Researchers at Gartner have just predicted that by 2026, 25% of users will spend at least an hour a day working, shopping, learning, socializing, and playing in the metaverse.
According to Digitnews, Gartner Research Vice President Marty Resnick said, “Vendors have been creating ways for users to reinvent their lives in world digital From attending virtual classes to buying digital land and building virtual homes, all of these activities now take place in different environments. Ultimately, they will take place in a single arena, which is the metaverse with multiple destinations linked to technology and expertise.”
Gartner defines the metaverse as a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of the physical environment and digital virtual enhancement. They feature a durable design, provide an enhanced immersive experience, are standalone, and are accessible through any type of device, from tablets to head-worn monitors.
Since no vendor owns the metaverse, Gartner expects the virtual economy to be backed by digital currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Metaverse will impact every business that consumers interact with on a daily basis. In particular, businesses will be able to improve the interaction between employees without having to create their own infrastructure.
Besides, virtual events, which have been popular over the past 1.5 years, will become more interesting through the metaverse.