Metaverse 101: The 7 Layers

Design by  Lili Gherban's 

The metaverse is a virtual world that exists online and allows users to interact with each other in real-time. It’s like the internet, but on steroids. With the metaverse, you can travel anywhere globally, meet new people, and do anything you can imagine.

Some people may be wondering why we even need a metaverse when we already have the internet. The answer is simple – the metaverse is will connect the world to the next level.

In the article, The Metaverse 101: The 7 Layers, we explore the metaverse origins, concepts, and layers. We begin with a basic explanation of what a metaverse is before delving into its origins and how it has evolved.

Metaverse 101

What is the Metaverse? The metaverse is a digital world that exists on the internet. It's a virtual world where people can create and interact with each other.

The metaverse is based on three key technologies: virtual reality, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. These technologies allow people to create and experience digital worlds completely new.

The metaverse comprises many different virtual worlds or "places." Each place has its unique look and feel.

People can create their places or visit ones that other people have built. In the metaverse, you can be anything you want to be. You can explore new worlds, meet new people, and experience new things.

The metaverse is also a social network. People can communicate with each other directly or through chatbots.

Origins of The Metaverse

So, where did the term metaverse come from? The word "meta" comes from the Greek word "metas," meaning "beyond." So the metaverse is beyond our physical world, encompassing all virtual realities and online experiences.

The Metaverse is a digital world that blends the real and the virtual. It's a place where you can explore and interact with digital objects and scenes.

In his paper " A Framework for Virtual Reality, the concept of virtual worlds was first introduced in 1984 by Michael A. Scanlan, "A Framework for Virtual Reality.

While the term "metaverse" was coined by Neal Stephenson, the concept of a virtual world that exists on the internet is not new.

The metaverse is a term for a digital universe, first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash. The metaverse represents the real world, augmented by virtual objects and experiences. For example, the characters use virtual reality glasses to navigate a three-dimensional online world that mirrors the physical world in the book.

While Neal Stephenson's book may have been one of the earliest references to the metaverse, it's not the only one. Other notable mentions include William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk novel Neuromancer and Jaron Lanier's 2010 book. You Are Not A Gadget: A Manifesto.

1992: Snow Crash By Neal Stephenson's

In Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel Snow Crash, Hiro Protagonist's protagonist describes the Metaverse as a three-dimensional cyberspace world where people can interact and create or view objects.

The Metaverse results from merging the virtual world and the real world.

How the 1992 sci-fi novel 'Snow Crash' predicted Facebook's metaverse

The Metaverse is often cited as an early description of a virtual reality platform. However, while it may have been one of the first to use "Metaverse," Stephenson's vision was far more complex than today's virtual reality platforms.

The Metaverse described in Snow Crash is a fully realized 3D environment in which users can interact with each other and create and view objects.

Today's virtual reality platforms are limited to providing a simulated environment that can be viewed through a screen.

Metaverse and Society

The Metaverse will change our lives in many ways. It will allow us to communicate with people in a virtual space.

This will help us build relationships with people from other cultures and learn about their customs and traditions. The Metaverse will also be a great place for businesses to conduct transactions.

A Few Ways How The Metaverse Will Change Your Life

Businesses can set up virtual storefronts and sell their products to customers worldwide. The Metaverse will also be an excellent place for employees to work from home.

They can log into the Metaverse from anywhere in the world and do their jobs without having to leave their home.

The Metaverse is coming, and it’s going to change everything. We will see a massive shift in how society interacts and functions in the next few years. Here are just a few ways the Metaverse will impact us:

1. The Metaverse will change the way we do business. We’ll be able to transact without borders, and businesses will be able to operate in a global market.

2. The Metaverse will change the way we learn. We’ll be able to learn from anywhere globally, and our education system will become more tailored to each student.

3. The Metaverse will change the way we interact with each other. We’ll be able to communicate with people worldwide in real-time, and social networking will take on a whole new meaning.

Potential To Change Our Lives 

There has been a surge of interest in the metaverse concept in recent years. This is mainly due to the development of new technologies that make it possible to create virtual spaces similar to, or even indistinguishable from, the physical world.

While there are many different applications for these virtual spaces, the most commonly cited use it as a platform for social interaction.

The metaverse has the potential to change our lives in many ways. For example, it could be used to facilitate remote work and collaboration.

It could also connect people who cannot meet people, such as those who live in different countries or are disabled. In addition, it could be used as a tool for education and training and for delivering health care services.

Metaverse and  Business

The Metaverse is a digital world that will allow businesses to interact in ways never before possible.

