Onto the next universe

Each time at a crowded book fair, a food exposition or a technology show, imagine how convenient it would be if you could "jump high" to see which booth is the most popular or is drawing the biggest crowds and then "fly" to it directly.

This would be one of the ways to enjoy an exhibition empowered by the metaverse.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated, with global sourcing digitalized, enterprises have been exploring new forms of large-scale meetups to boost business at a difficult time. The metaverse frenzy seems opportune.

"Metaexpos" have been rapidly gaining momentum this year. Industry pundits believe that Hong Kong, with a strong exhibition foundation, has the potential to play a significant role in this field.

A metaexpo is a virtual fair designed with technologies such as 3D, virtual reality or augmented reality to make it similar to or even transcend offline exhibitions.

Participants can choose their own avatars and enter the virtual exhibition venue through the internet in their offices. Exhibitors can showcase their products and visions in photos, videos, 3D models and even games in virtual booths. Audiences can simply walk around the exhibition hall and communicate with each other.

The metaverse conference is expected to become the mainstream form for enterprises under the new normal, and internet companies and investment institutions will become the main driving force, says a recent report by the International Data Corporation on this year's projections for the Chinese metaverse market.

The Vket event - set up by Japan's HIKKY Company, which organizes expos and conferences using VR technology - is one of the world's largest VR events in the metaverse. Last year, about 80 enterprises, ranging from gaming to financial securities firms, exhibited their products to promote their brands at the event.

With the theme "Metaverse City", Vket 2021 replicated real urban scenes in Tokyo's Shibuya and Akihabara districts, including buildings, metro stations and even the weather linked to real life. HIKKY said last month it had raised 7 billion yen ($60.68 million) in its Series A round of funding. The capital will be used to help the company build a new open metaverse.