After 2030, tech development will be mature enough to make holographic digital universes ready for broad application, thanks in large part to widespread 5G adoption in Asia-Pacific countries including Thailand.
According to Chawapol Jariyawiroj, president of Huawei Thailand, extended reality (XR) technology and wireless 5G connectivity will be important to metaverses, that is, virtual worlds experienced through augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets.
5G technology is touted as a critical element in reshaping the world, but it doesn’t offer full solutions on its own. Several future technologies are expected to rely on 5G and XR to enable metaverses.
“In the near future, entering the [digital world] will not only [be done through] mobile phones but also many other devices,” he said.
Over the next decade, metaverse technology will create virtual spaces that are more immersive and realistic than ever before, providing people with unique ways to connect across work, home and play, he said.
Dr Chawapol was speaking during the Bangkok Post Tech Conference 2022, which had the theme of “Metaverse gold rush: An opportunity to reshape the world”.
He said that 5G technology, which Thailand has already begun to implement, has come to make metaverses a reality and shape the world.
Since the commercial deployment of 5G connectivity, VR/AR technology development has been growing rapidly, he said. VR/AR technology will not only serve as a source of entertainment but also play important roles in the future of the digital industry, he said.
As use of the technology grows, VR/AR will gradually be supported by 5G and cloud computing. Initial applications now focus mainly on entertainment but second-stage metaverse functions are expected to introduce the use of 5G, cloud and artificial intelligence.
“So, it is predicted that development of the technology will be seen until 2030,” Dr Chawapol said.
He said metaverse technology will accelerate digital interactions. Currently, XR technology is geared towards streaming or unidirectional activity. However, with the metaverse concept, users can have real-time interactions with others, bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds, Dr Chawapol said.
“The advent of metaverse drives the need for three technology layers to be developed faster starting with connectivity, such as 5G and fibre; the platform, such as cloud; AI; and the accessing technology, which is VR/AR,” he said.
Huawei joined the Metaverse Standard Forum to help drive the metaverse into reality in the future.
“Huawei certainly believes that metaverse will be the key technology to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure in the future,” Dr Chawapol said.