The evolution of the metaverse through the ages: from science fiction to digital reality

Summary The metaverse reflects a new era of digital connectivity where the virtual world merges with the physical world. While it remained a concept in the minds of science fiction writers for decades, it now occupies a tangible reality thanks to the technological revolution and the widespread adoption of the internet. Blockchain technology and digital currencies play a catalytic role in transforming the metaverse into a decentralized and secure platform that allows users full control over their digital assets.

How did the metaverse transition from fiction to reality?

The term “metaverse” originated in the early 1990s through works of science fiction, but it did not remain confined to the pages. With technological acceleration, it transformed from a theoretical concept into a tangible reality that attracts the attention of companies and investors around the world. The emergence of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency system marked a critical turning point in this path, as it provided the necessary infrastructure to build decentralized and secure virtual systems.

Several projects have already invested real efforts in exploring this field, attempting to integrate advanced technology to create interactive virtual worlds that are not under centralized control. These points will highlight the historical journey of the metaverse and the pivotal role that digital currencies play in its growth.

What is meant by the metaverse?

Scholars and specialists have not yet settled on a final and definitive definition of the metaverse, but the central idea revolves around a digital realm that bridges the gap between the virtual world and the real world. Many refer to it as the next generation of the internet that will provide a more immersive and interactive electronic experience with the surrounding world.

The comprehensive definition of the metaverse encompasses more than just a single product or specific application. It includes the integration of multiple technologies, including the current internet, augmented and virtual reality applications, advanced artificial intelligence, 3D reconstruction, and the Internet of Things.

In the science fiction works that coined the term, the metaverse is described as a virtual world that has a high degree of immersion and interaction. Blockchain technologies and digital currencies have taken tangible steps to bring this concept to reality. The web 3 movement has proven that the metaverse has surpassed the boundaries of science fiction and has become a feasible project. Web 3 is developing a blockchain system that encourages developers to build decentralized applications that simulate the metaverse experience, especially “play-to-earn” games.

Titles like Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, and Decentraland have emerged as real-life examples that integrate elements from the metaverse, linking players' life details with their journeys within electronic environments.

The Metaverse Journey Through Time: Critical Stations

The metaverse has witnessed a number of technological and intellectual achievements that have gradually brought us closer to our current understanding of it. Starting from the discoveries of holographic vision in the past, through the establishment of leading blockchain networks, to the redirection of a giant company's strategy towards this field, the metaverse has deep roots.

( In 1838: The beginnings of stereoscopic vision

The metaverse relies on virtual reality technology to immerse individuals in complex digital environments. The threads of this technology began to emerge in 1838 when scientist Charles Wheatstone introduced the principle of “stereoscopic vision” to form three-dimensional images. This foundational research established the system of stereoscopes, a technique that uses optical illusions to create depth in order to build cohesive images — the same technique that modern virtual reality headsets rely on.

) In 1935: A Fantastical Vision of an Alternate World

The author Stanley Weinbaum published a novel titled “Pygmalion's Spectacles” that presented readers with future possibilities of virtual reality. The main character of the novel dives into an imaginary world thanks to a pair of advanced glasses that accurately simulate human senses, making the fantasy seem incredibly real.

In 1938: Artistic Reflections on the Alternate Reality

The French artist and writer Antonin Artaud is credited with using the concept of virtual reality in an artistic context. He wrote about this in his collection of essays “The Theatre and Its Double,” where he discussed how theater is used to present characters, objects, and images that create alternative worlds.

In 1962: The Machine That Creates Illusion

The American director Morton Heilig invented a device called “Sensorama” that convinces people they are riding a motorcycle in a distant location. The machine used multiple sensory effects such as a moving seat, scents, and 3D displays to immerse the user in a completely different reality. Although it remained in the prototype stage, it demonstrated the potential to blur the lines between reality and fantasy.

In 1984: The establishment of the virtual reality industry

Innovators Jaron Lanier and Thomas G. Zimmerman founded VPL Research, one of the first companies to develop and market virtual reality products including advanced virtual reality headsets and interactive data gloves.

In 1989: The World Wide Web

Computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee proposed the first version of the World Wide Web while working at CERN. The web was initially designed to enable universities and research institutions to exchange information globally.

In 1992: The birth of the term

The term “metaverse” first appeared in the science fiction novel “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson. The author depicted a grim fictional future that allows humans to use digital avatars to escape to a more suitable and safe reality.

In 1993: Proof of Work and Security

Computer scientists Mony Naour and Cynthia Dwork developed the “Proof of Work” principle ###PoW### to combat exploitation and attacks on networks. This mechanism requires service requesters to prove their computational work, thereby raising the cost of attacks and maintaining the integrity of the network.

( In 2003: An open virtual world

Linden Lab launched the multimedia platform “Second Life.” While it lacks full immersion ) without glasses or gloves###, it allows users to connect to shared virtual worlds for exploration and creativity using regular computers. Second Life transcends the traditional game concept to become a digital gathering place where anyone can attend and interact.

