2023-07-23 08:04:09
For many, the metaverse is the next great Internet revolution; a place where people will be able to live incredible experiences thanks to the evolution of interfaces, being more immersive, human and accessible. Despite the fact that we have been talking about the metaverse for years, the truth is that it is still difficult to get an idea of what this concept really is. But we can describe it as an expansive network of digital spaces based on extended reality technologies, that is, augmented, virtual and mixed reality, with which to create more immersive experiences.
Yaiza Rubio, Chief Metaverse Officer of Telefónica, assures that the impact of the metaverse will be similar, precisely, to that of the birth of the Internet. “She proposes a much more humane way of communicating with us because of how interfaces have evolved,” she explains. Something in which Daniel Hernández, VP Devices & Consumer IoT at Telefónica, agrees, who recalls that our brain is prepared for us to move in an environment with three-dimensional information. “Our eyes process that information in 2D, so switching from 2D to 3D makes us accept it better and have a better experience,” he argues.
To make the metaverse a reality, it must be taken into account that the collaboration of many actors and companies will be necessary, as well as high-capacity networks that allow all these scenarios and interactions that, as we see, will be more immersive but must also be more humane and accessible. “It will be necessary to have standards so that users consume this content and the metaverse becomes the majority,” explains the Chief Metaverse Officer of Telefónica.
networks and more
Telefónica wants to forge collaboration agreements with other companies to promote the development of the metaverse, an economic and social revolution. The operator intends to guarantee a maximum capacity network that supports, without interruptions, the necessary connections within these virtual worlds.
5G will also have a prominent role “to allow virtual and augmented reality experiences outside the home, which is where the technological challenge lies,” Yaiza Rubio details. It will be the achievement of this challenge that will make these use cases “available on the streets and increasingly used by the majority of the public”, in the words of Daniel Hernández.
Among these use cases are industrial, medical, remote training, communications and social networks or education, to name a few. Telefónica’s incursion into these virtual environments is currently configured through three large blocks: Movistar Immersive Experience, Telefónica World, Telefónica Theme Park and the Virtual Innovation and Talent Hub.
The first one is an entertainment app developed for the Meta Quest device. Through the use of virtual reality glasses, the user can see what’s new from Telefónica (as if they were in a store) and delve into the future of this company.
Once inside, the user can interact with relevant Movistar elements, watch original series filming, immerse themselves in a virtual environment designed by the artist Okuda San Miguel or ask for the help of Aura, Movistar’s virtual assistant, as well as enjoy 360 or stereoscopic videos of some of the most iconic Movistar Plus+ programs and sporting events in a way never seen before. Meanwhile, the virtual experiences Telefónica World and Telefónica Theme Park in Horizon Worlds, Meta’s virtual social network, facilitate interaction between individuals, discovering in the first games and challenges associated with the company, as well as a space for Ted Talks, while in the second we enjoy traditional games with friends in this theme park. Additionally, it is also possible to travel between both worlds comfortably.
Beyond the playful
But the implications of the metaverse are going to be felt in many aspects of life and society. As Yaiza Rubio details, these gaming or game environments “are the prelude to immersive experiences, but they are not necessarily the metaverse.”
For this reason, and going beyond merely recreational issues, Telefónica is also betting on the most professional uses of this technology. A good example of this is the virtual and immersive space of the Innovation and Talent Hub, a Telefónica initiative that brings together various spaces and initiatives in terms of innovation and training in new digital skills.
Ethics, accessibility, inclusion
Finally, it should be noted that Telefónica considers that there are possible negative ethical and social consequences of the massive use of technology. Some consequences that must be treated and that also applies to the metaverse.
For this reason, Yaiza Rubio, Chief Metaverse Officer at Telefónica, ensures that companies that are applying the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence are well prepared for the social and ethical risks of the metaverse and “not because they know the future, but because they have the appropriate governance and culture to face those risks”.
Finally, it is important to note that the company is continuously working to improve the accessibility of these immersive experiences for people with visual impairments and the elderly.
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