The concept of virtual mobility has long been used to describe how the internet can provide an accessible alternative to activities that usually require physical mobility. Virtual mobility was in full swing during the pandemic, as work, entertainment, and socializing efficiently moved online. The Metaverse – the next phase of the internet powered by virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) – has the potential to take things even further.
This article will investigate the potential of the Metaverse to introduce life-changing benefits for disabled and older people, as well as develop solutions to improve its accessibility and inclusivity.
Five ways the Metaverse could be revolutionary for people with disabilities:
1. Social life
The benefits of conventional social media for disabled people have been long established. Designed well, social spaces in the Metaverse will advance these benefits through virtual social reality, which mimics in-person interaction and permit people to interact freely without obstacles in the physical world. Notably, users in Metaverse platforms like Meta’s Horizon Worlds can represent themselves using virtual avatars. Research suggests that virtual avatars are a means through which some disabled people reflect aspects of their disability as a central part of their identity.
Others may self-represent through avatars that are imagined. The Metaverse gives users freedom and creativity regarding how they want to be seen and eliminates preconceptions that disabled and older people might face when interacting with others in person.
2. Education
The Metaverse can potentially improve the range and quality of education delivery pathways available to disabled users and late-life learners. Immersive technologies mean that higher education can be delivered engagingly without requiring physical attendance.
This delivery mode would eliminate some factors that exclude many people from accessing quality education, such as needing to move away from home or travel to a physical campus. There are also numerous opportunities to use the Metaverse for remote coaching, personal development, and skills training.
3. Work
A recent survey by Microsoft found that only 16% of the 31,102 survey participants, across generations, did not see themselves carrying out at least some of their job duties as “metawork” shortly. The pandemic has shown how quickly we can adjust to new working methods. Many people expect to work in the metaverse one way or another.
The Metaverse can provide access to the types of work that one’s disability or age might otherwise make it difficult for them to access in the physical world. A growing community of designers is getting ready to create virtual interiors that will exist only within the Metaverse. Other areas with attractive metaverse-based job prospects are digital fashion, real estate, and building the Metaverse itself.
4. Entertainment and leisure
The pandemic brought music to the digital world in new ways, with artists from Travis Scott to Ariana Grande performing in virtual spaces. Gigs in the Metaverse are just one entertainment option – virtual cinemas, theatre performances, and museum and gallery exhibitions are already taking place. Tourism is another arena where the Metaverse can provide opportunities to travel through digital environments. Tourists could also explore remote physical locations from the comfort of home through a virtual reality headset, making travel more accessible and affordable.
5. Healthcare and wellbeing
The Metaverse can also become a powerful platform in the medical world, useful in different fields of medicine. For example, extended reality (XR) simulation can be used for various types of medical education and training, such as emergency response and mental health. VR and AR can also enhance medical imaging in radiology and support diagnostics, treatment planning, and medical research. Another area of medicine where the Metaverse has potential is telemedicine. VR can facilitate remote consultation, especially where the medical personnel is not geographically available, like in many rural regions. It is worth noting that the Metaverse is not meant to replace life and experiences in the physical world but to offer new options. However, for its potential to come to fruition, the Metaverse must be built to be accessible, inclusive, and equitable across the spectrum of ability and age. This applies not just to the functional aspects but also the social elements. Other challenges with privacy, security, safety, communication, and ethical behaviour are also likely to emerge
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