- There is a lack of serviceable digital infrastructure to encourage mass adoption of the Metaverse
- Virtual Reality allows users to experience a three-dimensional environment of a digital world from the real world
- In the Metaverse, blockchain bridges the virtual and the real world
Technologies Behind the Metaverse
The growth and adoption of the Metaverse in Africa is increasing despite the challenges the virtual world faces. Its compatibility and interoperability in the education, medical, gaming and entertainment, real estate, digital art and the telecommuting space enabled by the Metaverse is exciting the continent, bringing immense solutions to the way of life in Africa.
Among the challenges hindering the wide adoption of the Metaverse include:
- There is a lack of serviceable digital infrastructure to encourage mass adoption, such as AI technology.
- The Metaverse can only be made possible through the 5G network. Currently, the technology is still in the development stage. In Africa, only six countries have set up the 5G network infrastructure.
- The cost of implementing the virtual reality; processing, storage, networking and the financial aspect of the Metaverse.
- Inadequate distribution of information about the immersive technological development.
To understand the Metaverse better, we look at the technologies behind the actualization of the same.
Read: The metaverse and the evolution of modern technology
Technologies needed for the realization of the Metaverse
Extended Reality Technology
There are two actionables under the XR technology
Virtual Reality (VR)- Allows users to experience a three-dimensional environment of a digital world from the real world. VR is enabled by special electronic equipment, such as a helmet fitted with a screen inside or gloves equipped with sensors that help to perceive the user’s senses.
Augmented Reality (AR)- Overlays and superimposes digital information onto the physical environment.
Digital twin
As the name sounds, the technology creates a virtual twin that is a duplicate of the real world. It personifies the physical world in the digital ecosystem. Additionally, the digital twin utilizes real-world data to predict the expected behaviour of a virtual object.
5G
The technology hastens transactions in the Metaverse. It is 100 times faster than 4G. Consequently, it reduces the chances of a system hack. 5G will enable the efficient application of all the other technologies, such as VR and AR. The network can connect up to a million devices per square kilometre.
The mass adoption of the Metaverse will demand the adoption of a 5G network despite the widespread adoption and development challenges.
Blockchain technology
In the Metaverse, blockchain bridges the virtual and the real world. The technology brings sense to the Metaverse; the economic aspect. Blockchain houses a complete financial system to connect the virtual world to the real world. It enables and validates transactions and assists in smart contract deployment.
Role of blockchain in the Metaverse
As stated earlier, blockchain is an integral part of the Metaverse. Among the roles that blockchain plays in the Metaverse include:
- Ensures data privacy and security. Every day, the Metaverse collects large volumes of sensitive and personal information from users. The Metaverse can also be termed as a store of value. If the information falls into the wrong hands, the use of the technology is delegitimized. Through decentralization, immutability and transparency, blockchain protects data privacy in the Metaverse.
- Ensures data integrity. Data from the Metaverse must be maintained accurately and consistently. Stakeholders lose faith in any system if the integrity of the data is compromised. Metaverse data is saved as a copy in every block across a chain that cannot be amended or removed without the consent of most participants due to the immutable nature of the blockchain. Blockchain’s immutability ensures the data integrity of the Metaverse.
- Allows for the seamless transfer of secured data. The Metaverse’s success depends on the seamless sharing of augmented and virtual reality data, which enables the development advanced applications that aid in resolving real-world problems.
- Enables data interoperability. Through blockchain’s cross-chain protocol, users of a Metaverse can migrate easily between virtual worlds.
Several other technologies enable the Metaverse, such as edge and voice computing.
