Why Is Commonality and Interoperability Important in the Metaverse?

This sense of shared humanity is also critical in virtual worlds. The physical world bears our imprint. It serves as a platform for our human culture and interaction, making it psychologically appealing to participate in. Along with moving and interacting with anyone at any time, our physical presence includes body features such as voice, fingerprints, and retina, as well as global features such as signatures, birth certificates, passports, and key documents such as bank accounts, credit cards, and so on.

Then, what we produce and consume broadens our identity: the books, movies, and music we enjoy, as well as the food we cook or eat. Our perception of the real world can change, for example, while we sleep, but our identity remains constant even when our senses are not aware of it. Similarly, our identities can be harmed, broken, or stolen, but there is always a true “me” that endures. Some of these elements must be included for a 3D virtual world to be effective.

Easy Access and Availability

In a traditional scenario, you must be in a suitable location to access virtual worlds. You’ll need a computer or laptop, a working internet connection, headsets, and a quiet environment. This is a far cry from the actual physical world, which you can access on the go. This is changing, thanks to smartphones and other modern gadgets. You can now access the amazing world of metaverse even while moving around, making their accessibility quite simple. The advancement of audiovisual power, front-facing cameras, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and multi-touch screens has greatly expanded the scope of virtual world accessibility.

Furthermore, with most modern wearable technology on the rise, their accessibility is only expected to improve. Very soon, you will be inside a virtual world that is as real as the physical world you live in with the blink of an eye or the movement of a wrist.

Display A Distinct Persona and Presence

Everyone in the physical world has a digital “me.” We use our bank accounts, credit cards, and memberships in various organizations to represent ourselves. We literally use them everywhere to get things done. Personal, social, financial, and recreational needs are all met by the credentials that represent us. With the expansion of such systems, the flow of information has shifted from producers to consumers to ‘prosumers,’ who create, view, and modify the content at the same time. A persona is thus the sum total of a person’s online presence, including the digital content that he creates, views, or modifies. Such presence is also essential in the virtual world. Many virtual worlds include virtual banks and currencies that facilitate purchasing, creating, and viewing. Users are given different virtual identities that they can use to access various types of content. You will soon be able to use them to watch a live concert thousands of miles away or even tour another country!

Interoperability

This is most likely the driving force behind Metaverse. Let us take a quick look at the Internet. The Internet is built with layered standards that allow various networks and subnetworks to clearly interact with one another. In the real world, when our bodies move from one location to another, our identities follow them without a hitch. Even our possessions and assets can be moved from one location to another with minimal disruption. So, in the real world, there is a continuity that keeps us and our objects together during transit. As a result, the metaverse, the integration of various virtual worlds, aims to provide a platform for sociocultural interaction, just as it does in the physical world.

All virtual worlds, regardless of size or canvas, would become part of a larger entity or existence as a result of such amalgamation.

Standards That Promote Interoperability

Virtual Reality Modelling Language was the first widely accepted virtual world standard (VRML). An individual 3D space is defined by VRML as a single world file that can be downloaded and displayed using any VRML-compatible browser. VRML was followed by X3D, which expanded on VRML’s graphics potential. Then there was COLLAborative Design Activity (COLLADA), an interchange format. COLLADA’s popularity facilitated the exchange of goods and behaviors from one virtual world to another. COLLADA is more than just a virtual world standard; it can also be used as a generic 3D object interchange mechanism.

Interoperability Layers

Metaverse interoperability exists in multiple layers. To begin, a model standard should be developed to replicate the properties, geometry, assets, and even behavior of virtual world environments. Model standards include VRML, X3D, and COLLADA.

A protocol standard allows a virtual world user and server to enter into an interactive and transactional contract. Within the bounds of compatibility, this provides a try-and-test scenario for both users and servers. Open Cobalt is one of the effective platforms for creating collaborative and hyperlinked multi-user virtual workspaces, virtual exhibit spaces, and game-based environments that run on all major software operating systems.

A locator standard aids in the discovery of locations and landmarks in Virtual Worlds. This technology is already familiar on the internet in the form of URLs, and it can be completely adapted for virtual landmarks. Linden Lab had already done so for their Second Life locations.

A user’s unique credentials are provided by an identity standard and can be used across virtual world boundaries. This could be the same as our real-life license numbers, social security numbers, passport numbers, and so on. A currency standard will define the value of virtual objects and creations, making trade and exchange possible. Different virtual worlds already have their own distinct virtual currency, and Open Metaverse Currency will soon be developed to serve as a universally accepted virtual form of currency.