Virtual Series Launch Today! (and Critical Introduction published!)

 

The virtual launch for The Metaverse Series is today, from 1100 GMT to 2100 GMT. The location is on the Frame virtual world platform at:

https://framevr.io/themetaverseseries-home

This is essentially a drop in event and Maggi or I will be in world (or on call) the whole time, and we have a few fixed points in the day for particular activities as shown below.

If the space is "full" then additional attendees will  be able to join as spectators in a listen0in/don't touch -only mode. Just log back in later if you want to chat and interact.

And The Metaverse: A Critical Introduction is formally published today and available through all good book sellers.

We hope to see you in there later today!

Author Copies of The Metaverse: A Critical Introduction have arrived

 

Hot on the heals of Learning and Education, the author copies of The Metaverse: A Critical Introduction have arrived. Probably the biggest page count that any of the series books will have, but reasonable given that it's effectively an introduction to the whole series.

Remember to sign up for the virtual launch even on 24th Sept, which is also the same day that the book is published - pre-orders via T&F, Amazon and other booksellers.

Author copies of The Metaverse for Learning and Education have arrived!

Maggi and I have just received our author copies of The Metaverse for Learning and Education. Lovely looking book, nice and concise at 112 pages (afraid my Critical Introduction will be a little longer). Pre-orders available now (see links at right), with an 11 Sep release.

Critical Introduction - Reference List

The Metaverse: A Critical Introduction is now up on ResearchGate so you can see the references used by it. We'll aim to add the Chapter abstracts on ResearchGate and here over the coming weeks so as to give you a better idea of what the books cover.

The Critical Introduction references (all 435 of them!) are at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383003469_The_Metaverse_A_Critical_Introduction/references

Book Series Launch Events - Physical and Virtual

 

We are having 2 launch events for The Metaverse Series and the first two books in the series, A Critical Introduction, and The Metaverse for Learning and Education.

Virtual Event - 24 Sep 24

The virtual event will be held in a microverse that we have specifically built to support the series and which will be permanently available to support the book Series and to encourage an exploration of the metaverse topic in novel ways.

The microverse is hosted on the Frame platform (https://framevr.io/) which is accessible from any PC/Mac or mobile or VR headset through the browser – there is no need to download any software.

The launch is a drop-in event, and nearer the date we’ll announce specific times for a Q&A with the series co-editors – and possibly other series authors. 

Please register your interest in attending on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-metaverse-series-virtual-launch-tickets-950726096347.

Physical Event - 24 Oct 24

The physical event will take place on October 24th, 5pm - 7pm at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, St. Giles, Oxford OX1 3LY.

The launch will be an ‘in conversation’ event with Professor Nigel Crook, Oxford Brookes University, Professor Sarah Hayes, University of Bath Spa and Dave White, University of the Arts and the authors at Metaverse Book Launch

You can book your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/metaverse-book-and-series-launch-tickets-904860852167?aff=oddtdtcreator

We look forward to meeting you at one or other of the events!

VISPA Virtual World Closing

Seems the VISPA virtual world is closing on 31/8 according to a service email I've received. Had some novel ideas, particularly in the way that spaces were laid/created & hopefully we'll see some of them replicated elsewhere - directly or through in-world scripting.

New CITI Report - Mapping the Innovation Landscape

Interesting new report by CITI Global Insights on Mapping the Innovation Landscape - Comparing 100 Emerging & Disruptive Technologies, Business Models, and Ideas.

It shows the metaverse with a current market size of $90bn, but with a forecast growth to 2030 of over $1tn (which puts it about 6th, alongside AI). Note that there is also a separate entry for Virtual Reality. The report also suggests that investment in the metaverse is on the low side (given the log scale).

The metaverse is defined as "a proposed version of the Internet where you feel you are "inside" it, as opposed to merely looking at it" and virtual reality as a system which "covers  the field of view to give an immersive experience. Augmented reality uses computer-generated images superimposed over a view of the real world, allowing for mobility" (so seems to include AR, and MR - and is perhaps more focused on the hardware than the experience but this isn't clear).