Social networking has greatly impacted society and has completely changed the way that people interact with each other. While the format and structure of social networks have remained relatively the same, Meta (Facebook) is working on shaping the future of the industry. This blog will provide an overview of Facebook, its rebranding and dream for the future of social networking, and the steps it is taking to achieve its goal.
Facebook is one of the most prominent social networks and as of July 2022, the site has 2.93 billion monthly active users. Facebook’s primary goal has always been to be a place for people to make connections. Users do this by requesting and agreeing to be “friends” or by joining groups that are specific to communities, topics, or organizations. Through acquisitions and partnerships, Facebook has grown into a powerful institution with significant influence on what the future of social networking will look like.
The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg, believes that the metaverse (Building the Future: An Overview of the Metaverse) will serve as the next evolution in social connection. He believes that the metaverse will help people connect virtually with a “feeling of being together in person.” In 2016, he outlined a 10-year plan for the company that revolves around “artificial intelligence, increased global connectivity, and virtual/augmented reality.”
In October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg spoke at a virtual reality event about the future of his company. He announced that Facebook would be changing its name to Meta, and would “go all in” on building the metaverse. This announcement placed the company at the forefront of conversations about the metaverse.
The future metaverse will include familiar 2D experiences, as well as ones projected into the physical world (Augmented-Reality), and fully immersive 3D experiences (Virtual-Reality). Meta also claims that their metaverse will be for “everyone.” This means it will not solely be accessible through their AR and VR hardware but will be accessible through phones and computers. Meta also acknowledges that one company cannot build the metaverse alone, and claims to be in conversations about ensuring that “any terms of use, privacy controls or safety features are appropriate to the new technologies and effective in keeping people safe.”
There are significant financial opportunities for Meta in the development of the metaverse. Meta does not control an operating system like Apple (iOS) or Google (Android) to run its applications. There have been feuds between Meta and Apple over fees charged for purchases made on iPhone apps, and terms that Apple exerts on app developers. Development in the metaverse would alleviate and potentially eliminate Meta’s reliance on these companies for operation.
The first step taken by Meta toward their vision of the metaverse was the 2014 purchase of Oculus VR for $2 billion. Oculus had previously created a VR headset known as The Rift. This headset was then shipped and sold by Facebook for $599 per unit and required a computer connection. Though this was not the first headset of its kind, The Rift proved to be sophisticated and relatively inexpensive compared to the competition. Investing in this technology was essential for Meta to accomplish its goal to provide immersive 3D experiences for the metaverse.
Since the Meta rebranding in 2021, there have been major investments made in the metaverse. More than 10,000 people, including some of the brightest engineers in the world, were hired to work on metaverse projects in the new Reality Labs Division of Meta. The substantial investment of tens of billions of dollars in backing led to the release of the Meta Quest line of VR equipment, most notably, the Meta Quest Pro. These devices were based on the previously acquired Oculus line of VR headsets with one significant improvement that eliminated the need to connect to an external computer. Other improvements included eye and face tracking capabilities allowing users’ emotions and expressions to be shown by their avatars while interacting with others in metaverse applications.
Meta Spark is a platform that aims to democratize the creation and design of augmented reality experiences in the metaverse. It provides creators with templates and asset libraries to design AR experiences. Within Spark, there are also opportunities to become educated and trained to become a Meta-certified creator. This platform has the potential to enhance the development of the metaverse greatly.
Meta developed an application called Horizon Worlds, accessed in virtual reality using Meta Quest hardware. This application is intended to be a social experience where users can explore virtual worlds and interact with other participants' avatars. Meta employees work as community guides to answer questions from users and provide information on the different virtual worlds. Currently, Horizon Worlds offer experiences including socialization, entertainment, music, and games.
An important step towards an all-encompassing metaverse is the integration of the workplace. Horizon Workrooms is being tested and developed to be Meta’s flagship metaverse collaboration experience. This mixed-reality experience is accessible through Meta Quest headsets or computer video chat. Virtual rooms for team communication combined with compatible keyboards allow for file sharing, note-taking, and screen sharing in a virtual work environment. Every room in Workrooms also offers infinite whiteboard space to sketch out ideas with the team’s avatars in real-time.
Meta’s creation and development of metaverse applications and virtual reality headsets are significant advancements toward Zuckerburg’s vision for the metaverse. That being said, there are certainly negative impacts and limitations on progress in metaverse development. Meta reportedly lost $9.4 billion from metaverse projects in the first nine months of 2022. Though a majority of VR headsets shipped worldwide are from the Meta Quest lineup, sales are significantly lower than initial projections. The success and growth of the metaverse are largely reliant on the number of headset consumers, but high prices have made VR headset sales cost prohibitive. Additionally, metaverse buy-in, acceptance, and headset sales have been negatively impacted by consumers’ lack of clarity concerning the potential of these technologies.
Meta’s work towards its dream of the metaverse will continue to impact all industries. Our team at Dura Digital is always looking into the latest technologies to bring awareness and insight to our clients to help them transform and reinvent their businesses. Our team of experts can help you navigate your digital transformation journey and make the most out of opportunities like the metaverse. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you and your organization.
