Ericsson unveils the potential of the so-called “3D Internet” and draws up a list of possible uses of the virtual universe based on the firepower of fifth-generation mobile ultrabroadband connectivity
An infinite digital and social place needs a 5G network to enable our devices to stay connected in a virtual and augmented reality. This was highlighted by Peter Linder, Ericsson’s head of marketing for 5G in North America; Yashar Nezami, ecosystem co-creation director at Ericsson; Timothy Murphy, a researcher specializing in “disruptive” technologies, at Ericsson since 1998; and Mischa Dohler, Ericsson’s chief architect in Silicon Valley.
To showcase the potential of the metaverse enabled by 5G, the four experts bring together 12 different types of use that demonstrate how the so-called “3D Internet” that will be enabled by these technologies can have revolutionary effects on our everyday lives, from the home to the office, from the stadium to the movie theater, from vacation spots to concerts.
The metaverse at home
Home is by far one of the places where the metaverse can find most of its applications: from the video games of the youngest, which can become virtual gaming experiences, to the enjoyment of “immersive” entertainment for the whole family, which will come through a new way of conceiving spaces and “media rooms” at home. It will also be possible to organize virtual meeting spaces with relatives or friends that, for reasons of distance or time, it is not possible to meet physically. Not to mention new opportunities for working out, watching movies or TV series, or creating spaces for smart working.
The metaverse in the office
We are talking in this case about the so-called “virtual office,” with technologically advanced conference rooms capable of hosting meetings without the need for participants to be present in the same place. This will make it possible to increase the attendees number and make it easier for people to collaborate at a distance. Meeting rooms will thus be transformed into “immersion rooms” with multifunctional spaces for remote collaboration at every level, but also for employee wellness. New hybrid work tools will therefore be born due to communication shifting from 2D to 3D mode.
Metaverse and cinema
The metaverse could also revolutionize the idea of cinema we have been accustomed to so far, to give way to a new kind of immersive entertainment, even going so far as to think about possible audience interaction within the film, with experiences tailored to the users.
Metaverse and sport at the stadium
Making new digital experiences available to fans can also be a Winning Card for people watching vis-à-vis live sporting events at the stadium, thanks to the possibilities opened by new 5G smartphone models. We are talking about accessing the most up-to-date and real-time statistics, or interacting with other friends and fans watching the same event from home. As has already happened with 5G, sports events may be a very important element in the development of the metaverse.
The metaverse for theme parks
Thanks to the possibilities opened up by the metaverse, visitors to theme parks will have access to a range of new augmented reality experiences, for example, with the ability to interact with their favorite characters in virtual and augmented reality environments. And even once back home, visitors will be able to relive their favourite experiences remotely through virtual interaction with the world of the park they visited.
Metaverse and vacation time
The metaverse can also be one of the key components of good trip planning, since it will be able to enable interested parties to find out in detail about the tourist attractions of interest in their destination, starting, for example, with a virtual tour that will enable them to understand what experiences will be worth having in person. Likewise the metaverse will make it possible to get all the relevant information about public transportation, both at the planning stage and directly on the spot.
The metaverse for shopping
As the customer experience is shifting toward a mix of real and virtual experiences, the metaverse may be the gold card make new opportunities available for retailers, starting, for example, with shopping paths with the assistance of a virtual reality consultant who is able to personalize the shopping experience for end users. And the stores themselves could be equipped with virtual solutions that would be best in a context such as the metaverse.
The metaverse in hospitals
Hospitals and care centers will be able to count on a higher level of quality of care using virtual reality technologies to reach even the most physically distant patients, enabling interactions with people who would otherwise risk being isolated. Telemedicine through the metaverse would also enable direct interactions with patients, either through avatars or remotely controlled tools.
The metaverse at school
Colleges and universities could play a pioneering role in developing distance education tools in which classes can be simultaneously in-presence and virtual. Language students, for example, could converse in the metaverse with native teachers, and the class design itself could preliminarily take place in virtual mode, to consider the pros and cons of each possibility. Some teaching activities, for example in the field of history, could be carried out in scenarios that reconstruct those being taught, making history more exciting for students, and classes could be taught in a hybrid manner, in-person and remotely.
The metaverse in the different industries
When it comes to industry, the metaverse opens the way to new applications that enable the use of remotely controlled machinery. The same principle would prove useful for on-the-job training, with assistants who could remotely help busy staff learn new tasks within factories, warehouses or logistics centers.
The metaverse at gigs
Thanks to the metaverse, it will be possible to bring about new ways of attending concerts, with musicians on stage being able to interact with artists working remotely, without the need for the entire band to be on stage at the same time. At the same time, security staff will also be able to take advantage of a range of information about the people atthending physically the concert and will be able to handle any alarms more quickly and effectively.
The metaverse in our cities
Metropolitan areas will be able to offer their services to citizens in a simpler and more immediate way thanks to the metaverse, which will put our cities in a position to become “hybrid” cities, where thanks to augmented reality services will be easier for citizens to get what they need.
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