Metaverse: fashion, education, health care set to grow in the virtual world


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

The metaverse, a virtual reality platform, hasn't as yet become the life-changing new technology that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg hoped it would.

Having rebranded Facebook as Meta in October 2021, Zuckerberg has placed plenty of importance on it being the next big go-to technology that people will embrace.

The recent Gitex Global event in Dubai — one of the world's latest technology events — offered visitors an opportunity to sample what the metaverse has to offer.

The current education model is not broken, but it does what it was designed to do 200 years ago
Melissa McBride,
Somnium Space

The clear winners in this new parallel, virtual and augmented universe would appear to be fashion, education, health care and gaming, offering users a new level of virtual social interaction.

To fully appreciate the immersive experience, most applications that allow entry to explore virtual worlds require a cumbersome — and expensive — headset, haptic gloves, controllers and clothing.

While that could leave the metaverse out of reach for many, some advocates insist the technology will change how we live our lives forever.

New ways to learn

Melissa McBride of Sonium Space at the XVerse tent at Gitex, in Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National
Melissa McBride of Sonium Space at the XVerse tent at Gitex, in Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

One of those areas is education. Melissa McBride, who displayed her Somnium Space virtual world for teaching children during Gitex, said the metaverse brings new ways of learning to life.

“The current education model is not broken, but it does what it was designed to do 200 years ago,” said Ms McBride.

“The learners are different, so the outcomes and needs are also different. Education now needs to be immersive — this brings the abstract, which needs imagination, to life.”

Users of Somnium Space can navigate around the virtual world as an avatar of themselves, and meet others in the same environment to complete tasks and puzzles.

The platform is paired with a TakeLeap teslasuit, a wearable suit with 68 haptic points capable of simulating a range of physical sensations all over your body.

Somnium is building immersive spaces for learning, with tasks including learning to play a musical instrument such as a horn or making an ice sculpture.

Children typically spend about 20 minutes at a time inside to get a taste of its potential, and many become more confident as a result, Ms McBride said.

“We can’t bring kids to Mars, yet learning about space is inspiring. In the metaverse environment they can visit a Martian landscape where they feel it is real,” she said.

“In a class, some have inhibitions and worry about getting things wrong; that is not the case here. Within five to 10 years, we will likely move towards a decentralised version of education — this is the holy grail of education.”

Bridging gaps

Cevat Yerli, chief executive of the TMRW Foundation Sarl at Gitex, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Leslie Pableo for The National
Cevat Yerli, chief executive of the TMRW Foundation Sarl at Gitex, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Leslie Pableo for The National

Fashion brands have been quick to harness the metaverse's potential by creating digital shops where avatars try on garments and buy tokens in exchange for clothes in the real world.

Sportswear brand Nike has captured an online audience of millions. Nikeland is the brand’s micro-metaverse built inside the Roblox world, an online gaming platform.

Since its launch in November 2021, it has received more than 21 million visitors and represents 26 per cent of its total brand revenue.

Cevat Yerli, chief executive of the TMRW Foundation, founded Crytek, one of the largest video game developers, and has turned his attention to building 3D simulations, virtual and augmented reality worlds.

“In real life, we physically come together but in digital life, the only way people have come together is via video games,” said Mr Yerli.

“We are not trying to create a dystopian future where we forget the world and only meet online. We want people to be conscious about what is going on in the world and engage.

“It is not escapism, it is a way to bridge gaps.”

One of his projects is Room, part of the “Internet of Life” — a metaverse where real people can meet, collaborate and create without the need for wearable devices.

Meeting rooms can be conducted via a computer or tablet and are more personal than the usual video conferencing.

“Google brought us information, Facebook brought us connectivity — we want to be the technology that brings people together,” said Mr Yerli.

“We are trying to be the second best thing to real life.”

Real-time consultations

The TMRW Foundation supported the Ministry of Health and Prevention in setting up the world’s first metaverse customer happiness service centre, where patients can log in virtually to speak with a doctor.

But metaverse health care is not expected to have a wider impact.

Medcare Women & Children Hospital in Dubai opened a hospital in the virtual world to give patients a preview of a real-life ward experience.

However, the experience requires augmented reality smart glasses that cost around Dh1,500.

“Our ultimate aim is to deliver actual healthcare services by incorporating the delivery of real-time consultations through our team of over 400 medical experts,” said Dr Shanila Laiju, chief of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres.

“We expect, in the long-run, traditional telemedicine services to be replaced by a need for metaverse interactions, allowing our patients to receive a more tangible and collaborative service.”

PRESIDENTS CUP

Draw for Presidents Cup fourball matches on Thursday (Internationals first mention). All times UAE:

02.32am (Thursday): Marc Leishman/Joaquin Niemann v Tiger Woods/Justin Thomas
02.47am (Thursday): Adam Hadwin/Im Sung-jae v Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay
03.02am (Thursday): Adam Scott/An Byeong-hun v Bryson DeChambeau/Tony Finau
03.17am (Thursday): Hideki Matsuyama/CT Pan v Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed
03.32am (Thursday): Abraham Ancer/Louis Oosthuizen v Dustin Johnson/Gary Woodland

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE tour of the Netherlands

UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin

4/5 stars 

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

Drishyam 2

Directed by: Jeethu Joseph

Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy

Rating: 4 stars

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Moonfall

Director: Rolan Emmerich

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry

Rating: 3/5

How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

Shows signs of depression or isolation

Ability to sleep well diminishes

Academic performance begins to deteriorate

Changes in eating habits

Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings

Begins to use language they do not normally use

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare

Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.

GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT

2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals

2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals

2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals

Company%C2%A0profile
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Stage result

1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34

2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe

3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers

4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco

5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo

6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ

7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team

8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma

9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux

10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: October 16, 2022, 5:17 AM`