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What Is Metaverse?—A Definition Based on Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

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  • Markus Weinberger

    (Faculty Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Aalen University of Applied Science, 73430 Aalen, Germany)

Abstract

The term Metaverse has received much attention in various industries, in society, and, increasingly, in scientific communities. This creates demand for a comprehensive and broadly accepted definition of the subject, which is well grounded in research. At the same time, the Metaverse is rather a vision under evolution than an examinable phenomenon. Therefore, this study applied an adapted version of the meta-synthesis method to analyze the existing literature and distill a proposal for a Metaverse definition. The adapted method takes the nature of the subject into account by weighing younger publications with many citations over older, less influential documents. Initially, 47 publications were fed into the process, of which 24 were left after the primary analysis. As a result of the analysis, the following definition is proposed: “The Metaverse is an interconnected web of ubiquitous virtual worlds partly overlapping with and enhancing the physical world. These virtual worlds enable users represented by avatars to connect and interact with each other, to experience and consume user-generated content in an immersive, scalable, synchronous and persistent environment. An economic system provides incentives for contributing to the Metaverse.” The meta-synthesis method ensures a systematic and reproducible approach while at the same time preserving the original voice and notion of the analyzed literature in order to create new knowledge based on the existing literature; thus the proposed Metaverse definition might serve as a helpful foundation for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Weinberger, 2022. "What Is Metaverse?—A Definition Based on Qualitative Meta-Synthesis," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:310-:d:956926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pamucar, Dragan & Deveci, Muhammet & Gokasar, Ilgin & Tavana, Madjid & Köppen, Mario, 2022. "A metaverse assessment model for sustainable transportation using ordinal priority approach and Aczel-Alsina norms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    2. Hodgson, Geoffrey M., 2019. "Taxonomic definitions in social science, with firms, markets and institutions as case studies," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(2), pages 207-233, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Salvatore Monaco & Giovanna Sacchi, 2023. "Travelling the Metaverse: Potential Benefits and Main Challenges for Tourism Sectors and Research Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Ergün Hasgül & Mustafa Karataş & Merve Deniz Pak Güre & Veli Duyan, 2023. "A perspective from Turkey on construction of the new digital world: analysis of emotions and future expectations regarding Metaverse on Twitter," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Keattikorn Samarnggoon & Supara Grudpan & Noppon Wongta & Konlawat Klaynak, 2023. "Developing a Virtual World for an Open-House Event: A Metaverse Approach," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, March.

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