The Tech World is Abuzz About These New Virtual Reality Concepts

The metaverse has become a big topic of conversation in the tech world recently. While some see it as the next big buzzword, far removed from our current digital universe, others see it as an imminent reality as tech leaders set their sights on a virtual reality and AI-powered future.

In Mark Zuckerberg’s recent explanation of the concept, he states that the metaverse is, “a virtual environment where you can be present with people in digital spaces,” and, “an embodied Internet that you’re inside of rather than just looking at. We believe that this is going to be the successor to the mobile Internet.”

The term grew traction back in January 2020, after venture capitalist Matthew Ball released an essay identifying the key components of this new digital universe. According to The Verge, the metaverse must span the physical and virtual world, contain a functioning economy, and maintain what he calls, ‘unprecedented interoperability’ — where users can operate within different, separately owned or operated places, all while taking their avatars and goods along with them.

To break it down even further, the metaverse is in some ways akin to gaming, with Ball referencing video game universes like Fortnite and Roblox, but entertainment is not its entire purpose. Zuckerberg believes it “is a persistent, synchronous environment where we can be together, which I think is probably going to resemble some kind of a hybrid between the social platforms that we see today...”

Ultimately, its purpose is to build a greater sense of community online; one that captures the feeling of entering a space, and being around others, in a virtual atmosphere. But, how will it actually be utilized? And, how can users expect to see the metaverse come into play in their day-to-day lives?

Here we explain two new technologies working to bring the metaverse concept into reality through their innovative and immersive virtual elements:

Horizon Workrooms

Because Mark Zuckerberg is clearly invested in bringing the metaverse concept to life, Facebook is spearheading this first virtual reality technology called Horizon Workrooms. The Oculus Quest technology is the company’s first attempt at creating a virtual reality experience, and its beginning with a virtual office space. Horizon Workrooms sets up a virtual workspace, allowing up to 16 people in virtual reality format to work together in the digital ‘Workroom’. Each user is visualized through an avatar that appears cartoon-like. The avatars can be seen making gestures and natural conversational hand movements, while their mouths mimic the speaker’s words in real-time.

Beyond just operating the avatar, though, users have access to many of the perks we might see in a real office workspace, like a personal drawing pad and whiteboard to share ideas and interact with teammates. Reporter Alex Heath notes that some of the features can feel a bit gimmicky, and the process of getting into the Workroom is actually a bit clunky, the technology is an interesting step in the early stages of the potential metaverse. After a year of working from home, features like these bring a new perspective to remote work and a way for coworkers to become more present virtually. With tech leaders hailing the metaverse as the future of the internet, it’s interesting that the first endeavor is replicating the traditional office space and it may be an early indication that remote work is here to stay. Further, it could work to create a more level playing field as discussions of a hybrid environment bring fears of a lack of at-home engagement and advancement. Spaces like this may work to effectively connect employees and offer a promising virtual remote work future.

Deepbrain AI

Deepbrain is another innovative technology working to create ‘AI humans’ or avatars that could enter the metaverse space. With the virtual AI avatars, individuals can ask questions and receive responses, replicating the experience of speaking with a real person. The technology uses video and speech synthesis and offers chatbot solutions to customers across industries like news, education services and tech.

According to Venturebeat, the technology works by capturing videos of a human model reading a script, which when powered by its machine learning system enables the technology to create an avatar synchronized with the model — with accurate lip, mouth, and head movements.

The company is aiming to improve virtual experiences while reducing the cost of tutorials and large-scale video productions. The company is currently working with an education provider to enable AI tutors to give lectures and answer student questions. Additionally, it is also working to establish AI bankers as it begins to partner with financial organizations.

What’s interesting about this technology is that it offers a very real alternative to a traditional support experience. By creating virtual agents, companies can offer another level of digital service to customers seeking an online or virtual experience. Additionally, as we ponder what a future metaverse may actually look like, it’s helpful to see who may be inhabiting the virtual environment. And, if we are able to enter these virtual spaces, ‘AI humans’ like these can act as a guide during the initial stages, providing comprehensive support at every new touchpoint.