Apple and Meta Join Forces to Shape the Future of Technology

During a summer 2021 earnings call, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made⁤ a groundbreaking statement‍ by introducing the concept of the metaverse. He‍ expressed his belief that in the ‍near future, ‍people would view Facebook not just as‍ a social media company but ‌as a⁣ metaverse company.

This announcement left cyberpunk sci-fi enthusiasts worldwide in awe and curiosity.

Prior to this revelation, Neal Stephenson had depicted the “metaverse” in his 1992 novel “Snow Crash” ‌as a virtual reality platform controlled by wealthy corporate leaders.⁢ It highlighted issues of social inequality and addiction, where individuals immersed themselves⁣ so deeply that they ⁣neglected their real lives.

The ‌term ⁣”metaverse” was initially intended as a cautionary tale rather than a strategic business move.

However, in October ⁣2021, Zuckerberg declared ‍that Meta would take over‍ Facebook’s name and shift its primary⁤ focus to building the⁣ metaverse.

His original vision centered around creating an internet based on ‌virtual reality. Just like how we currently engage⁤ in various activities online, such as shopping ⁤and learning, ‍Zuckerberg envisioned ⁤these experiences taking place within immersive 3D environments where users interact through ⁣avatars. While some aspects of this virtual world ‍could ⁤be accessed through augmented ⁢reality or traditional devices like phones and‍ computers, Meta⁢ firmly believed that VR was the future.

2024-10-02‍ 09:15:03
Article from www.computerworld.com