126 VIEWPOINT The metaverse is changing the way we consume media, and 5G is the key to ensuring it is a seamless experience for all WILLIAMS TOVAR: ATEME Powering live media experiences in the metaverse Being a member of Generation X, I grew up watching linear TV and reading offline newspapers. My social interaction with friends was mainly face to face. However, I have rarely seen my children watch traditional TV shows or read an offline paper. Watching them grow up, I realise the importance social networks and video games have in their everyday lives, particularly in terms of staying in touch with their friends. This illustrates how, in the ever-evolving media and entertainment landscape, the transition from traditional TV consumption to the metaverse can captivate the hearts and minds of a new generation of consumers. But what does this transition imply and what tools are needed? Generational shift in media consumption Traditional television is losing ground across generations. While Generation X still holds onto linear TV, Generation Z increasingly uses mobile devices and streaming services to consume media, including interactive and immersive experiences. Media and entertainment companies need to adapt to cater to this population and the metaverse has the potential to meet younger generations’ demands, and more. The metaverse allows users to engage with a computer-generated environment in a highly immersive way. In the metaverse, users can explore new realms thanks to immersive six degrees of freedom (6DOF) experiences. They can move freely, manipulate objects and engage with others with unprecedented precision and fluidity thanks to gaming engines such as Unity and Unreal. This evolution presents an exciting opportunity for media and entertainment companies to connect with younger generations, but for metaverse experiences to reach their full potential, several critical requirements must be met. The first is fast interaction. In the metaverse, immediate responses are essential for creating a seamless and immersive experience. Low latency is crucial to ensure that interactions, communication and feedback between users and the virtual environment occur in real time. Secondly, the user needs high bandwidth. To craft 6DOF virtual worlds with stunning realism and intricate detail, 3D and 360-degree videos are required. These video profiles “5G is a pivotal enabler of the metaverse and mixed reality experiences”
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