But what actually is the metaverse?
A true definition is currently difficult to construct due to invested parties having different interpretations of what the metaverse will consist of and how they ultimately see it influencing our everyday lives. These ideas range from a video game which we can tap in to at any point of the day, to completely developing our lives, where we will 100% live and exist in a virtual world.
Although the metaverse is not exactly a new concept, the significant rebrand of Facebook to Meta and a heavy investment of $50 million to non-profit groups has seen the company push the building of the metaverse responsibly and develop the idea into a reality sooner than we might have expected.
The most common view is that the metaverse is a 3D virtual open space, created by physical and digital reality providing an entirely immersive experience for the user. When fully developed, it will consist of avatars which individuals will be able to design and create for themselves that will communicate and transact with each other in a virtual setting. Just like the real world, avatars will be able to socialise with friends, attend work meetings, concerts and events and visit shops. Currency will also be used to buy and sell things such as land, buildings, avatars and even identities.
This virtual world will be accessed through headsets, which when put on will transport you to the metaverse. Determined to be a front runner in the building of the metaverse, Meta (Facebook) have invested heavily in Oculus Headsets, making them cheaper than their rivals and have started by building VR apps for social hangouts and work meetings. Some tech analysts believe that they are even selling these headsets for considerably cheaper than their rivals in a bid to bring the metaverse closer to reality (BBC News).
With the pandemic causing multiple lockdowns all over the world, many companies were forced to adopt Work From Home policies which some have still kept in place, with many employers offering more Remote and Hybrid roles than ever before. This has led to a lot of individuals relying on virtual technologies such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings. However, a true metaverse could see this concept taken even further with all or many aspects of our work lives becoming completely virtual. For example, you may have meetings with your colleagues in virtual meeting rooms or celebrate company events in virtual conference spaces, which you will attend as your avatar. You will be able to talk, present, listen and socialise just like you would in person, except you never even left your home. Microsoft have even already announced a version of this software called ‘Mesh’ and although it is not yet a completely immersive ‘metaverse’ experience, it is a big step into a virtual work life starting to become the norm.
Not only will the metaverse affect our jobs as we know them, but it will also be responsible for creating a huge wave of jobs that don’t yet exist. Some examples of jobs the metaverse will introduce and create are:
Metaverse Research Scientist – The job of a Metaverse Research Scientist will require knowledge of both virtual reality and augmented reality to distinguish the foundation upon which the metaverse will be built. Prototypes will need to be constructed and then scaled in order to create the architecture that will ultimately host the metaverse. To become a Metaverse Research Scientist you will need a PhD in Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Computer Graphics or Computational Imaging.
Metaverse Hardware Builder – The metaverse will not only use coding as the foundation, but it will also involve the integration of sensors, cameras, headsets etc. in order to make the virtual world as similar to the real world as possible. A Metaverse Hardware Builder will be responsible for assembling all of these aspects and also adapting and developing them as the metaverse becomes more complex.
World Builder – Once all the architecture, coding and hardware is in place, the metaverse will need to be physically designed and imagined. A World Builder will need the skills of a Graphic Designer and a Video Game Designer to map out how the virtual world will look and how we, as avatars, will exist in it.
Metaverse Cyber Security Expert – With an extremely high risk of cyber-attacks, fraud and data leaks, the metaverse will need its fair share of Cyber Security Experts. Due to its architecture, the metaverse is likely to present a completely new wave of cybercrimes that don’t even currently exist; therefore, they will need to be predicted and prevented in order to keep the virtual world secure. As the metaverse’s Cyber Security challenges will be similar to those currently posed by the internet, a background in Technology, Cyber Security or Law will be vital in becoming a Metaverse Cyber Security Expert.
Although a true metaverse is many years away from being fully developed, it is important to note the subtle changes which are already starting to evolve. One thing we can be sure on is that the Technology and IT industry will have a vital role in the advancement and creation of the metaverse and Henderson Scott is excited to be part of that.
If you are looking for a new role in Technology or IT Sales, Henderson Scott’s team of consultants are here to help – take a look at our ‘Job Board’ to browse our current vacancies or get in touch for a confidential career conversation today.