Matthew Ball: prediction

Transcript context

…Now, I’ve known a few people who don’t have email and don’t have any plausible social media substitute, but it’s really very few people at this point, especially in wealthier countries. What do you think is the most likely year where the same will be true for the metaverse? Like, yeah, some people aren’t in it, but you more or less have to be in it to be doing things. What’s your point estimate? I think the more important thing to observe is that they are on the internet. They’re just not actively on it. When you walk into most buildings today, of course, closed-circuit camera television is not working that way anymore — it’s actually on IP. When you badge into a building, your passcode authentication is over IP. The point-of-sale terminal is on the internet. Of course, most things that you do now require some form of digital identity, whether you manage it or not. This is important because there are many who believe that (a) they’re never going to want to play a game, (b) they’re never going to be interested in a VR headset, © they can’t see the practical applications of the metaverse, but most of it’s going to be behind the scenes. The Hong Kong international airport is now a real-time 3D simulation that is used to shape where you are in the airport. It’s tracking you in real-time. So, that answer is actually 2020 if you went through that airport. But most people don’t go through that airport. The world as a whole, the suburban housewife in southern Ohio, who was once the median voter — when will she just clearly be in the metaverse in a self-conscious way? If you asked her, “Do you have email?” she would say yes. “Are you in the metaverse?” She would say yes. Is that 2080? Is that 2040?…

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