It is impossible to perfectly interpret the true connotation and meaning of the meta-universe just by looking at it from the perspective of C-terminal. We’ve seen this happen with Facebook. When the technology of the metaverse is not mature and popular, its landing and application must be a existence with a certain threshold. At such a moment, we are bound to lead our own development into a dead end by seeing the metaverse as a C-terminal being. This is the key reason why Facebook has struggled to make much of a dent in the metacomes and has had to partner with Microsoft instead.
Different from the outside world simply categorizing the metaverse into the category of C end, the author prefers to view it as a existence dominated by B end. In a sense, the metaverse is a living example of the industrial Internet. Through the meta-universe, we see the industrial Internet after the real landing. It is predictable that as the industrial Internet is mapped out, we will see the emergence of a series of metacosem-like new species.
When it is difficult for people to get a breakthrough on the road of exploring industrial Internet, it is undoubtedly an important window to look at and find the correct mode and method of industrial Internet from the perspective of the meta-universe. Starting from this, the development of industrial Internet may truly break through the traditional development mode and enter a completely new stage of development.
The metaverse is in line with the nature of the industrial Internet
When we are looking for industrial Internet landing, the deep integration of virtual economy and real economy, especially the deep integration of platform economy represented by Internet players and upstream industry end, is an important aspect. In this process, we see the depth of the Internet platform for the real economy, we see the deep integration of new technology and the real economy, no matter which way, one thing can be confirmed is that the virtual economy and the real economy are on the road of deep integration.
It is foreseeable that, according to the current development logic, the development of industrial Internet will eventually bring people’s production and life into a new stage of development combining virtual and real. When the industrial Internet really develops and matures, the virtual economy and real economy in the strict sense that we see now will no longer exist. Instead, a new form will emerge, and such a new form is a new form that combines the characteristics of both virtual economy and real economy. If we make a summary of the nature of the industrial Internet, the combination of virtual-real, virtual-real integration, is undoubtedly an important aspect.
Similarly, we see a similar shadow in the metaverse. We’ve been emphasizing the metacomes’ attempts to explore the fusion of virtual and real worlds. Whether from the hardware, or from the software, it is true. So what kind of life can we have when the metaverse is truly mature and complete? What kind of experience can we get? To be sure, what we can gain is a new lifestyle and experience that can switch freely and seamlessly between the virtual world and the real world. From this point of view, the meta-universe is also based on achieving a deep integration of the virtual and the real.
It is precisely because of such an essential connection between the meta-universe and the industrial Internet that we may be able to see the most authentic look of the industrial Internet through the meta-universe when we are unable to find the true look of the industrial Internet after it is truly mature and perfected. If we have been unable to find a beautiful picture of the industrial Internet, the metaverse may be a rare example of reality.
The purpose of the metaverse and the industrial Internet is the same
On the surface, the meta-universe is an existence dominated by the transformation of C-end life style, while the industrial Internet is an existence dominated by the transformation of B-end production mode. This is the prevailing view of the meta-universe and the industrial Internet. We see the meta-universe players and industrial Internet players, almost all in such a way and method to land and practice.
It is too simple and arbitrary to judge the difference between the meta-universe and the industrial Internet only based on this, and therefore regard the meta-universe and the industrial Internet as two completely different existence. In my opinion, the meta-universe and the industrial Internet are just different forms of the same development mode at different stages. This, we can see some clues from the Internet.
In the early Internet era, almost all business models centered on the transformation of behavior habits and lifestyle of C-end. Many Internet species we have seen, such as e-commerce, sharing economy, live streaming and short videos, were almost born under such a general background. However, after the transformation of behaviors and habits of the C end is completed, the Internet does not disappear, but begins to enter a new stage of development. Such a new stage of development is dominated by the transformation of the B end, which is what we call the era of industrial Internet.
For the early metaverse, it also needs to transform the behavior habits of the C end as the starting point. So, when the meta-universe for the C end of the behavior habit transformation is completed, its mission and task is not over? Apparently, no. It is bound to go to the development direction of transforming the entity and transforming the industry. In other words, “meta-universe + industry” will be an inevitability.
Through the above analysis, we can clearly see that the purpose of the meta-universe and the industrial Internet is the same, but they are different forms manifested in different stages of development. Only by realizing this can we find the connection between the meta-universe and the industrial Internet, and only then can we open the right way and method to think about the connection between the meta-universe and the industrial Internet. As we explore the path of the industrial Internet, we may find a completely different answer by looking at the meta-universe.
The metaverse is the same logic as the industrial Internet
No matter for the metaverse, or for the industrial Internet, their internal operating logic is the same. That is to say, they use new technologies to transform and subvert traditions and create a development pattern and method identical with the current economic development. If we make a summary of the development logic of the metauniverse and industrial Internet, it is undoubtedly a major aspect to transform and reshape the tradition by means of new technology.
From this point of view, the metaverse and industrial Internet development logic, basically the same. It can be said that the deep transformation of traditional industries based on the meta-universe is a perfect complement to the industrial Internet. When the meta-universe began to transform the traditional mode of production and way of life, the development of industrial Internet entered a new stage of development.
It can be said that the meta-universe has opened a window to improve the industrial Internet. In the past, we talked about the reshaping and subversion of traditional industries, just stay in the industrial end. Now, through the meta-universe, we can also find a new model and method of development. When the meta-universe completes the remodeling and transformation of the consumption end, it will undoubtedly provide continuous energy for the industrial Internet, thus truly bringing the development of the industrial Internet to a new stage of development.
Therefore, we can definitely put the metaverse in the category of industrial Internet. Through the meta-universe, we can more intuitively understand the overall picture of the industrial Internet, through the meta-universe, we can feel the huge development potential of the industrial Internet very directly.
Another fundamental reason why we can say that the underlying logic of the metaverse and the industrial Internet is the same is that the underlying technical logic is the same. One of the most important aspects of what makes metacomes and industrial Internet “new” is that they are “new” technology. However, if we deeply analyze the new technologies covered by the meta-universe or the new technologies covered by the industrial Internet, we will find that digitalization is the “common” among so many new technologies. For the meta-universe and the industrial Internet, such a “commonality” is exactly where they are consistent.
It can be said that it is precisely the “commonness” between the metauniverse and the industrial Internet in technology that makes us see the connection between the metauniverse and the industrial Internet. In a sense, the metaverse is explicit, because its target is end C, while the industrial Internet is implicit, because its target is end B. However, from the underlying technical logic, new technologies are the driving force of the meta-universe and industrial Internet. Therefore, we can pry into the hidden form of the industrial Internet through such a dominant manifestation of the meta-universe. When the metauniverse and the industrial Internet develop to a certain extent, they will inevitably go on the road to the same destination.
conclusion
There is no doubt that the current meta-universe is hot, hot more than the industrial Internet. However, it does not follow that the metaverse is right and the industrial Internet is wrong. The author is more willing to regard the meta-universe as a vivid sample of the industrial Internet than to simply view the meta-universe as the opposite of the industrial Internet. Through the meta-universe, we can peep the industrial Internet itself contains huge development potential, we can touch the industrial Internet itself contains a strong development vein. Only when we have clarified the relationship between the meta-universe and the industrial Internet can we really jump out of the original rules and regulations, and look at the meta-universe and the industrial Internet from a new perspective, can we find the correct development mode and method of the meta-universe and the industrial Internet.