Search Results (11)

The metaverse is a multidimensional reality space that represents the evolving interface between humans, digital systems, and spatial computing. This research aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of metaverse definitions and architectural frameworks through the analysis of academic literature. A systematic literature review of 103 peer-reviewed studies was conducted, from which 33 explicit definitions and 25 architectural models were selected for detailed analysis. A mixed-methods qualitative approach was employed, combining a systematic literature analysis, word frequency analysis, and a thematic analysis to develop an expanded conceptual and architectural understanding. The analysis of 33 definitions revealed eight recurring conceptual themes, which were synthesised into five overarching categories: conceptual and linguistic constructs, spatial-environmental design, technological orientation, economic and governance systems, and social and human interaction. A total of 25 studies proposing architectural models are categorised into three thematic groups: technology-based, domain-based and layered architectures. A significant contribution of this study is the categorisation and comparative evaluation of foundational architectural models, specifically the extensively referenced three-, four-, and five-layer frameworks. The findings are structured around two primary areas of focus: the conceptual definition and the comparative analysis of established metaverse architecture models, focusing on a set of well-established models that exhibit conceptual clarity, structural coherence, and widespread acceptance in the literature. This integrated methodological approach not only offers a dual-perspective analysis that bridges conceptualisation and system design but also introduces an analytical framework that supports future standardisation and governance discussions. Full article

The emergence of the AI era driven by Large Language Models (LLMs) and the next-generation high-definition multimedia interface for immersive technologies (AR/VR/metaverse) have created an unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth interconnects. While optical communication systems provide a broad bandwidth, their relatively low power efficiency continues to limit their deployment in new applications. This work addresses the power efficiency challenges in CMOS optical transceiver design, leveraging the inherent cost and integration advantages of CMOS technology. After outlining the design principles for low-power optical transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) design, we present a comprehensive design of a low-power optical transceiver chipset implemented in 28 nm CMOS. The Tx features a high-impedance asymmetric current-steering output stage with a stacked architecture that facilitates unipolar power supply operation for the efficient anode driving of a common-cathode VCSEL array and achieved a power efficiency of 1.59 pJ/bit. The Rx incorporates a tail-current-controlled Cherry–Hooper-based variable gain amplifier (VGA), which achieved a transimpedance gain that ranged from 68.4 to 78.5 dB$\Omega$ and a power efficiency of 1.06 pJ/bit. The Rx–Tx back-to-back measurements confirmed successful data transmission at 4 × 20 Gbps, which demonstrated an overall power efficiency of 2.65 pJ/bit. Full article

The metaverse is gradually expanding. There is a growing number of photo and video recordings of metaverse virtual worlds being used in multiple domains, and the collection of these recordings is a rapidly growing field. An essential element of the metaverse and its recordings is the concept of avatars. In this paper, we present the novel task of avatar detection in metaverse recordings, supporting semantic retrieval in collections of metaverse recordings and other use cases. Our work addresses the characterizations and definitions of avatars and presents a new model that supports avatar detection. The latest object detection algorithms are trained and tested on a variety of avatar types in metaverse recordings. Our work achieves a significantly higher level of accuracy than existing models, which encourages further research in this field. Full article

The year is 2030. The internet has evolved into the metaverse. People navigate through advanced avatars, shop in digital marketplaces, and connect with others through extended reality social media platforms. Three-dimensional patient scans, multidisciplinary tele-collaborations, digital twins and metaverse health records are part of clinical practices. Younger generations regularly immerse themselves in virtual worlds, playing games and attending social events in the metaverse. This sounds like a sci-fi movie, but as the world embraces immersive technologies post-COVID-19, this future is not too far off. This article aims to provide a foundational background to immersive technologies and their applications and discuss their potential for transforming healthcare and education. Moreover, this article will introduce the metaverse ecosystem and characteristics, and its potential for health prevention, treatment, education, and research. Finally, this article will explore the synergy between generative artificial intelligence and the metaverse. As younger generations of healthcare professionals embrace this digital frontier, the metaverse’s potential in healthcare is definitely attractive. Mainstream adoption may take time, but it is imperative that healthcare professionals be equipped with interdisciplinary skills to navigate the plethora of immersive technologies in the future of healthcare. Full article

In the context of Industry 5.0, the concept of the Metaverse aligns with the vision of Web 4.0, representing a digital ecosystem where individuals and organizations collaborate in a human-centric approach to create personalized value. This virtual universe connects multiple interconnected worlds, enabling real-time interactions between users and computer-generated environments. By integrating technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), the Metaverse within Industry 5.0 aims to foster innovation and enhance productivity, efficiency, and overall well-being through tailored and value-driven solutions. Therefore, this entry explores the concept of the Metaverse in the context of Industry 5.0, highlighting its definition, evolution, advantages, and disadvantages. It also discusses the pillars of technological advancement, challenges, and opportunities, including its integration into manufacturing. The entry concludes with a proposal for a conceptual framework for integrating the human-centric Metaverse into manufacturing. Full article

The metaverse-related content market is active and the demand for immersive content is increasing. However, there is no definition for granting copyrights to the content produced using artificial intelligence and discussions are still ongoing. We expect that the need for copyright protection for immersive content used in the metaverse environment will emerge and that related copyright protection techniques will be required. In this paper, we present the idea of 3D-to-2D watermarking so that content creators can protect the copyright of immersive content available in the metaverse environment. We propose an immersive content copyright protection using a deep neural network (DNN), a neural network composed of multiple hidden layers, and a forensic watermark. Full article

