Step into the Metaverse: How the Immersive Internet Will Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Social Economy

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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. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents About the Author Foreword Preface 2032 Introduction Welcome to the Metaverse Chapter 1 The Future Is Immersive From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0 From AR to VR to XR What Can the Metaverse Become? Six Characteristics of the Metaverse Interoperability Decentralization Persistency Spatiality Community-Driven Self-Sovereignty An Open Metaverse Means Freedom An Endless Blue Ocean Chapter 2 Creating an Open Metaverse Open vs. Closed The Hybrid Web An Open Economic System Chapter 3 Be Who You Want to Be The Rise of the Avatars Digital Fashion iCommerce A Cambrian Explosion of Identity Chapter 4 Be Where You Want to Be Virtual Worlds Gaming in the Metaverse Sports in the Metaverse Media and Entertainment in the Metaverse Education in the Metaverse Power to the Creators Chapter 5 Unbounded Creativity for Brands Beyond flash The Power of an Immersive Community Endless New Touchpoints Continuous and Real-Time Insights Increased Sustainability Virtual World Considerations The Era of Experience Marketing Creativity, Community, and Co-Creation Chapter 6 Exponential Enterprise Connectivity A Changing World The Future of Immersive Work The Metaverse Job Market How to Get Started Digital Twins The Role of Governments Chapter 7 The Creator Economy A Vibrant Metaverse Economy Why Tokens Matter Challenges of NFTs Digital Real Estate Economic Mechanisms From DeFi to MetaFi Chapter 8 Digitalism in the Metaverse Technology Is Neutral Dangers of the Metaverse The Datafication of Everything Privacy Is an Illusion Abuse, Harassment, and Illegal Content Imposter Avatars Data Security Increased Inequality Bad Bots Controlling the Web Increased Polarization Biased AI Health Issues Verification, Education, and Regulation Verification Education Regulation Surveillance or Empowerment Chapter 9 The Future of the Metaverse BCI: The Future of Immersive Experiences A Renaissance of Art, Creativity, and Innovation Epilogue Acknowledgments References Index EULA