Metaverse
Encyclopedia
The Metaverse is our collective online shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space, including the sum of all virtual world
s, augmented reality
, and the internet
. The word metaverse is a portmanteau of the prefix "meta
" (meaning "beyond") and "universe
" and is typically used to describe the concept of a future iteration of the internet, made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe.
The term was coined in Neal Stephenson
's 1992 science fiction
novel Snow Crash
, where humans, as avatar
s, interact with each other and software agent
s, in a three-dimensional
space that uses the metaphor of the real world. Stephenson coined the term to describe a virtual reality
-based successor to the Internet. Concepts similar to the Metaverse have appeared under a variety of names in the cyberpunk
genre of fiction as far back as 1981 in the novella True Names
.
Many of these working groups are still in the process of publishing drafts and determining open standards for interoperability.
It should be noted that various massively multiplayer online games bear a resemblance to elements of the Metaverse, although they typically focus on specific gaming purposes rather than socializing.
environment, developed along a single hundred-meter-wide road, the Street, that runs the entire 65536 km
(216 km) circumference of a featureless, black, perfectly spherical planet
. The virtual real estate
is owned by the Global Multimedia Protocol Group, a fictional part of the real Association for Computing Machinery
, and is available to be bought and buildings developed thereupon.
Users of the Metaverse gain access to it through personal terminals that project a high-quality virtual reality display onto goggles worn by the user, or from low-quality public terminals in booths (with the penalty of presenting a grainy black and white appearance). Stephenson also describes a sub-culture of people choosing to remain continuously connected to the Metaverse by wearing portable terminals, goggles and other equipment; they are given the soubriquet "gargoyle
s" due to their grotesque appearance. The users of the Metaverse experience it from a first person perspective
.
Within the Metaverse, individual users appear as avatars of any form, with the sole restriction of height, "to prevent people from walking around a mile high". Transport within the Metaverse is limited to analogs of reality by foot or vehicle, such as the monorail
that runs the entire length of the Street, stopping at 256
Express Ports, located evenly at 256 km intervals, and Local Ports, one kilometer apart.
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
s, augmented reality
Augmented reality
Augmented reality is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is...
, and the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The word metaverse is a portmanteau of the prefix "meta
Meta
Meta- , is a prefix used in English to indicate a concept which is an abstraction from another concept, used to complete or add to the latter....
" (meaning "beyond") and "universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
" and is typically used to describe the concept of a future iteration of the internet, made up of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe.
The term was coined in Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson
Neal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction.Difficult to categorize, his novels have been variously referred to as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and postcyberpunk...
's 1992 science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel Snow Crash
Snow Crash
Snow Crash is Neal Stephenson's third novel, published in 1992. Like many of Stephenson's other novels it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics, and philosophy....
, where humans, as avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
s, interact with each other and software agent
Software agent
In computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
s, in a three-dimensional
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
space that uses the metaphor of the real world. Stephenson coined the term to describe a virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
-based successor to the Internet. Concepts similar to the Metaverse have appeared under a variety of names in the cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
genre of fiction as far back as 1981 in the novella True Names
True Names
True Names is the science fiction novella which brought Vernor Vinge to prominence in 1981. It is one of the earliest stories to present a fully fleshed-out concept of cyberspace, which would later be central to stories in the cyberpunk genre. Because of this, it is often referenced as a seminal...
.
Developing Technical Standards for the Metaverse
Conceptually, the Metaverse describes a future internet of persistent, shared, 3D virtual spaces linked into a perceived virtual universe, but common standards, interfaces, and communication protocols between and among virtual environment systems are still in development. Several collaborations and working groups have been established in an attempt to create the types of standards and protocols that would be needed to support interoperability between virtual environments, including:- Virtual Worlds - Standard for Systems Virtual Components Working Group (P1828), IEEE (2010-Present)
- Information technology -- Media context and control -- Part 4: Virtual world object characteristics (ISO/IEC 23005-4:2011), ISO (2008-Present)
- Immersive Education Technology Group (IETG), Media Grid (2008-Present)
- Virtual World Region Agent Protocol (VWRAP), IETF (2009-2011)
- The Metaverse Roadmap, Acceleration Studies FoundationAcceleration Studies FoundationAcceleration Studies Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by John Smart engaged in research, education, and selective advocacy of communities and technologies of accelerating change....
(2006-2007) - The Open Source Metaverse ProjectOSMPThe Open Source Metaverse Project, or OSMP, was a multi-participant shared virtual world online platform. This platform was free and open source software co-founded in 2004 by Hugh Perkins and Jorge Lima....
, (2004-2008)
Many of these working groups are still in the process of publishing drafts and determining open standards for interoperability.
Timeline of Virtual Environments Inspired by the Metaverse Concept
Since Stephenson's novel appeared, improvements in internet technology, bandwidth, and computational power permitted real-life implementations inspired by the concept of the metaverse to develop. A brief timeline of notable platforms and developments include:- 1993 - The Metaverse launched, a MOOMOOA MOO is a text-based online virtual reality system to which multiple users are connected at the same time.The term MOO is used in two distinct, but related, senses...
(a text-based, low-bandwidth virtual reality system) by Steve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson GamesSteve Jackson Games is a game company, founded in 1980 by Steve Jackson, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games, and the gaming magazine Pyramid.-History:...
as part of their BBSBulletin board systemA Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
, Illuminati Online. - 1995 - Active WorldsActive WorldsActive Worlds is a 3D virtual reality platform. The Active Worlds client runs on Windows. Users assign themselves a name, log into the Active Worlds universe, and explore 3D virtual worlds and environments that other users have built. Users can chat with one another or build structures and areas...
