After Meta (formerly Facebook) announced its Metaverse master plan and roadmap in 2021, it became the buzzword for most event marketers. It is the fact that creating the virtual platform to host an event online is one kind of the new-world-creation. But can virtual events nowadays be considered as a Metaverse? In the name of Happenn, we won’t agree with this term. And the explanation is just a scroll below.
We’ve already mentioned this topic in the previous blog. However, we’re going to talk about it in the details, what, and why virtual events are not precisely the Metaverse. And where is the middle ground where these two exciting things will meet?
The Definiton of Metaverse
Before heading to the technical details, let’s first discuss the word definition. The term ‘Metaverse’ was created by Neal Stephenson in 1992 to describe the computer-generated universe that exists in his 1992 novels Snow Crash.[1.]
To look back further, meta is a Greek word that can mean “among, with, or after.” [2.]
So by combining the Greek meaning with the first-time using that mentioned above, plus the context on Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg’s point-of-view. The definition of Metaverse in modern history is another universe created by computer technology (where you meet other people by your avatar, not your actual self).
That’s Why Virtual Event is Not a Metaverse
Because, when you look at the current virtual event’s technology, you’ll see that it’s still presented on a web-based platform—not the whole new universe where you participate each other through the 3D avatar.
And the other thing (in our humble opinion) is, only the virtual event itself can never be a Metaverse. Because event always needs a place to host it on. The old-school on-site event requires the venue; the virtual event requires a domain name, high-quality servers, and many tech features. So yes, the Metaverse event requires the stable and crowded digital world to put it on. The word ‘event’ will always be smaller than the ‘world’ or ‘universe,’ that’s an undeniable fact.
So without the VR equipment and the space to digitally walk around at any time you want, a virtual event is not a metaverse.
But this is our opinion in 2022, and no one knows what will happen when someone reveals their Metaverse for real; we have to wait and see.
Is Metaverse Going to Replace the Virtual Event?
Absolutely no.
Physically or digitally, events always require a place. Metaverse is just another kind of place to host it. Think of it as a new place where new opportunities await you to harvest. Learn a lot more about it. The more you understand the territory, the more chances to win the game.
We think the web-based virtual event will be like SMS technology nowadays in the foreseeable future. So exist, but only for the previous generation people who is too old to learn new things. And when the technologies are ready (household equipment standard, internet speed, software, etc.), Metaverse will be the primary space for all kinds of virtual events.
Metaverse is Truly the Future of Virtual Events
Because the event’s core is interacting with people and delivering an impressive experience, better technology always serves better results. So for the event industry, the interactive Metaverse is for sure the only future the event industry is heading to.
Imagine the virtual meeting where you can read all the body language of the person you’re talking to, along with the facial expressions. You also can change the environment to whatever you want to comfort both of you and drive the conversation forward. Or the virtual booth where the exhibitor can demonstrate how the product works by teleporting you into the preview space with real-world environments. Or, if you’re the clothing brand, imagine your customer doesn’t have to go to the actual store to try the clothes on.
Travis Scott’s concert in the Fortnite game is one of the great examples of how you can push the boundaries of creativity with the virtual environment. And another excellent example of Metaverse introduction is Kwangya, a Metaverse city created by K-pop girl group Aespa.
So we can say the best is yet to come with the Metaverse ahead.
It’s Just the Beginning
If Metaverse technology is a human, it will be 100% just an infant who knows nothing (but looks great!). There’s a long way to go. A lot of trials and errors are up ahead. But as a believer in immersive event experience technology, we’ll keep an eye on it and try to adapt its idea to use with our current technology as much as possible.
So if you’re looking for the software that helps you deliver the best experience to your virtual event attendees, check out Happenn’s products here. We have everything from the 3D-like virtual venue to the real-time live streaming and chat services. Even we can’t do anything with the Metaverse yet; we can deliver the most incredible experience to your attendees right now!
Before We Leave
There are countless blogs and articles about the Metaverse on the internet nowadays. But these are what we think it’s the easiest way to understand this upcoming technology for beginners. Clear, concise, and very easy to open the gate of this no-one-have-been-there-yet another universe.