[论文解读] All One Needs to Know about Metaverse: A Complete Survey on Technological Singularity, Virtual Ecosystem, and Research Agenda

Lik‐Hang Lee, Tristan Braud+7 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Oct 6, 2021

Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts参考文献 621被引用 902

一句话总结

本综述提出一个面向元宇宙的二维框架（技术与生态系统），详细描述八项使能技术、六项生态系统要素，以及一个研究议程。

ABSTRACT

Since the popularisation of the Internet in the 1990s, the cyberspace has kept evolving. We have created various computer-mediated virtual environments including social networks, video conferencing, virtual 3D worlds (e.g., VR Chat), augmented reality applications (e.g., Pokemon Go), and Non-Fungible Token Games (e.g., Upland). Such virtual environments, albeit non-perpetual and unconnected, have bought us various degrees of digital transformation. The term `metaverse' has been coined to further facilitate the digital transformation in every aspect of our physical lives. At the core of the metaverse stands the vision of an immersive Internet as a gigantic, unified, persistent, and shared realm. While the metaverse may seem futuristic, catalysed by emerging technologies such as Extended Reality, 5G, and Artificial Intelligence, the digital `big bang' of our cyberspace is not far away. This survey paper presents the first effort to offer a comprehensive framework that examines the latest metaverse development under the dimensions of state-of-the-art technologies and metaverse ecosystems, and illustrates the possibility of the digital `big bang'. First, technologies are the enablers that drive the transition from the current Internet to the metaverse. We thus examine eight enabling technologies rigorously - Extended Reality, User Interactivity (Human-Computer Interaction), Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Computer Vision, IoT and Robotics, Edge and Cloud computing, and Future Mobile Networks. In terms of applications, the metaverse ecosystem allows human users to live and play within a self-sustaining, persistent, and shared realm. Therefore, we discuss six user-centric factors -- Avatar, Content Creation, Virtual Economy, Social Acceptability, Security and Privacy, and Trust and Accountability. Finally, we propose a concrete research agenda for the development of the metaverse.

研究动机与目标

• 定义一个综合的元宇宙框架，融合技术维度和生态系统维度。
• 识别并分析推动元宇宙的八项使能技术（XR、HCI、AI、区块链、CV、物联网/机器人、边缘/云、未来移动网络）。
• 描述六个以用户为中心的生态系统要素（Avatar、Content Creation、Virtual Economy、Social Acceptability、Security and Privacy、Trust and Accountability）。
• 提出一个具体的研究议程并指出实现一个永久、共享、可互操作的元宇宙所面临的挑战。
• 强调朝向元宇宙的三阶段发展路线图（数字孪生、数字原生、物理与虚拟现实的共存）。

提出的方法

• 对自2012年至2021年的元宇宙相关工作进行多源、多场景的文献综述。
• 开发一个将技术与生态系统要素整合在两轴上的框架，以映射元宇宙组件。
• 在所提框架内对八项使能技术和六大生态系统块进行系统分析。
• 综合一个三阶段的元宇宙发展路径（数字孪生、数字原生、surreality）并勾勒重大挑战与机遇。
• 突出当前技术与元宇宙需求之间的差距，以指引未来研究。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 哪些技术使当前互联网向元宇宙过渡成为可能？
• RQ2 哪些生态系统要素对于支持持续、共享和可互操作的元宇宙是必要的？
• RQ3 实现元宇宙的Digital Big Bang的关键挑战与研究机会是什么？
• RQ4 如何在多样的虚拟世界和现实世界交互之间实现互操作性与治理？
• RQ5 在统一的元宇宙框架中，数字孪生、内容创建和虚拟经济的作用是什么？

主要发现

• 提出一个技术框架与生态系统视角共同行描述元宇宙格局。
• 回顾前沿技术作为使能因素，指出当前能力与元宇宙需求之间的差距。
• 概述面向永久、共享、三维虚拟空间的具体研究议程、挑战与机遇。
• 将元宇宙的发展置于三阶段路线图：数字孪生、数字原生，以及与实际世界共存的surreality。
• 主张采用全面的、跨学科的视角，将技术与生态系统构建模块结合起来，向Digital Big Bang迈进。