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According to Hindu belief, a soul passes through 8.4 million life forms before earning the privilege of human birth. Quite a queue, isn’t it? Becoming human is life’s “pro mode”, a rare opportunity to seek truth, practise dharma, and strive for moksha. Think of it as the universe’s greatest beta test. And speaking of beta worlds, perhaps Elon Musk’s claim that he’s a time traveller isn’t so far-fetched after all. 😉
Now enter the Avatar — a word that began as a divine descent (ava – to descend, tarati – to cross), describing Lord Vishnu’s cosmic interventions. Fast-forward a few millennia, and our modern “avatars” are decidedly less celestial — pixelated personas instead of divine purpose. From cosmic reboots to character skins, the line between sacred and simulated has truly blurred.
This is where Matthew Ball steps in. His book The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionise Everything is not just another tech white paper; it’s a carefully structured roadmap to the next evolution of the internet. The author defines the Metaverse as “a large-scale, interoperable network of real-time 3D virtual worlds, experienced by limitless users, each with a distinct sense of presence.”
If that sounds like heavy tech jargon but he writes with clarity, humility, and a hint of dry humour. He warns early on: “Beware the hype.” Like AI, cloud computing, or automation before it, the Metaverse comes wrapped in inflated promises. But beneath the buzzwords lies genuine transformation. We are merely seeing the tip of a very large digital iceberg. Sceptics may roll their eyes — “Haven’t we heard this before?” From the dot-com boom to Second Life, digital worlds have come and gone. But he insists this time is different. Hardware, software, and connectivity have finally caught up. Like electricity in the 19th century, once a curiosity, now a necessity, the Metaverse could quietly power everything around us.
Matthew is refreshingly grounded and is no evangelist proclaiming a virtual utopia. Instead, he highlights that the Metaverse’s future depends not only on technology, but on standards, economics, and human trust. His explanations of complex concepts, rendering pipelines, latency, and interoperability are surprisingly accessible. The book also celebrates the hidden heroes of the digital age such as fibre-optic cables, cloud networks, and edge computing.
He draws compelling parallels between the Metaverse and earlier revolutions such as the printing press, electricity, and the internet each requiring invisible infrastructure before transforming society. Yet he also sounds a clear note of caution that the Metaverse could amplify today’s worst online habits, monopolies, surveillance, and walled gardens, only now in glorious 3D. Privacy may become a luxury, as Big Tech learns not only what you click, but how you move, blink, and breathe. The technology isn’t quite ready, and the world isn’t yet eager to wear headsets all day. Even Facebook’s rebrand to “Meta” showed how excitement can sprint far ahead of practicality. Still, revolutions take time. Just as the internet crept into our lives invisibly, the Metaverse will evolve as technology, economy, and culture align. For anyone in business, technology, or digital strategy, this book is a must read. He treats readers as thinkers, not consumers, explaining how the Metaverse could reshape work, learning, and creativity beyond physical boundaries.
Inspired by Neal Stephenson’s 1992 sci-fi classic Snow Crash, where the term “Metaverse” first appeared, he builds on that vision, mapping how immersive 3D digital economies might soon rival our own. He highlights the IT world’s journey from IBM and the Seven Dwarfs of the 1970s to today’s giants Nvidia, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and beyond. Yesterday’s supercomputer is today’s laptop. Tomorrow’s will likely fit into a pair of glasses.
I would strongly recommend this book, as it offers a fascinating window into the near future a world where AI and robotics will redefine industries, where food might be lab-grown rather than cooked, and where entertainment, gaming, and creativity will find new digital homes and continue to thrive. The Metaverse’s total value may one day exceed that of the physical world, not yet, but perhaps soon. If not us, then our next generation will live, work, and flourish within it. So, go virtual or risk being left behind.