In the next few years, the metaverse has the real potential to change how businesses operate and even the way people interact. Knowing and, more importantly, understanding its terminology is essential for companies when evaluating how to implement a metaverse strategy. This metaverse lexicon will help you better understand this concept.
From gaming to music to e-commerce, every major industry is beginning to experiment with the metaverse. Others are already able to offer experiences, products and services compatible with 3D virtual worlds. But, let’s face it, for most of us, that’s a lot of new technology to digest.
That’s why starting a conversation about the metaverse with friends, family, or coworkers can seem a little intimidating. After all, there are many new concepts and words to learn. To better understand this evolution of the Internet, here is a glossary including the main key terms of the metaverse.
About the metaverse
Metaverse is a more or less vague term. This describes a broader idea of how we will interact with technology in the future. In simple terms, it means a set of shared 3D virtual environments where people can perform daily activities such as work and socialize as they do in the real world.
This became possible because of combination of technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The term metaverse has been around for three decades. But now it is getting more attention. Additionally, more and more technological and cultural trends are merging to create the metaverse. Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft, and Tencent are just a few of the tech giants leading the race for the metaverse.
Hopefully the metaverse will be a full evolution of the internet we have today. It is predicted that it has the potential to be a multi-trillion dollar economy.
Metaverse Glossary: Snow Crash
The term metaverse finds its origin 1992 science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson. He describes it as an evolution of the Internet based on virtual reality. Snow Crash describes a metaverse where people interact as avatars in a 3D virtual space.
Metaverse Glossary: Virtual Reality
Also commonly referred to as VR, virtual reality an immersive experience in an environment completely generated by computer technology. Users can be fully immersed in these simulated realities. To do this, they must dedicated VR headsets, haptic touch and even environmental feedback. It will allow a 360º view of a virtual world where people can move around and interact.
Metaverse Glossary: Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality (AR) superimposes digitally generated images on the real world. Users can use a device such as their mobile phone to overlay graphics and sound on their real environment.
Metaverse Glossary: Extended Reality
Extended Reality (or XR) is an umbrella term for computer generated environments, which combines the physical and virtual worlds or creates an all-virtual experience for users. Extended reality is at the intersection of 3 technologies: virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality (MR).
Metaverse Lexicon: The Avatar
An avatar a digital character that represents you in a computer-generated world, like the metaverse. It can be static or animated. Think of the 2D image you use on your Instagram profile or a 3D character in your favorite game. However, traditional avatars are representative images a user of a social media or forum profile. They are static and do not interact with their environment.
As for the metaverse avatar, they are immersive and interactive. Thus, they act as an extension of the users. Ithey can talk, dance, move and perform various activities in the metaverse. In recent years, many brands have begun to integrate digital avatars into their campaigns. We are also seeing the rise of virtual influencers, who are avatars that can represent brands and interact with audiences in more engaging ways.
Metaverse Glossary: The Virtual World
A virtual world is a simulated version of the real world or a new environment created using computer translation technology. It is meant to be inhabited. Also, it allows interaction with its users through avatars. In relation to the concept of metaverse, virtual worlds have several characteristics: they are infinite, persistent, decentralized and immersive.
Metaverse Glossary: Web 3.0
Web 3.0 represents the evolution of the current Web 2.0. It is based on concepts such as decentralization, openness and data protection. With Web 2.0 user generated content. But in Web 3.0 users can create the platform, create content and get value from it.
Web 3.0 is associated with the rise of technological developments such as blockchain, NFTs, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and the metaverse, bringing a new form of Internet based on peer-to-peer transactions, transparency and data democracy.
Lexicon of the metaverse: The Blockchain
Blockchain is a platform that allows a shared information record which is maintained and updated by a network of computers rather than by a central authority. It can also be described as distributed ledger technology (DLT). This distributed ledger uses cryptography to confirm, create and secure transactions.
The nature of a blockchain is that it is practical safe from piracy and tampering. This is because all copies of the data are stored throughout the network and not in one place. Another advantage comes from the fact that simultaneous sharing and updating (peer-to-peer) of records allows faster and more efficient processes. Note that blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrencies.
Metaverse Glossary: NFTs
An NFT, or non-fungible token, is a type of digital certificate which verifies and establishes ownership of a given virtual asset. As a digital information token, an NFT resides in a blockchain and the data from each NFT can be linked to digital files such as images, music, collectibles, avatars, etc.
The NFTs unique and irreplaceable (“immutable”). They have gained popularity due to their added value in metaverse projects, in which many brands such as Nike, Samsung, McDonald’s and Gucci are currently investing.
Metaverse lexicon: DAO
DAO stands for Decentralized Autonomous Organization. This is a kind of digital organization that runs on the blockchain by using smart contracts. These contracts dictate the rules of a DAO, how it is governed, and how decisions are implemented. Many projects in the metaverse have DAOs as a form of authorization users have the right to vote and control the direction of the project. And this makes the metaverse a more engaging and community-driven experience.
Metaverse Glossary: Play-to-Earn Games
Play-to-earn games (also known as P2E) are a new version of the traditional game industry. They allow players to earn in-game cryptocurrencies. To achieve this, participants must win battles and competitions, complete quests and rent or sell their assets (as NFTs). In addition, some of the most popular P2E games will let you exchange your assets and cryptocurrency for fiat money.
Play-to-earn games are an important part of the metaverse. This is a player reward model for their time and investment in a virtual environment. They also allow true ownership of in-game assets, which is also the foundation of the metaverse.
Metaverse Glossary: The Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG)
The MMORPGs interactive games where millions of people play and interact in shared spaces. Let’s take it as an example Minecraft and Fortnite. This type of game combines aspects of two very different video game genres, RPG and MMO. Mostly MMOs Multiplayer games with many players interacting with each other. RPGs are designed to put players in charge of a story character, making decisions based on dialogue.
Metaverse Glossary: Digital Assets
Digital objects refer to anything sold or transferred in intangible digital form. For example, media and music files, video files, e-books, mobile apps, online courses, digital art, etc. Digital objects can too virtual objects used in online games and communities within their economies.
Metaverse lexicon: The public cloud and the private cloud
The public cloud is a cloud service offered to many customers and running on remote servers managed by a provider. Common for gaming and entertainment services offered in a public cloud.
A private cloud is a service that is not shared with another business or organization. The advantages are tighter security that meet strict regulatory compliance standards. Apart from that, companies or organizations have more control over the contents of these clouds.
Metaverse lexicon: The metaverse wallet
Also described as a digital walleta metaverse wallet allows users to holding and transaction of cryptocurrency. In most digital environments, a wallet is essential to managing crypto and track metaverse transaction history in a secure and transparent environment. Examples of metaverse wallets include MetaMaskCoinbase Wallet and Alpha Wallet.
Metaverse lexicon: The metaverse market
The NFT market is a decentralized platform where metaverse users can buy, sell and trade NFTs. Major NFT markets include OpenSea, Rare and Nifty Gateway. Most of these platforms are built on Ethereum or Solana blockchains.