<h5>What is the metaverse?</h5>  <p>Metaverse is a combination of the words ‘meta’ and ‘universe’. Meta means ‘beyond’ or ‘after’ in Greek. So, metaverse translates to “beyond the universe”. Metaverse can also be understood as a universe that is beyond the one we currently live in. </p>
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<p>Metaverse is a computer-generated universe, which gives a more immersive experience than today’s internet. It is a virtual world in which people stay with a virtual identity and come together to learn, socialize, play, and work. </p>
<p>Metaverse makes use of augmented reality and virtual reality together. It can be accessed through a special set of goggles that are similar to those we wear for 3D films/ video games and special gloves.  It creates an illusory effect of being involved in another world. 
</p> <h5>How do people interact in the metaverse?</h5>  <p>People interact with each other in the metaverse using a virtual identity. This is often in the form of an animated motion picture of the person called an ‘avatar’. The avatar stays in a virtual home. Experiencing the metaverse is like being in a video game, except all characters represent people in the real world.</p>
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You can invite other avatars to come to your home and do activities such as watching films or playing games together. Similarly, you can visit others’ homes or go out together to other virtual spaces such as universities, theaters, malls, playgrounds, concerts, etc. People have already started buying land and building their businesses in the metaverse. 
</p> <h5>Do people have any concerns about the metaverse?</h5>  <p>People have expressed concerns about the large number of data that will be collected by companies running the metaverse. This is especially a concern for biometric data such as what the user sees (and for how long) and even changes in their facial expressions when they see something. This data could be sold or shared with other companies without the users’ consent. </p>
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<p>Since Meta (Facebook’s new name) is an advertising company, people are also concerned that advertisements could become very intrusive, such as blocking the vision of a person till they see an advertisement.</p>
<p>Recently, a user complained about being touched inappropriately in the metaverse. To prevent this from happening again, Meta released a feature called ‘personal boundary’. This feature ensures a distance of four feet between users’ avatars. 
</p> <h5>When will the metaverse be available for us?</h5>  <p>The metaverse is already available for everyone to join. On January 26, 2022, Daler Mehndi, a popular Indian singer, conducted a concert in PartyNite, a metaverse based in India. Over 20 million people participated in it from various countries. However, the gadgets and the technology used to access the metaverse is still very expensive and difficult to handle. It is expected to become affordable in ten years.
</p> <h5>How can students and professionals make use of the metaverse?</h5>  <p>In the metaverse, learning will be more interesting than in classrooms. We can expect learning sessions to be more immersive, engaging, and interactive. For example, when you learn about different animals (even those now extinct), you’d be able to see, touch, and interact with them. Similarly, people could go to virtual offices and sit in virtual conference rooms, even while working from home. 
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Imagine swimming with sharks or touching a dinosaur. In the Metaverse, you can do things that cannot be done in real life! Read this article to know more about the Metaverse.


What is the Metaverse?

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