Social networking has greatly impacted society and has completely changed the way that people interact with each other. While the format and structure of social networks have remained relatively the same, Meta (Facebook) is working on shaping the future of the industry. This blog will provide an overview of Facebook, its rebranding and dream for the future of social networking, and the steps it is taking to achieve its goal.
Facebook is one of the most prominent social networks and as of July 2022, the site has 2.93 billion monthly active users. Facebook’s primary goal has always been to be a place for people to make connections. Users do this by requesting and agreeing to be “friends” or by joining groups that are specific to communities, topics, or organizations. Through acquisitions and partnerships, Facebook has grown into a powerful institution with significant influence on what the future of social networking will look like.
The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg, believes that the metaverse (Building the Future: An Overview of the Metaverse) will serve as the next evolution in social connection. He believes that the metaverse will help people connect virtually with a “feeling of being together in person.” In 2016, he outlined a 10-year plan for the company that revolves around “artificial intelligence, increased global connectivity, and virtual/augmented reality.”
In October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg spoke at a virtual reality event about the future of his company. He announced that Facebook would be changing its name to Meta, and would “go all in” on building the metaverse. This announcement placed the company at the forefront of conversations about the metaverse.
The future metaverse will include familiar 2D experiences, as well as ones projected into the physical world (Augmented-Reality), and fully immersive 3D experiences (Virtual-Reality). Meta also claims that their metaverse will be for “everyone.” This means it will not solely be accessible through their AR and VR hardware but will be accessible through phones and computers. Meta also acknowledges that one company cannot build the metaverse alone, and claims to be in conversations about ensuring that “any terms of use, privacy controls or safety features are appropriate to the new technologies and effective in keeping people safe.”
There are significant financial opportunities for Meta in the development of the metaverse. Meta does not control an operating system like Apple (iOS) or Google (Android) to run its applications. There have been feuds between Meta and Apple over fees charged for purchases made on iPhone apps, and terms that Apple exerts on app developers. Development in the metaverse would alleviate and potentially eliminate Meta’s reliance on these companies for operation.
The first step taken by Meta toward their vision of the metaverse was the 2014 purchase of Oculus VR for $2 billion. Oculus had previously created a VR headset known as The Rift. This headset was then shipped and sold by Facebook for $599 per unit and required a computer connection. Though this was not the first headset of its kind, The Rift proved to be sophisticated and relatively inexpensive compared to the competition. Investing in this technology was essential for Meta to accomplish its goal to provide immersive 3D experiences for the metaverse.
Since the Meta rebranding in 2021, there have been major investments made in the metaverse. More than 10,000 people, including some of the brightest engineers in the world, were hired to work on metaverse projects in the new Reality Labs Division of Meta. The substantial investment of tens of billions of dollars in backing led to the release of the Meta Quest line of VR equipment, most notably, the Meta Quest Pro. These devices were based on the previously acquired Oculus line of VR headsets with one significant improvement that eliminated the need to connect to an external computer. Other improvements included eye and face tracking capabilities allowing users’ emotions and expressions to be shown by their avatars while interacting with others in metaverse applications.
Meta Spark is a platform that aims to democratize the creation and design of augmented reality experiences in the metaverse. It provides creators with templates and asset libraries to design AR experiences. Within Spark, there are also opportunities to become educated and trained to become a Meta-certified creator. This platform has the potential to enhance the development of the metaverse greatly.
Meta developed an application called Horizon Worlds, accessed in virtual reality using Meta Quest hardware. This application is intended to be a social experience where users can explore virtual worlds and interact with other participants' avatars. Meta employees work as community guides to answer questions from users and provide information on the different virtual worlds. Currently, Horizon Worlds offer experiences including socialization, entertainment, music, and games.
An important step towards an all-encompassing metaverse is the integration of the workplace. Horizon Workrooms is being tested and developed to be Meta’s flagship metaverse collaboration experience. This mixed-reality experience is accessible through Meta Quest headsets or computer video chat. Virtual rooms for team communication combined with compatible keyboards allow for file sharing, note-taking, and screen sharing in a virtual work environment. Every room in Workrooms also offers infinite whiteboard space to sketch out ideas with the team’s avatars in real-time.
Meta’s creation and development of metaverse applications and virtual reality headsets are significant advancements toward Zuckerburg’s vision for the metaverse. That being said, there are certainly negative impacts and limitations on progress in metaverse development. Meta reportedly lost $9.4 billion from metaverse projects in the first nine months of 2022. Though a majority of VR headsets shipped worldwide are from the Meta Quest lineup, sales are significantly lower than initial projections. The success and growth of the metaverse are largely reliant on the number of headset consumers, but high prices have made VR headset sales cost prohibitive. Additionally, metaverse buy-in, acceptance, and headset sales have been negatively impacted by consumers’ lack of clarity concerning the potential of these technologies.
Meta’s work towards its dream of the metaverse will continue to impact all industries. Our team at Dura Digital is always looking into the latest technologies to bring awareness and insight to our clients to help them transform and reinvent their businesses. Our team of experts can help you navigate your digital transformation journey and make the most out of opportunities like the metaverse. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you and your organization.
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N #923
Seattle, WA 98109
José Ellauri 938
Montevideo, CP 11300
7630 119th Street NW
Edmonton, AB T6G 1W3
