The metaverse : building the spatial Internet / Matthew Ball.

Previous edition published as The metaverse : and how it will revolutionize everything

Preface to the revised edition
I. A CENTURY OF DEFINITIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS. A fictitional history of the future
What the "metaverse" is (and isn't)
Why now?
II. BUILDING THE METAVERSE. A guide to the "full-spec" metaverse
Networking versus the speed of light
Computing entire universes
Virtual world engines and platforms
The technologies, philosophies, and economics of interoperability
Hardware, HMDs, and the hardest technology challenge of our time
Payment rails, platform preferences, and public policies
The cases for and against a blockchain-based metaverse
The role and accelerants of AI

In this substantially revised and updated edition of his internationally best-selling book, pioneering theorist and entrepreneur Matthew Ball goes beyond the hype cycle to present a definitive account of the future of the internet. The Metaverse, according to Ball's industry-shaping definition, is a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will eventually serve as the gateway to most online experiences and underpin much of the physical world. As Ball recounts, the Metaverse is a thirty-year-old term, and the core ideas and technologies behind it have been in development for nearly a century. Only recently, however, did this fantastical concept begin to leap from the pages of science fiction and depths of national research labs to the forefront of consumer technology, industrial engineering, healthcare, education, dating, and more. From the history of video games and virtual reality to "proto-metaverses" such as Second Life, Fortnite, and Roblox to Generative AI and the groundbreaking films and television series of the Walt Disney Company, Ball points out that the Metaverse is already emerging around us (and doesn't require a headset). Still, there are many breakthroughs required to fully realize the Metaverse, and he describes each in approachable but expert detail. Ball also lays out how governmental policy, the philosophy of Big Tech leaders, artificial general intelligence, economics, and human rights will shape the development of the Metaverse. Famous for his ability to bring clarity to complex and misunderstood topics, Ball demonstrates that the race to build the Metaverse--also known as the "spatial" or "immersive" internet--is only accelerating. The Metaverse will endure as an indispensable guide for enthusiasts, tech aficionados, and anyone curious about the profound transformations underway in our increasingly interconnected world