The explosion of technology into our everyday lives is so massive that most people cannot Imagine a life without a technological device. Smartphones, computers etc., are all born out of unique reasons to make life better and more efficient.
So many smart technologies have been developed, including web applications, to meet the everyday needs of consumers on a large scale.
Due to the significant advances in the field of computer processing, biometric sensors were created as a means of identification and recognition of humans, which is based on their physical and biological attributes.
These attributes include fingerprints, iris, facial images and voice recognition. From web2, also regarded as the ‘read/write web’ where users communicate in real-time with servers, post comments, edit pages and communicate with other users, the evolution of modern technology is proceeding to web3, also regarded as ‘read-write own’ mode that uses blockchains, NFTs and cryptocurrencies to empower users in the form of ownership.
It is decentralized; no permission is required to access the web, uses cryptocurrencies to send and spend money online, doesn’t rely on third-party involvement and makes use of data that cannot be altered, leaked or stolen.
What is a metaverse?
We all spend a quality amount of our time daily on the internet. As of 2023, 64.4% of the world’s population uses the internet. Now imagine if this invincible network of data becomes something you can see and interact with.
Instead of watching your friend’s pictures or videos on Instagram and Snapchat, you can interact with them in real-time.
Instead of watching through a screen, you can immerse yourself in that environment. This is where the metaverse comes in. the term ‘Metaverse’ was coined by the American writer Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel, ‘Snow Crash’.
He describes the metaverse in his novel as a vast digital universe alongside the real world. Metaverse is a concept that has already been with us as it concerns the digital world.
The term is coined from two Greek words, meta, which means beyond and verse which stands for the universe.
The metaverse is a virtual reality environment where users can communicate with a computer-generated environment and other participants. In the long run, it will act as a 3D version of the internet.
The metaverse is rapidly expanding; we see the ultra-fast internet connection, virtual reality head gear etc. People that own cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and virtual reality hardware are already part of the metaverse.
Although the metaverse is vaster than just a video game, it appears that the gaming world has fully embraced it. An example is the online game, ‘FORTNITE’.
In July 2021, Mark Zuckerberg staked Facebook features on the metaverse. He even renamed the company Meta to prove his seriousness. Other companies are also working on their metaverse subsets, Disney, NFL, Gucci, Coca-Cola, Roblox etc.
In simple terms, the metaverse is like an online space or spaces for people to travel, socialize, work and play as ‘Avatars’ (Digital representations of their identities).
Unlike in a zoom chat, the spaces don’t disappear when you are done, and they remain for other users to come on board and carry out their own business.
The metaverse is like a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, high-speed internet connections and a notion of some virtual space that people can occupy.
It is regarded by some in the tech industry as the next stage of the internet as it describes the future version of the internet made up of persistent, shared 3D virtual spaces linked to a perceived virtual universe.
Think of the metaverse as an internet you are inside rather than the ones we currently have, where you look at it through a screen.
Metaverse refers to a collection of virtual reality rooms connected to a perceived virtual universe similar to the internet. Users basically do things they could do in the real world in a digital environment.
This goes the same way in a blockchain-based metaverse where users can engage in activities online. The metaverse offers mind-blowing virtual experiences like gaming, virtual music concerts, interaction on a whole new level etc.
The significance of the metaverse will be highly appreciated, given the pandemic, where movements and gatherings are restricted. People can actually be in an office environment when they are actually working from home.
Just put on a pair of virtual headgear, and boom! you’re in an office-like generated environment. However, like every other technological advancement, the metaverse has two sides.
In as much as it promises to improve and expand our experiences effectively, there’s the probability of higher costs, privacy violations etc.
We must buckle up for the unlimited good and bad possibilities. Let’s take a look at the benefits of the metaverse.
The pros of metaverse.
- Equal access to lifelike or unattainable experiences for the masses.
- Interactions using more accurate virtual representations of physical objects.
- Shared virtual experiences in real time with associates regardless of physical distance and geographical barriers.
- Work collaboration with colleagues as if you were in the same real life space.
- It presents new business opportunities to connect and interact with potential customers with computerized commerce and virtual economy.
- Metaverse upgrades social media channels by replacing two-dimensional applications with a graphically rich virtual environment that enables virtual face-to-face interaction.
- Another amazing feature of the metaverse is a deep virtual situation, which makes learning more engaging and improves our educational sector. Given the pandemic, this would have saved us from many bumps.
- Let us not forget its suitability with blockchains. The progress of blockchain technology through the metaverse is also a significant one. These include the widespread use of NFTs and cryptocurrencies, blockchain gaming and other decentralized financial applications.
The cons of metaverse
- Limited participation for some users who struggle with fully immersed experiences with technology or cryptocurrency.
- Increased cost for individuals buying the technology needed to participate. Obviously, not everyone will be able to afford the smart technology required.
- Likelihood of inappropriate behaviours such as virtual bullying, cybercrimes and privacy violations. Also, the issue of security concerns and potential points of compromise, identity theft, fraud etc.
- Metaverse addictiveness for those looking to escape reality. There will be a lot of possibilities of people getting hooked on it so much that they lose actual relationships and communication skills.
Imagine having a virtual birthday party with a virtual cake, and when the session is over, you’re back to reality where you have no friends. The addiction leads to losing connection with the physical world, further blurring the gap between the real world and the virtual space.
