The metaverse (or metavers) is a virtual reality / augmented reality universe for virtually creating social connections. It is a 3D digital representation based on the virtual reality gaming experience. The question is what changes the metaverse will bring about the future of work.
Imagine a world where you could have a conversation on the beach with your colleagues, take meeting notes while floating around a space station, or teleport from your office to New York, all while staying in the comfort of your couch, at your home. These examples offer only a glimpse of the future vision of work promised by the “metaverse”.
The metaverse is generally considered to be a network of 3D virtual worlds. It is a space where people can interact, do business, and forge social connections through their virtual “avatars”. Think of it as a virtual reality version of today’s Internet. The metaverse looks set to reshape the world of work, and that in many ways. Here are some changes he will bring to the world of work.
On the other hand, if you want to be part of the future, read our dossier on how to find work related to the metaverse.
A shift around teamwork and collaboration in the metaverse
The metaverse will bring new levels of social connection, mobility and collaboration in a virtual working world. With an immersive platform, employees’ digital avatars will be able to entering and exiting virtual offices and meeting rooms in real time. They will be able to going to a virtual help desk or relaxing with colleagues in a networking lounge. Other companies in the metaverse are focusing on work solutions that help counteract the fatigue of video meetings and the social disconnection of remote work.
In addition, a study conducted by Nuffield Health in the UK found that almost a third of British remote workers have difficulty separating their personal and professional lives. Virtual workplaces provide a better demarcation between family and professional life. When the work is done, you will be able to say goodbye to your colleagues and leave.
In the virtual workplace, your avatar provides a way to communicate your status. Indeed, you can indicate that you are in a meeting or gone for a lunch break. You will stay in touch with colleagues without feeling chained to the computer. Moreover, this is a frequent source of stress in traditional remote work situations.
The metaverse will solve problems in 3D
Many of us tackle problems visually. This is the case for areas such as the health, architecture, construction. Visually engaging in ideas and solving problems using 3D models is a smart way to work.
In the metaverse, everything can be modeled in 3D. There it is possible to make a more accurate assessment, design and decision-making. In addition, it generates less time constraints and financial costs. Imagine it like this: you work in a construction team. A virtual electrician can reach you from his home (no matter where he is). He will be able to help you virtually solve a wiring problem.
Faster learning in the metaverse
The metaverse will revolutionize training and skills development. This is because it will reduce the time required to develop and acquire new skills. AI-enabled digital coaches could be on hand to assist with employee training and with guidance career. In the metaverse, each object could be made interactive, providing 3D displays and step-by-step “how to” guides.
Role-playing exercises and virtual reality simulations will become common. They will allow the avatars of workers to learn in very realistic “game” scenarios, such as “the sales presentation under high pressure”, “the difficult customer” or “a difficult conversation with an employee”.
Virtual reality technologies are already being used in many sectors to accelerate skills development. As an example, the surgical technology company Medivis uses technology Microsoft’s HoloLens to train medical students through interaction with 3D anatomy models. In addition, the metaverse can harness the potential of technologies fun learning activities for easier and faster skill acquisition.
Research has established that training in the virtual world can offer significant advantages over traditional instructor-led or classroom training. In fact, it offers a greater opportunity to visually demonstrate concepts (e.g., engineering design) and work practices, greater opportunity for learning-by-doing, and higher overall engagement through immersion in games and problem solving.
The metaverse in the world of work, a change that will happen faster than we think
The world of work may be the one where the metaverse will have the greatest impact on all uses. Building on the trends in the remote profession stemming from the pandemic, offering the in-person contact and spontaneity it offers with the freedom to work from anywhere, anytime could be a real revolution for companies and employees. Bill Gates thinks change will happen faster than we thought.
“In the next two or three years,” Gates wrote on his blog, “I predict that most virtual meetings will pass 2D camera image grids […] at the metaverse, a 3D space with digital avatars. »
This will require VR headsets and motion capture gloves, all the tools that we can expect companies like Microsoft to deploy and that we will own in the future.
