Neal Stephenson is a science fiction author who popularized the word "metaverse" in his novel Snow Crash, published in 1994. The book describes the metaverse as a continuous virtual reality navigated by the novel's protagonist, Hiro. Today, it's known as a platform for human leisure, labor, and existence at large. An imaginative version of the internet created in a virtual or augmented reality, but whose imagination will continue to contribute to these enhanced virtual environments in the upcoming years?
The complexity of the actual world has started to seep into the Metaverse, in which identity serves as both a mirror of and a component of social capital, and when it comes to diversity, the metaverse will provide a powerful platform for all creators, especially Black creators, and voices to be amplified.
From the standpoint of the video game business or other IT industries, is there a system of regulations for who qualifies to be included, who gets left out, and how this will affect the metaverse's future? In what ways can we leverage history, more importantly for this conversation, Black History, to create better systems to support the technological advancements occurring in our society today?
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation to uncover the imaginations behind a Black metaverse. This event is open to all.
