In spite of the trend of working remotely gradually rising over the last 10 years or so, the Covid-19 pandemic really accelerated this process thanks to the introduction of social distancing. Thirty years ago, this transition probably wouldn’t have been possible, especially in such a relatively seamless manner. But thanks to advances in technology, communications, and internet speed, today many people are able to work from their homes without any issues. One of the major problems that we see when it comes to having employees working remotely is the lack of meaningful social connections. This can result in a reduced level of relationship bonds between managers and employees, as well as less communication between coworkers. But an equally important point, that is often left out of the conversation, is that of mental health issues that go hand in hand with social isolation.
Here at Next Earth we are in the early stages of building a metaverse platform. Part and parcel of this will be the facility for users to construct their own environments in a virtual setting. At some point we can envisage users creating different neighborhoods including many business hubs. This will be an interconnected environment where its users can socialize and work together, as well as collaborate on work and recreational projects.
The Cons of Working Remotely
On paper the idea of working remotely sounds like a no-brainer. But in practice, and due to the lack of physical proximity, there’s always going to be a silent space between coworkers. This can cause any number of difficulties in clear communication. And this can, in turn, result in less than optimal relationships. Many employees may also feel that there is a reduction in creativity as well. Then there’s the feeling that their work is going unnoticed. Of course, it’s going to be difficult to build cohesive work teams, as well as a corporate culture, unless there is the possibility of closer contact between everyone. We think that the metaverse can help to counteract these problems.
What is the Metaverse?
Imagine a virtual world which houses all sorts of businesses, services and entertainment along a busy street. You can take a stroll to the video streaming site of your choice and watch a movie with your friends. Afterwards you can head over to your social media platform and spend half an hour talking about the movie you’ve just seen. There are coffee shops to visit and it’s all virtual. Maybe you don’t even stroll, but simple teleport. Welcome to the metaverse. You can look at the metaverse as a virtual environment that is so interconnected that the user, presenting themselves as an avatar, can interact with every part of the virtual environment. Today you can see great examples of this if you head over to Roblox or VRChat. But keep in mind, both of these platforms are really exclusively for recreational purposes.
At Next Earth we believe in creating themes much more diverse than just for playing games. It’s true that many other metaverses have built themselves around recreational gaming, but we feel very strongly that the future lies in commerce and creating a real functional economy. After all, a virtual office contains so many more possibilities than a real one. The only thing that can hold someone back is simply a lack of imagination. So rather than today’s lifeless email as the main form of communication, or even video chat, how much better it would be to take a stroll down the street to their office, and have a chat over a virtual coffee. In the metaverse you could feasibly transport your whole office to another part of the globe, as well as being able to teleport yourself and your employees to any location of your choice.
I’m interested, let’s subscribe to the newsletter!
Things to Watch Out For
Thanks to the continuously evolving blockchain, it’s perfectly feasible to run a complete business on a metaverse platform. That’s because, by using blockchain technology, you will be able to create a safe and secure network allowing you to collaborate and share documents, track tasks, manage relationships with customers and employees, and look after your order book. Technology will seamlessly record everything on the blockchain and by using NFTs and their built-in smart contracts, you will be able to set up sales and business relationships as never before experienced in the business world. With the right technology, your metaverse office experience will be accessible, efficient and enjoyable. We look forward to streamlining in the way we presently communicate. Finally we should mention that training will take on a completely new complexion when viewed through the lens of the metaverse.
One of the problems with present-day metaverses is the fact that many of them only have access to their virtual environments by wearing a VR headset. These are relatively expensive and also quite clunky to use. Many users report getting dizzy or motion sickness, simply because they cannot have one eye on the physical world when they are in the virtual one. Next Earth we would like to develop a metaverse where a VR headset is superfluous. We want you to enjoy exactly the same level of immersion and ease of use, without such paraphernalia. Another thing we have no choice but to wait for is 5G. With increased internet speeds and bandwidth, metaverse projects can really start to shine and reach their full potential.
Step Into The Metaverse, Step Into The Future
With over a year’s experience of the increasingly popular use of having employees work remotely, we are now beginning to see flaws appearing in this methodology. What once seemed like a panacea to do away with the long boring daily commute, along with all those hours spent in a cubicle, has been shown to have some serious downsides. We believe that our Next Earth metaverse will provide the necessary elements to ensure that those who are working remotely can be both productive and healthy at the same time.
Newsletter: Subscribe
Website: Nextearth.io
Discord: Next Earth Community
Twitter: @NextEarth_
Telegram: Next Earth Chat
Next Earth 