Virtual reality and Metaverse has been progressing fast that it is likely to produce more innovations in the coming years, weeks, or days. Let us try to understand the two concepts, compare the differences, and check if they operate in a parallel universe, or rather, the same functions. 

Virtual Real (VR) Explained The concept of virtual reality existed long before they were actually created. You'd find it in science fiction books written in the 1930s.  By the 60s, VR gadgets began early development, including Sensorama, which also included smells and sounds. The View-Master was also among the first inventions in this line. They are goggles where the wearer can see the pictures inside being shown. They have been the foundation of the more advanced VR headsets you see today. In a sense, virtual reality can be defined as anything created digitally that replaces the reality you are in. 

How does VR work? Most VR devices are sight-driven. They were designed to confuse the wearer's minds about what they are seeing. It can be goggles or a headset that covers all sight, which is replaced with something technologically-enhanced. In many cases, two images are seen in VR headsets, one in each eye. So when both eyes look at the images at once, the wearer will get a sense of 3D or three-dimension. The headsets also have built-in gyroscopes responsible for sensing when the goggles move. This will give the impression of the screen looking down when the wearer looks down. As a result, it is easier to get lost in the effects and make you believe you are in that setting instead of the actual reality without the goggles on. 

Some VR headsets use sounds to make it easier to forget reality and believe you are in another place. Many techniques are developed for the wearer to interact with what they see in the virtual reality setting. They include gloves that can sense where your hands go or other things, such as video game controllers. 

VR has been a phenomenon that many people embraced the technology. This resulted in VR headsets and devices being developed for the masses. Some businesses tapped into the VR trend, including video game companies that developed VR headsets for their games. However, not all these VR innovations became successful. In fact, Nintendo discontinued the production of Virtual Boy after less than a year. It has become the second-lowest platform released by Nintendo. Through the years, more innovations are done with the VR technology resulting in the development of gadgets, entertainment devices, and business marketing ploys. 

Metaverse Explained The simplest way to explain Metaverse is to say it is a virtual reality world. It's all virtual, and everything is computer-based. You can do many things in the Metaverse, such as interact with people, buildings, and objects - all in a virtual world. It's like playing a game of life on the computer. And similar to life, you can acquire things as you play. For example, you can buy land and build your house on it. You can also own non-fungible tokens or NFTs, or digital assets in this world. Additionally, there are many existing metaverses. You can choose which one you want to interact with. 

How do you go inside a Metaverse?  Using a computer, you will visit a website that can take you into your chosen Metaverse. Another way to go inside a metaverse is through the use of a VR headset, such as the Oculus Rift VR, owned by Facebook. So when you use the Oculus Rift VR, you will get into the Metaverse owned and created by Facebook. Once you get in, you can start using their software, play games, and use their apps. However, some devices can get you into other metaverses that Facebook or any company does not own, referred to as decentralized platforms. The concept is similar to what has been presented in movies, such as Wreck-It Ralph Breaks the Internet, Matrix, and Tron. Metaverse is not all about gaming. It can be used for education, business transactions, and workplace productivity. 

Comparing Virtual Reality and Metaverse While the two technologies have many similarities, they are not the same. VR is an integral part of the Metaverse, but it is only one portion of what it is about. As of the moment, the term metaverse refers to the immersive experiences you can enter using AR Goggles, VR MHMDs, laptops or computers, smartphones, and other computing devices. Virtual reality is a computer interface technology, while Metaverse is an XR concept. VR lets users experience real space to access software applications, while Metaverse offers immersive interaction with the software and the internet. 

Conclusion Metaverse and virtual reality are proofs of the continuing evolution of technology. VR can be used on its own, but Metaverse still relies on using VR devices. Without the devices, and if you will only access the Metaverse via its website, the experience won't be the same, and it will only be just the internet. Virtual reality has been around since 1961, while Metaverse is still new since it was developed in 2000. Despite the differences and similarities, the two concepts give people a peek at the more exciting times ahead in the world of technology and another dimension of reality.