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When Facebook announced in 2021 that it would invest in the metaverse and even rebrand to Meta, everyone knew it was a major step into a virtual world. Even though there haven't been monumental changes in 2022, the metaverse is still a hot topic and it has entered the mainstream. Just this year MTV awarded the very first Best Metaverse Concert for BLACKPINK: The Virtual. Real estate investment has also increased to over $500 million in 2021 and is expected to reach over $1 billion by end of 2022.
Metaverse is powered by different technology collectively called XR or extended reality. No it’s not the IPhone XR but it is an umbrella term for technology such as Virtual Reality (VR), Alternate Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Virtual reality lets people immerse in the virtual environment, alternate reality augments the user’s surroundings and mixed reality merges the real-world environment and a computer-generated one. These technologies bring a future where the internet can be experienced in 3D. They are part of the growing immersive media which lets viewer experience content in a first-person perspective - making them feel they are part of the content - rather than observing or just being a spectator.
No-code has been showing that it is an integral part of Web3 with new no-code platforms allowing people to create NFTs, sell NFT artworks, set up DAOs, and even create a cryptocurrency. If you want to know more about it, we have a collection of no-code technology for Web 3. Users are also increasing with the growth and development of no-code platforms and even the adoption of hybrid development. No-code development allows people to access these technologies through visual programming. Even with limited background in development, you can launch an app, a decentralized app or DApp, and now access no-code XR. In this article we delve what is XR and how no-code can help immerse more people into the future.
The history of XR extends back into 1800s when Sir Charles Wheatstone outlined the concept of “stereopsis” or “binocular vision” – where the brain combines two images (one from each eye) to make a single 3D image. It was 2016 when it became mainstream because of the game Pokemon Go.
XR is also called immersive technology and even spatial computing technologies. It is indicative of the engaging nature of the experiences that these technologies create, and their ability to deliver a new level of focus and realism in comparison to the current digital experiences we are used to right now. The synergy of these technologies makes it possible to build and access the XR metaverse. We also discussed no-code as a building block on metaverse HERE. With XR still in development, here is a glimpse into what our future might be.
For many years, AR and VR dominated field but when Microsoft launched the HoloLens in 2016, it used “mixed reality” in its marketing language, which helped popularize MR and alternate term with AR. As we transition into the virtual; world, MR bridges the gap between reality and digital for the meantime. You can even see that happening in the popular app, Tiktok where users try filters that can make them look old, dance with catsuit-wearing Shrek and so much more.
Avatars have also been common to build. Even Facebook now allows you to create avatars that you can use in your posts and stories. Avatars are computer representations of users in a computer-generated 3D world that lets you interact in XR through Oculus, laptop or mobile devices.
Getting in the XR can mean wearing virtual reality headsets or simply accessing it by laptop or a mobile device. However, headsets provide a more immersive experience as if you are really there. Users logging into a multi-user experience in the Metaverse using a VR headset can move their heads to dictate their point of view or may be able to walk around in their physical environment to determine where their avatar moves within the virtual environment. This allows their avatar to interact with the surroundings providing a unique experience.
There are still limited options for no-code XR metaverse platforms and businesses which is can be a challenge and an opportunity. Even though there isn't a wide range of businesses in it, it means being a pioneer in making a profit out of it. The success of XR is expected from user-generated content or UGC. By making technology easier to understand, more content can be creatively made for a wider reach.
Some no-code XR agencies are already offering to create an augmented reality platform while also deploying at-scale Augmented and Virtual Reality experiences. They offer virtual rooms and even offer clients immersive web platforms to engage more customers. This can be very useful, especially for businesses who have embraced hybrid working environments. These tools can help virtual workplaces range by creating an avenue for collaborative conference calls, engaging employees at company events, employee onboarding, and design thinking sessions.
When creating avatars to interact with the virtual world, no-code has been an integral part of it already. No-code authoring tools have also started to enable organizations and individuals to pre-determine the speech and physical movements of avatars in virtual experiences.
If you want to start tinkering with no-code XR, you can start with platforms such as Blippar’s Blippbuilder, Zappar’s ZapWorks, and Meta’s SparkAR Studio. Blippbuilder lakers you publish augmented reality content for free using their AR creation platform. Zapworks promises to create, manage and publish impactful WebAR experiences with their SDKs, custom branding & hosting, and powerful CMS. Lastly, SparkAR Studio lets user create their own AR effect for platforms that can be integrated into Instagram and Facebook.
There’s no doubt that we will see more no-code XR tools, businesses, and services in the metaverse. No-code empowers anyone to be their own creator and tap into the new digital extended reality. XR is already here but it is in a very early stage since there is still limited access to it. As no-code develops alongside XR, we see these two technologies merging at some point to create a very immersive online experience. That means an expanded universe with a diverse selection of content that all of us can learn from, enjoy and interact with.
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