For example, imagine walking into a conference room and seeing the people you are meeting with and the presentation you are giving projected onto a screen.

Or imagine being able to attend a meeting without ever leaving your office. These are just some of the possibilities made possible by the Metaverse.

In addition to making business interactions more efficient and convenient, the Metaverse will also allow businesses to create new interactions with their customers.

For example, businesses could create virtual reality environments that customers can visit to learn about products or services. Or companies could create games that allow customers to win prizes by playing.

The Metaverse will change business in ways we can't even imagine today.

Get Into The Metaverse

Getting into the metaverse isn't as simple as putting on a VR headset. It will require a new level of sophistication in hardware and software that is still under development.

However, a few companies are leading the charge in this area, and they offer some clues as to what we can expect from the metaverse.

One of the most anticipated platforms is High Fidelity, founded by Second Life co-founder Philip Rosedale. High Fidelity aims to create a completely open platform where users can create their virtual worlds or join others in existing ones.

Reality Lab Lectures: Philip Rosedale - VR and Virtual Worlds

The Metaverse can be accessed through virtual reality (VR) headsets, such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, or through websites and apps that allow you to create your avatar and explore different worlds.

What can we do in the Metaverse?

If you're looking for a new and exciting virtual world to explore, the Metaverse is the place for you! With its cutting-edge graphics and user-friendly interface, the Metaverse is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the best in virtual reality.

Here are just a few of the things you can do in the Metaverse:

1. Explore different worlds and landscapes. The Metaverse offers various worlds to explore, each with its unique landscape and environment. So whether you're looking for a lush forest world or a futuristic cityscape, the Metaverse has something for everyone.

2. Meet new people from all over the world. The Metaverse is home to a vibrant community of users from all over the globe. Meet new friends, chat with them online, and explore all that the Metaverse offers.

The Seven Layers of The Metaverse

Virtual Reality technology continues to evolve, with new platforms and devices released every year. This has led to the development of various layers of the Metaverse.

There are many definitions of the metaverse, but Jon Radoff's is perhaps the most all-encompassing.

He defines the metaverse as "a massively multiplayer online virtual world that incorporates aspects of physical reality." In other words, it's a digital world that users can interact with in real-time, and it blurs the line between the virtual and physical worlds.

There are seven layers to the metaverse, each with its unique features:

Jon Radoff

Jon Radoff is a business owner, novelist, and game creator. He is the co-founder of Disruptor Beam, now 'BeAmable,' a company that builds games for social media platforms like Facebook and mobile devices.

Radoff has written extensively on the subject of Building the Metaverse. His conceptual framework for the metaverse consists of multiple layers, which he believes are necessary for it to reach its full potential.

The metaverse is an ambitious project that requires a strong foundation to succeed. That foundation is infrastructure. Infrastructure is the layer that provides the basic framework upon which everything else is built. Without a proper infrastructure, no subsequent advances are feasible.

This is why it's so important to get the infrastructure right. The metaverse represents a new way of thinking about online interaction, and it has the potential to change the way we live our lives. But if the underlying infrastructure is weak, the metaverse will not reach its full potential.

Fortunately, some people understand this importance and work hard to build a strong foundation for the metaverse. Jon Radoff is one of those people.

The First Layer: Experience

Games, social media, esports, and theater are the first layer of experience in the metaverse. These are the most popular and well-known applications in virtual reality. They are also the most accessible to users, with many platforms and devices available.

Shopping is another important part of the metaverse experience. Online retailers are already using virtual reality to provide a more immersive shopping experience for their customers.

Stores like Nordstrom have created VR stores that allow customers to browse through racks of clothes, try on different items, and even see what they look like in different outfits.

Games are becoming more and more like live entertainment events, with music concerts and immersive theatre already appearing in some titles. Jon Radoff believes this is the future of gaming, with developers incorporating more live elements to create an interactive experience that immerses players in the game world.

This trend is likely to continue as developers seek to create more engaging and entertaining games.

The Second layer: Discovery

The Discovery layer is the most profitable for enterprises because it is where they can find new customers and business opportunities.

The Metaverse is a perfect example of a platform that allows businesses to connect with other businesses and customers. It provides a secure, transparent, and efficient way for companies to identify and connect with potential partners.

Jon Radoff recently described the discovery layer as "the push and pull that introduces people to new experiences." The discovery layer is key to bringing users in and engaging them in the metaverse ecosystem. It is the first point of contact for many people, and it must be an enjoyable experience.

The discovery layer is essential for building a strong metaverse community.

The Third layer: Creator Economy

This layer is about creating and sharing digital assets and experiences. It includes design tools, asset markets, workflow, and commerce.

