To some of those who remember the dot com bubble burst, the growth and hype around Metaverse might bring a feeling of déjà vu. There is a lot written and talked about around the Metaverse but some may say there is little real progress. In India, which has a lot of eyeballs and also the potential to make Metaverse to grow, it looks the real infrastructure is not in place. For Piyush Gupta, CEO of VOSMOS, a Metaverse technology start-up, the potential is unimaginable.
The most common use of the Metaverse today is entertainment. Even kids are now able to visit the Metaverse on smartphones and minus the sophisticated gear. So one can say that the future potential of the virtual work is limit-less.
According to Piyush Gupta Metaverse has the potential to address serious and real life challenges: “Metaverse is no longer a concept but a reality that is taking shape to change the way experiences are consumed by us. The potential of Metaverse is big and beyond entertainment. Imagine an immersive office space for those working-from-home or a medical analysis by healthcare workers across geographies. The real potential of the Metaverse, irrespective of the industry, lies in connecting people and creating immersive experiences for them.”
That the Metaverse is about more than mere entertainment is fast becoming apparent. Automobile companies are launching showrooms on the Metaverse, inviting customers to experience their newly-launched cars. Entire replicas of airport lounges are now open to public, even when the physical airport is not fully functional.
Piyush Gupta believes, "The Metaverse is redefining collaboration and has the potential for business to grow exponentially. According to him there is real potential in retail, education, healthcare, tourism, real-estate are some industries that will see a very positive impact of being in the Metaverse. The immersive experience is the game changer for the future of these sectors.”
But is India ready for the real Metaverse experience? According to some industry experts for Metaverse to make a real difference in India, it will need to be accessible to a majority of the population. But again there is a technology roadblock. 5G is still not available to all. India has the potential to be a big player on the Metaverse.
Piyush Gupta says, “Many Indian companies are invested in the technology that is needed to build, manage and sustain the Metaverse. Being such a large nation, we lack the technology infrastructure to make hi-speed internet accessible to all. We need more democratic policies for entrepreneurs and creators, who will drive business and experiences in the Metaverse. We have the foundation, what we need is a robust infrastructure and framework that is business friendly.
An obstacle to the Metaverse’s growth in India and globally is that Metaverse is not a commonly understood concept yet. There is a gap, or an opportunity to familiarise populations with the potential the technology has and how it can impact our lives. Metaverse is anything but boring and this will propel the awareness curve in the coming days. The curiosity it has generated will become the catalyst for the growth of Metaverse.
Piyush Gupta is a proponent of the Metaverse and the virtual world concept. He adds, “Anything that is novel ignites interest and speculation and is a subject of scrutiny. Metaverse is no different. With the current tech slowdown, there is debate about Metaverse's future but in the larger scheme of things, Metaverse is the future. It is evolving at a certain trajectory. The near future will be of immersive experiences, cost effective and sustainable business models."