Metaverses

A social tool?
Currently we think of metaverses like SecondLife as a communication mechanism that allows people to interact and collaborate for pleasure and decision-making. The environment is definitely richer and more engaging than a telephone call or email. Some people would even argue that it has advantages (beyond financial) over communicating in person. This may seem foreign but there is a generation of people that naturally gravitate to this medium.

Other uses
We have used metaverses for a range of communication and collaboration activities with great success. However, it doesn't need to end there. Metaverses are a great tool for learning, simulation, rehearsal and roleplay activities. It provides a tool for developing skills that are difficult or costly to execute in real life. This would probably have to be complemented with real life training and experience in certain situations.

Visualising whats there
This is where is gets really exciting. Imaging visualising the real-world in a metaverse and then using that information to aid decision-making. This could include business processes and manufacturing.

But take this one step further and we can visualise the real-world ... the "internet of things". With more and more of the world's devices becoming smart and connected, there is no reason why we could not represent this information in a metaverse. The ability to manage and manipulate information in three dimensions is exceptionally powerful and natively intuitive.

I can see a not-too-distant-future where we represent energy grids, natural water systems and traffic (amongst others) in metaverses. Consumers, operators and decision-makers will use these tools and information to make better decisions and make them quicker.

Makes good business sense, doesn't it?