Three questions and answers: Metaverse specifically – the technology behind the hype

Right from the start, the Metaverse was dismissed as a mere gimmick. But there are many new opportunities, especially for companies, as Dr. Sebastian Kloess explains. In the interview on the new iX 2/2023, we clarify what is important now and how companies can best prepare for the Metaverse.

VR glasses, powerful graphics cards, an internet-savvy user base – everything seems to be ready for the Metaverse. What does it take now for a functioning metaverse?

The key technologies and various Metaverse precursor applications are actually available and can be used directly today. However, in order to truly achieve the vision of the Metaverse as a porous, persistent 3-D extension of the Internet, greater interoperability between different applications is needed. There are currently very promising approaches in this direction, for example in the Metaverse Standards Forum or in the DIN. The hardware, such as AR and VR glasses, will also become even more suitable for everyday use in the next few years. But it is also crucial to try out the Metaverse options that we already have today and to gain Metaverse experience ourselves.

As is often the case with new technology, professionals quickly dismiss it as a gimmick. Why should companies in particular deal with the Metaverse now?

The Metaverse is currently still in an early stage, its development is still very open. Companies therefore have a huge opportunity to be part of the creative process right from the start. However, it is already becoming apparent that the Metaverse not only opens up exciting possibilities for the entertainment sector, but also for companies with the Enterprise Metaverse and the Industrial Metaverse – for example for location-independent cooperation, for further training, recruiting and onboarding, for planning, construction and maintenance or for product presentations or the integration of digital twins. So companies should demystify the Metaverse a bit and not see it as “that virtual parallel world out there somewhere”, but as a logical progression of technologies.

Aside from being able to dig deep into new tech pockets, how do I as a company go about tackling the Metaverse now?

First of all, companies should ask themselves: For which corporate tasks, for which internal activities and for which areas in contact with existing or new customers can the Metaverse key technologies augmented and virtual reality, blockchain or artificial intelligence help me? Which tried and tested applications already exist here? Individual employees or even a small project team can deal with it and identify initial solutions that can be tried out in the company. In this way, valuable experience can be gained that will make the company fit for the metaverse.

Mr. Klöß, thank you very much for your answers! Many tips on how companies can already prepare for the Metaverse can be found in the new February iX.

In the “Three Questions and Answers” series, iX wants to get to the heart of today’s IT challenges – whether it’s the user’s point of view in front of the PC, the manager’s point of view or the everyday life of an administrator. Do you have suggestions from your daily practice or that of your users? Whose tips on which topic would you like to read in a nutshell? Then please write to us or leave a comment in the forum.

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