IN HIS NORMAL LIFE, he is a quiet programmer for the "respectable software company" Meta Cortex; while in private, he is a computer hacker who penetrates computer systems under his hacker alias, Neo. That's the reality and premise of 1999's The Matrix.
In our cultural imaginations largely shaped by the Wachowskis and Neal Stephenson's 1992 sci-fi novel Snow Crash, the Metaverse is an idealised immersive successor of the Internet; a virtual space where billions of users will move, interact and operate across myriad different but interoperable worlds while retaining their avatar identities and virtual possessions. Our facsimile is, alas, nothing like that.
In our prime universe, the "metaverse" is often used to refer to a hypothetical or theoretical shared virtual space. In our reality's iteration, it is imagined by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg as a cartoonish universe accessed through the Internet. At launch, Meta initially had set a goal of 500,000 monthly users by the end of 2022, but internal documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal show the company has fallen far short of its goals for regular monthly users; Meta's Horizon Worlds only garnered around 32,000 people.
In psychological terms, humans are driven by esteem needs. Described as the fourth level in Maslow's hierarchy, these include self-worth, accomplishment and respect derived in part from achievement and mastery, independence and the desire for reputation or respect from others through status and prestige. The problem with Zuckerberg's vision is that cartoon avatars answer none of these psychological drives. The truth is, neither will the Pico 4. However, it does let you feel, in a quasi-realistic environment, a semblance of accomplishment that sitting in front of a desktop in an environment like Horizon Worlds will not; even World of Warcraft will do a better job of answering that need.
Denne historien er fra Issue 186-utgaven av August Man SG.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 186-utgaven av August Man SG.
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The One That Started It All
Girard-Perregaux celebrates 49 years of the Laureato, the timepiece that helped to kick-start the popularity of steel sports timepieces.
Return To Mont Blanc
Wes Anderson Brought US To Montblanc's Fictional Headquarters Several Months Ago. Now, He Shows Us More From The Collection.
Manners Maketh Man
The Principle Of Style Is Character, And The Core Of Character Is Conduct.
Slow Travel In Switzerland
The Swiss public transport system certainly aces the luxe factor with eye popping train rides, indulgent multi-course meals on a Belle Epoque era steamship, and even efficient luggage transport services.
A NEW DAWN IN SOLAR ENERGY
AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO MANDALA CLUB CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER LILLY GILBERT ABOUT THE MOVEMENT THAT COULD CHANGE HOW BUSINESSES IN KEONG SAIK ARE POWERED THE MANDALA SOLAR COLLECTIVE.
THE POWER OF THREE
ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC IMAGES IN SINGAPORE TOOK THE FORM OF KOKILA PARVATHI, SITI AMIRAH (ALSO KNOWN AS CAMIRA ASRORI) AND SOBIKUN NAHAR ON THEIR WAY TO COURT. AUGUSTMAN SPEAKS TO THEM ABOUT THEIR IDEAS ON COMMUNITY ORGANSING, AND ABOUT RETHINKING OUR THOUGHTS ON POWER.
FLIGHT OF THE NARISAWA BEE
The esteemed Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa shares with us the intimate details of his brand's expansion into Singapore and what having the Mandala Club as its permanent address means to him.
DRINK THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
Preferably with a dram of The Macallan, in hand. The famed whisky maker celebrates 200 years of making perfection.
AND BUTCHER'S BLOCK MAKES IT THREE
SINGAPORE'S CHAPTER OF THE DOM PÉRIGNON SOCIETY HAS INDUCTED A THIRD MEMBER, RAFFLES SINGAPORE'S BUTCHER'S BLOCK, GIVING DISCERNING DINERS BETTER ACCESS TO THE EPICUREAN SAVOIR FAIRE THAT COMES WITH THE MARK OF THE SOCIETY.
AMERICAN SPIRIT
ROB SAMUELS, THE EIGHTH-GENERATION WHISKY-MAKER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MAKER'S MARK, EXPLAINS WHY THE BRAND'S CELLAR AGED EXPRESSION IS A PEAK INTO THE FUTURE OF BOURBON.