tool for socialization and connectivity. Additionally, because AR technology can allow users to connect with each other even when they are apart from each other physically, a mobile (AR) metaverse could also be used for collaborative projects or group activities.
As futuristic as it may seem, augmented reality devices are already in development and slated to hit the market in the next few years. These glasses-like devices will allow users to overlay digital content on top of their physical surroundings, providing a more immersive experience than current virtual reality platforms. However, they will require significant progress in multiple areas before they can truly become a transformative technology. For example, these glasses need to be slimmer and lighter so that they don’t fatigue the user’s eyes or take up too much space on their face. They need to be faster so that users can access AR content quickly and easily, and they need to consume less battery power so that they don’t drain your phone’s battery life。
I cannot speak for all the Arduinos out there, but I have to say that I am very excited about the future of these little boards. They are incredibly versatile and allow for some very creative projects. With so many people already versed in coding, Arduino may well be the key to unleashing innovation in AR development.
The Metamates have beenmarried foryears and they know each other inside and out. They both share the same sense of humor and enjoy spending time together. They feel like they are one big, happy family.
The metaverse is a perfect place for those wishing to explore the future. Horizon Worlds provides an immersive experience that lets users step into the future and see what life will be like.
