With the advent of virtual environments and communities, the metaverse has been rapidly expanding in recent years as businesses and industries have begun to see the value and opportunities this technology provides. In order to ensure this technology is utilized to its full potential, further study on the best practices, challenges, and future directions is required. The Research Anthology on Virtual Environments and Building the Metaverse considers the latest research regarding the metaverse and discusses potential issues and benefits of the technology. The book also examines strategies and tactics businesses and companies can use when implementing the metaverse into their operations. Covering key topics such as immersion, augmented reality, and virtual worlds, this major reference work is ideal for computer scientists, business owners, managers, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

This book addresses recent research trends concerning the role of the Metaverse in advancing the education and finance sectors from various perspectives. These trends are explored through multiple case studies employing diverse analytical approaches. The chapters aim to aid scholars and postgraduate students in pursuing future research in this domain and identifying potential developments in Metaverse applications.

“A fascinating, provocative case that the metaverse will not merely transform our virtual experience—it may actually enrich the quality of our lives” (Adam Grant)—from the visionary co-founder of one of today’s most innovative technology companies “This important book offers a highly persuasive argument that the metaverse, a new kind of virtual world, marks a profound next stage in this long human quest for fulfillment through creation.”—Chris Anderson, head of TED The concept of “the metaverse” has exploded in the public consciousness, but its contours remain elusive. Is it merely an immersive virtual reality playground, one that Facebook and other platforms will angle to control? Is it simply the next generation of massive multiplayer online games? Or is it something more revolutionary? As pioneering technologist Herman Narula shows, the metaverse is the latest manifestation of an ancient human tendency: the act of worldbuilding. From the Egyptians, whose conception of death inspired them to build the pyramids, to modern-day sports fans, whose passion for a game inspires extreme behavior, humans have long sought to supplement their day-to-day lives with a rich diversity of alternative experiences. Rooting his vision in history and psychology, Narula argues that humans’ intrinsic need for autonomy, accomplishment, and connection can best be met in virtual “worlds of ideas,” where users have the chance to create and exchange meaning and value. The metaverse is both the growing set of fulfilling digital experiences—ranging from advanced gaming to concerts and other entertainment events and even to virtual employment—and the empowering framework that allows these spaces to become “networks of useful meaning.” Bloomberg Intelligence recently predicted that the metaverse will become an $800 billon industry by 2024. But its implications, argues Narula, will lead to far more awe-inspiring possibilities than a spigot of cash. The arrival of the metaverse marks the beginning of a new age of exploration—not outward, but inward—with the potential to reshape society and open the door to a new understanding of the human species and its capabilities. Rigorously researched and passionately argued, Virtual Society is a provocative and essential guide for anyone who wants to go beyond superficial headlines to understand the true contours and potential of our virtual future.

This book is divided into three parts. The first part discusses the Metaverse's basics, development, and optional applications such as 3D virtual dressing room-based user-friendly Metaverse, the use of Metaverse in the healthcare and environment sectors as well as the ethics of the Metaverse and digital virtual environments. Part two presents some chapters that discuss emerging technologies in the Metaverse world including IoT, digital twining, and artificial intelligence and shows its impact on climate change. The third part contains chapters discussing cybersecurity in the Metaverse including blockchain technology opportunities and applications and the threat of the digital humanities in the Metaverse. The book is suitable for students and academics aiming to build up their background on the Future of the Metaverse in the Virtual Era and Physical World.

Three-dimensional (3D) immersive virtual worlds have been touted as being capable of facilitating highly interactive, engaging, multimodal learning experiences. Much of the evidence gathered to support these claims has been anecdotal but the potential that these environments hold to solve traditional problems in online and technology-mediated education—primarily learner isolation and student disengagement—has resulted in considerable investments in virtual world platforms like Second Life, OpenSimulator, and Open Wonderland by both professors and institutions. To justify this ongoing and sustained investment, institutions and proponents of simulated learning environments must assemble a robust body of evidence that illustrates the most effective use of this powerful learning tool. In this authoritative collection, a team of international experts outline the emerging trends and developments in the use of 3D virtual worlds for teaching and learning. They explore aspec ts of learner interaction with virtual worlds, such as user wayfinding in Second Life, communication modes and perceived presence, and accessibility issues for elderly or disabled learners. They also examine advanced technologies that hold potential for the enhancement of learner immersion and discuss best practices in the design and implementation of virtual world-based learning interventions and tasks. By evaluating and documenting different methods, approaches, and strategies, the contributors to Learning in Virtual Worlds offer important information and insight to both scholars and practitioners in the field.

As industries are rapidly being digitalized and information is being more heavily stored and transmitted online, the security of information has become a top priority in securing the use of online networks as a safe and effective platform. With the vast and diverse potential of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, it has become easier than ever to identify cyber vulnerabilities, potential threats, and the identification of solutions to these unique problems. The latest tools and technologies for AI applications have untapped potential that conventional systems and human security systems cannot meet, leading AI to be a frontrunner in the fight against malware, cyber-attacks, and various security issues. However, even with the tremendous progress AI has made within the sphere of security, it’s important to understand the impacts, implications, and critical issues and challenges of AI applications along with the many benefits and emerging trends in this essential field of security-based research. Research Anthology on Artificial Intelligence Applications in Security seeks to address the fundamental advancements and technologies being used in AI applications for the security of digital data and information. The included chapters cover a wide range of topics related to AI in security stemming from the development and design of these applications, the latest tools and technologies, as well as the utilization of AI and what challenges and impacts have been discovered along the way. This resource work is a critical exploration of the latest research on security and an overview of how AI has impacted the field and will continue to advance as an essential tool for security, safety, and privacy online. This book is ideally intended for cyber security analysts, computer engineers, IT specialists, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in AI applications in the realm of security research.