[Yanglian Zhibo-Editor's note: Gan Huaming, executive vice chairman of the Metaverse Industry Committee, expressed his own opinion on a point of view put forward by the National Committee for the Approval of Scientific and Technological Terms in the Metaverse and Core Terminology Concept Seminar, and wrote "About the Terminology "Meta" "Universe" and Related Issues" is now forwarded for consideration by the metaverse industry and academia]
At the request of a friend, join the discussion with some humble opinions on the term "metaverse" and related issues.
1. Dependence
On September 14, it was reported that "terms related to "metaverse" are expected to be released for trial as soon as possible," saying, "On September 13, the National Committee for the Approval of Scientific and Technical Terms held a seminar on the concept of metaverse and core terms in Beijing. After in-depth discussions, the participating experts The following consensus has been reached on the names and definitions of the three core concepts including "Metaverse":
1. Chinese name: Yuan Universe
English name: metaverse
Interpretation: Humans use digital technology to construct a virtual world that is mirrored or surpassed by the real world and can interact with the real world.
……”
2. Discuss the matter
1. Grammatically, the "mapped by the real world" in this definition is inappropriate and should be changed to "mapped the real world", because here is not talking about the problem of the real world mapping the virtual world, although of course there is such a problem.
2. In terminology, what does the term "transcendence" in this definition mean in professional fields such as metaverse/digital technology/information technology/computer science and technology?
3. The interpretation adopts the definition method of genus plus species difference. We do not know the interpreter's definition of "virtual world" as a "genus", so we can only ask the following questions:
Is there any virtual world that is not "constructed by human beings using digital technology"? [If not, then "humans use digital technology to build" is redundant and should be deleted. 】
Is there a virtual world that is not "mirrored by the real world or transcends the real world (or, mirrors or surpasses the real world) and can interact with the real world"? [If not, then "mapped by the real world or beyond the real world (or, mapped or beyond the real world), can interact with the real world" is redundant and should be deleted. 】
4. By the way, the definition of "virtual world" (virtual world) in "Computer Science and Technology Terminology" (the third edition, approved by the National Committee for the Approval of Scientific and Technological Terms, and officially announced in 2018) is as follows: "The virtual world simulated by Internet computers A virtual space in which users can inhabit through their own avatars (avatars), and can interact and communicate with other avatars, usually through two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphics.”
Of course, any term specification is recommended rather than mandatory, so interpreters may not adopt the above-mentioned definition of "virtual world". However, if it is not adopted, one must make one's own definition.
3. The four meanings of the term "metaverse"
From a global perspective, in professional fields such as metaverse/digital technology/information technology/computer science and technology, the word "metaverse" currently has four main meanings. These four meanings are as follows (here is just a brief description, not a strict definition):
The first one is an upgraded version of the virtual world, which has features such as 3D immersion. [Representative of views: IEEE Virtual World Standard Working Group (P1828) document; Roblox (Roblox) prospectus. 】
The second is the upgraded version of the Internet (or the third-generation Internet), which constructs, preserves, and presents an upgraded version of the virtual world. [Viewpoint representative: Matthew Ball's " The Metaverse Primer " (THE METAVERSE And How It Will Revolutionize Everything ); remarks by Meta CEO Zuckerberg . 】
The third one is the upgraded version of the world, that is, the world that includes the Internet (of course there is a virtual world). From another perspective, it is the whole of the virtual world and the real world. [Viewpoint representative: Gabriel Rene (Gabriel Rene) and Dan Mapes (Dan Mapes) "Smart Space: Uncovering How Web3.0 Will Connect Humans, Machines, and Artificial Intelligence to Transform the World" (THE SPATIAL WEB : HOW WEB 3.0 WILL CONNECT HUMANS,MACHINES AND AI TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD ); Deloitte, one of the world's four major accounting firms, "Metaverse Overview-Vision, Technology and Response". 】
Fourth, the Internet (in which of course there is a virtual world) and the part of the real world that interacts with the virtual world are combined as a whole. [Viewpoint representative: Wikipedia entry "Metaverse" ( Metaverse ); Acceleration Studies Foundation's "Metaverse Roadmap - Roadmap to a 3D Network: A Cross-Industry Public Foresight Project" ( Metaverse Roadmap—Pathways to the 3D Web: A Cross-Industry Public Foresight Project ). 】
In addition, there are many scholars and entrepreneurs who have expressed their views on metaverse, but the concept and object they refer to by the word "metaverse" are not clear enough.
4. Several issues in terminology work
1. Terminology work is important.
Terminology distinguishes science from common sense. (Language distinguishes human beings from beasts, and writing distinguishes civilization from barbarism.)
Terminology is academic.
There is no science without terminology.
Normative terminology is not a unified idea, but a unified expression.
2. The normative work on the interpretation of terms (strictly speaking, the definition of concepts) should summarize and refine the research of the academic community and the practice of practical workers, and choose the interpretation (definition) that wins the competition between research and practice .
3. The interpretation of terms must pay attention to the systematicness of terms, that is, the relationship between a term and its "neighbors" and "superior and subordinate".
[My Weibo headline article "Essence of Terminology: Object, Nature, Characteristics, Concept, Definition, Designation" published on May 27, 2021 is available for reference. Link headline article ]
Brief introduction of the author Gan Huaming
■Executive deputy director and co-sponsor of the China Mobile Communications Federation Metaverse Industry Committee; lifelong deputy director of the China Communications Industry Association Blockchain Professional Committee; president of the Doleji Blockchain Research Institute;
■The author of the hot article "The Great History of the Universe: From the Beginning to the Metaverse" (millions of readings) and "Blockchain (Gongxinwang) Manifesto" (hundreds of thousands of readings).
■An authorized translator of Samuelson, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, one of the pioneers of China's shareholding system reform, the lecturer of the core courses of the first MBA in China, and was promoted to associate professor at Renmin University of China in 1991 (leaved from Renmin University of China in 1992). Since the 1980s, dozens of books and translations have been officially published in economics, management, game theory, joint stock companies, securities markets, anthropology, etc.
■Member of Chinese Character Society. After retreating for 8 years (2008 to 2015), he worked hard to compile and publish the "Modern Chinese Character Dictionary". Read tens of thousands of books.
■College student of grade 77, majoring in industrial automation, Department of Automation, Central South University; graduate student of grade 83, major in enterprise management, Department of Industrial Economics, Renmin University of China.
