Understanding the 7 Layers Of The Metaverse

Apart from cryptocurrencies, Metaverse is arguably the second most known technology in the web3 conversation. 

The two most important things that led to the increase in its popularity — are the change of name of Facebook to Meta and the consistent trade of Digital assets on the internet.

When they talk about Metaverse platforms, most people only think about entities like Decentraland, Sandbox, and also Meta, but when you go deeper, you will discover it goes beyond these famous companies, and in fact, there are more layers in the Metaverse.

Metaverse structure implies all the component units that make up the Metaverse including the layers of the metaverse and technologies that powers them.

So how many layers are there in the Metaverse? In this blog, I will talk about the different Metaverse levels or layers of the Metaverse, and I hope you understand more at the end.

First Layer — Experience

Generally, the experience in the Metaverse is one of its driving points, and many people have spoken in support of this. People interact with the Metaverse content, including shopping, NFTs, Sports, Immersive worlds, Games, Digital Media, Retail, Technology, and the likes.

Metaverse has varying features such as immersive experience in virtual worlds, storytelling, progression, new ways of social interactions, avatar identities, DAO governance, relationship with AI, Blockchain infrastructure, and the like, and these are perfectly captured by the gaming industry. 

This industry, created by platforms such as Xbox, Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, gives the ideal experience of the Metaverse endpoint. Also, it is the strongest reason why many brands are trying their hands on live events like MILES to provide them with an overview of what the Metaverse is. A typical example is that someone who can’t see Travis Scott well in his physical performance can get a front-row seat at his Fortnite live performance even though more than 10 million people were attending.

Furthermore, the experience layer of the Metaverse also has several incidences where the combination of the physical and the digital realm meet up, like the Zoom Business Meetings, Peloton Home workouts, or the Microsoft Mesh teams.

Second Layer– Discovery

The best new online experience could be created by someone, but for it to become popular, it needs to be discovered. Store placements, user reviews, and rating systems are all features of the advertising network Discovery.

Generally, platforms for marketing and sharing information, whether they are outward or inward, are employed for discovery. Outbound discovery can be in the form of notifications and digital advertising. Inbound marketing includes community content platforms where users may learn what other people like and recommend. Also included are search engines and app stores that can provide reviews and ratings.

Metaverse Discovery is an essential aspect of the Metaverse layers as without it, new inventions and innovations won’t be unearthed.

Third Layer –The Creator Economy

To create fantastic experiences and digital assets, developers use different tools, apps, workflows, asset markets, and technologies to make it happen.

The goal of the Metaverse is to create a fully immersive 3D experience by connecting different virtual constituencies together, ultimately giving a real-time experience. These experiences, aided by the use of VR, AR, and other connected technologies, are created to help provide visitors exceptional experiences that will help them achieve anything in this virtual reality. It is no news that the Metaverse offers many opportunities that bring financial development to platforms involved in them. As people adopt the Metaverse more, we will see many more businesses that will key into the Metaverse to drive revenues for themselves.

In the early internet age, like web 1 or 2, developers need good coding and programming knowledge to design tools and apps. However, with web 3, there are now many drag-and-drop apps, websites, and software builders one can use, making it easy for anything to be built without programming knowledge.

As we advance in the adoption and embrace of web 3, the creator economy will continue to improve, and the tools will be easier to build to stimulate creativity.

Fourth Layer — Spatial computing

Real and virtual areas are merged in spatial computing. The terms 3D engines and software, AR, VR, XR, and mapping all refer to the spatial computing layer, which blurs the lines between physical and virtual places, either by enhancing the “reality” of the real world with more digital experiences and information or by making online 3D spaces more manipulable and uncannily “real.”

Spatial computing enables platforms to build 3D, authentic experiences that immerse users entirely through sight, sound, and touch. It does this by merging virtual and augmented reality. There are rumors that Google plans to begin mapping the Metaverse.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and biometric data from individuals are currently heavily utilized in the health and fitness industries. Lastly, speech and gesture recognition are included in the spatial computing software.

Spatial computing has evolved over time into a substantial class of technology that enhances our experiences by allowing access to and modifying 3D locations.

