The metaverse: An exciting digital future or a digital dystopia for manufacturing?

The metaverse has the air of a comic book. What is it, really? And why is it the subject of so much discussion in the manufacturing world? Today, the internet is accessed via the flat screens of our smartphones, tablets and laptops. We browse the web but are not immersed in it. Now imagine yourself in a virtual world, complete with your own avatar. You can socialize with friends and do nearly anything else you’d do in real life; this includes taking part in games, attending events, or even shopping. It’s an entire world that exists concurrently with the real world.