The “metases”, contraction of meta and universe, a true digital lining of the physical world accessible via the Internet, is the subject of colossal investments. The French musician bets he “will be the major mode of expression of the 21st century”.
Le Monde
While the American giants like Facebook but also foreign start-ups amateing to build the parallel digital universe of the future, Jean-Michel Jarre estimates, in an interview to AFP, that “it takes urgently Make a “metapes” French “.
Ambassador of the young Russian pushes Sensorium Galaxy, presented last week at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Jean-Michel Jarar is part of the headlines of this digital universe that wants to offer “high-end” cultural immersive experiences Like exhibitions or shows in virtual reality.
“Collaborate with Sensorium Galaxy does not exclude that my priority is to be able to reach an autonomy in France and Europe” in these technologies, nevertheless specifies the artist. “I think it takes urgency making a methavers, a French virtual reality platform”, insists Jean-Michel Jarre, who sees an issue of cultural sovereignty.
The “metases”, a contraction of meta and universe, is a kind of digital lining of the physical world, accessible via the Internet. Thanks in particular to virtual and enhanced reality, it should make it possible to demultipulate human interactions, releasing physical constraints.
A platform, driven by billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, should be launched at the end of the year. Other artists like DJ David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren or Eric Prydz have already confirmed exclusive concerts. Tech giants like Facebook and video game companies like Epic Games or RoBlox also invest colossal sums to build their own methavers.
“You really have to catch up”
Futuristic musical performances, the 73-year-old French artist, had already produced a free concert virtual reality in Notre-Dame of Paris scanned, on the occasion of the New Year 2021, in which he had appeared in the form of an avatar. “To be able to disseminate virtual reality the concert I made to Notre-Dame, it was necessary to go through an American platform (YouTube and Facebook) because there is no reality social platform virtual in France. You really have to catch up, “he says.
“In the same way that we have been at the origin of the cinema, one must also be at the beginning and at the birth of this mode of expression that will be the major mode of expression of the XXI e century “, adds Jean-Michel Jarre. That this is through a virtual reality helmet or augmented reality glasses, this “new aesthetic” will allow to express themselves “in a different way” in terms of sound and image and generate an “infinity “Possible” narrations “
“This will therefore give birth to new generations of creators and technicians, with a whole economic ecosystem that will be built on it”, it prognostic. For example, more than 150 technicians had been mobilized for several weeks to realize the virtual show in Our Lady of Paris.
Coalition between the public and the private in South Korea
Faced with tech giants, national initiatives exist. In South Korea, it is a coalition of companies and public institutions that was formed in May under the leadership of the Ministry of Sciences to avoid “dependence on” foreign “transnational actors, explains to AFP Nicolas reffected, Associate in charge of the media within the BearingPoint cabinet.
Baptized the “Metaverse Alliance”, it brings together more than 200 companies alongside local champions like Samsung.
Complementary to living arts, the artistic expression in virtual reality also has “a social dimension” to bring together “those who can be geographically isolated or for reasons of disability”, pleads Jean-Michel Jarre.
What does it matter if the equipment needed for access can be expensive? “Most of the millions of people who followed the Notre-Dame concert had no increased reality glasses, replied the musician. A show in virtual reality is not only today dedicated to people who have helmets but also to those who can live this moment with a “laptop” [laptop] or their smartphone. “