Also, Spatial computing requires sophisticated hardware and software to work as planned. I will list the needed software parts; the article’s “human interface/interaction” layer will discuss the hardware part. A few of the functions of the software layer that powers the Metaverse are listed below:

• 3D engines can be used to present geometry and motion (Unity and Unreal Engine).
• Geospatial mapping and object recognition can be used to map and analyze both the physical and digital worlds.
• Voice and gesture recognition.
• Internet of Things for integrating identity data from hardware-based biometrics of the human body.
• Future user interfaces will support several information streams and analysis at once.

Fifth layer — Decentralization

The Blockchain metaverse and the Web3 community both agree that everything should continue to be as decentralized as possible. As a result, it cannot be governed by a single entity, and many users are responsible for making decisions (smart contracts).

The development of the Metaverse blockchain is complex without critical elements of Decentralization, such as the blockchain, smart contracts, accessible code, and what some refer to as self-sovereign digital identity.

In contrast to snow Crash and Ready Player One, where the future was said to be ruled by some sort of central authority, the Metaverse will be decentralized, open, and distributed. Smart contracts, open-source platforms, blockchain technology, and the potential for self-sovereign digital identities are all features of Decentralization.

According to Roundhill Investments, the metaverse market will increase at a compound annual rate of 13.1% during the next few years. As more people access the Metaverse, this expansion will accelerate.

Blockchain-based on Ethereum is already being created for NFT gaming. With the help of the development of Web3 and Decentralized Finance, financial assets were liberated from centralized power (DeFi).

Decentralized finance is the practice of making financial products available via a decentralized blockchain network (DeFi). Users are not required to use banks or brokerages when using DeFi metaverse wallets like MetaMask and Trust Wallet. You can use a DeFi wallet even if you don’t have a social security number, a government-issued ID, or proof that you live in your nation.

Organizations such as Wolf3D and Crucible facilitate 3D avatar platforms. Also, Ion and Evernym are addressing the issue of self-sovereign identity in apps and games based on a wallet, not an authority.

Sixth Layer — Human Interface/Interaction

The universe may or may not be governed by robots in the future, but machines have already replaced humans in the Metaverse. Human bodies and digital technology are already interacting, and this tendency is only accelerating.

Every component of digital technology that strengthens our physical selves is described as having a “human interface.” It covers haptics, virtual reality, wearables, neural networks, and smart eyewear.

In years to come, people will be able to learn more about their surroundings by utilizing technology such as Google Glass. Furthermore, you may discover the nearest bar by following the directions on your Google Smart Glass or smart contact lens.

Adopting the half-human, half-cyborg lifestyle by the human species is now highly probable. Soon, within the next 50 years, we’ll start experimenting more with technology like a neural link to treat certain ailments or rewire and improve our minds.

However, for a realistic, immersive metaverse experience, this greater connection between people and robots is essential. Thanks to advanced spatial computing and the suitable interface, we will soon be able to experience the Metaverse purely in the same way that we currently experience the real world.

Seventh layer — Infrastructure

The technological foundations that power, link, and enable our digital devices are what allow everything on the outer layers to exist. This is the Metaverse’s support system. Infrastructure also refers to the supporting technology and network components. Examples of Metaverse infrastructure include data centers, cloud computing, wireless, materials, and processing.

Five technical clusters power the Metaverse:

• Artificial intelligence
• In addition to providing an immersive audio-visual experience, display technologies like AR, VR, MR, ER, and XR may adapt the user experience to their growing likes and preferences over time.
• Animations, audio, and visual content are produced using video game technologies like Unreal Engine and Unity 3D game engines.
• Virtual scene fitting, edge computing, GPU servers, real-time network transmission, and spatial positioning algorithms are all part of the network and computational capability.
• Blockchain technology. It will guarantee value ownership and circulation by utilizing settlement platforms, smart contracts, and decentralized value transfer methods. Decentralization will lead to the creation of an open, successful, and stable economic system.

There are many broad and lofty goals for the Metaverse’s development. However, the challenge is whether we can develop the foundational technologies required to actually aid in and sustain the metaverse growth and achieve these immense objectives.

Summing up

The Metaverse is a hot issue among investors, tech nerds, and end users thanks to the significant investments made by major tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, NVIDIA, HTC VIVE, and Microsoft. 

Everyone has to become informed about the history of the Metaverse. One excellent approach to understanding the Metaverse’s enormous potential is by becoming familiar with the seven layers that make it up. Each layer is a critical element that interacts with the other six layers to help the universe achieve the Metaverse objectives.