TECHNOLOGY
The intertwining of physical and hyper-immersive digital spaces is a common theme in science fiction , from William Gibson ’ s Neuromancer to Cyberpunk : 2077 and The Matrix . This new decade is already blurring the lines between sci-fi and reality , as augmented and virtual reality technology , rich virtual experiences , and IoT conspire to push us further than ever before into new virtual worlds - a metaverse where all our needs , be they educational , social , entertainment , or work-related are met , all within one persistent digital space .
What is a “ metaverse ”? The term metaverse was coined in 1992 by author Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash . Later popularised by the book Ready Player One , a metaverse is a fully-realised digital space that exists beyond the physical world in which we live . Sometimes , it ’ s held up as a utopian paradise where we can transcend the restraints of our physical existence , unbounded and free to explore new , infinite horizons . More frequently , however , the concept finds itself burdened by dystopian overtones - a binary prison for
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