The concept of a metaverse, a virtual reality world in which users can interact and participate in various activities, is rapidly evolving. At the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a metaverse-focused company named OVR Technology presented an exciting new feature for the metaverse: the ability for users to experience a sense of smell.
The virtual reality headset contains eight aromas that can be combined to create various odors, providing an even more immersive experience for users. According to a recent report by McKinsey, funding for the metaverse reached over $120 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $5 trillion by 2020.
The metaverse offers a wide range of possibilities for users, from gaming and traveling to shopping and socializing. As the technology behind the metaverse continues to advance, new features are being added that allow users to have even more realistic experiences.
For example, virtual reality dating applications are set to enter the metaverse with a sense of touch, according to the chief marketing officer of FireFlare, Aurora Townsend. She plans to launch a VR dating app that includes haptic technology, which will allow users to feel the ground as they walk or hold their partner’s hand.
As the metaverse continues to evolve, it’s clear that leading companies like Meta, Microsoft, Google, and others are investing billions to be part of this new digital world. As observed in the Fortune report, companies have many ideas for how to take the metaverse to the next level, but lack the technology and advancements to execute them.
John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, a San Francisco-based software development company, offered his perspective on the metaverse, “We have Instagram, we have email, we have messaging, and then there’s our real-life friends; the real-life activity that we’re participating in.
Sometimes there’s an intersection between those two. But when I think about a real-world vision of the metaverse, it’s really a union of those where they become much more deeply fused; where there’s a digital extension to everything that’s real.”
As the technology behind the metaverse continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting features that will provide a truly immersive experience for users.
The ability to sense touch and smell in the metaverse will be a game-changer and will take the technology to a whole new level. With over 59% of users excited to shift their everyday activities to the metaverse and 57% of metaverse-focused organizations claiming they are adopters, the future of the metaverse is looking brighter than ever.