Imagine entering into an imaginary world with your best friend physically beyond your reach, or meeting a digital manifestation of your favorite idol. Something like this is impossible with existing technologies today, but may finally be realized with the metaverse.
What is the metaverse? The word comes from the novel Snow Crash, written by Neil Stephenson in 1992, and refers to a digital world parallel to its physical counterpart, where people can use their virtual identities, or “avatars”, to live freely in multiple spaces.
Source: Metaverse to merge physical and virtual realms – Chinadaily.com.cn