What is the metaverse?
It's a space where digital representations of people - avatars - interact at work and play, meeting in their office, going to concerts and even trying on clothes. At the centre of this universe will be virtual reality, a digital world that you can already enter via Facebook's Oculus VR headsets. It will also include augmented reality, a sort of step back from VR where elements of the digital world are layered on top of reality - think Pokemon Go or Facebook's recent smart glasses tie-up with Ray-Ban.
Facebook already has a professional version of the metaverse: Horizon Workrooms, an app that lets Oculus-sporting workers enter virtual offices and hold meetings. Indeed, Nick Clegg, Facebook's VP of global affairs, holds Monday team meetings in the office metaverse, replete with virtual table and whiteboard.
He has said the metaverse will be a series of interlinked worlds, where a user moves seamlessly from Facebook's world to Apple's or Google's, or a computer game publisher's. This month Facebook said it was creating 10,000 jobs in the EU as part of growth plans that include building a metaverse.
Any recommended reading?
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Denne historien er fra October 29, 2021-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Climate Crisis To Blame For Formerly 'Impossible' Heat, Studies Reveal
At least 24 previously impossible heatwaves have struck communities across the planet, a new assessment has shown, providing stark evidence of how severely human-caused global heating is supercharging extreme weather.
Borthwick claims players were unfit for start of series
Steve Borthwick has claimed his England players were not fit enough for Test rugby when they began their autumn internationals after Saturday's defeat by South Africa extended their dismal losing run.
Exciting times ahead' Carsley hails new generation as he hands over to Tuchel
Lee Carsley predicted that competition for places in Thomas Tuchel's first squad will be fiercer than ever, after his stint as England's interim head coach ended with a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.
Kane has been the defining player of a successful era, but this thing has run its course
Below the hum of the crowd every time Kane took the ball, he was rearranging his legs like a pantomime horse
Harwood-Bellis starts party as Carsley signs off with promotion
It was an England salvo of devastating power, three goals in five minutes early in the second half and it did more than reframe an occasion that had been flat and forgettable until then.
'I saw my name on the Euros list. There was shock then happiness'
Ayoze Pérez hopes to make history for Spain in Tenerife tonight after goal rush since leaving England for La Liga
Direct Doak convinces Clarke he is the present and future
Scotland's teenage forward set to keep his spot against Poland after terrorising Gvardiol in win over Croatia
Beard vents over penalty error as Everton edge derby
An exasperated Matt Beard claimed the match officials had cost his Liverpool team the Merseyside derby, after a controversial penalty enabled Everton to claim their first win of the Women's Super League season and move off the bottom of the table.
Clever Slegers impresses but Arsenal cannot rush appointment
Watching Arsenal coast to victory at Tottenham on Saturday, you could have been forgiven for forgetting that they are without a permanent manager.
Beaten, bruised England are not in crisis mode yet
Defeat by South Africa was to be expected but the Six Nations looms as kill or cure for Borthwick's project
