Realizing The Metaverse With Edge Computing

The Metaverse And Edge Computing

Edge computing, the enterprise usage of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), and the entire concept of the metaverse are among the top technology trends likely to emerge as fully-fledged booms this year. 

The term metaverse is coined with the prefix “meta” meaning beyond and the root “verse” meaning universe. It is primarily used to define the concept of the next generation and enhanced version of the internet or Web 3.0. In simple terms, a metaverse is a 3D virtual space where 3D avatars or characters reside, communicate, and interact with each other to build a connected society stemming from the real world by the users who react and reside in both physical and virtual worlds. The core technologies include Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, 3D Remodeling, and Edge Computing.

In this blog, we will discuss the ins and outs of the metaverse and why edge computing is a crucial building block for the development of ultra-real metaverse.  

What is Edge Computing and How is it Related To The Metaverse?

Edge computing is a robust model in which data, applications, and processing are concentrated in devices, hardware, or gadgets at the network instead of existing almost entirely in the cloud. 

In other words, edge computing is a paradigm that proffers cloud computing and services to the network. Just like cloud computing services, edge provides compute, data, storage, and application solutions to the end-users.

Edge computing enhances QoS or Quality of Service and reduces service latency, resulting in superior and ultimate user experience. It supports the emerging concepts of the metaverse applications that need predictable and real-time latency via networks of sensors and actuators, transportation, and industrial automation. The paradigm of edge computing is well-positioned for real-time analytics and real-time Big Data, supporting closely distributed data collection points. Hence, it adds a fourth portal to the often-mentioned Big-data dimensions, that is, volume, variety, and velocity.

Unlike the conventional data centers, the Edge devices are distributed geographically over heterogeneous platforms, encompassing multiple management domains. This means that data can be locally processed in smart devices and metaverse gadgets or hardware instead of being transferred to the cloud for further processing.

The Building Blocks of An Expansive Metaverse

Any virtual landscape or metaverse for an instance is ultimately rooted in physical infrastructure. While AR/VR services and experiences are already immensely cited as a key use case for metaverse and the same holds true for edge computing. Here are some of the core requirements for immersive metaverse experiences:

• Low latency
• Virtualized compute and storage devices
• Broadband connectivity

Edge computing furnishes a distributed infrastructure that is positioned at data centers in the proximity of users and is connected by ultra-high-speed wireless and wired networks including LEO satellite services and 5G. 

AR and VR headsets are crucial components of the metaverse interface as many layers of an interoperable ecosystem combine to form the expansive metaverse, with networking and infrastructure at its core. 

Also Read: Overviewing Ray-Ban Stories as Next Generation Metaverse Smartglasses

5G Edge Computing and Metaverse

In the metaverse, it is crucial to keep the user in an engaged and immersive state so as to provide the same level of experience as in reality. With reference to that, the response time to a user’s action should essentially be lowered significantly to a level below the human perceptible limit.

Metaverses offering such dynamic and immersive experiences necessitates both significant server resources to power the virtual 3D realm and networks offering ultra-low latency communication for imperceptible response time.

5G edge computing is a neoteric technology that offers rapid response time by hosting a series and combination of communication infrastructures and computing resources that are close to the users. It extends a network and software platform environment that seamlessly approaches and even goes beyond the limit of human perception in relation to the response time. 

In order to provide such a network, the service providers or mobile network operators place servers on their own sites. This, in turn, furnishes new revenue streams and opportunities for operators via hosting edge application servers for the third party. Moreover, some mobile network operators often opt to deploy edge computing in accordance with their own dedicated edge computing platform service partners. Also, in partnership with cloud service providers such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), others may plan to host edge application servers accordingly.

Advantages of Edge Computing in Metaverse

• Ultra-reduced latency
• Move data to the best network or place for processing
• Better insights and analysis of local data
• Collect, save, and secure a wide range of data
• Conserve network bandwidth
• Address and solve security concerns at all the network levels
• Operate reliability with faster decisions
• Reduced expenses of using the high computing power as it is only used when needed with less bandwidth

Summing Up

Edge computing brings unparalleled and true support for mobility and the borderless metaverse. Instead of housing data at data center sites that are far from the end-point, this technology aims to place the data closer to the end-users. 

From AI processors, GPUs, and networking stacks to edge data centers, immersive real-time applications, and orchestration platforms, edge computing along with the core technologies such as AR/VR, blockchain, and IoT will eventually play a pivotal role in building the metaverse.

If you are looking for metaverse development services or seeking to avail edge computing solutions, feel free to drop us a line. Our experts will get back to you within 24 hours.