How to access the metaverse: how to Enter it with and without VR

When people hear about the metaverse, they often associate it with 3D virtual reality (VR) technology. While VR plays a significant role in enhancing the immersive experience, it’s important to note that the metaverse is much broader than just VR.

Many metaverse platforms do not require VR equipment to participate; users can access these virtual worlds with a standard computer, smartphone, or tablet. The versatility of the metaverse makes it accessible to a wider audience, allowing people to engage in everything from virtual meetings to digital gaming environments without the need for specialized hardware.

In this guide, we’ll explore the technologies that power the metaverse and explain how you can access it with or without VR equipment. We’ll also look at how the metaverse is shaping the future of digital interaction, from entertainment to education and even the way we work.

As an evolving technology, the metaverse is set to revolutionize how we engage with the Internet, blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds. It will enable more immersive social interactions, create new opportunities for businesses, and introduce innovative forms of collaboration, particularly in remote work settings.

Whether you’re a tech enthusiast eager to dive into a fully immersive VR experience or someone curious about virtual worlds through simpler means, understanding how to enter the metaverse is key to staying ahead in this rapidly transforming digital landscape.

Virtual reality (VR) is a three-dimensional digital simulation of real or fantasy environments. VR leverages 3D technology and equipment to create an interactive and immersive artificial environment.

VR can be categorized as:

• Non-immersive: This is a 3D environment that a user can access through a computer screen or mobile device. The user can explore the simulation, but the environment doesn’t interact with the user.
• Semi-immersive: This VR experience utilizes visual technology, like glasses or a headset, that allows the user to be inside the simulation and interact with it as though they are in the environment.
• Fully immersive: This VR experience surrounds the user and appeals to multiple senses through hardware technology. It can suspend the person’s belief so that the artificial world feels real.

At Emeraude we believe that VR headset for metaverse in B2B environment is not scalable. First, most people do not even like wearing glasses… Launching on a large scale is a whole other subject. We love to get rid of hassles for our clients, especially when cost and logistics are involved. That is why we created a platform that is 100% playable on computer, tablet and mobile.

Augmented reality (AR) enhances the real world by overlaying digital content, such as images, sounds, or animations, onto physical objects and environments. This blend of the virtual and the physical creates an interactive, immersive experience that feels more realistic than traditional digital simulations.

AR technology relies on sophisticated software and hardware to achieve this, including depth-sensing capabilities, motion tracking, and advanced computer vision, allowing it to recognize and integrate digital elements seamlessly with the user’s environment.

One of the most common uses of AR is through mobile devices. With the help of a smartphone or tablet camera, AR apps can place virtual objects or information in real-world settings, allowing users to visualize how something might look or behave in a physical space.

For example, you could see how a piece of furniture would fit in your living room before buying it, or use AR in educational apps to bring historical events or scientific concepts to life right in front of you.

In addition, AR can interact with coded objects or markers in the physical world, such as QR codes or special AR symbols. When scanned, these codes trigger the display of interactive 3D content, which might include virtual tours, product demonstrations, or games.

This interactivity can extend to more complex environments, such as museums or retail stores, where AR can provide enhanced experiences by displaying additional information or offering guidance.

As AR technology continues to evolve, its potential applications are vast, from enhancing navigation and providing real-time translations to revolutionizing fields like healthcare, where AR can assist in surgeries or patient education.

AR is not just about adding digital layers to reality; it’s about creating meaningful, context-rich experiences that change how we interact with the world around us.

While both technologies create 3D digital simulations, there are four significant differences between VR and AR:

1. AR puts simulations in a real-world environment, while VR is a completely virtual environment.
2. AR can leverage web-enabled devices to create an AR simulation, whereas VR needs hardware for an immersive experience.
3. AR users control their presence, while VR creates an avatar to simulate the user’s presence.
4. AR can be used in the real world and virtual environments. VR is a completely virtual environment.

Most metaverse platforms allow users to interact with or without VR in their environment. Because the metaverse is an emerging and evolving market, users do not need to invest in costly VR hardware to explore and experience the metaverse. You can experience the Metaverse from any web-enabled device or computer.

At Emeraude Escape, we focus on creating the Metaverse where everyone can access easily from anywhere at anytime on any device. For some, it might be one of the most complex technology terms to explain, but we got you cover.

Looking to build a metaverse game or experience for your company? Learn more about our process and how we can help build it quickly.

Related: What is the Future of the Metaverse in Corporate?

The metaverse is a digital platform where users can experience a virtual simulation of a real or fantasy environment. It enables users to collaborate and interact from all over the world from web-enabled devices.

The metaverse is not a singular virtual world, but a collection of different metaverse platforms that allow users to interact in a virtual environment. The Harvard Business Review thinks metaverse technology will reshape how we do business and interact with others.

Yes. To enter the metaverse in 2D, you will only need a web-enabled computer or mobile device.

Some metaverse platforms have free experiences or interactive activities where you only need a computer. Most platforms recognize that many users don’t have VR equipment and allow users to enter with a computer or mobile device.

There are some technological constraints related to the metaverse for both 2D and 3D. “All metaverse platform developed by Emeraude are tailored to the requirements of our clients to deliver a unique seamless digital experience. To be able to develop a metaverse game dedicated to all levels of players, such as the previous generation with little digital knowledge to the tech-savvy to the professional gamers, is not an easy task. It’s one of the greatest optimisation challenges” said Godefroy Le Merdy, CTO at Emeraude Escape.

Find out more about the metaverse experience delivered in digital corporate games here.

VR equipment does create a more immersive experience so that the user feels like they are inside the virtual environment instead viewing it from a screen. VR also allows you to interact with elements in the metaverse that are different from a computer screen.

VR technology is rapidly advancing and becoming more affordable so that more users will adopt the technology in the near future. Forecasted to become the fastest-growing content segment by 2025, VR will become more common in the coming years, enhancing the metaverse experience.

What you need to enjoy the metaverse depends largely on the metaverse platform you are using. Some platforms are more immersive and are better in VR, while other platform experiences are just as interactive in 2D. You’ll want to visit the platform’s website to learn about system requirements. Here are some of the leading metaverse platforms:

• Decentraland: A decentralized metaverse platform with a wide range of experiences, games, shopping, and entertainment.
• Second Life: An online social community for role-playing and exploration.
• The Sandbox: A gaming and entertainment platform that is currently in beta testing.
• Roblox: A gaming world targeting kids and teens.
• Horizon Worlds: Meta’s platform for social interaction, work applications, gaming, fitness, and entertainment.
• Emeraude Escape: A custom-made platform virtual experiences for team building, training, corporate events, and more.

Want to build a custom metaverse experience or game for your company or customers? Contact us to get started.

Related: How the Metaverse for Brands is Revolutionizing Shopping

To enter the metaverse, you need to:

1. Pick a metaverse platform that has appealing activities or experiences. There are over 10,000 metaverse platforms that offer different interactive experiences targeting different demographics.
2. Create an account and avatar on the platform’s website.
3. Install any necessary software depending on the platform.
4. Log in and explore the virtual environment.

Depending on the metaverse platform, like The Sandbox and Decentraland, you may need to purchase the platform’s cryptocurrency to pay for items and experiences in the metaverse.