In recent years, more and more aspects of our lives have begun to take place in a digital landscape, rather than a physical one. The increasingly electronic nature of our activities has demanded the development of a new ecosystem in which they can be conducted: the metaverse. Yet, as is the case with anything different from the traditional way of doing things, it can take a while to get the general public to embrace this new world.
One of the main obstacles the metaverse must overcome is a general lack of public awareness and understanding. Certain concepts of the multiverse, like virtual reality, are a bit easier for most to understand. Still, the idea of this expansive digital ecosystem known as the “metaverse” can be intimidating or even confusing for some. Although lately we hear the word every day, most people don’t really know what the metaverse is.
Inclusivity and Access in the Metaverse
Expanding the offerings of the metaverse will undoubtedly help people be more willing to adopt this revolution in the electronic world. Generally, people are more inclined to accept a digital world connected to the real world in some way. Hence, the recent surge in NFTs offering real-world utility and crossover events between metaverse games and real-world events. These added values for the user encourage them to participate in the metaverse.
However, before the general public can widely adopt the metaverse, significant strides must be made towards inclusivity — both for the people working in the metaverse and its users. To have a metaverse that meets the wants and needs of all the individuals it serves, there must be a diverse, representative group of thinkers at the helm. The result will be a metaverse that is more accessible and accommodating for everyone, as well as a conversation that can be more thorough in its exploration of how the metaverse can impact greater society.
Initially, this virtual world was only accessible through specialized equipment such as VR headsets and extensive computer setups. Companies are working hard to develop ways to access the metaverse more easily from devices that people already have, like their mobile phones or television sets. This increased accessibility will be pivotal in allowing anyone to explore the metaverse, regardless of their background.
The metaverse is an expansive digital world with the potential to help everyone. Technology that can be integrated to provide a natural human feel and experience exists or is being developed, however, the bandwidth capacity needs to expand, and innovators must make strides towards a seamless and natural accessibility to get to this point — both for users and those working behind the scenes. Only then can the metaverse live up to its full potential of being a space for the world to connect virtually, and this is just a stone’s throw away.
The author, Helene Blanchette, is the co-founder of MdDAO.
