Is metaverse your next workplace?

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Since the Metaverse concept was announced to the public many small communities tried to develop their own “metaverses” and experiment with them, but they were only private versions. Engineers are still looking for the most suitable solutions to create a platform, which would be available for everyone, and safe to operate in. Many companies are currently working on developing different forms of metaverse using such technologies as virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR). There are still many concerns and technical challenges that they need to overcome to fully present the final product to the public. The release date is not easy to predict, it could take years if not longer, but when it will take the form of a flawless platform that is safe to work in, it could have an enormous impact on jobs and the whole communication industry. It may even mean that some of us, would not have to perform our jobs in a traditional way, but in the virtual world. The same tasks or projects could be done virtually, using the skills and knowledge from the time before the release of the Metaverse.

Science Fiction or Reality: Taking offices into metaverse, HR News,  ETHRWorld
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/science-fiction-or-reality-taking-offices-into-metaverse/90530930?redirect=1

In the past few years, remote working became very popular, and more and more people was choosing to perform their job from home. The main reason for such decisions was the pandemic and the lockdown, which prohibited going outside and promoted staying at home lifestyle. The use of such platforms as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other communication channels significantly increased, and people were taught how to work and operate on those platforms. It could be called as some kind of demo version of metaverse workplace because it has similar features. However, it was designed to perform mostly office-related jobs or studying, but not other professions, which, as it is said, are going to be possible to perform in Metaverse.

What is interesting to highlight here, after the lockdown, when it was no longer forbidden to leave houses and work traditionally, some people found out that their work does not have to be done in their workplace or office and it could be done more conveniently from home with the use of technology. It is said it even became a trend when office workers decided to perform their work remotely from their homes and visit the office or workplace more rarely.

Remote working is one of the greatest innovations of 21 century and had a significant influence on the job market. The Metaverse concept would be a huge step forward when it comes to working. In Metaverse users are going to be connected to it differently than usual
way of working using a keyboard and screen.
“Not only will the internet likely no longer exist behind a screen, but it is probable that we will interact with it differently.
We’ll manipulate objects using augmented reality (AR), explore virtual-reality (VR) worlds, and meld the real and the digital in ways we can currently not imagine.” (Jane Wakefield, BBC, 2022)

Why The Future Of Work Could Take Place In The Metaverse
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/09/08/why-the-future-of-work-could-take-place-in-the-metaverse/?sh=1138abda3bcf

In metaverse, a workplace or the office could differ from the real world one and take the most user-friendly and convenient form. “Why would we want an office in the metaverse that looks like our real office?” he says. “The whole point of creative spaces in new realities is to expand our experiences, not to simply replicate what we’ve already had in the real world.” (Herman Narula, BBC, 2022)
One of the main benefits of metaverse usage is that it can connect people, from different locations and time zones, in real-time meetings with built in environment to make it more convenient and actually experience it as if it was real. That solution has a great advantage over current remote meetings on Teams, Zoom etc. Such platforms have communication limitations and “researchers found that reduced mobility and lack of access to body language and other non-verbal cues are both major contributory factors.” (Workplace, Meta, 2022)

Meta states that metaverse is going to differ and eliminate all limitations of meetings.
“In the metaverse, all that can change. We’ll be able to create highly realistic 3D avatars – that is, virtual representations of ourselves – that mirror our body language as we speak, and we’ll enter VR and AR environments using those avatars.” (Workplace, Meta, 2022)

In my opinion, Metaverse would be a revolutionary technology, but it also will be very difficult to moderate and keep the virtual world safe. Feel free to share your opinions in the comment section. Thank you for reading.


References

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64173594

https://www.workplace.com/blog/how-we-work-in-the-metaverse

https://www.workplace.com/future-of-work

https://chat.openai.com/chat

https://venturebeat.com/virtual/metaverse-heading-workplace/

https://news.stanford.edu/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/

https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/science-fiction-or-reality-taking-offices-into-metaverse/90530930?redirect=1

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/09/08/why-the-future-of-work-could-take-place-in-the-metaverse/?sh=1138abda3bcf

One thought on “Is metaverse your next workplace?

  1. Maksymilian Wower says:

    Personally when I experience such big amount of people now working online I am kind of worried. Not only from mental health side but mostly social. My picture of a workplace may be a little bit distorted but still work should be hardly distinct from your home and actually it could be fun and developing experience. Maybe I’m just afraid of people becoming more introvert. Of course there is lots of good sides like saving time and energy on commuting and sustaining office life but I thing that’s not a direction I would like to go.

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