Unless you are a science-fiction fan, a gaming nerd or a designer, virtual reality (VR) may not have played a big part in your life up to now. However, since Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021 and announced the creation of 10,000 new jobs in Europe to create the metaverse, it’s fair to assume that this could be about to change.
A revolution powered by VR has been promised for decades, but it’s only recently that improvements in hardware and software, together with a new level of consumer engagement, have started to converge to create something that could be genuinely disruptive in the foreseeable future. If you are in the business of gaming or entertainment the potential is clear, but what could the metaverse mean for the rest of the business world, and what are some of the challenges that will need to be overcome? Is it something that deserves your attention now, or will there be another stage in the “hype curve” before it has a major impact?