The metaverse is not the kind of thing that one day “arrives.” Instead, it will creep into existence as new technologies, capabilities, and use cases emerge. An evolution rather than a revolution. Three types of “metaverse creep” to look out for:
Purpose creep is the spawning of new and unexpected use cases.
No modern technology has exhibited purpose creep more than the smartphone. Originally designed as a communications device, the smartphone is now used for entertainment, social media, photography, navigation, productivity, health, and payments. Its front-facing camera was created for video calling but is rarely used for this purpose. Instead, it birthed the “selfie” and inspired today’s AR filters.
Many metaverse products (simulations, avatars, digital assets) were intended for or are primarily used in gaming. But newer generations of affordable VR headsets designed for gaming have inspired use cases from exposure therapy to industrial design to sexual harassment awareness campaigns. More surprises will follow.
Adoption creep is the consistent and under-appreciated uptake of new technologies.
It might seem like AI “arrived” with the release of ChatGPT and for a good reason: the chatbot is the fastest-growing consumer product of all time. But in truth, AI has slowly crept into society for the last 15 years: it powers the everyday use of internet search, maps, streaming, social media, and the gig economy.
Statistica predicts that 41 percent of Europeans will use augmented reality (AR) in 2023—which seems high. However, AR has crept into the daily lives of Europeans through mobile apps such as Snapchat, games such as Pokemon Go, furniture apps such as Ikea Place, and makeup apps such as Sephora. Consumers will increasingly expect apps to integrate AR.
Capabilities creep is the gradual, almost imperceptible, improvement of technology.
One of the first consumer digital cameras, Apple’s Quicktake 100 (1994) boasted a “high resolution” camera capable of snapping shots at 0.31 megapixels. With only gradual shifts since, its latest iPhone 14 Pro (2022) takes photos at 48 megapixels. This rate of improvement is only appreciated when viewed at a distance (the same is true for many technologies but especially for advances in connectivity.)
Google Maps was first launched in 2005 as a 2D site accessible only by desktop. Owing to advances in satellite imaging, computing, AI, connectivity, and mobile cameras, it was able to build an Immersive View: a portable digital twin of various cities. This feature relies on technological improvements often taken for granted. These improvements will continue to enable the digitalisation of the offline world.
Into the EU metaverse…
Policy
European Commission
The Commission wrapped up its citizens’ panel on virtual worlds. Analysis here.
It also launched a public consultation on virtual worlds (open until May 3.)
Meanwhile, its communication on the topic is delayed (again) to June 21.
European Parliament
IMCO
According to Euractiv, EPP’s Andreas Schwab 🇪🇺🇩🇪 will be heading the report.
S&D’s Maria-Manuel Leitãa-Marques 🇪🇺🇵🇹 joins the list of shadows rapporteurs
JURI
JURI held a hearing on the metaverse, focusing on IP & data protection.
EPP’s Axel Voss 🇪🇺🇩🇪, who chaired the hearing, is set to lead a report on the metaverse; S&D’s Ibán García del Blanco 🇪🇺🇪🇸 is a likely shadow rapporteur.
Elsewhere
🇫🇷 France’s digital ministry launched a public consultation on the metaverse (open until May 2.)
🇩🇪 Germany’s economic and education ministries published a regulation that recognises a new training track for the profession of “Creator of Immersive Media.”
Business
Vocational VR. Fectar 🇳🇱, an XR content platform, announced it is working with Ultraleap, an XR hardware provider, to develop VR training solutions.
A helping hand. SenseGlove 🇳🇱, a haptic glove maker, raised €3.25 million in a Series A funding round.
Snapped up. Snap acquired Th3rd 🇳🇱, a 3D scanning company.
Virtual treasure. Svarmony 🇦🇹 developed an AR treasure hunt in Bucharest’s 🇷🇴 SunPlaza Shopping Mall, where customers could collect virtual coins and exchange them for discount codes and special offers.
Events
5 May - 6 May Places Virtual Reality Festival (Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf 🇩🇪)
9 May – 10 May NFT Tallinn (Tallinn 🇪🇪)
16 May – 24 May Cannes XR (Paris 🇫🇷)