(FS:R) - The Metaverse Is Not Dead; It Is Early - with Astron Gerov

(FS:R) - The Metaverse Is Not Dead; It Is Early - with Astron Gerov

Session Overview

These days, staying away from technology and politics is harder than avoiding gravity. This is for good reason, since the scale of upcoming shifts is no longer confined to tools that support our lives, but forces capable of derailing the structures we have thus far relied on. A colossal, yet severely underestimated trend is the gradual emergence of the Metaverse, or extended-reality technologies.

While it may be a term you may not have heard in years, or one which causes you to snort in derision, its trajectory deserves far more attention than it receives. The Metaverse is not a failed trend; but an early-stage infrastructure layer with the potential to redefine work, identity, communication, and human presence. This session explores why we dismissed it too soon, why it is returning in a more mature form, and what its rise and potential, irreversible consequences mean for society in the
decade ahead.

FutureSkills Learning Outcomes
Over the course of this talk, we will cover the following topics:

• What the Metaverse has been about so far and where it came from.
• How it will be rebranded and what to expect in the coming 5 years.
• Why I see this is inevitable and why it hasn’t happened yet.
• The attached benefits and downsides.
• What you can do to prepare for its gradual arrival.

Personal Bio:

My name is Astron Gerov, and I am interested in the impact of technology on everyday life. My hobbies involve networking and researching topics in technology, business and finance, politics and sociology. I have a BSc in International Development from Reading and currently work as a coordinator in telecoms, with previous experience in agriculture, healthcare, logistics, admin and several other fast-paced industries. I am particularly interested in how emerging digital systems such as AI and extended reality influence social behaviour, public infrastructure and the evolution of work.

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Logistics - In-person and Remote

• In person at Pentahotel in Reading
• Online via Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/ics-iddz-uht

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Schedule

18:00: Icebreaker on Miro

18.15: (FS:R) FutureSkills : Reading - Introduction

18.20: - (FS:R) - The Metaverse Is Not Dead; It Is Early - with Astron Gerov

19:45: Close

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We look forward to seeing you there!

Adam and Stu

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About (FS:R) FutureSkills : Reading - Our mission is to grow the community of future facing technologists in Reading and share new trends and techniques that will help us accelerate into the future.

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We strive to host a friendly and safe environment for all attendees. Please read our Code of Conduct for full details on how we maintain this, and to understand how best to let us know about anything that may be going against this: http://bit.ly/AND-CodeOfConduct