Ask HN: How is the “metaverse” concept different from the Second Life boom?

Post by kall » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 12:35 AM UTC

jl6 wrote: post #135

Are there any interesting Long Bets being made about the future success or failure of the metaverse? I could imagine making some money on the following: “by 2030, the number of VR users of the metaverse will be less than 1% of the number of users of other social media apps”. (Unless they pull some definitional stunt like saying “you used AR once on the Facebook app therefore we are counting you as a metaverse user”).

Post by mbesto » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 12:40 AM UTC

gfodor wrote: post #200

somewhereoutth wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until we can see each other's faces in VR, this won't work for social presence. Shrinking everything down to contact lenses (even sunglasses get in the way of social contact) is likely to be beyond us for quite some while if ever. I'd rather not put something in my eye anyway. Further, VR does not work well for switching - you can't be in VR and scribble notes at the same time. AR might be an improvement, but not by…

What you’re posting here is “common knowledge”, but it is actually in conflict with social presence research. VR beats video conferencing even without any facial tracking, and the abject failure of video conferencing in the pandemic to replace most of the feeling of face to face communication should be enough to convince people there is merit to the studies that have been done showing it scores poorly. In VR you mult…

Post by charlesju » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 4:56 AM UTC

tehbeard wrote: post #251

nkingsy wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never say never. A “stuff” import seems like the kind of feature that would have to be copied by other platforms as soon as one does it, but there’s a chicken and egg aspect. I disagree with the whole “value of ownership” thing. Making knock off nfts is trivial, so this relies on people caring enough about provenance to police this and shame people that have knock offs in their virtual environment. Digital goods can…

> shame people that have knock offs in their virtual environment Because the bullying at school for having non-brand clothing or things wasn't enough. You'll need Supreme(TM) nfts, or become a digital pariah?

Post by fulafel » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 5:07 AM UTC

cloudking wrote: post #29

cybernautique wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't use a non-FOSS platform or experience for non-corporate reasons. My employer wants me to use a particular hardware? Fine, but I'm not using my money for it, I won't like it, and I'll break it every chance I get. The idea that I will work and play in the metaverse is forever and eternally blocked by which particular group of assholes is trying to wrangle me. If it's a group that allows me the same access th…

I respect your opinion and completely understand where you are coming from, but I think you should also consider the amount of technical effort, organization and money required to build something like an open platform/protocol for the metaverse + all the advanced hardware required. It would be awesome if a group of strangers from the internet were able to band together and build this, but let's face it, they will hav…

Post by herbst » Mon, Nov 08, 2021, 8:01 AM UTC

satyrnein wrote: post #110

herbst wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I honestly don't know a single person with a oculus. Many with the PlayStation or the HTC one. I also barely know people that use Facebook. And many that are not willing to create a FB account for whatever reason. It's just anectotal. But I don't see how this walled garden will find any widespread use around here. Just as I know no one who uses Apples walled garden chats, simply because apple never reached a critical…

I think you may already be living in an alternate reality!