The Day I Entered the Metaverse

I'll admit I was skeptical at first. All this talk about a "metaverse" seemed a bit hypothetical and futuristic. But as a professional consultant in innovation, I know the importance of engaging with new technologies and audiences. So I decided to dive in headfirst, and what an experience it was!

After doing some research in 2015, I realized the key was to try it myself. In 2018, I was finishing my thesis about "the impact of virtual worlds on mobile commerce, exploring new business opportunities with AR". To do this I browsed various metaverse platforms, or, at the time, mainly multiplayer virtual worlds, until I found one that suited me.

I created my own customizable avatar that seemed to be an extension of my personality. After playing with different digital environments and interacting with other users, I began to understand the appeal. There's something exciting about being able to act in these virtual spaces that seem so real.

I also took the time to identify the specific communities that existed around each platform. I introduced myself, asked questions and made connections. These groups welcomed my curiosity and were quick to show me the ropes. In return, I offered my user experience expertise and ideas on how I could add value to them.

As I became more and more involved in the metaverse, I realized that there were still barriers to entry. Some people were reluctant to try, or didn't know where to start. So I started blogging about my journey into this new world. I wrote tutorials for beginners, gave advice and explained how metaverses could improve our lives. My initiative inspired others around me to take the plunge too.

In 2022, my path crossed that of an innovation agency in Portugal. I joined them, impressed by their founder's open-mindedness and desire to positively influence the future of the web and guide it in a beneficial direction. Where we now work exclusively on metaverse projects.

By immersing myself in these digital worlds, I've learned that the metaverse is more than a passing fad. It offers brands new opportunities to engage with users in meaningful ways. And I can't wait to continue exploring its potential, one virtual interaction at a time.

My own transformative experience has proven that sometimes you have to dive in head first to discover the next digital frontier.