Since Facebook formally changed to Meta on 28 October 2021, there’s no doubt that you will have heard and become familiar with the term Metaverse mentioned now and again. However, you may still be wondering, what is the Metaverse and what does this mean for the future of technology, both personally and professionally? Secondary and no less important question is what Microsoft teaming up with Metaverse and Facebook means for workplaces of the future?

Before we jump in and take a closer look at the Metaverse platform, let’s answer one simple question.

What is the Metaverse?

Simply put, the Metaverse is a network of 3D worlds allowing for real-time social connection, or as Mark Zuckerberg states in his founder’s letter, “The metaverse is the next frontier in connecting people, just like social networking was when we got started. In the metaverse, you’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine — get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create — as well as completely new experiences that don’t really fit how we think about computers or phones today.”

So, now we know what it means, let’s dive a little deeper.

What are the goals of Metaverse and Facebook?

Over recent years, as technology has rapidly evolved, enabling seamless global connectivity, it is no surprise that post-COVID, there is a desire for digital evolution that allows for more immersive, richer, real-time virtual experiences. This is what Facebook strives to achieve through Metaverse. The ultimate goal is to create a world where you can feel truly present in the experiences through Metaverse apps.

Whilst all this sounds exciting, the question looms – what does this mean for the future of technology products, such as Microsoft, work-life, gaming, and overall cybersecurity?

How Microsoft products could look in Metaverse

Having carefully researched and observed the pros and cons of remote online meetings during the pandemic, Microsoft announced they would be rolling out Microsoft Mesh in early 2022. A feature, according to Microsoft, “allows people in different physical locations to join collaborative and shared holographic experiences, with the productivity tools of Microsoft Teams, where people can join virtual meetings, send chats, collaborate on shared documents, and more.”

However, this is just one of the many concepts as Microsoft begins to integrate Metaverse into their software. Soon, it will be a whole new 3D world of gaming and much more.

How gaming/networking could be in the Metaverse

By investing in Minecraft, Forza, and World of War, Microsoft is heading toward creating a truly connected gaming world.

Besides finding yourself sitting in a conference room in the form of your avatar or hologram through Microsoft Mesh, Metaverse gaming will change one’s experiences whilst playing, as you’ll literally be in the game.

New technology problems that could arise in the Metaverse

The COVID pandemic sped up digital transformations with remote work models in place, which brought a new set of cybersecurity and connectivity challenges. With the adoption of the Metaverse, there’s an opening of new doors to cybercriminals, and we can expect to see an increase in cyber risks such as

• Identity theft – this could mean a hacked avatar.
• Personal data breaches and privacy vulnerabilities.
• An increase in ransomware attacks. Whereby data and information are held at a ransom.

With such vulnerabilities in play, it’s going to require organisations and users to become cyber security savvy and stay one step ahead of the game with crucial security training and measures.

Prepare for Facebook’s Metaverse with Laminar

As we gear up for the Metaverse platform(s) there are a few requirements needed to support the new platform.

• Fast broadband that supports the real-time virtual reality worlds.
• Low latency that’s under ten milliseconds (we wouldn’t want a glitchy hologram of our colleague in the board room now, would we.)
• ISPs that will deliver the fast 2-way traffic.
• 5G Wi-Fi connectivity to enable all the above.

So, to ensure you’re ready for the Metaverse, contact our team today on 1300 486 373.

Laminar builds and operates IT networking infrastructure and is well known for wireless networking (Wi-Fi), core networking, and security systems. As a systems integrator, we design a system for you and then bring the world’s best technology and people together to implement and operate it for you.

We offer custom solutions to ensure your most important business infrastructure is operating at optimum capacity and your most important assets are protected.

So, for fast, reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi solutions, get in touch today and be ready for the future of connectivity.