Matthew Ball, CEO of Epyllion and former Amazon Studios strategist, delves into the significance of the metaverse, dubbing it the 'new internet.' He highlights the importance for companies to understand and strategize around this technology. Topics include the origins and evolution of virtual worlds, challenges like technology access and interoperability, and how diverse global players like Tencent impact the metaverse. Additionally, Ball discusses how industries like dating and fashion are engaging with this new frontier and navigating its societal implications.
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insights INSIGHT
Defining the Metaverse
The metaverse is a massively scaled, interoperable network of real-time 3D virtual worlds.
It allows users to have persistent, synchronous experiences with a sense of presence.
insights INSIGHT
Platforms vs. the Metaverse
Platforms like Roblox, while connecting many virtual worlds, are not the metaverse itself.
A true metaverse requires interoperability similar to the internet, not just interconnected platforms.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Technological Transformations
Mainframe computing still exists, despite newer technologies like the internet, PCs, mobile, and cloud.
This illustrates how technological transformations overlap and coexist.
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This book by Matthew Ball provides a definitive account of the Metaverse, a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will serve as the gateway to most online experiences and underpin much of the physical world. Ball explains the technologies necessary to build the Metaverse, addresses governance challenges, and predicts its impact on various industries and society. He also discusses the role of Web3, blockchains, NFTs, and the enormous infrastructure investments required. The book offers a clear and authoritative view on the future of the internet and its potential to revolutionize every aspect of life[2][3][4].
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
Published in 1992, 'Snow Crash' is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson that delves into a future where the United States has fragmented into corporate city-states and the internet has evolved into a virtual reality called the Metaverse. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery driver and part-time hacker, and Y.T., a teenage skateboard courier, as they navigate a complex world threatened by a mysterious computer virus and a powerful drug known as Snow Crash. The novel explores themes of history, linguistics, anthropology, and computer science, and is noted for its prescient vision of the metaverse and its influence on Silicon Valley innovators[2][3][5].
Neuromancer
William Gibson
Published in 1984, 'Neuromancer' is a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre. The novel revolves around Case, a skilled hacker who was once the best in his field but was crippled by his former employer after he tried to steal from them. Case is recruited by a mysterious employer named Armitage for a high-stakes mission that involves hacking into the highly secure systems of the Tessier-Ashpool family. Joined by a diverse group of allies, including the cyborg Molly and the performance artist Peter Riviera, Case must navigate the complexities of cyberspace and the real world to merge two powerful artificial intelligences, Wintermute and Neuromancer. The book explores themes of technology, identity, and the blurring of lines between the physical and virtual worlds[1][2][5].
It might still seem like a buzzword, or something that only matters to tech CEOs. But Matthew Ball, CEO of Epyllion and the former global head of strategy for Amazon Studios, says the metaverse is the "new internet" – and that it's already here. He argues that companies large and small need to not only better understand what the metaverse is, but should also be developing strategies around it today. That can have an impact on marketing, customer relations, product development, and much more, he says. Ball is the author of "The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything."
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