Tom Boellstorff, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, writes: "History is more than fun facts: It deeply shapes ways of thinking and acting. As an anthropologist who’s been studying virtual worlds for almost two decades, I’ve found that the metaverse’s rich past shapes what too often appears unprecedented. This isn’t accidental. The contemporary metaverse is overwhelmingly owned and developed by corporations whose profit models demand focus on the Next Big Thing. This typically sidelines history–with massive financial and social implications."

For the full story, please visit https://www.fastcompany.com/90778728/the-metaverse-isnt-here-yet-but-it-already-has-a-long-history.