What Is the Metaverse?什么是元宇宙？

格里·米列娃 鄧夢寒

The term metaverse is a combination of two words， “meta” and “verse”. Meta is a prefix that means beyond or transcending， while verse refers to the universe. The metaverse comprises several 3D worlds where digital versions of people can interact and move from one place to another. Dubbed by many as the “future of the internet”， the metaverse can provide a gateway to provide entertainment beyond online gaming. The metaverse could allow people to work on projects， compete in sports， or watch concerts together on shared virtual platforms.

Science fiction writer Neal Stephenson made popular the word metaverse in his 1992 novel Snow Crash. The cyberpunk novel tells the story of Hiro who is a pizza delivery guy in real life. In the metaverse， Hiro becomes a sword-wielding warrior who aims to save the world from a digital virus called Snow Crash.

Features of the metaverse

The following characteristics give a clearer picture of what a metaverse looks like：

· It is persistent

Events and experiences in the metaverse do not pause， end， or reset， just like in the real world. When a user logs out， everything inside the metaverse will continue to exist and function.

· It is always live

The metaverse and the digital objects inside are experienced in real-time. Any content， experience， or information is accessible at any given time and remains available even when a user logs out of their account.

· It can host an audience of any size

The metaverse brings together millions of users from any part of the physical world. Users can experience an event simultaneously.

· It is interoperable

Digital information and assets are shared across multiple virtual platforms. The same can also be translated into the physical world. For example， a user can purchase an item of clothing for their avatar and use it on different virtual platforms.

· It allows customization

Users can change their avatars or digital identities at any time to showcase their personality or current mood. Content may be designed and created by independent developers and large organizations.

· It has a functioning and sustainable economy

Users can purchase digital goods and services to enhance their Metaverse experience. They can also shop for physical items that can be shipped anywhere they want in the real world.

· It combines the virtual and physical world

The metaverse spans both real-world and digitally created content and experiences.42F13091-10A7-4D00-ACA3-FE6638C6814D

Capabilities of the metaverse

The metaverse aims to provide people a gateway to experience real-world activities in a virtual environment. Below are just some of the activities one can expect upon entering the metaverse.

· Social interaction

Communicating with friends， colleagues， or loved ones is a lot easier in the metaverse. Besides video calls， users can host or attend online events or celebrations like weddings， birthdays， or retirement parties and attend no matter where in the world they are located.

· Shopping

Users can shop for both virtual and physical goods. VR devices and shopping-related software can allow users to try on clothing and accessories or test gadgets and appliances before buying them.

· Business

While business owners and employees can collaborate and work together on projects from anywhere in the world using apps like Zoom and Google Meet， the metaverse brings the experience up a notch by making the interactions more natural.

· Entertainment

The metaverse offers a more immersive experience for the online gaming community， increasing the level of engagement. Virtual platforms can also host sporting events， movie premieres， or music festivals for an unlimited number of users.

For people who want to travel but are unable to because of their busy schedules or because they are recovering from an illness or injury， the metaverse allows users the opportunity to visit different countries without leaving their homes.

Technology devices to access the metaverse

For users to connect to the metaverse， it is ideal to have the following technologies available：

· Strong internet connection access and stream content and applications in real-time

· Devices that can support VR， AR （Augmented Reality）， or MR （Mixed Reality） environments

· Cryptocurrency wallet to facilitate transactions across virtual worlds

Meanwhile， developers must focus on the following technologies to ensure that they bring users an uninterrupted and engaging experience in the metaverse：

· Up-to-the-minute protocols and program languages that will drive and support the metaverse system

· Database management techniques like “sharding” to manage the number of users and prevent server downtimes

元宇宙的英文metaverse是meta和verse兩個單詞的合成詞。meta是前綴，意為“超出”“超越”，verse指universe，即“宇宙”之意。元宇宙包含多個3D世界，數字虛擬人物可在其中互動和穿行。很多人稱元宇宙為“互聯網的未來”，它可以為娛樂打開一扇門，通往在線游戲以外更廣闊的領域。在元宇宙里，人們可以通過共享虛擬平臺合作開展項目、參與體育活動或共賞音樂會。42F13091-10A7-4D00-ACA3-FE6638C6814D

科幻小說作家尼爾·斯蒂芬森1992 年的小說《雪崩》讓“元宇宙”成為一個流行詞。這部賽博朋克小說講述了現實生活中的披薩外賣小哥阿弘的故事。在元宇宙里，阿弘化身揮劍的戰士，意欲拯救世界免遭數字病毒“雪崩”之害。

元宇宙的特點

以下幾個特點更加清晰地展現了元宇宙的面貌：

·持久性

元宇宙中的事件和經歷像現實世界中一樣，不會暫停、結束或重置。用戶退出后，元宇宙里的一切將繼續存在和運轉。

·實時性

元宇宙和元宇宙里的數字物體都是實時的。用戶可以在任何既定時間獲取里面的任何內容、體驗或信息，即使退出賬戶，那些東西也仍然在。

·可容納無窮受眾

元宇宙可匯集來自現實世界天涯海角的無數用戶。用戶可以同時體驗一個事件。

·互操作性

數字信息和資產可在多個虛擬平臺之間共享，還可以轉化到現實世界。比如，用戶可以為虛擬世界中的自己購買一件衣服，并在不同的虛擬平臺上穿著。

·允許定制

用戶可以隨時更改自己的虛擬形象或數字身份，展示自己的個性或當前狀態。內容可由獨立開發人員和大型機構設計和創建。

·擁有運轉良好且可持續的經濟

用戶可以購買數字商品和服務來提升他們的元宇宙體驗，還可以購買實物商品，根據自己的需求運送到現實世界的任何地方。

·結合虛擬世界和現實世界

元宇宙包含了現實世界和數字創建的內容及體驗。

元宇宙的功能

元宇宙旨在為人們打開一扇門，讓人們在虛擬環境中體驗現實世界的活動。以下是人們進入元宇宙后可能開展的部分活動。

·社交

在元宇宙中與朋友、同事或親人交流要容易得多。除了視頻通話，用戶還可以舉辦或參加在線活動或慶典，如婚禮、生日或退休派對，無論身在何處都可以參加。

·購物

用戶可以購買虛擬商品和實物商品。虛擬現實設備和與購物相關的軟件可以讓用戶在購買前試穿衣服、試戴配飾或試用小工具和電器。

·經商

雖然企業主和員工可以使用 Zoom 和 Google Meet 等應用程序在世界任何地方合作開展項目，但元宇宙可以使互動更加自然，從而將體驗提升一個檔次。

·娛樂

元宇宙可以為在線游戲社區提供沉浸感更強的體驗，提高參與度。虛擬平臺還可以為無限數量的用戶舉辦體育賽事、電影首映式或音樂節。

對于那些想要旅行卻因事務繁忙或傷病未愈而無法出行的人，元宇宙讓用戶有機會足不出戶游歷不同國家。

元宇宙的技術支持

用戶如要進入元宇宙，最好具備以下技術：

·強大的互聯網連接訪問以及實時流式傳輸內容和應用程序

·可以支持VR（虛擬現實）、AR（增強現實）或 MR（混合現實）環境的設備

·便于在虛擬世界交易的加密貨幣錢包

同時，開發人員應致力于保障以下技術，確保給予用戶不間斷且引人入勝的元宇宙體驗：

·驅動和支持元宇宙系統的最新協議和程序語言

·諸如“分片”之類的數據庫管理技術，管理用戶數量并防止服務器宕機

（譯者單位：上海交通大學）42F13091-10A7-4D00-ACA3-FE6638C6814D