( In 2006: Crowdsourcing Platform

Roblox Corporation launched the Roblox gaming platform that allows users to play various cooperative and multiplayer games. Users can also build and develop their own games to share with others. Although playing is free, the platform offers an in-game store that allows players to spend their digital currency “Robux”.

) In 2007: Capturing the Real World

Google launched the “Street View” application to complement the Maps service. Street View enables people to transform two-dimensional maps into panoramic views of the real world, allowing anyone to explore the streets through their phone or computer as they appear in reality.

In 2009: The era of decentralized blockchain

Satoshi Nakamoto announced the first major decentralized blockchain and the digital currency Bitcoin in 2008, then mined the first block in 2009. This event marked a radical shift in the world of digital currencies and decentralized finance.

In 2012: Modern virtual reality headsets

Entrepreneur Palmer Luckey invented headphones that connect users to a three-dimensional virtual world, allowing them to work, communicate, and entertain. In 2014, Facebook aimed to acquire Oculus to expand the reach of this technology and make it accessible to the masses.

In 2014: Non-Fungible Tokens

Kevin McCoy and Anil Dash minted the first non-fungible token “Quantum” ever, which features a pixelated octagon image, and was minted on the Namecoin blockchain. It was not called an NFT at the time, but envisioned as a “digital currency.”

In 2015: Bull of Smart Contracts

Vitalik Buterin proposed the concept of Ethereum in 2013 through a blog post, and the Ethereum platform was launched in 2015. The platform provides developers with the opportunity to test their code and create decentralized applications using smart contracts.

In 2016: The Intersection of Augmented Reality and Decentralization

This year witnessed the launch of decentralized autonomous organizations ###DAO### and the revolutionary game Pokémon GO. The first DAO was developed on the Ethereum network with a vision of complete decentralized governance. Pokémon GO used augmented reality technology to link a 3D map to the real world, making it one of the most successful mobile applications of all time. It was downloaded over 500 million times by the end of 2016 alone.

( In 2021: From Facebook to Meta

Facebook has renamed itself to Meta, which has enhanced awareness that the metaverse is no longer just a fantasy dream but a tangible and achievable project. The company has invested billions of dollars to develop and acquire resources related to the metaverse, including content, software, and augmented and virtual reality headsets.

) In 2022: the industrial metaverse

Siemens and NVIDIA have announced a partnership to develop an advanced industrial metaverse. The collaboration combines Siemens' expertise in automation, software, and infrastructure with NVIDIA's leadership in accelerated graphics and artificial intelligence. According to Siemens' CEO, this collaboration will enable a real and immersive metaverse that seamlessly connects hardware and software.

Blockchain and Digital Currencies: Pillars of the Metaverse

Blockchain technology and digital currencies form the foundational pillars for developing the metaverse on solid grounds.

First: Secure Infrastructure Blockchain provides an infrastructure that enables secure and transparent transactions within metaverse realms. Digital currencies allow for the rapid and secure transfer of value without central intermediaries.

Secondly: Representation of Unique Assets The nature of Ethereum provides the ability to create non-fungible tokens ###NFT### that represent exclusive virtual items within the metaverse, from digital land to artwork.

Third: Decentralization and Ownership Decentralized applications make metaverse services and functions free from the control of any single organization. They empower users to fully own and control their digital data and assets, providing levels of security and autonomy that exceed what traditional centralized applications allow.

Additional technologies include virtual reality and augmented reality as interactive tools that allow users to experience virtual environments and interact with digital objects. Artificial intelligence and natural language processing contribute to creating more realistic avatars that can interact naturally.

As the metaverse continues to evolve, additional use cases for blockchain and cryptocurrencies will emerge, holding the potential for a radical transformation in the way people interact and conduct business. By enabling decentralized and transparent interactions, blockchain may help build a more open, secure, and efficient metaverse.

Future Prospects of the Metaverse

The metaverse sector has seen significant growth in recent years. However, the infrastructure and services needed to support its sustainable growth are still incomplete.

The development of technologies that make virtual environments more realistic and interactive is required. The metaverse also needs ultra-fast networks with low latency that support millions of concurrent users, in addition to specialized platform tools for creating and sharing virtual experiences.

Privacy, security, and governance issues remain real challenges that require effective handling to ensure that the metaverse becomes a safe and inclusive haven for all.

The growth of the metaverse is expected to accelerate thanks to waves of technological innovations such as extended reality, artificial intelligence, 3D engines, cloud computing, edge computing, and 5G connectivity. These developments will transform the metaverse into a more immersive and realistic environment, allowing users to experience a digital world that closely resembles actual reality.

It is still too early to predict whether the metaverse will become the killer application for blockchain technology. However, with its ability to securely and transparently record transactions and enable the creation of new digital assets and applications, blockchain may be the optimal choice for building and operating the metaverse.

Summary of Visions

The metaverse emerged from the imagination of scientists and writers through stories, films, and television programs. However, with the rapid technological advancement, it has transformed from a dream into a real and imminent possibility. The growth of digital currencies and the advancement of blockchain have played crucial roles in this journey, providing secure decentralized platforms for transactions and virtual interactions.

Although the metaverse we know today is still in its early stages of development, it holds enormous potential to reshape the way we live, work, and entertain ourselves in the digital space.