In 1992, American novelist Neal Stephenson talked about a virtual world where people would use digital characters to live, work and play online. He called it the "Metaverse" - 'meta' being the Greek word for beyond and 'verse' being derived from 'universe'. Stephenson claimed that the metaverse would be the internet's successor and be used as an escape from reality. These were his projections three decades ago.

Today, some of the largest tech companies in the world - Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook, to name a few - are racing to make Stephenson’s predictions into reality. Facebook even took the step of rebranding as “Meta” to get ahead of the curve.

To many people, the Metaverse may sound like some sort of utopian society to which people can escape, especially during difficult times like the ones we are living through now. However, the question many people will ask is whether we really need an imaginary world controlled by giant corporations. Will it really make our lives better or will it just manipulate our perception of reality?

2022 is shaping up to be the year of the Metaverse - a technology-based augmented reality space that will change how we live and interact forever. The best way to describe this new reality would be to imagine the internet, but instead of just looking at it and scrolling down, you will actually be living in it.

The Metaverse will allow you to meet loved ones in a virtual space instead of video calling, and actual movements and conversations can take place. This is what the Metaverse offers - experience, not just sight or sound.

Video games have had this concept for a while now. Many of the biggest gaming companies in the world, such as Mojang, Epic, and Rockstar Games (makers of Minecraft, Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto, respectively), have already built their own virtual worlds with their own virtual economies. While the Metaverse may embody some of these gaming elements, the characters or avatars will be real human beings.

Their world, however, will be entirely fictional, made up of virtual elements that parallel real life. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Metaverse would be “the second-best thing to a teleportation device” where users will be able to explore a virtual world while being physically present at home.

While Facebook wants to create the biggest Metaverse, they aren’t the only ones in pursuit. A number of tech giants are well and truly in the race as well. Apple is currently working on an advanced virtual reality gadget that could revolutionise the Metaverse experience. Google is working on an innovative augmented virtual reality device and Microsoft have entered the Metaverse race as well by developing their virtual platform “Mesh”.

Disney is also looking to create their own Metaverse as an extension of their films and streaming service. With the backing of some of the largest corporations in the world, the Metaverse is no longer an experiment but an inevitable alternative to reality.

Although the inevitability of the Metaverse seems to be growing, there are still some questions that need to be answered, and rightfully so. The Metaverse is different to a violent video game - instead of playing a game you will actually be living it. The Metaverse will place you in a digital environment where sensory experiences are heightened and exaggerated to give users a more immersive experience.

The Metaverse could easily become a dangerous, addictive, and unhealthy escape from reality. The Metaverse promises to give people a second life, an online world where users can interact, shop, party and even build a house.

We need to remember one thing, however - holograms cannot replace human relationships and sensory experiences cannot replace real emotions. The question remains: will the Metaverse make our lives better or will it simply delude us into living a false reality while making our real lives worse?

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