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Explication and Rational Conceptualization of Metaverse

메타버스 해석과 합리적 개념화

  • Received : 2021.08.05
  • Accepted : 2021.08.24
  • Published : 2021.09.30
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Abstract

This article reviews previous literature on the metaverse and attempts to provide a refined definition for this phenomenon. Metaverse has recently been in the spotlight among discussions by the industry and the media while a consensus on the exact definition of metaverse is yet to be determined. Since Neal Stephenson first coined the term metaverse in his novel "Snow Crash" in 1992, the Acceleration Studies Foundation (ASF) was the first to analyze the concept of metaverse in 2007. While ASF's effort did not receive much spotlight it may have deserved, metaverse gained much attention in the fall of 2020 when NVIDIA announced its real-time simulation and collaboration platform for 3D production named "Omniverse" as a next-generation alternative for the Internet along with Roblox defining its service as metaverse during its IPO. Since then, metaverse has been commonly recognized as a world where we can cross over reality and virtuality. Based on the two axes and four scenarios proposed by the ASF, we review the literature across four realms as follows - virtual reality, mirror world, augmented reality, and lifelogging. Then, we examine the issues with the existing definition of metaverse and propose an alternative explanation by focusing on human behavior and user experience. Finally, we reassess the concept of metaverse and incorporate human communication, reality-based and virtual-based activities, and eXtended reality as elements to properly define metaverse.

개념 정리도 되지 않은 채, 언론과 업계에서는 메타버스에 대한 다양한 논의가 진행 중이다. 스티븐슨(Neal Stephenson)의 소설 '스노우 크래쉬(Snow Crash, 1992)'에서 용어가 처음 사용된 이래로, 미국의 미래가속화연구재단(Acceleration Studies Foundation: ASF)이 2007년 메타버스 개념을 처음 정리했지만 이후 메타버스는 오랫동안 주목을 받지 못했다. 그러나 2020년 가을 엔비디아(NVIDIA)가 실시간 3D 시각화 협업 플랫폼 '옴니버스(Omniverse)'를 소개하며 제2의 인터넷으로 메타버스를 설명하고, 로블록스(Roblox)가 기업공개(IPO)를 하며 자사의 서비스를 메타버스로 설명하면서, 메타버스는 현실과 가상의 경계를 넘나드는 새로운 세상으로 인식하게 됐다. 이 연구는 어느새 미디어와 콘텐츠를 넘어 새로운 삶의 공간으로 그려지는 메타버스에 대한 다양한 논의를 정리하고, 메타버스에 대한 새로운 정의를 제안하고자 한다. 메타버스의 의미를 설명하기 위해서 ASF가 제안한 두 개의 축과 네 개의 시나리오를 중심으로 가상세계, 거울세계, 증강현실, 라이프로깅의 의미를 다양한 연구를 통해 연구를 통해 정리한 후에, 메타버스 설명의 문제점을 비판하고 대안으로 인간 중심, 사용자 중심의 메타버스 정의로 인간 커뮤니케이션, 현실, 비현실 경험, 그리고 확장현실을 제안하며, 메타버스에 대한 재개념화를 시도했다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2018S1A5A2A01031380)

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