An incisive glimpse into the future of the internet
In Step into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy, future tech strategist, entrepreneur, and thought leader Dr. Mark van Rijmenam delivers a startlingly insightful discussion about how the world as we know it will fundamentally change as the physical and the digital worlds merge into the metaverse, impacting the everyday experiences of people, companies, and societies. The author maps out the extraordinary opportunities and challenges facing business leaders, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and other metaverse stakeholders trying to navigate the future of the Internet.
In the metaverse, you can be who you want to be, where you want to be, and companies and consumers are only restricted by their own creativity how they can benefit from the immersive internet. With engaging commentary on issues ranging from avatars, identity and digital fashion to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain and the economics of the metaverse, this book also offers:
- Discussions on the importance of an open and interoperable metaverse build on the web 3.0 paradigm if we want to reign in the control of Big Tech over our identity, data and lives.
- Explorations of the enormous - and largely untapped - potential for metaverse entertainment, including gaming, music, media, and sports and how brands can engage with their customers in novel ways and how digital twins will change how we work and innovate.
- Considerations related to the dangers of an always-on, immersive internet, including data breaches, avatar imposters, mental health issues, corporate and state surveillance, and the need for metaverse law.
A fascinating read you won’t be able to put down, Step into the Metaverse belongs in the hands of executives, managers, and other business leaders who play a role in digital transformation or execution. It's also an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the future of technology, the internet, and social interaction.
Table of Contents
About the Author ix
Foreword x
Preface xii
2032 xiv
Introduction xxiii
Chapter 1: The Future Is Immersive 1
From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0 1
From AR to VR to XR 8
What Can the Metaverse Become? 12
Six Characteristics of the Metaverse 17
Interoperability 18
Decentralization 20
Persistency 22
Spatiality 24
Community-Driven 25
Self- Sovereignty 26
An Open Metaverse Means Freedom 30
An Endless Blue Ocean 31
Chapter 2: Creating an Open Metaverse 35
Open vs. Closed 35
The Hybrid Web 41
An Open Economic System 44
Chapter 3: Be Who You Want to Be 47
The Rise of the Avatars 47
Digital Fashion 55
iCommerce 62
A Cambrian Explosion of Identity 65
Chapter 4: Be Where You Want to Be 67
Virtual Worlds 67
Gaming in the Metaverse 74
Sports in the Metaverse 77
Media and Entertainment in the Metaverse 80
Education in the Metaverse 83
Power to the Creators 86
Chapter 5: Unbounded Creativity for Brands 89
Beyond flash 89
The Power of an Immersive Community 92
Endless New Touchpoints 94
Continuous and Real- Time Insights 95
Increased Sustainability 96
Virtual World Considerations 97
The Era of Experience Marketing 98
Creativity, Community, and Co- Creation 102
Chapter 6: Exponential Enterprise Connectivity 107
A Changing World 107
The Future of Immersive Work 110
The Metaverse Job Market 114
How to Get Started 117
Digital Twins 117
The Role of Governments 125
Chapter 7: The Creator Economy 129
A Vibrant Metaverse Economy 129
Why Tokens Matter 133
Challenges of NFTs 138
Digital Real Estate 143
Economic Mechanisms 146
From DeFi to MetaFi 150
Chapter 8: Digitalism in the Metaverse 155
Technology Is Neutral 155
Dangers of the Metaverse 156
The Datafication of Everything 157
Privacy Is an Illusion 158
Abuse, Harassment, and Illegal Content 159
Imposter Avatars 160
Data Security 161
Increased Inequality 162
Bad Bots Controlling the Web 162
Increased Polarization 163
Biased AI 164
Health Issues 165
Verification, Education, and Regulation 165
Verification 166
Education 168
Regulation 169
Surveillance or Empowerment 171
Chapter 9: The Future of the Metaverse 175
BCI: The Future of Immersive Experiences 175
A Renaissance of Art, Creativity, and Innovation 178
Epilogue 183
Acknowledgments 186
References 189
Index 215
