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SXSW Session Report #56: Predicting the Metaverse
SXSW Session Report #56: Predicting the Metaverse — How Will Technology Evolve in the Next 3 to 5 Years?
A panel titled "The Future of the Metaverse Through the Convergence of Design and Technology" brought together a room full of people passionate about tech and design for a substantive conversation.
The session opened with a discussion of the possibilities that VR, AR, and MR technologies open up for the metaverse. As these technologies improve, experiences become more realistic, and people will be able to do an ever-wider range of things in virtual spaces. New hardware development is accelerating as well — attendees expressed anticipation for new products like Apple's glasses and headsets.
Edge Computing and Haptics: The Next Frontier
The conversation then turned to the possibility of accessing virtual spaces through edge computing, without needing to carry data around with you. Haptic technology also came up: as haptics advance, people may eventually be able to "feel" sound — an idea that generated real excitement in the room.
From there, the panel addressed the importance of diversity in the metaverse. Moving beyond the old framing of diversity and actually building a truly inclusive and welcoming society requires a fundamental shift in mindset, the speakers argued.
They also pointed out that Gen Z has already made the metaverse part of their everyday lives — for them, entering virtual worlds is simply normal. To genuinely engage with Gen Z, companies need to do more than hand them books or videos. They need to provide digital tools that fit naturally into how this generation already lives.
Closing: The Metaverse Becomes Reality
The panel closed with a shared sense that as design and technology advance together, the metaverse will become increasingly real — and people will be able to move and act in virtual spaces much as they do in the physical world.
The metaverse is expected to become increasingly mainstream. While glasses and headsets continue to improve, mobile phones will likely remain the primary computing platform for the long term. As 3D and volumetric content becomes more common on websites, technologies like edge computing will become increasingly important.
Edge computing — which eliminates the need to carry data with you — and haptic technology that lets you feel sound are drawing serious attention. Frictionless haptics, in particular, is a development area generating significant excitement.
A Panel Topic That's Moving Beyond "New"
Metaverse panel discussions are no longer novel — what's changing is that the metaverse is becoming a genuine part of daily life. Gen Z is already living inside virtual worlds like Roblox; this is their normal, and it will shape the future of both work and education. Companies need to go beyond simply giving them content — they need to go deep into their world and offer experiences that truly fit how these users live.
This event report was produced by TIMEWELL, an online business support service.
Source: https://one-x.jp/PMiwA1Mb/mP2jXJJy
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