With the expansion of the digital environment and the metaverse, and the intervention of artificial intelligence, interaction in the virtual world is becoming more active. Humans are discussing the social reality of the user experience in this virtual space. Technology has created an object called a human-like digital human to enhance human immersion in the metaverse. This will become a factor that improves immersion so that the experience of the virtual world becomes more intimate for humans who feel unfamiliarity, alienation, and the rejection of new technologies. However, a clear definition, expression, and approach to the digital human are still being continuously improved. This article studied the direction of improvement in factors that can improve immersion in the user experience. In the process of communication between humans and digital humans, a qualitative survey was conducted based on the five human senses, where the user experience of the digital human was central. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 men and women regarding their digital human experience, targeting Generation Z, who are familiar with the digital environment. Using NVIVO, global qualitative research software, 1000 main frequency words were derived, and the top 20 words with the highest frequency were classified into emotions and the five senses to analyze their correlation. As a result, we found that the mental models of developers and users are different in the digital human experience. Users felt more comfortable and a higher degree of intimacy when they saw the digital human as a technology, and the technology that the developer was showing was more focused on the external aspects that look similar to a human. It was found that, in order for users to immerse themselves in the digital human, various non-verbal expressions using the five senses should be further developed, rather than focusing on the human-like appearance. This study intends to serve as a cornerstone for research that can improve immersion in digital humans, with a high potential for future development. Full article

The term Metaverse has received much attention in various industries, in society, and, increasingly, in scientific communities. This creates demand for a comprehensive and broadly accepted definition of the subject, which is well grounded in research. At the same time, the Metaverse is rather a vision under evolution than an examinable phenomenon. Therefore, this study applied an adapted version of the meta-synthesis method to analyze the existing literature and distill a proposal for a Metaverse definition. The adapted method takes the nature of the subject into account by weighing younger publications with many citations over older, less influential documents. Initially, 47 publications were fed into the process, of which 24 were left after the primary analysis. As a result of the analysis, the following definition is proposed: “The Metaverse is an interconnected web of ubiquitous virtual worlds partly overlapping with and enhancing the physical world. These virtual worlds enable users represented by avatars to connect and interact with each other, to experience and consume user-generated content in an immersive, scalable, synchronous and persistent environment. An economic system provides incentives for contributing to the Metaverse.” The meta-synthesis method ensures a systematic and reproducible approach while at the same time preserving the original voice and notion of the analyzed literature in order to create new knowledge based on the existing literature; thus the proposed Metaverse definition might serve as a helpful foundation for future research. Full article

With continuing developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robot technology, ethical issues related to digital humans, AI avatars, intelligent process automation, robots, cyborgs, and autonomous vehicles are emerging, and the need for cultural and social sustainability through AI ethics is increasing. Moreover, as the use of video conferencing and metaverse platforms has increased due to COVID-19, ethics concepts and boundaries related to information and communications technology, cyber etiquette, AI ethics, and robot ethics have become more ambiguous. Because the definitions of ethics domains may be confusing due to the various types of computing platforms available, this paper attempts to classify these ethics domains according to three main platforms: computing devices, intermediary platforms, and physical computing devices. This classification provides a conceptual ethics framework that encompasses computer ethics, information ethics, cyber ethics, robot ethics, and AI ethics. Several examples are provided to clarify the boundaries between the various ethics and platforms. The results of this study can be the educational basis for the sustainability of society on ethical issues according to the development of technology. Full article

The complexity of interrelationships between urban natural environments and human environments is increasing with rapid urbanization. This brings new challenges to urban modeling and simulation in simultaneously meeting the comprehensive needs of the dual integration of data and models, multi-type visualizations, human-centered simulation, geographic collaboration, and interactions between physical and virtual spaces. We here propose virtual geographic environments (VGEs) as a new platform of urban modeling and simulation. After discussing the evolution, definition, and features of VGEs, we design a VGE framework for urban system modeling and simulation. Two typical cases are provided to illustrate how VGEs support urban modeling and simulation on different scales: VGE-based collaborative modeling and the simulation of air pollution dispersion in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration, and fire emergency crowd evacuation simulation. In the future, VGEs may also play an important role in digital twin cities and urban metaverses. Full article

Since 2021, big tech companies have been interested in metaverse platforms and services. Metaverse is the permanent, immersive mixed-reality world where people and people and people and objects can synchronously interact, collaborate, and live beyond the limitations of time and space, using avatars and the immersion-supporting devices, platforms, and infrastructures. On metaverse platforms, people can merge the real world and the virtual world. Because the metaverse has only recently begun to be studied, there are only dozens of studies on the metaverse published in qualified academic journals. There are few empirical studies on the extent to which metaverse platforms will be accommodated in the lives of information system users from an integrated perspective. Therefore, this paper aimed to empirically verify user acceptance of metaverse platforms by referring the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). This study was conducted in two stages. (1) The concept and research trends of the metaverse platform were examined, and (2) the UTAUT model was introduced in “Ifland”, one of the metaverse platforms, to verify its acceptance of information system users. I conducted a laboratory experiment while complying with the quarantine rules. Participants were required to watch a 15 min lecture on artificial intelligence on the metaverse platform “Ifland” for a sufficient time, then they discussed the impacts of artificial intelligence with others in the lecture. A total of 120 valid data points, excluding insincere responses, were collected, and hypotheses were verified through PLS analysis. Results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence of the metaverse platform significantly increased satisfaction, usage intention, purchase intention, and word-of-mouth intention. Facilitating conditions had no significant impact on satisfaction. The results of this study provide implications for how the metaverse platform should be designed and what factors should be emphasized to increase user acceptance of metaverse platforms. Full article