, which was based entirely on Snow Crash, popularized the project of creating the Metaverse by distributing virtual-reality worlds capable of implementing at least the concept of the Metaverse. - 1998 - ThereThere (internet service)There is a 3D online virtual world created by Will Harvey and Jeffrey Ventrella. There Inc. was founded in the spring of 1998. Closed beta began in July 2001, with various stages of beta following, and ending with an October 2003 launch date...
was created, wherein users appear as avatars and, in addition to socializing, could purchase objects and services using the virtual currency therebucks, which were purchasable with real world money. There.com closed on March 2, 2010, but reappeared in 2011 as an invite-only world to users age 18 or older. - 2003 - Second LifeSecond LifeSecond Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
was launched by Linden LabLinden LabLinden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
. The stated goal of the project is to create a user-defined world like the Metaverse in which people can interact, play, do business, and otherwise communicate. It is usually used from a third-person perspective (although first-person "mouselook" is available), and its current technology (like the others listed here) does not yet allow the photo-realistic environment described in the Metaverse of the book. - 2004 - OpenSimulatorOpenSimulatorOpenSimulator is an open-source server platform for hosting virtual worlds. It is compatible with the client for Second Life and can host alternative worlds with differing feature sets with multiple protocols.-Features:...
appeared, developing freeFree softwareFree software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
virtual world software that is protocol-compatible with Second Life. - 2004 - X3DX3DX3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language . X3D features extensions to VRML X3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the Virtual Reality...
was approved by ISO as the successor to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRMLVRMLVRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind...
) as the open standard for interactive real-time 3D (web3DWeb3DWeb3D was initially the idea to fully display and navigate Web sites using 3D. By extension, the term now refers to all interactive 3D content which are embedded into web pages html, and that we can see through a web browser....
). Today X3D is the standard defining the 3D web and mixed reality Open Metaverse by combining virtual, mirror, and augmented realities with the web. - 2005 - SolipsisSolipsisSolipsis is a free and open source system for a massively multi-participant shared virtual world designed by Joaquin Keller and Gwendal Simon at France Télécom Research and Development Labs. It aims to provide the infrastructure for a metaverse-like public virtual territory...
launched, a free open source system aiming to provide the infrastructure for a Metaverse-like public virtual territory. - 2005 - The Croquet ProjectCroquet ProjectThe Croquet Project was an international effort to promote the continued development of the Croquet open source software development kit for creating and delivering deeply collaborative multi-user online applications....
began as an open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software development environment for "creating and deploying deeply collaborative multi-user online applications on multiple operating systems and devices", with the aim of being "more extensible than the proprietary technologies behind collaborative worlds such as Second Life". It was used to build virtual worlds such as the Arts Metaverse', but after the release of the Croquet SDK in 2007, the project changed names and became the Open CobaltOpen CobaltOpen Cobalt is a free and open source software platform for constructing, accessing, and sharing virtual world both on local area networks or across the Internet, without any requirement for centralized servers....
project. - 2007 - Several social networks developed to provide profiles and networking capabilities for metaverse avatars, including KoinupKoinupKoinup is an image and video hosting website, web portal and online community for virtual worlds users. It is used both as a photo and video repository platform and as tool to share virtual worlds screenshots, photographs and machinima....
, Myrl, AvatarsUnited. These projects faced many challenges related to the lack of DataPortabilityDataPortabilityData portability is the ability for people to reuse their data across interoperable applications - the ability for people to be able to control their identity, media and other forms of personal data...
of the AvatarAvatar (computing)In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
across many virtual worlds and attempt to address the possibility of managing multiple accounts on a single dashboard. - 2008 - Google LivelyGoogle LivelyGoogle Lively was a web-based virtual environment produced by Google Inc.. It was discontinued on December 31, 2008.Lively was only supported on Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, using Windows XP or Windows Vista. It required a special download as well as Flash. The program was designed to be...
was unveiled by GoogleGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
through the Google Labs on July 8, 2008. It was intended that new features would be added over time, but on November 19, 2008, it was announced that the Lively service would be discontinued at the end of December.
It should be noted that various massively multiplayer online games bear a resemblance to elements of the Metaverse, although they typically focus on specific gaming purposes rather than socializing.
Stephenson's Metaverse in Snow Crash
Stephenson's Metaverse appears to its users as an urbanUrban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
environment, developed along a single hundred-meter-wide road, the Street, that runs the entire 65536 km
1 E7 m
To help compare different orders of magnitude, this page lists lengths starting at 107 metres .Distances shorter than 107 metres- Conversions :10 megametres is* 6,215 miles....
(216 km) circumference of a featureless, black, perfectly spherical planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
. The virtual real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
is owned by the Global Multimedia Protocol Group, a fictional part of the real Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
, and is available to be bought and buildings developed thereupon.
Users of the Metaverse gain access to it through personal terminals that project a high-quality virtual reality display onto goggles worn by the user, or from low-quality public terminals in booths (with the penalty of presenting a grainy black and white appearance). Stephenson also describes a sub-culture of people choosing to remain continuously connected to the Metaverse by wearing portable terminals, goggles and other equipment; they are given the soubriquet "gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s" due to their grotesque appearance. The users of the Metaverse experience it from a first person perspective
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
.
Within the Metaverse, individual users appear as avatars of any form, with the sole restriction of height, "to prevent people from walking around a mile high". Transport within the Metaverse is limited to analogs of reality by foot or vehicle, such as the monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
that runs the entire length of the Street, stopping at 256
256 (number)
256 is the natural number following 255 and preceding 257.-In mathematics:256 is a composite number, with the factorization 256 = 28, which makes it a power of two....
Express Ports, located evenly at 256 km intervals, and Local Ports, one kilometer apart.