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Interesting question, but doesn't a "metaverse" require interoperable applications to some extent? I think the Zuck use case was buying a t-shirt for a virtual

Interesting question, but doesn't a "metaverse" require interoperable applications to some extent? I think the Zuck use case was buying a t-shirt for a virtual avatar and I want to use that t-shirt in other applications. There is a matter of interoperability required at the level of the data that sits behind both applications as it pertains to the user that sits on the other side of those applications. (meaning just sharing data isn't enough, there is user level context as well). And if you reduce interoperability to a single entity owned platform (like Steam), well other platforms will exist and the interoperability problem will be recreated.

meheleventyone 5y ago
I don’t think it’s axiomatic that the metaverse needs interoperability of t-shirts. What I’m asking for is arguments for why that is the case and given that the current Internet is basically a metaverse sans interoperability why we haven’t seen it done yet. It’s not really a technical hurdle IMO.
- TheColorYellow 5y ago
  It's not an entirely technical hurdle, but eventually you run into repeated issues when trying to recreate application context across different applications. That means to do so at scale can be solved by a technology solution. To me the issues that require addressing are things like standardization, general uniqueness proofs, Cross-app total order broadcast, identity and service discovery, to just name a few. My feeling is that the internet does not solve these problems, especially at the application layer, and therefore interoperability is a technical solution that is required for a metaverse like vision.
wnkrshm 5y ago
If that t-shirt isn't created procedurally, then any interoperability between differently themed worlds will just make everything look like 2nd Life, since an artist would have to create another, similar shirt in a style that fits.
- TheColorYellow 5y ago
  Agreed that the procedural complication is not resolved. Soltuons that do make this problem go away is the next frontier in this conversation. I believe the path to those soltuons does lie on the road of ubiquitous and dynamic technical interoperabity for web applications.

meheleventyone 5y ago

I don’t think it’s axiomatic that the metaverse needs interoperability of t-shirts. What I’m asking for is arguments for why that is the case and given that the current Internet is basically a metaverse sans interoperability why we haven’t seen it done yet. It’s not really a technical hurdle IMO.

TheColorYellow 5y ago
It's not an entirely technical hurdle, but eventually you run into repeated issues when trying to recreate application context across different applications. That means to do so at scale can be solved by a technology solution. To me the issues that require addressing are things like standardization, general uniqueness proofs, Cross-app total order broadcast, identity and service discovery, to just name a few. My feeling is that the internet does not solve these problems, especially at the application layer, and therefore interoperability is a technical solution that is required for a metaverse like vision.

wnkrshm 5y ago

If that t-shirt isn't created procedurally, then any interoperability between differently themed worlds will just make everything look like 2nd Life, since an artist would have to create another, similar shirt in a style that fits.

TheColorYellow 5y ago
Agreed that the procedural complication is not resolved. Soltuons that do make this problem go away is the next frontier in this conversation. I believe the path to those soltuons does lie on the road of ubiquitous and dynamic technical interoperabity for web applications.