Design tools let you create 3D objects and experiences. Asset markets let you buy and sell digital assets. Workflow enables you to share work with others and get feedback. Finally, Commerce allows you to buy and sell products and services.

These tools make it easy to create things that never existed before. Then, you can share your creations with others or sell them for money. The Third Layer is a great way to make money, learn new skills, and have fun.

According to Jon Radoff, the creator developers are getting better tools and marketplaces to create content. This changes how development works, from bottom-up code creation to top-down design.

Radoff believes that the metaverse, a virtual world where users can interact and share experiences, is key to this change.

He says it provides templates and tools that make it easier for developers to create content. It also gives creators a place to sell their work, making it easier to make a living from their creations.

The Fourth layer: Spatial Computing

As technology advances, so does the way we interact with it. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are no longer just concepts from science fiction; they are becoming a reality. And with spatial computing, these realities are becoming even more intertwined.

Spatial Computing is the emerging technology of 3D engines, virtual reality, augmented reality, and extended reality. It refers to the fourth layer of the ubiquitous computing stack, which is built on top of the three traditional layers: application, operating system, and hardware.

The development of 3D engines is one of the key factors that enable Fourth layer Spatial Computing. 3D engines are software that renders 3D graphics.

They allow developers to create applications and games to generate realistic 3D environments. The most popular 3D engine is Unity3D, used to develop many popular games and applications, including Pokemon Go and Snapchat.


According to Radoff, spatial computing helps users interact with digital information in a three-dimensional space. This can be done using headsets or goggles that provide a virtual view of the world and sensors and other devices that track movement and create an immersive experience.

One of the benefits of spatial computing is that it can create a new digital layer, or metaverse, on top of the internet.

This metaverse would be accessible through web3 browsers and allow for more immersive interactions with digital content. Additionally, spatial computing could help improve workplace productivity by providing more efficient ways to communicate and collaborate.

The Fifth layer: Decentralization

The metaverse would be decentralized, open, and diffused in an ideal world. Governed by a single entity and belonging to no one and everyone at the same time, it would be a place where people from all over the world could come together to share ideas and experiences.

Unfortunately, this is not the world we live in. Instead, the metaverse is dominated by a few large companies who control how we interact and what we see.

The fifth layer of the internet is decentralization, edge computing, AI agents, microservices, and blockchain.

These technologies are necessary for the future of the internet. For example, decentralization allows for data to be stored and accessed securely. In addition, edge computing will enable data to be processed near the data source.

AI agents allow devices to interact with each other in a more human-like way. In addition, microservices enable applications to be broken down into smaller components independently developed and deployed.

Blockchain allows for secure transactions without a central authority.

The Sixth layer: Human Interface 

For a virtual world to feel real, it needs to be constantly updated with the latest information from its users. This is where the metaverse's hardware layer comes in. The hardware layer consists of biosensors and neural connections between brains and compute.

Human interference is a critical feature of the metaverse's hardware layer. Without it, the world would be a static place inhabited by lifeless characters.

The key aspect of the hardware layer of the metaverse is human interference. With the combination of spatial computing and human interface, we'll soon be able to create a virtual world that feels real.

This will open up new possibilities for communication, education, and entertainment. First, however, we need to create devices that track our movements and interpret our gestures to make this possible.

We also need to develop software that can render realistic 3D environments. We can create a virtual world that is indistinguishable from reality by doing this.

The Seven-layer: Infrastructure

The seventh layer of infrastructure contains the technology that makes everything listed above a reality. 5G and 6G networks, Wi-Fi, and cloud architecture are all necessary for the Metaverse to function. Without these technologies, the virtual world would be inaccessible to users.

Jon Radoff stresses the importance of these technologies. "5G and 6G will be essential to enabling the next wave of innovation in VR/AR," he said in an article for VentureBeat. "They will provide faster speeds and more bandwidth, which will allow for richer, more immersive experiences."

Wi-Fi is also necessary for users to connect to the Metaverse. It provides a secure connection and helps reduce lag time between devices. Cloud architecture is used to store data and applications for the Metaverse.

Final Thought

The metaverse will continue to grow and develop in the years to come. As a result, more people will engage in virtual worlds, and new applications and features will be created.

The metaverse will become more immersive, with more realistic graphics and sound. It will also become more social, with more ways for people to interact with each other.

In addition, the metaverse will become more accessible, with devices such as headsets and gloves that allow people to enter virtual worlds without using a computer.

With the development of new technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, more people will be able to enter the Metaverse and experience it in ways that were not possible before.