How to enter the metaverse? This is a very common question, especially for those who are interested in exploring this new technology that is a trend.
Other famous brands started to follow the movement of Mark Zuckerberg and the subject became even more popular, catching the attention of investors and other people interested in the technology.
After all, if even large global companies are entering the Metaverse, what awaits us there? How to enter the Metaverse too? What devices are needed for a complete experience?
What is Metaverse?
The concept of Metaverse consists of applying a set of technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, to reproduce physical life in the virtual environment, in a very similar way to the way one lives in the real world.
In it, people can study, work, negotiate and create social relationships in real time, being fully part of the digital world, instead of just observing and interacting with it indirectly through cell phone or computer screens.
Entering this futuristic environment that seems to have been extracted from science fiction movies is possible nowadays through equipment such as Virtual Reality glasses and 3D holograms.
But much still needs to be developed. The transition from today’s Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 , the internet of the future, needs to be achieved for the Metaverse to fully function.
In this sense, the question arises: is it already possible to enter the Metaverse? What can we do there now? And where to start? Find out below:
Is it possible to enter the Metaverse now?
Web 3.0 tends to be more open, decentralized and without barriers between applications, allowing for a fully immersive experience in which users can move and exchange information freely between different online environments.
Other technologies, such as 5G itself, also need to evolve to support the Metaverse.
For now, there are some apps like games and social networks that give people the opportunity to explore this environment.
This is still done in a very isolated way and not fully integrated as the Metaverse idea proposes, but it already gives a glimpse of what is to come and offers different experiences, such as buying land online, holding virtual meetings through a 3D avatar and investing in cryptocurrencies in this universe.
How to enter the Metaverse?
It is possible to enter the Metaverse from some apps, such as Mozilla Hubs , via mobile or tablet, but the experience is limited.
For a more complete use, you will need a stable internet connection, a computer (desktop) with a powerful processor and RAM memory and a video card suitable for games.
In addition, other equipments such as glasses and virtual reality headsets are needed for a more immersive experience.
Next, we detail both the technologies necessary to have wide access to the Metaverse as well as the other equipment that will allow you to explore this environment further.
Technologies needed to access the Metaverse
- Virtual Reality (VR): environment created by computers and software to simulate a situation as if the user were actually inside that digital environment. Visual and sound effects are induced and the user can even interact with what they see around them.
- Augmented Reality (AR): Used to join data from the virtual world to the real world. So, instead of taking the user fully into the digital environment, AR is used to allow the virtual and physical environments to interact.
- Blockchain: The Blockchain is a public and decentralized ledger, supported by a computer network, which allows the functioning of cryptocurrencies and also supports the Metaverse. The connection between cryptoassets and the Metaverse is what makes it possible to trade values and register virtual properties within this digital environment.
What you need to enter the Metaverse
There are the equipment needed to enter the Metaverse, as well as digital assets. The 4 main ones are:
- Virtual reality glasses
- Joysticks
- Cryptocurrencies
- NFTs
Below, we will present the main details of each one:
Virtual reality glasses
To feel and interact with the sound effects created by Virtual Reality technologies, it is necessary to have glasses designed for this purpose and suitable headphones.
In fact, some Metaverse platforms and games, such as Horizon Worlds, only work with Oculus VR glasses, such as Quest 2, for example.
Therefore, this is one of the fundamental pieces of equipment to fully and truly immersively enjoy all that the Metaverse can provide us.
Joysticks
Joysticks are an add-on used to control virtual reality goggles. They work as manual controls that allow interaction between real and virtual, using both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technology.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies, digital assets that function as digital currency within Metaverse universes, are necessary for you to acquire items and services within this environment.
In general, each game or universe has its own currency and works with a compatible wallet. For example, if you want to prove ownership of virtual land within the Metaverse of Decentraland and actively participate in the community, you will need MANA and LAND crypto assets.
NFTs
NFTs , short for “non-fungible tokens”, are also a type of crypto asset. But unlike cryptocurrencies, which represent assets that can be exchanged (each currency is the same unit of value), NFTs represent a unique and irreplaceable item, like collectibles from the Metaverse and the virtual terrain we just mentioned.
They work like a digital certificate that you own and own the rights to that asset.
So, when you buy land on Decentraland, you are buying an NFT of that land , which guarantees your ownership through Blockchain registration. This record cannot be altered or deleted by anyone and is made public so that everyone can attest to its ownership.