- Another point to note is evident concern about the potential social and cultural impacts. Metaverse might establish new patterns that degrade real-world human behaviours and negatively impact our cultural and societal values.
- Psychological studies have indicated that intense involvement in the digital world causes a separation from the real world which would in turn, increase the likelihood of being permanently divorced from reality, leading to symptoms close to psychosis and depression.
- There will be an issue of discrimination between those who have the resources to acquire and use the hardware/digital tools needed to access the metaverse and the less fortunate people who cannot afford it. Metaverse should be made so that it will be easy to manage and secure.
What is Biometrics?
This is the latest and perhaps the most reliable innovation in identity and access management. Biometrics is a process that uses users’ distinct biological or physiological characteristics to verify their requests.
It uses characteristics such as fingerprints, face structure, iris, behaviours (for example, your walking steps) called ‘Gait-recognition’, voice, vascular recognition etc., to ensure your identity.
The introduction of biometrics in the metaverse answers a lot of questions as it concerns security, and the assurance of protected personal data in the open virtual space is resolved.
Biometrics is a subset of the larger category of identity management. It is a credible and fast technology used for identification, determined by matching the data (either physical or behavioural) against data in the shared verifiable credentials.
It is now widespread among consumers, private sectors, government agencies, law enforcement agencies etc. and has alleviated many of the data privacy issues that these sectors worry about.
Biometrics also harmonise with decentralized identity as it accelerates its adoption and can be used while preserving security and privacy.
With biometrics, we witness a combination of physical and behavioural traits with the necessary devices to enable a seamless, intelligent and secured authentication method.
Reports have shown that current developments in biometric technology have been noted to measure complicated inputs for verification, such modalities as a palm or finger vein pattern, a heart, palate or odour.
According to research, the most credible biometric verification techniques include; Iris scanning and face recognition with liveness detection, as it helps distinguish the original photos from deep fakes or masks.
Ultimately, the choice of which biometrics modality to go for depends on the need you want to meet and how convenient it is for you, the consumer.
Biometric verification for the Metaverse
There are several roles and significance that come with the merging of blockchain and biometrics. A blockchain is a basis for immutable ledgers or records of transactions that cannot be altered or destroyed. Blockchain denotes the storage of data in blocks that are linked together in one chain.
Biometrics, on its own, offers credible and reliable identity verification, which can be applied to securing the identities of metaverse users to enhance the distribution of digital identity schemes.
Biometrics verification makes it easier to secure and manage users’ data and issues revolving around fraudulent exploitations in the metaverse while providing utility for users around the globe (in order words, safeguarding the users’ piece of information).
This further improves the security of users in the metaverse space. This process (Biometric verification) works in such a way that your facial features are scanned. Then this biometric data is used to create an Avatar after a KYC provider verifies it.
The benefits of the use of Biometric verification in the metaverse
There are several benefits, among which include the following;
- Users own their data and gain access control to grant permission for services to access their data.
- Avatar creation is provided using the biometric data supplied.
- Authentication
- Verified user interactions are made secure and sovereign. They are also being stored on the blockchain and other sovereign decentralized clouds.
- Since no two individuals may have similar biological features, biometric authentication securely minimizes the chances of identity theft to a large extent.
- Biometrics is at the centre of developing secure digital identities in the metaverse because it offers an easy way for people to prove their identity without passwords or pin codes. Rather it relies on a unique biological or behavioural parameter, and unlike passwords and codes, it cannot be guessed or stolen.
Biometric verification in the metaverse will solve a lot of identity theft problems and cybercrimes. It can easily detect hackers who use phishing tactics to gain sensitive information while targeting the entire system.
Nothing beats biometrics when it comes to securing digital identities in the metaverse. Biometric checks can ensure that the metaverse devices like UR goggles have not been switched; it also promotes the user experience in the metaverse as it ensures fast, easier transactions and is applied in various customer verification processes.
The additional behavioural data recorded can provide users with real-life experiences and interactions on the metaverse. It creates a custom-based experience and allows users who are not tech-savvy to participate and not feel left out.
Although the metaverse is still in its infancy, Biometric verification has been deployed into a lot of projects that will be a subset of it.
Several projects, like the Humanode human-powered blockchain, use a consensus mechanism built on biometric verification. This biometric application to humanode grants the metaverse and other decentralized applications (DAppS) permission to integrate and enable unique online identities.
Another role biometric identification plays in the humanode project is ensuring that the person who signs into the metaverse is the right person and is not a robot using FaceTec’s facial recognition.
The FaceTec biometric contributes to Avatar’s cryptocurrency project based on the total wallet data collected from various blockchains.
Also, the institute of blockchain technology (IBTC) recently teamed up with iris recognition provider, IriTech, which gave birth to the decentralized identity data hub (DIDH) that runs on the blockchain.
IriTech’s features will assist users in recovering their accounts on the metaverse without revealing them to security risks. Over the years, biometrics has made massive progress and achievements towards its purpose of making our transactions secure, private and coherent.
It has significant potential in the future of the metaverse and security technology. It is rapidly expanding, and a credible and reliable form of authentication comes with it.
Although many challenges and threats will follow suit, several developments and efforts are being put into creating the metaverse to ensure the risks are reduced to a minimum.
