Apparently, it's the next big thing. What is the metaverse?
Facebook has just announced it's going to hire 10,000 people in Europe to develop the "metaverse".
This is a concept which is being talked up by some as the future of the internet. But what exactly is it?
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58749529
The Metaverse
- mikechamp
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The Metaverse
Did anyone see "Ready Player One"? Because that's what I'm envisioning this thing will look/feel like.
- heyzeus
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Re: The Metaverse
A few years ago I was at a coffee shop in Austin and I ran into this guy, and we started chatting. We both went to the same small nerd college, so it was fun playing the "oh do you know ____?" game.
Anyway, the guy is a "digital nomad," ie, he has no permanent address. He and his wife and kid just move around from place to place all over the world staying in short term rentals. I got the sense he was rather wealthy. I asked what he does. He and some friends started a metaverse/augmented reality/virtual real estate company called Superworld. Frankly, it sounds like a scam, but no moreso than NFTs or most of the crypto currencies out there.
In Superworld, you "buy" virtual versions of real-world real estate. Using real money. Like, you can buy the "rights" to the Sydney Opera House, or the peak of Mt. Everest, or even your own real house. Within the app, you can put up signs on the property you "own." Or ads, or whatever. Then you can sell or trade the virtual properties you bought.
Anyway, to me, that's the metaverse. Buying and selling stuff that isn't real.
Anyway, the guy is a "digital nomad," ie, he has no permanent address. He and his wife and kid just move around from place to place all over the world staying in short term rentals. I got the sense he was rather wealthy. I asked what he does. He and some friends started a metaverse/augmented reality/virtual real estate company called Superworld. Frankly, it sounds like a scam, but no moreso than NFTs or most of the crypto currencies out there.
In Superworld, you "buy" virtual versions of real-world real estate. Using real money. Like, you can buy the "rights" to the Sydney Opera House, or the peak of Mt. Everest, or even your own real house. Within the app, you can put up signs on the property you "own." Or ads, or whatever. Then you can sell or trade the virtual properties you bought.
Anyway, to me, that's the metaverse. Buying and selling stuff that isn't real.
- CardsofSTL
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Re: The Metaverse
All of this stuff makes me long for the sweet release of death.
- mikechamp
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Re: The Metaverse
But in the metaverse, you can live forever!CardsofSTL wrote: ↑October 21 21, 12:09 pmAll of this stuff makes me long for the sweet release of death.
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- "I could totally eat a pig butt, if smoked correctly!"
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Re: The Metaverse
We're already living in one and creating another one. I think the simulation theory is fulfilled.
- TGantz
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Re: The Metaverse
Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.-Jurassic Park
This is such a bad idea for so many reasons. I deleted my Facebook in the current style. No way will I participate in this Matrix idea.
This is such a bad idea for so many reasons. I deleted my Facebook in the current style. No way will I participate in this Matrix idea.
- heyzeus
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Re: The Metaverse
Yes, but what about when Facebook rebrands next week as Metabook? Then all of the many privacy concerns, not to mention their use (both known and secret) by authoritarian regimes for evil purposes, will be addressed!
- pioneer98
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Re: The Metaverse
We've run out of profitable ways to make real objects that people need and/or want. So we are literally making up imaginary [expletive] to buy and sell. An economy based on this is totally unsustainable, and it's not even a "real" economy. The economy is supposed to be how we allocate real resources. I guess this type of economy is burning a bunch of power, but it's making nothing of value. It's not making anything that anyone case use to eat, clothe, transport, house, etc anyone.
During the 2008 financial crisis we created phony wealth via derivatives that was based on real estate assets. Now we are just buying and selling imaginary real estate. Maybe I don't own the peak of Mount Everest in Facebook's metaverse, but I definitely own it in the metaverse I created in my own mind just now. I'll sell it to you for a billion simulacoins (the currency used in the metaverse in my brain, which I also just created). You don't want to miss out on this deal.
During the 2008 financial crisis we created phony wealth via derivatives that was based on real estate assets. Now we are just buying and selling imaginary real estate. Maybe I don't own the peak of Mount Everest in Facebook's metaverse, but I definitely own it in the metaverse I created in my own mind just now. I'll sell it to you for a billion simulacoins (the currency used in the metaverse in my brain, which I also just created). You don't want to miss out on this deal.
- Famous Mortimer
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Re: The Metaverse
What's the simulacoin exchange rate? Can I get in on the ground floor?
- heyzeus
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Re: The Metaverse
If anyone can explain how this isn't a Dutch tulip craze, I'm all ears.