At a time when the conversation about the metaverse seems to have gone silent, Shane Oconnor, the Business Development Manager of Seratio, a UK-based think tank, is playing a significant role in building a VR world called MiMeta.
In this interview with Olayimika Oyebanji, Shane shares his journey to web3 and his experience working on what he described as “the metaverse of values”. Read on!
Let's begin with you. Can you share your journey to blockchain technology with us?
I was always aware of Bitcoin and even mined some in the early days. I didn't really understand the technology so nothing ever came of it. Forward to 2020, I was working for a local authority and a number of colleagues started talking about it and how much money they were making. So I did the newbie thing and invested in their advice and FOMO.
Hence to say I made some gains and some losses. But then I decided I wanted to know more. At the time I was lucky enough to get invited to a group called Bullish Boys and Girls who helped, me learn everything I now know and understand about the whole Defi space and how and what to research.
The metaverse is potentially a disruptor judging by its spectacular use case. What do you think of it? And where do you see it heading?
So in answer to that, I want to highlight that anything we use and interface with on our current digital infrastructure whether it is social media, gaming, retail, and products & services is manipulated and toxic. In some gaming senses, products & services are bombarding you with stuff based on the data you create, so I can't say that the metaverse won’t and can’t be used negatively.
But understanding the possibilities and the emerging technology allows genuine platforms to offer real and beneficial interactions with products and services for the consumers and product/service providers.
As Seratio Business Development Manager how did you oversee the building of Mimeta from day one?
MiMeta is the culmination of nearly two years of building an entire ecosystem around SER and the MCR tokens that align with the vision and direction we jointly believe is best to create the experience we wish to offer. Each part of the ecosystem is value & sentiment, based on its creation and utility.
Can you elaborate on Mimeta as a metaverse of values?
Of course! MiMeta is a metaverse that allows individual users to create their own social gaming and retail experience that is built and interacted with based on a value set that they create when building their world.
This allows you to share the same metaverse spaces but has an individual view of what and how you can interact with and the products and services that you will be offered. Values, sentiment, love, and emotion will be more than words.
Your imagination will limit a one-stop shop for entertainment, social media, business development, education, one wallet, one set of login details, and passphrases.
Does a special relationship exist between the metaverse and blockchain technology?
Yes, in my opinion, there has to be a fully functional and reliable metaverse to exist. It will require blockchain and the companies investing in the various and complex issues to facilitate the safe, secure and fast transfer of data and information and assets. Coins and tokens already being built on blockchain facilitate certain aspects that will be needed whether it be a layer 1-2 or three to provide solutions for users. For example, MTV is a music platform for artists and creators to build and interact on.
As mentioned this will be something that offers accountability and transparency to corporations based on the data created from the numerous value sets that could be created, then allowing better products services and experiences for the retailer or end user
What are the challenges you faced in building MiMeta from scratch?
The hardest thing around developing MiMeta from scratch was finding a programmer who understood what we envisaged and how we saw it being represented as a product, especially when you are using values and sentiment as part of the development process. How to create individual representations and interactions in a shared space is no mean feat and is only the beginning of the journey.
What are the social economic problems Mimeta is trying to solve?
In the current global economic retail and consumer markets, it's clear to see the change in people's habits when interacting on a day-to-day basis. We now have a need for ethical ecological sustainably sourced products and services which also takes into account values, beliefs, sentiment etc. Another requirement is an environment that is safe, friendly and allows access to all.
Another massive part of what we are creating is a tool to highlight inequality in all forms and to share knowledge and understanding, build support, and create communities to converse and interact.
Is the metaverse here to stay?
In my opinion, we are already somewhat operating in a virtual world. Cashless purchases, VR or Oculus virtual house tours, Zoom and business interactions, social media and gaming apps. We are now working from home more and moving forward to a new digital age.
What is the major challenge with the metaverse?
In what sense do you mean? There are always negative ways to look at the emerging space and perceive things and some people will only look to abuse and use that negatively. It's a fact. But focusing on the benefits, opportunities, and offerings for change, global interactions, and transactions for all-around benefit.
Any parting words?
One last thing to mention is the SER and MCR tokens that are used within the ecosystem and its partners and affiliates. I can go into more detail but all the relevant information is available on our social media platforms. On behalf of Seratio, MiMeta, MiValues and the team, I would like to thank you for your time and urge anyone who wants to get involved to learn more.