The Metaverse is a complex technological architecture. It will not only be an opportunity for a more efficient organisation of work, a new concept of mobility and travel or an occasion for interaction between people, but also a tool through which a series of unknown technologies will emerge and spread. Today we will look at four of them together, specifically those that best embody the concept of economic, cultural and technological evolution linked to the Metaverse: NFT, Blockchain, Digital Twin and AR Cloud.
Unknown technologies: the nature, workings and security of NFTs
Have you already heard of NFTs? They have existed since before the Metaverse, even though that is where they will find their natural home, but what exactly are they? NFT is the acronym of Non Fungible Token (which we can render as “non-replicable digital coin”). To understand what this is about, let’s take a step back and look at the context.
What NFTs are and how they work
When we buy a physical object in the “real world” we come into possession of a unique and inimitable asset. We are not referring to mass-produced products without a unique identifier but, for example, to a plot of land or a luxury watch with a serial number and a registered owner. An asset that, once purchased, is unequivocally owned and cannot be replicated by anyone.
With a digital object, on the other hand, which by definition cannot be physically stored, the situation changes. A digital product can in itself be replicated in infinite copies and no one can establish the real origin and ownership of the first copy.
This is why NFTs were born: they have allowed digital assets to be bought or sold as if they were real objects. NFTs are therefore a digital certification of the uniqueness of a given virtual object; this certifies the originality, ownership and origin of the digital asset they are associated with.
The security of NFTs
Anyone who owns an NFT knows that security is intrinsic to the product. NFTs have a unique encrypted code which, by using Blockchain technology, cannot be altered or tampered with. Moreover, thanks to the security of the chain of blocks, it is possible to keep track of its every movement.
This is a great step forward in the market for digital objects, and a fundamental one in the Metaverse, where it is possible to exchange unique, non-replicable objects created by the users of the various platforms.
Unknown technologies: the Blockchain
As mentioned, the Blockchain, or “chain of blocks”, is deeply connected to the concept of the NFT, and its use, in the Metaverse and beyond, will be more and more predominant.
The Blockchain is as simple from a conceptual point of view as it is complex in technical and technological terms and, to understand its essence properly, several disciplines need to be consulted, such as mathematics, engineering, computer science, economics and law. The chain of blocks in fact embraces all these subjects and, while some of the disciplines listed describe how it is built, others regulate how it works.
The Blockchain is a shared and immutable data structure, divided into blocks that are indissolubly linked to one another in chronological order. A cryptography system takes care of guaranteeing this degree of inalterability, both of the order and of the information contained in each block.
Each step corresponds to a new block and the chain as a whole is unalterable precisely because it is held by all its members. The only way to tamper with it is to own it entirely (which would mean having all the computers that hold it).
The birth and functions of the Blockchain
About ten years ago, when the concept of the Blockchain was born, there were other methods of data transmission. Previously, data was kept on a central server that was queried by all the interested parties, but the centralised storage of that data was a source of risk in the event of hacker attacks.
The chain of blocks does not so much solve the question of how information is passed on as that of its storage and safekeeping. It has a decentralised data system that allows the continuous circulation and transmission of data among all the members of the chain. In this way, at every single step, a block is added that links to the previous ones, making it possible for all the members of the chain to consult the entire series of information; they are, as a consequence, the administrators of the Blockchain themselves. In short, there is no apex, nor a vertical hierarchical structure.
The benefits of Digital Twins and their link with the Metaverse
The concept of the Digital Twin has existed for some time and is the evolution of the notion of simulation. If we wanted to give a simple definition, we could say that it is a digital (and therefore virtual) copy of a real object. Digital Twins are used to duplicate objects, environments or entire production processes, saving time and money compared with the use of physical prototypes.
From this point of view, they serve to improve, in terms of effectiveness and efficiency, a whole series of activities that would otherwise be difficult to perfect, such as predictive maintenance. Their advantages also include the ability to reduce the negative impact on industrial processes caused, for example, by the malfunctioning or breakdown of machinery.
Their effectiveness depends on the amount of data collected in real time, using complex IoT sensors, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Digital Twin, a possible link between reality and the Metaverse?
The very nature of Digital Twins will be the basis of their massive use in the Metaverse. After all, the possibility of duplicating objects, contexts and people allows a natural extension of the real world into the virtual world of the Metaverse, creating infinite combinations and experiences that people could have through their own Avatar.
Think, for example, of the possibility of having our Digital Twin take part in a work meeting. We could physically stay in our room while having a virtual copy of ourselves at the work meeting. Our flesh-and-blood colleagues would be able to interact with our Digital Twin, making the experience of the meeting more engaging than the classic video call.
In this sense, Digital Twins could be the connection between reality and the Metaverse, a sort of indissoluble bond between the real world and the virtual world, which would prevent the latter from self-generating content and, in a certain sense, enjoying a life of its own.
Everything you need to know about the AR Cloud
Augmented reality in the Cloud is closely connected to the concept of the Digital Twin and, in some way, could also be its natural evolution, not so much in technological terms as in the field of application.
The Augmented Reality Cloud, also known as Spatial Computing, is an augmented reality technology capable of placing virtual objects in the real world. We will find the digital copy of a real object not only in a digital world, such as the Metaverse: it will be digital information that is an integral part of the physical world.
We are talking about digital complements that will allow new modes of social interaction and new forms of integrated services for the economy, health and travel. These virtual objects will be stored in the Cloud, so that they can be seen and “used” by everyone who holds the credentials for that particular environment.
Are we perhaps talking about the future of our humanity? What is certain is that with the AR Cloud a completely new concept of information and experience is taking shape. With NFTs, the Blockchain, Digital Twins and the AR Cloud, the futuristic Metaverse is becoming clearer and sharper. Stay up to date with all the articles on the dotenv blog.