Metaverse And Immersive Technologies

METAVERSE AND IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES The book covers the multidimensional perspectives of the metaverse through the prism of virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and IoT, ranging from rudimentary to advanced applications. This book provides a thorough explanation of how the technology behind metaverse and other virtual reality technologies are changing the world. The primary objective is to present the revolutionary innovation of the 21st century—the metaverse—and exhibit its wide range of applications in different domains. Although blockchain and VR/AR were the first popularly known applications of the metaverse, several other applications also exist. While some still believe the metaverse is overhyped, in reality, it is transforming almost every industry—healthcare, 3D, 4D, industry, game industry, business management, artificial intelligence, and IoT, just to name a few. This technological breakthrough not only paved the way for virtual reality but also provided useful solutions for other areas of technology. The unique nature of the technology, which is a single, shared, immersive, persistent, 3D virtual space where humans experience life in ways not possible in the physical world, makes it suitable for all real-world applications; it has great potential to transform business, and companies are already in the race for different product offerings. Audience AI and computer science researchers, engineers and graduate students, IT personnel in business as well as entrepreneurs and policymakers.

This book features the latest research in the area of immersive technologies as presented at the 7th International Extended Reality (XR) Conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2022. Bridging the gap between academia and industry, it showcases the latest advances in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR) and metaverse and their applications in various sectors such as business, marketing, retail, education, healthcare, tourism, events, fashion, entertainment, and gaming. The volume gathers selected research papers by prominent AR, VR, XR and metaverse scholars from around the world. Presenting the most significant topics and latest findings in the fields of augmented reality, virtual reality, extended reality and metaverse, it will be a valuable asset for academics and practitioners alike.

The digital transformation of companies is both a competitive challenge and a complex step for large groups and industries, and at the same time a tremendous opportunity. This transformation is entering a new dimension with the development of immersive technologies such as virtual reality, mixed reality and augmented reality, which are revolutionizing the way we generate content as well as visualize and interact with models and data. The challenges of innovation and digital transformation within companies are now converging. Research shows the potential that immersive technologies have to accelerate the first steps of the innovation process. The objective of this book is to provide a clear vision of the state of research on immersive technologies for design and to deliver practical recommendations for companies wishing to improve their innovation process.

Foreword by Neal Stephenson, bestselling author of Snow Crash Over the last 100 years, technology has changed our world. Over the next decade it will transform our reality. The planet is headed for a momentous upheaval, and we are not prepared. We are entering a new technological age in which artificial intelligence and immersive media will transform society at all levels, mediating our lives by altering what we see, hear, and experience. Powered by immersive eyewear and driven by interactive AI agents, this new age of computing has the potential to make our world a magical place where the boundaries between the real and the virtual, the human and the artificial, rapidly fade away. If managed well, this could unleash a new age of abundance. If managed poorly, this technological revolution could easily go astray, deeply compromising our privacy, autonomy, agency, and even our humanity. In Our Next Reality, two industry veterans provide a data-driven debate on whether the new world we're creating will be a technological utopia or an AI-powered dystopia and give guidance on how to aim for the best future we can. With a Foreword by renowned author Neal Stephenson and section contributions from industry thought-leaders such as Peter H. Diamandis, Tom Furness, Phillip Rosedale, Tony Parisi, Avi Bar Zeev and Walter Parkes, this book answers over a dozen of the most pressing questions we face as AI/VR/AR accelerates the digitization of our world. Find out why our actions in the next decade could determine the trajectory of our species for countless millennia.

This is the first research monograph to explore augmented and virtual reality in the context of the emerging metaverse, and their impact on the future of education, culture, art, society, heritage, healthcare, and other areas. It reveals how the two metaverse-enabling technologies are changing the world we live in by changing the educational experience, by influencing art, culture, and society, and by engaging artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. Dealing with a wide range of topics, it includes: possible metaverses for education; designing simulations and effective learning environments in the educational metaverse; immersive collaborative learning; storytelling and cinematic virtual reality in metaverses; immersion and sensory enrichment in the metaverse; archaeology of perception in metaverse environments; integrating AI and Large Language Models with immersive technologies; AR-enabled X-ray vision in immersive environments; metaverse-based approaches in urban planning; and many others. Written by a team of 46 researchers, practitioners, and artists from 11 countries world-wide (Australia, China, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and USA), it offers readers an international perspective. Intended as a starting point for exploring augmented and virtual reality in the metaverse context, this book will be essential reading not only for researchers, practitioners, technology developers, and artists, but also for students (graduates and undergraduates), and for anyone interested in the emerging fields of “metaverse augmented reality” and “metaverse virtual reality”.

This book features the latest research in the area of immersive technologies, presented at the 6th International Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Conference, held in online in 2020. Bridging the gap between academia and industry, it presents the state of the art in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and their applications in various industries such as marketing, education, health care, tourism, events, fashion, entertainment, retail and the gaming industry. The book is a collection of research papers by prominent AR and VR scholars from around the globe. Covering the most significant topics in the field of augmented and virtual reality and providing the latest findings, it is of interest to academics and practitioners alike.

An incisive glimpse into the future of the internet In Step into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy, future tech strategist, entrepreneur, and thought leader Dr. Mark van Rijmenam delivers a startlingly insightful discussion about how the world as we know it will fundamentally change as the physical and the digital worlds merge into the metaverse, impacting the everyday experiences of people, companies, and societies. The author maps out the extraordinary opportunities and challenges facing business leaders, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and other metaverse stakeholders trying to navigate the future of the Internet. In the metaverse, you can be who you want to be, where you want to be, and companies and consumers are only restricted by their own creativity how they can benefit from the immersive internet. With engaging commentary on issues ranging from avatars, identity and digital fashion to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain and the economics of the metaverse, this book also offers: Discussions on the importance of an open and interoperable metaverse build on the web 3.0 paradigm if we want to reign in the control of Big Tech over our identity, data and lives. Explorations of the enormous—and largely untapped—potential for metaverse entertainment, including gaming, music, media, and sports and how brands can engage with their customers in novel ways and how digital twins will change how we work and innovate. Considerations related to the dangers of an always-on, immersive internet, including data breaches, avatar imposters, mental health issues, corporate and state surveillance, and the need for metaverse law. A fascinating read you won’t be able to put down, Step into the Metaverse belongs in the hands of executives, managers, and other business leaders who play a role in digital transformation or execution. It's also an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the future of technology, the internet, and social interaction.

There is a serious issue affecting the tourism sector right now. Traditional service models and approaches are no longer sufficient to meet the evolving needs and expectations of travelers in a world characterized by unpredictability and rapid change. The demand for immersive and unique experiences has pushed this industry to explore innovative solutions. The challenge serves as the backdrop for the book, Service Innovations in Tourism: Metaverse, Immersive Technologies, and Digital Twin. In response to the industry's changing demands, this book offers a visionary solution. It presents a thorough exploration of service innovations in tourism, focusing on the transformative potential of the metaverse, digital twins, and immersive technologies. These cutting-edge innovations are reshaping the tourism landscape, offering travelers exciting new ways to choose accommodations, plan trips, and engage in events. This book goes beyond theoretical exploration into practical guidance that gives academic scholars, practitioners, students, and industry professionals the skills and insights they need to navigate and thrive in this quickly evolving field.