Misconceptions of metaverse: from etymology to technology

Abstract

The   emergence   of   the   metaverse   in   society   is   followed   by   certain confusions,  whereas  the  line  between  virtual  reality  and  the  metaverse remains   unclear. Ironically,   this   has   affected   the   development   of   the metaverse itself, focusing more on virtual reality while being one of its side components.  This  has  led  to  the  concept  losing  popularity  compared  to artificial  intelligence  technology.  This  research  is  aqualitative  study  that aims to explore the issues at the root of misconceptions and reconstruct the true  meaning  of  the  metaverse  itself.  This  research  indicates  that  the misconception already existed when the term was first used alongside virtual realitytechnology.  The  term  "meta"  refers  to  a  higher  reality,  whereas  the terms  "digiverse"  or  "virtuverse"  can  be  used,  considering  that  the  terms "digital" and "virtual" can refer to realities lower than the universe