The Difference Between the Metaverse and the Internet

Tech prophets are ­preaching the coming of the next big thing. And according to their gospel, the next cyberspace will be immersive, transcendent, 3D and all folded together. This has made some people start asking— what is the difference between the metaverse and the internet?

What is the Internet?

The internet is defined as a global network of billions of computers, millions of servers and other electronic devices that are facilitating worldwide communication. With the Internet, it’s possible to access almost any information, communicate with anyone else in the world, and do much more.

All of this can be done by connecting a computer to the internet, which in technical terms is referred to as going online. When someone says they are online, it’s just another way of saying their device, be it a phone or a laptop is connected to the Internet.

One of the key important aspects to understand about the internet is that it is a global network of physical cables, which can include copper telephone wires, fiber optic cables and TV cables. Even wireless connections like Wi-Fi and 3G/4G and 5G all rely on these physical cables to access the internet.

When you visit a website, for example, your computer sends a request over these wires to a server. A server is where websites are stored, and it works a lot like your computer’s hard drive. 

Once the request arrives, the server retrieves the website and sends back the correct data to your phone or computer. This all happens in just a few seconds, that’s if you’ve got a fast internet connection of course.

What is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is defined as a digital space represented by digital representations of people, places, and things. In other words, it’s a “digital world” with real people represented by avatars and digital objects.

It is a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality and augmented reality where users “live” within a digital universe.

In his 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash,” Author Neal Stephenson coined the term “metaverse” in which he envisioned lifelike avatars who met in realistic 3D buildings and other virtual reality environments.

The Difference Between the Metaverse and the Internet:

Metaverse vs internet:

With the internet, people are always interacting with something — be it a website, a game, or a social media platform that connects us to our friends.

But the metaverse takes this one step further and puts the user in the middle of the action. and that’s one aspect that differentiates the metaverse from the internet. 

The metaverse combines aspects of physical reality, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, social media, online gaming and cryptocurrencies, allowing users to interact virtually.

All of these “realities” make the Metaverse a completely different concept from the internet.

The metaverse opens the door to a stronger, more realistic experience that browsing the web or watching a video doesn’t currently give internet users except in games like Fortnite.

One of the major differences between the metaverse and the internet lies in their purpose. 

With the internet, you can be online without necessarily interacting with other people, but the foundation of the metaverse is about digital human interaction. It’s about people sharing a virtual universe together, be it for work, school, exercise, or simply for fun.

Believers in the metaverse envision its users working, playing and staying connected with friends through everything from concerts and conferences to virtual trips around the world.

As Mark Zuckerberg said, “It’s about delivering a sense of presence like you’re right there with another person and that’s the holy grail of online and social experience.”

In the Metaverse, your devices won’t be the focal point of your attention anymore. The metaverse expands the online fields significantly and online interactions are more multi-dimensional.

Currently, virtual reality is predominantly used in the gaming world through VR headsets but the future of VR is not only about gaming.

Think about markets, cities, countries, planets, or consider all the superheroes you can imagine having a common universe — the metaverse claims to become a virtual-reality space that covers and unites them all.

The metaverse will pave the way for a virtual economy and that’s why we should all be looking into what the opportunities in the metaverse might be.

When will the Metaverse Become our Reality? 

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the newly named Meta (formerly Facebook), estimates it could take five to 10 years before the key features of the metaverse become mainstream. But aspects of the metaverse currently exist in online game universes such as Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft. And the companies behind those games have big ambitions to be part of the next big thing — the evolution of the metaverse.

The uprise interest in the metaverse is seen as an outcome of the global crises the world is facing, as more people began working and going to school remotely, which created an increased demand for alternatives to make online interaction more metaverse like.

But is a large-scale metaverse really possible in the future? Well, the digitally progressive and tech giants are taking steps towards this universe. Tech giants are going all-in on this and the massive investments being pumped into the concept is a strong signal that the metaverse may soon become our reality.

However, Computers and mobile phones will have to become a lot stronger and internet data will have to become a lot faster before we can fully experience the Metaverse

The internet has become an indispensable part of our lives, so why not the metaverse! 

Well, the metaverse will not eliminate the internet but simply build on it. And yes, all the physical cables will still be needed, so don’t go cutting off any cables just yet!