The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Is the metaverse really the future of work?

  • Written by Ben Egliston, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology
Is the metaverse really the future of work?

According to Mark Zuckerberg, the “metaverse” – which the Meta founder describes[1] as “an embodied internet, where instead of just viewing content – you are in it” – will radically change our lives.

So far, Meta’s main metaverse product is a virtual reality playground called Horizon Worlds. When Zuckerberg announced his company’s metaverse push in October 2021, the prevailing sentiment was that it was something nobody had asked for, nor particularly wanted[2].

Read more: What is the metaverse? A high-tech plan to Facebookify the world[3]

Many of us wondered what people would actually do in this new online realm. Last week, amid announcements of new hardware, software, and business deals, Zuckerberg presented an answer: the thing people will do in the metaverse is work[4].

But who is this for? What are the implications of using these new technologies in the workplace? And will it all be as rosy as Meta promises?

The future of work?

The centrepiece of last week’s Meta Connect[5] event was the announcement of the Quest Pro headset for virtual and augmented reality. Costing US$1,499 (~A$2,400), the device has new features including the ability to track the user’s eyes and face.

The Quest Pro will also use outward-facing cameras to let users see the real world around them (with digital add-ons).

Meta’s presentation showed this function in use for work. It depicted a user sitting among several large virtual screens – what it has previously dubbed “Infinite Office[6]”. As Meta technical chief Andrew Bosworth put it[7], “Eventually, we think the Quest could be the only monitor you’ll need.”

Meta also announced it is working with Microsoft to make available virtual versions of business software such as Office and Teams. These will be incorporated into Horizon Workrooms[8] virtual office platform, which has been widely ridiculed for its low-quality graphics and floating, legless avatars.

The Microsoft approach

The partnership may well provide significant benefit for both companies.

Microsoft’s own mixed-reality headset, the HoloLens, has seen limited adoption. Meta dominates the augmented and reality markets, so it makes sense for Microsoft to try to hitch a ride on Meta’s efforts.

For Meta, its project may gain credibility by association with Microsoft’s long history of producing trusted business software. Partnerships with other businesses in the tech sector and beyond are a major way[9] that Meta seeks to materialise its metaverse ambitions.

A virtual reality office showing avatars sitting around a meeting table.
Meta Microsoft Teams in VR. Meta

Microsoft also represents an alternative approach to making a product successful. While several decades of efforts to sell VR technology to consumers have had limited success, Microsoft became a household name by selling to businesses and other enterprises.

By focusing on an enterprise market, firms can normalise emerging technologies in society. They might not be things that consumers want to use, but rather things that workers are forced to use.

Recent implementations of Microsoft’s Teams software in industry and government across Australia offer models[10] for how the metaverse may arrive in offices.

Enhanced bossware

While proponents of work in the metaverse envisage a future in which technologies like AR and VR are frictionlessly incorporated into our work lives, bringing about prosperity and efficiency, there are a number of areas of concern.

For one, technologies like VR and AR threaten to institute new forms of worker surveillance and control. The rise of remote work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic led to a boom in “bossware[11]” – software for employers to monitor every move of their remote workers.

Read more: 3 ways 'bossware' surveillance technology is turning back the management clock[12]

Technologies like VR and AR – which rely on the capture and processing of vast amounts of data[13] about users and their environments to function – could well intensify such a dynamic.

Meta says such data will remain “on device[14]”. However, recent research[15] shows third-party Quest apps have been able to access and use more data than they strictly need.

Privacy and safety

Developers are learning, and worried, about the privacy and safety implications[16] of virtual and augmented reality devices and platforms.

In experimental settings, VR data are already used to track and measure biometric information about users with a high degree of accuracy[17]. VR data also have been used to measure things like attention[18].

Read more: Companies are increasingly tracking eye movements — but is it ethical?[19]

In a future where work happens in the metaverse, it’s not hard to imagine how things like gaze-tracking data might be used to determine the outcome of your next promotion. Or to imagine work spaces where certain activities are “programmed out”, such as anything deemed “unproductive”, or even things like union organising.

Microsoft’s 365 platform already monitors similar metrics about digital work processes – you can view your own here[20], if your organisation subscribes. Microsoft 365’s entrance to VR spaces will offer it plenty of new data to be analysed to describe your work habits.

Moderating content and behaviour in virtual spaces may also be an issue, which could lead to discrimination and inequity. Meta has so far given little[21] in the way of concrete protections for its users amid increasing claims of harassment[22].

Read more: I'm a Black woman and the metaverse scares me – here’s how to make the next iteration of the internet inclusive[23]

Earlier this year, a report by consumer advocacy group SumOfUs found many users in Horizon Worlds have been encouraged to turn off safety features[24], such as “personal safety bubbles”, by other users.

The use of safety features in workplaces may likewise be seen as antisocial, or as not part of “the team”. This could have negative impacts for already marginalised workers.

References

  1. ^ describes (www.theverge.com)
  2. ^ nor particularly wanted (www.wired.com)
  3. ^ What is the metaverse? A high-tech plan to Facebookify the world (theconversation.com)
  4. ^ work (www.computerweekly.com)
  5. ^ Meta Connect (about.fb.com)
  6. ^ Infinite Office (www.youtube.com)
  7. ^ put it (www.youtube.com)
  8. ^ Horizon Workrooms (www.meta.com)
  9. ^ a major way (journals.sagepub.com)
  10. ^ models (www.microsoft.com)
  11. ^ bossware (www.abc.net.au)
  12. ^ 3 ways 'bossware' surveillance technology is turning back the management clock (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ capture and processing of vast amounts of data (policyreview.info)
  14. ^ on device (www.theverge.com)
  15. ^ recent research (arxiv.org)
  16. ^ the privacy and safety implications (dl.acm.org)
  17. ^ accuracy (www.tandfonline.com)
  18. ^ attention (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  19. ^ Companies are increasingly tracking eye movements — but is it ethical? (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ here (myanalytics.microsoft.com)
  21. ^ given little (lens.monash.edu)
  22. ^ harassment (www.technologyreview.com)
  23. ^ I'm a Black woman and the metaverse scares me – here’s how to make the next iteration of the internet inclusive (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ been encouraged to turn off safety features (www.sumofus.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/is-the-metaverse-really-the-future-of-work-192633

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

NSW has a new fashion sector strategy – but a sustainable industry needs a federally legislated response

The New South Wales government recently announced the launch of the NSW Fashion Sector Strategy, 2025–28[1]. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Australian Fashion ...

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...

There’s a new vaccine for pneumococcal disease in Australia. Here’s what to know

The Australian government announced last week there’s a new vaccine[1] for pneumococcal disease on the National Immunisation Program for all children. This vaccine replaces pr...