Metaverse and The Future of Web Development
February 14, 2022
We are all witnessing a worldwide digital transformation as entire industries introduce new technologies to increase efficiency and create new opportunities. The Metaverse is one of these technologies and it’s designed to bring online interaction of humans to a whole new level.
The Metaverse is a virtual world connected through servers that allow users to experience online communication in a virtual environment.
However, this new digital space will soon become a part of our everyday life, allowing users to conduct business, build virtual properties, and basically create a whole new world from scratch.
Will the entire project have a huge impact on web development practices? Keep reading and let’s check everything out in more detail.
What is the Metaverse Exactly?
In short, the Metaverse is the next step in online communication. It’s a technology that puts online users into a computer-generated environment where they can interact with each other’s avatars and virtual reality characters.
Of course, all communication features such as texting, voice chat, and others are available, but users can now interact directly in virtual reality.
As you can imagine, this technology will bring huge changes to the way the world works. For example, students could get their education in virtual classrooms without leaving their homes.
Moreover, employees will be able to conduct business, upload assets, and share information with colleagues in real-time. There’s no doubt that this technology will completely redefine the way we think about online communication, and web development plays a major role in the process.
The Metaverse is a logical next step in website development as developers keep improving design skills and using new technologies to create a more immersive online experience.
The Metaverse is the first step towards achieving a virtual reality that’s indistinguishable from real life.
Some computer games and simulations have been trying to recreate the real world in a virtual setting for decades, but the lack of computing power and other technologies were blocking progress.
However, the Metaverse is a new platform that combines gaming with other features creating a whole new world of opportunities.
The bottom line is that the Metaverse is more than simple online communication or a gaming platform. It’s practically a copy of the real world that allows multiple industries to combine their efforts to create new worlds where people can simulate reality with incredible accuracy.
The Future of Web Design
Up until now, most people could make a distinction between digital and real-world technologies. Put simply, most web products feel like they can’t be used in the real world.
Another issue with digital technologies is their incredibly fast development. Web designers and developers have to adopt new technologies and trends as soon as possible, or their skills could become outdated in no time.
They should try out and experiment with new technologies early on to be able to create solutions other developers haven’t thought of yet.
Every successful web development company is at the forefront of driving innovation.
Right now, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence are the technologies that have the most investments and advancements. They too will become a part of a Metaverse that will soon combine all existing platforms into one seamless online experience designed to mimic, and in many ways, surpass the real world.
Business Implications of Metaverse Web Development
Once the internet switches to the so-called Web 3.0 model based on the Metaverse, the rules of web development and interaction will change forever.
The transformation will impact every app and website on the internet. However, instead of erasing existing digital products, the Metaverse will improve them by adding new features, leading to a drastic increase in capabilities.
Business websites will become even more relevant than they are today, allowing users to interact with companies in the Metaverse.
With that said, traditional websites as we know them will find their place inside the Metaverse in a new system with changed interaction.
When it comes to web development, web designers will have to update their skills and change their approach to designing digital products. Their primary challenge will be to redesign existing tech stacks in use to create more interactive interfaces and ever-evolving user journeys.
That’s why business owners have to rely on their web developers and allow them to experiment with new methods that will shape the web experience for Metaverse users. Of course, the entire ordeal is extremely costly and risky, but it’s the only way companies can prepare for the future.
The switch from traditional online interaction to the Metaverse will undoubtedly change every industry, especially retail and eCommerce. Businesses that belong to these markets will get much closer to their customers.
Large corporations and leading brands all over the world are already buying virtual real estate and locations for their virtual stores and shops. Contact our friends from this Chicago web design company to get some expert tips on how to prepare your business for the Metaverse.
Web Development Technologies Used In The Metaverse
As mentioned earlier, the Metaverse is a platform where users experience a virtual world in full 3D. It is designed as a simulation where people can interact with each other and the digital world around them is more immersive than ever before. That will lead to a huge increase in the use of 3D content.
Developers will move to tools such as WebVR, WebGL, and WebAR to build the virtual world and engage viewers. However, they will have to find a way to combine 3D with mixed and augmented reality seamlessly.
The Metaverse should be able to allow users to interact with virtual objects the same way they would do in the real world.
Imagine what that means for businesses and brands all over the globe. Instead of holding online product presentations, companies will be able to create virtual products users can interact within a digital-physical space.
The possibilities are virtually endless, and web developers will soon embark on an exciting journey through this new digital landscape.
Using Virtual Reality For User Engagement
When people hear the term Virtual Reality, they imagine an entertainment platform. While VR can be used for entertainment purposes, it offers all kinds of opportunities for business applications as well.
VR is ideal for companies that want to increase the level of interaction with their customers and deliver value. Various industries, including education, healthcare, real estate, and others, are already developing platforms based on virtual reality.
Keep in mind that the first VR headset in the world was released in 2014, so it’s safe to say that the technology is still in its earliest stages. However, with the introduction of the Metaverse, we expect to see a sudden increase in VR technologies that will redefine how the entire internet works.
VR is proven to be one of the most effective platforms for product development and user engagement, as it allows users to experience designs in a virtual environment. Website design will surely follow this trend by introducing new web development methods and projects.
Website Benefits of VR Technology
Companies and websites that adopt VR technologies should expect to get a few important benefits when compared to traditional online platforms.
Here’s a quick overview of the web benefits VR provides:
1. Increased User Engagement
eCommerce platforms and online stores can use VR to engage more users and provide them with a way to experience a product in virtual reality. For example, if a customer wishes to see how they will look in a new pair of sneakers, they can simply “wear” them in virtual reality.
On the other hand, if a tourist wants to find the best location to visit, they can get a taste by visiting any location in VR. Google Maps already provides a street view of most cities around the globe. Well, VR can take that one step further by allowing users to walk down those streets to get a better feeling about the area.
2. Clear View
Even though mobile devices, desktop computers, and current AR technologies allow users to get a 360-degree view of objects and locations through the screen, their view is limited by the size of the screen itself.
VR headsets, on the other hand, provide a much clearer view since there are no screen limitations. As long as users can move their heads around, they can get an unobstructed view of the virtual world.
3. Flexible Product Presentation
Since VR is a full 3D environment, businesses can use it to view product designs from multiple angles. That leads to an endless amount of design opportunities and extensive product testing.
Metaverse is The Future of Web Development
There is no doubt that web development practises are changing faster than ever before. As new technologies such as VR, AR, and MR become available for mass use, 3D web development will replace traditional techniques.
The emphasis will be on creating an immersive experience allowing brands to get closer to their customers than ever before.
Of course, the transition to a virtual environment will be followed by all kinds of difficulties and challenges, but as the technology improves, things will get simpler.
One thing is for sure, we are looking at some exciting times for web development!
Author’s bio
Melissa Gray is a freelance writer and an organisational psychologist. Her focus is primarily on marketing and new digital trends across the world. She is also a passionate gamer, with special interest in narrative design. She writes for Digital Strategy One.
