ASUS Zenfone AR was world’s first smartphone to bring both AR and VR technologies together. Followed soon by Apple, who are planning to launch their very first glasses late in the year of 2022 or in the early 2023, to support AR and VR technologies, after getting popular in developing ARKit platform. Apple has started to explore extensively in these combinatorial technologies over the past few years. Facebook’s creator Mark Zuckerberg went one step ahead renamed it as Meta, in which he had invested over $10 billion on immersive VR in the year 2021. NVIDIA has officially invited Metaverse to join with them to implement AI-powered Digital Humans and Metaverse products.
Also, HTC, the leading mobile company announced that they are planning to launch a “Metaverse phone,” focusing on AR and VR. Microsoft has also started to work on Mesh, a similar communication collaboration platform like Metaverse, which is expected to get completed by the end of 2022. Recently KPMG has launched a Metaverse collaboration hub in the US and Canada.
Technologies involved in Metaverse?
- Recently, we might have noticed a lot of noise in the world about the new social platform Metaverse, Mark Zuckerberg developed Meta to enable users to connect to a virtual learning space, where they can have custom-tailored, three-dimensional avatars to project themselves, interact, socialize, and work within their own social world.
- The Metaverse platform has two main pillars – AR and VR, and with other technologies such as Blockchain technology/cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D, Edge Computing, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT).
- The Metaverse platform enables users to access their avatars by accessing into Metaverse platform using VR glasses.
- This platform provides a very realistic experience to the users and can be applied across various segments of digital world from the entertainment sector to work engulfing with it any further areas that needs digital collaboration.
- In simpler words, Metaverse includes a combination of AR, VR, physical reality, block chain and cryptocurrencies to create virtual sharing spaces to allow people to do things they expect to do in real life.
How to protect IP in Metaverse
- There are various open questions about the IP protection of Metaverse platform, and it can be assured that in a digital space, assets that are used to create the Metaverse platform should be protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
- This indeed, would create more challenges for IP rights holders when this platform is practiced universally because this platform enfolds a variety of technologies, designs, imagery, logos, etc., which has already been protected under the IPR.
- Famous brands such as McDonalds, Nike, Walmart, Crocs, and Skechers, are making a beeline to register trademarks for their Metaverse offerings.
- Some of these brands have also been exploring the use of NFTs or non-fungible tokens to assert their intellectual property rights. Geographically more share of patents seemed to be filed in the USA and China, and Korea gets the third place in this technology.
- More to follow in the next episodes!
Timeline of AR VR Technology
Morton Leonard Heilig (December 22, 1926) is an american film maker, was the first to introduce VR technology.
Computers and internet (world wide web) has entered into world.
The term Metaverse appeared in a novel, then in an US Air Force's immersive AR system and then as a computer jargon.
The idea of digital twins was introduced - a virtual object, games were been built by the users and Google Maps became available.
Facebook acquires Oclus VR and Microsoft has released their first VR headsets and second gen Holo lens.
It is predicted that global Metaverse market VR will be $28 billion market and AR - $76 billion market by 2028.
