manager_1 Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, announced that the company would change its name to Meta as part the company’s move to “bring to life the metaverse”.
The latest transformation brings together all its apps and technologies under one umbrella. It aims to create a hybrid of the best online social experiences. The metaverse is a new evolution in social technology. It allows users to interact with each other in an immersive environment that’s not possible in the real world.
“You’ll be able to instantly teleport as a Hologram …”
Zuckerberg wrote in a letter to founders that “the defining quality in the metaverse will not be a feeling like you’re there with another person or somewhere else.” “The ultimate goal of social technology is to feel truly present with another person. This is why we’re focused on building it.”
He said, “In the future, you’ll be able teleport instantly as an hologram to be in the office without a commute or at a concert with your friends, or in my parent’s living area to catch up. It will offer more possibilities no matter where you live.”
Zuckerberg emphasizes his plans to create fundamental technologies, social platforms, and creative tools to bring the metaverse to life in his letter. He states: “We believe that the metaverse will enable better social experiences than any other thing currently available.”
Developers and creators from various sectors of the technology industry met at the Connect conference to discuss the potential of virtual reality in the coming decade.
Additional tools were introduced to aid people in building for metaverse, such as the Presence Platform, which was designed for mixed reality experiences.
An investment of 150 million dollars was made in immersive training for next generation creators.
Already, the fashion industry has made many advancements in the metaverse, including digitally-designed collections, gaming collaborations, and virtual reality production. Pandemic-related issues have also pushed the fashion industry to explore the online sphere. Many brands are now turning to virtual events instead of physically present.
Many digital-only designers are on the rise. They see many benefits to digital elements of fashion. These include sustainable production methods and alignment with the values of Gen Z, the ever-increasing number of digital natives.
Beyond 2D screens to immersive experiences
Meta plans to create technologies that connect people, find communities, and grow businesses. They are moving away from 2-dimensional screens toward more immersive experiences like AR.
The conference also featured the expansion of Horizon Home, which was transformed into a virtual reality social platform. VR messenger calls were also offered. AR gaming was presented in collaboration Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto release. Quest for Business was also presented, with the goal to provide a more immersive experience at work.
While the company’s corporate structure has not been changed, Zuckerberg addressed specific obstacles that were “humbling” to the business. He outlines the importance privacy and safety in metaverse and new forms of governance and ecosystems that will allow users to create in a safe and secure way.
He stated that “From now on we will be metaverse first, not Facebook-first. This means that you will not need to have a Facebook account in order to use our services over time. As our new brand begins to show up in our products I hope that people all over the globe will come to know Meta and what we stand for.”
