A Brief History of the Metaverse: DIY Metaverse

A Brief History of the Metaverse: DIY Metaverse

Author: Ampel September 28, 2022 Duration: 33:25

Tony and Mark - supported by a global community of technologists, enthusiasts and dreamers - brought 3D to the brand-new Web with VRML, creating the foundations for the “DIY Metaverse”. Featuring Owen Rowley, Linda Jacobson, John McCrea, Coco Conn and Neal Stephenson.

Read the interview with Jaron Lanier in MONDO 2000 issue 2 that changed Mark’s life. “Homebrew VR“, written by Linda Jacobson, in WIRED magazine, issue 1. Use Windows? Have a play with ‘Labyrinth’, the world’s first 3D Web browser, here. You can explore the ‘Cyberbanana’ – and ‘Daniel’s Room’, the first public demonstration of VRML, for SIGKIDS 1994. “Coco’s Channel” a WIRED article about Coco Conn’s work creating SIGKIDS. Read it hereRead ‘Cyberspace’, the paper describing VRML that Mark presented at the First International Conference on the World Wide Web. Read the VRML 1.0 spec here.

At the end of the episode, Neal Stephenson recounts the story of a panel he sat through – which inspired him to write Snow CrashRead it here. 

For more information about this and all our other 'The Next Billion Seconds" content, please check out https://nextbillionseconds.com

This podcast is sponsored by the Digital Skills Organisation.

The DSO is championing an employer-led, skills-based approach to digital literacy. Our offering is designed to support future-proofing the country, growing jobs, supporting our economic growth and ensuring that Australia remains a global leader in digital. If we are to equip our workforce with the skills to meet a rapidly changing, technological future, we need a new approach. We’re working in collaboration with employers, trainers and employees. Their involvement is vital. We believe it’s a better way to create consistent journey pathways and build relevant digital skills. We define the problem this way - digital skills training must:

Create value both internally and externally.
Improve customer experience.
Build operational capabilities.

To deliver on these objectives we need to strengthen Australia’s digital workforce. It’s that simple.

DSO - Digitally Upskilling Australia To find out more, visit the DSO website: https://digitalskillsorg.com.au

"Mark Pesce - The Next Billion Seconds" is produced by Ampel - visit https://ampel.com.au to find out what Ampel could do for you! If you are interested in sponsoring The Next Billion Seconds podcast, reach out to our Director of Media and Partnerships Lauren Deighton at lauren@ampel.com.au If you enjoyed this show, please leave a rating and/or review on Apple, Spotify or any other podcast platform. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Ever feel like the world is shifting beneath your feet? That's the sensation The Next Billion Seconds with Mark Pesce captures and explores. Hosted by award-winning futurist and journalist Mark Pesce, this podcast digs into the profound technological and societal transformations happening right now-at a pace humanity has never before experienced. It’s not just speculation; it’s about understanding the forces reshaping how we work, connect, and even think about value and money, so we can navigate today with more clarity. Mark has a knack for untangling complex ideas, making the dizzying rate of change feel comprehensible and, more importantly, actionable. Each episode serves as a guide, helping you piece together what’s coming next from the signals already here. For anyone curious about where science, technology, and global news are steering us, this podcast from Ampel is an essential companion. Tune in to hear thoughtful analysis that connects the dots between emerging trends and your daily decisions, all delivered with an engaging, accessible style. The future isn't a distant abstraction on this show-it's the next billion seconds, and they're already unfolding.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

The Next Billion Seconds with Mark Pesce
Podcast Episodes
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