The term “immersive internet” refers to what I believe will be the next step in the evolution of the online environment. It’s about going beyond flat web pages, images and videos to create experiences that are more engaging and conducive to shared interaction and collaboration. It will include technologies such as augmented reality (AR and virtual reality (VR).
Am I talking about metaverse? Well, you can call it that if you want. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the term, which has become extremely publicized and loaded with many connotations.
It is a fact, however, that the Internet is constantly evolving – from static web pages to the social web and the mobile web. As it evolves, I think the focus will be on immersive experiences that allow users to interact and engage with each other in much richer ways. When you cut out the corporate hype, I think that’s what people really mean when they talk about the metaverse anyway. But I think the term “immersive internet” will become more common.
With that in mind, here are some of the stepping stones we will take in 2024 as we move toward that future.
Generative AI
The biggest tech sensation of 2023 (and arguably beyond) has many applications that match the immersive and engaging online experiences that will be created in 2024. An obvious use case is the production of environments, artworks art and other assets that make up digital worlds. Mark Zuckerberg himself has said that he sees the potential to reduce the time it takes designers to create 3D environments. Another solution is to create people and characters to populate the worlds – from customer service chatbots to realistic characters in entertainment-oriented experiences who will speak to you as if they were human. Made work Incorporating realistic, speaking characters into existing video game virtual worlds is an indicator of where this could go.
Multi-sensory technology
Immersive online experiences can engage users through screens and headset-mounted speakers, but for the feeling of actually being there, nothing beats the ability to reach out and touch the world around you. Device makers are working on haptic gloves that provide sensations of weight or pressure to convince the user that they are manipulating objects in the world around them. Others are working on devices that fill other missing senses, like smell, by passing scented vapors through a mask. Full-body suits are also being prototyped and brought to market, and we can expect more progress in this area throughout 2024 as manufacturers create devices that enhance the feeling of immersion in digital worlds.
Mixed reality – AR and VR convergence
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are distinct technologies that play an important role in building an immersive Internet. But put together, they have even more potential. For example, consider a live concert that also features a parallel digital twin as a virtual event. The virtual audience could enjoy the show through VR headsets, while in-person attendees could put on AR glasses and see the virtual attendees standing in the audience alongside them. This convergence of immersive technologies to create mixed reality environments where the barriers between the real and the digital are blurred will become increasingly common.
More powerful, versatile or lighter devices
This year, we finally saw the launch of Apple’s flagship VR device at a price that positions it as a tool for creatives or a toy for the very well-off. Next year will see new devices from Meta (the Quest 3 as well as a high-end headset known as Project Cambria) as well as potentially AR glasses from Apple. Some, like Apple Glasses, will attempt to offer new experiences, while others, like Project Cambria, will aim for a more premium and refined experience. Others will focus on lightness and simplicity, knowing that many people still view the size and weight of current headsets as a barrier to adoption.
Immersive training and education
Outside of gaming and entertainment, the most common applications of VR and AR technologies are in training. According to the companies interviewed by PWC By 2022, VR trainees absorb knowledge four times faster than classroom learners and are 275% more confident when it comes to applying skills learned in training in the real world. Businesses are leading the way in creating virtual learning environments and immersive training programs, and in 2024 we will continue to see growth in platforms allowing smaller organizations to get involved in this trend as well.
Immersive retail
Many brands are now using augmented reality to allow us to virtually try on glasses, clothes or see what products such as furniture and paint will look like in our own environment. As user interfaces and experiences become more streamlined in 2024, we can expect to see more refined and feature-rich mixed reality retail experiences emerge. Simultaneously, offline stores are integrating online retail elements into their in-store experience, attempting to merge the flexibility and convenience of online shopping with the physical environment.
Teamwork
Online platforms for teams to collaborate and work together remotely will become more immersive and useful in 2024. Remote and distributed work is more popular than ever, but there are still aspects of face-to-face communications that are difficult to reproduce. As a result, mixed reality collaborative work tools will increasingly leverage virtual reality and augmented reality to capture and express the more subtle aspects of interaction that translate poorly to video calls.
Immersive customer experience
This trend aims to generate more immersion and engagement at every stage of the customer journey. From the moment we begin reviewing marketing materials and deciding to make a purchase through delivery, use, and interaction with support and after-sales services. As the immersive internet rolls out, we will see virtual reality and augmented reality become a more frequent part of the marketing and sales process and brands will invest in creating virtual environments where they can interact with buyers to help them to solve their problems, thus encouraging them to take the plunge. from customer status to lifelong fans.
Sex and the immersive Internet
It is well known that pornography and cybersex are among the major drivers of Internet adoption and commercialization. It would therefore be naive to think that they will be less popular in a more immersive and experiential Internet. After all, the immersive Internet will be built on the principle of enabling more intimate interactions. VR pornography has been available for years, but immersive online spaces also have the potential to allow couples separated by distance or people with disabilities limiting their activities in the physical world to experiment and develop sexual relationships.
Online security
The Internet as it exists today can often be a hostile, discriminatory and dangerous space. There is therefore no reason to think that a more immersive Internet, where interactions seem more real, will be safer. This means that careful consideration must be given to the procedures and safeguards that mitigate the risk of harm. Today, children in school learn about the dangers online and learn how to avoid dangers such as cyberbullying or misinformation. Developing strategies to apply this protective behavior to tomorrow’s more immersive and realistic online environments will increasingly be part of the conversation in 2024.
You can learn more about future technology and business trends in my books, The future Internet: how the metaverse, Web 3.0 and blockchain will transform business and society, Future Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World And Business trends in practicewhich won the 2022 Business Book of the Year award. And don’t forget to subscribe my newsletter and follow me X (Twitter), LinkedInAnd Youtube to learn more about future trends in business and technology.