The Metaverse: Its Role in Human Development and Recreating Reality

As more people explore technological innovations, the Metaverse might not immediately come to mind, often overshadowed by more familiar advancements—namely AI and ChatGPT. However, the Metaverse existed long before the boom of chatbots. In 2020, Meta (owned by Mark Zuckerberg) released a sensational virtual reality headset that captured and ignited public interest in this technology. Priced at around $250, the Quest 2 offers immersive gaming, video streaming, and virtual conferencing features in a compact and wireless form, making the Metaverse a reality for more people.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are the subsets of the Metaverse, where a collective virtual shared space emerges from the combination of physically and digitally enhanced realities. In simpler terms, it is a 3D space where users can engage with objects and other users while enjoying their favorite VR games or movies. One can spend countless hours lost in exploring the potentials of the Metaverse, and even forgetting the existence of the real world. There are plenty of clips and videos on the Internet showcasing the physical damage and harm inflicted on properties and people due to “VR accidents.” So, faced with these drawbacks, what are some of the benefits the technology brings?

Cost-Effective World Exploration

Students don’t have the luxury to freely travel the world as much as adults do. And who has the money to do so anyway? In the real world, people are limited by physical boundaries, and their freedom is determined by many factors—money, family, work, etc.; in the Metaverse, as soon as one puts on the headset, they can freely enjoy everything. Technology has brought users closer to distant lands and one may attend global events from the comfort of their homes. For example, on the Quest 2, National Geographic offers 8K tours of famous landscapes for users to experience. For a small cost of $20, I could marvel at the Pyramids of Egypt or trek through the Himalayan Mountains without the substantial costs and technical challenges of physical travel. Similarly, concerts and social gatherings, like a front-row ticket to a live Blackpink concert, are made possible through dedicated capturing devices installed on-stage and advanced post-production technologies, eliminating the need for expensive tickets and travel.

Health and Fitness Benefits

For any Star Wars fans, Beat Saber (a VR rhythm game where players slice through colored blocks representing musical beats with a pair of contrasting colored lightsabers) would be a great game to live your Jedi fantasies. Think about it: slashing through colored blocks both doubled-handed and single-handed to some of the top hits of the century, all the while competing with others around the world for the top score. With VR and AR technologies, fitness and maintaining health are no longer mundane tasks but exciting adventures. When I first played the game “Clean Sheet” on the Quest 2, I was stunned at how much stamina and coordination it took while sweating after five minutes. The game simulated a real goalkeeper training experience, with continuous soccer balls being thrown at the player and requiring some intense reflex skills to parry or catch them. Besides these two examples, there are sports and fitness games that will fit almost everyone’s needs. In this new reality, the barriers to traditional exercising are virtually eliminated. No more commuting to the gym every morning or practicing in the freezing winter weather.

Enhancing Professional Training

Another overlooked feature of the technology is its potential for skills training in specific fields. Traditional methods can be rigid, costly, and simply dull. In the medical field, hands-on training can even cause serious injuries, especially for surgeons and health specialists. With AR technology, their training can be practiced in a lower stake setting on dummies or models. The headset can give instant feedback and determine whether the trainee has conducted an action with the proper procedures. Take Chinese acupuncture, for instance. Learning it through VR means students can practice needle placement without the risk of harming a real patient. The screen can also display the twelve meridians in the human body, allowing the student to understand their pathways with accurate 3D visualizations.

These technologies are more than just tools or gaming devices; they're gateways to new learning models. Aspiring pianists can use AR to simulate playing on different types of pianos in various environments, from grand concert halls to intimate jazz clubs. This not only adds excitement to learning but also provides invaluable experience in performing under varied conditions. Such immersive experiences enhance understanding and retention, making learning more effective and enjoyable.