Germany's Resurgence of Interest in the Metaverse: Exploring Public and Industrial Applications
Summary:
Germany is experiencing a revived interest in the metaverse, with government bodies and research institutions exploring its potential applications in public administration, industrial processes, and various other sectors. Initiatives like the CyberLänd project and Metaverse Lab highlight the focused efforts to understand the societal, industrial, and political potential of the metaverse. Although challenges concerning data security, hardware limitations, and legal uncertainties exist, the country is making significant strides in harnessing metaverse technologies for enhanced innovation and connectivity.
The metaverse, once regarded as the next evolution of human engagement, appeared to lose its momentum after an initial burst of interest. Its failure to establish a strong foothold was primarily due to its unclear financial gains, vague promises, and expensive hardware required. Nevertheless, in Germany, there is a resurgent interest in the technology. Research institutions and government bodies see the potential for metaverse technologies to transform various sectors including public administration, industrial processes, and social interaction.
Built upon a fusion of blockchain, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, big data, spatial computing, and digital twins, the metaverse offers an immersive virtual space filled with prospects. It stands to revolutionize connectivity and innovation across multiple sectors, bridging the gap between the digital and physical world. Germany aims to unlock this potential by focusing on practical applications of metaverse technologies in public service and industry.
According to Günter Wenzel, the leader of the Building Culture Innovation research team at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, the metaverse has tangible benefits for public administrations and governments. They can seamlessly integrate their services with the metaverse, allowing citizens to connect with public services efficiently. Users can access these services via a smartphone, desktop, VR or AR glasses, ensuring secure transactions and communication using cryptography technology.
In this context, Wenzel envisions government agencies providing services not from physical counters, but via the metaverse. For tasks like managing city infrastructure or real estate, a digital twin of a building can be generated to facilitate AI-driven processes like monitoring, maintenance, marketing, and construction. While it isn't simple to validate whether these enhancements will make the administration more efficient, ongoing testing and research efforts suggest that immersive technologies can effectively improve administrative services.
For instance, a joint venture, comprising the Ministry of the Interior and Sport in Lower Saxony, the University of Münster, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, has presented the advantages of using immersive technologies in public administration. A project named "Extended Reality" is also underway in Lower Saxony, which explores the potential of XR technologies in public services.
However, implementing these technologies also comes with challenges including data protection, cybersecurity, and impact on employee health. Ensuring availability and suitability of headsets and educating employees and citizens to facilitate long-term, sustainable use are additional responsibilities.
Several German states including Lower Saxony are investigating the benefits of metaverse technologies. A prominent initiative in this regard has been the CyberLänd project, which focuses on understanding the societal, industrial, and political impact of the metaverse. Other initiatives include the Metaverse Lab in Heilbronn, which provides educational exposure and practical use cases for individuals and companies.
Meanwhile, corporate giants like Siemens Energy are tapping into the potential of the metaverse for development and production purposes. In partnership with Sony, Siemens aims to leverage the metaverse to streamline the design process. Similarly, BMW is working on a digital factory based on Nvidia's Omniverse platform, where construction will start only after extensive design and digital model validation.
Despite the challenges like data security, legal uncertainties, and hardware constraints, many believe the metaverse holds considerable potential. With careful planning, training, and collaboration among government bodies, industries, and researchers, these obstacles can be overcome. While the metaverse is still evolving, existing technologies and business models can be exploited to develop and implement more application-specific solutions.
Published At
4/6/2024 4:17:00 PM
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