The Metaverse : Fully Revised and Updated Edition: Building the Spatial Internet

Matthew Ball

ISBN 10: 1324095288 / ISBN 13: 9781324095286

Published by W W Norton & Co Ltd Jul 2024, 2024

About this Item

Neuware - 'The term 'Metaverse' is thirty years old, yet only recently entered mainstream conversation, attracting both fascinating and skepticism. While some have promised its imminent arrival, in fact it will take a series of technological and societal leaps to realise its full potential. In The Metaverse, pioneering theorist, former tech executive and acclaimed entrepreneur Matthew Ball offers an expansive tour of the 'next internet': he presents a comprehensive definition of the Metaverse (going far beyond mere virtual reality headsets), explains the technologies that will power it, addresses governance challenges, and predicts Metaverse winners and losers. Bringing clarity and authority to a frequently misunderstood concept, this revised and updated edition of Ball's authoritative work demonstrates how the Metaverse will radically reshape society.'A comprehensive guide to every aspect of the metaverse.'-John Thornhill, Financial Times'Offers a better understanding of the metaverse than the novel that coined the term-1992's Snow Crash.'-Cecilia D'Anastasio, Bloomberg.

Seller Inventory # 9781324095286

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Metaverse : Fully Revised and Updated Edition: Building the Spatial Internet
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Ltd Jul 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1324095288
• ISBN 13: 9781324095286
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 233W x 158H x 40D millimeters 233 millimeters width by 158 millimeters height by 40 millimeters depth
• Weight: 696 grams

About this title

Synopsis

From the leading theorist of the Metaverse comes the eagerly anticipated, revised and updated account of the next internet: what the Metaverse is, what it will take to build it, and what it means for all of us.

A Hudson Booksellers, Amazon, Guardian, Financial Times, Economist, and ByteDance Toutiao Best Book of the Year

In this substantially revised and updated edition of his internationally best-selling book, pioneering theorist and entrepreneur Matthew Ball goes beyond the hype cycle to present a definitive account of the future of the internet. The Metaverse, according to Ball’s industry-shaping definition, is a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will eventually serve as the gateway to most online experiences and underpin much of the physical world.

As Ball recounts, the Metaverse is a thirty-year-old term, and the core ideas and technologies behind it have been in development for nearly a century. Only recently, however, did this fantastical concept begin to leap from the pages of science fiction and depths of national research labs to the forefront of consumer technology, industrial engineering, healthcare, education, dating, and more.

From the history of video games and virtual reality to “proto-metaverses” such as Second Life, Fortnite, and Roblox to Generative AI and the groundbreaking films and television series of the Walt Disney Company, Ball points out that the Metaverse is already emerging around us (and doesn’t require a headset). Still, there are many breakthroughs required to fully realize the Metaverse, and he describes each in approachable but expert detail. Ball also lays out how governmental policy, the philosophy of Big Tech leaders, artificial general intelligence, economics, and human rights will shape the development of the Metaverse.

Famous for his ability to bring clarity to complex and misunderstood topics, Ball demonstrates that the race to build the Metaverse―also known as the “spatial” or “immersive” internet―is only accelerating. The Metaverse will endure as an indispensable guide for enthusiasts, tech aficionados, and anyone curious about the profound transformations underway in our increasingly interconnected world. 39 images

About the Author

Matthew Ball is an entrepreneur; angel investor; film, TV, and video game producer; and national and international best-selling author. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Time. Ball lives in Toronto, New York City, and Miami.