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2021, week 33

Good morning!

In this week highlights we touch on two topics, Rules and the Metaverse.

Rules, as a tool to avoid hard decisions accompanied by some safeguard principles in order to avoid their pitfalls.

Metaverse, because a recent speech from Marc Zuckerberg kickstarted the discussions around this concept and aroused deep and complex questions about the vision of our near-future.

You don’t have to make a decision everyday if you know what the rule is.

1. Life rules

I like this idea of living by some rules. I feel like it can really prevent us from having to take hard decisions. It seems so obvious that we overlook the power of simple rules to make our life easier. As Shane Parrish says, rules are difficult to argue. If my rule is that I don’t have dessert when eating at the restaurant then, I don’t have to take any decision at the end of the main course. My rule is that I never eat dessert and so, I don’t have to consider this possibility. There is no decision to make. I like the simplicity of the concept although I think it’s important to keep in mind few principles to keep your rules sustainable and respectful. (1) The rule is self-dictated and has a clear purpose. (2) The rule is regularly questioned so it’s always up to date and aligned with who you are. (3) The rule is not used against others or does not make obstruction to someone else’s freedom. Even if rules are practical, it does not mean you have to become an unbearable narrow-minded person dictated by some outdated or absurd rules, right? See online

We believe we can use technology to lean into the ‘reality’ of augmented reality — encouraging everyone, ourselves included, to stand up, walk outside, and connect with people and the world around us. This is what we humans are born to do, the result of two million years of human evolution, and as a result those are the things that make us the happiest. Technology should be used to make these core human experiences better — not to replace them.

2. Metaverse

Since a recent speech from Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in July 2021, a lot of discussions happened around the idea of a Metaverse. A world where your life is mostly virtual. The Metaverse is not a new idea, the term has been used for the first time in a sci-fi novel written in 1992 by Neal Stephenson called Snow Crash. This concept is rooted in the sixties with the rise of the New Wave science fiction movement and the Cyberpunk genre. The meaning and the interpretation of the term has evolved over the decades through essays, novels, movies, video games and is today the focus of very serious business discussions. In fact, some leaders want to make the Metaverse a new ‘’reality’’. The progress in internet connectivity, performance and security are making the Metaverse something conceivable. But, this idea arouse many deep and complex questions about our future society. And, what we currently see in video games like Fortnite or Grand Theft Auto Online is just the beginning of a broader virtual reality game. What was mainly described as dystopias is becoming a reality that big tech companies want us to live in. Today’s highlight is from an article of Niantic, the company which powers Pokémon GO, about their concerns on the Metaverse and what they strive for instead: a ubiquitous Augmented Reality rather than a ubiquitous Virtual Reality. See online

Enjoy this issue and see you next week. Take care!