How the Metaverse Can Help Your Not-For-Profit
What the heck is the "Metaverse?"
The Metaverse is a general term to describe the interactive virtual world that exists on the Internet. It enables you to intuitively interact with information and people on the Internet. To put it simply: Think of a 3D chat room or environment with the participants able to see each other, share documents, webcams, audio, chat using their voice, and more.
Isn’t That Some 90s Fad?
To some, it may seem that way. But like most ground-breaking technology, it’s hard to visualize the change it can have on society until it has already passed by. Consider what the Internet was to people in the late 1980s or, to use a more up-to-date example: The iPad just one year ago. Before it was announced, people, generally, had no idea how tablets like the iPad could help them live their lives.
The resistance or skepticism to the Metaverse is a case of technology finally catching up with the idea that was put forward decades earlier. Early adopters did not experience what was promised. As such, it has often been misunderstood or been received poorly. That is beginning to change, however.
A Real World Example
There are a large number of organizations using the Metaverse to help build awareness and secure funding for their non-profit organization. The first that comes to my mind is TechSoup’s NonProfit Commons (NPC), who bring together non-profit organizations from across the world and offer them a free virtual workspace to spread their message. The folks from the NonProfit Commons meet virtually every Friday at the Plush NonProfit Commons Ampitheatre (visitors are more than welcome to attend.)
The NPC has raised money for the recent Haiti earthquake crisis as well has raised awareness for other projects by hosting simultaneous live and virtual events.
To read more about other organizations using Second Life and other virtual worlds, read the "How Non-Profit Organizations Use Virtual Worlds" article hosted by Linden Labs, the creators of Second Life.
The Next Step
High-speed, ubiquitous, 3D-enabled devices are on our doorstep. To illustrate my point, consider the difference in performance between the first generation iPhone and the iPhone 4. If you take what has traditionally been a static experience in the Metaverse and combine it with the technologies available today such as the Wiimote or 3D displays, it suddenly takes on a new life. Human interaction through the Internet goes from being text-based chat to intuitive gesturing and speech.
To me, the Metaverse represents the next stage of progress in human social interaction. There are a lot of opportunities: From virtual offices to reduce employee commutes to educating children across the world. I am really excited to see where the Metaverse goes next, and expect to be surprised at every step along the way.
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