Urbani izziv Volume 33, No. 2, December 2022
: 73-81
(Articles)
UDK: 711.427:004.946
doi: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2022-33-02-01
Author
Aslı Ulubaş Hamurcu
Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Istanbul, Turkey
ulubas@itu.edu.tr
Title
The metaverse, online communities, and (real) urban space
Abstract
With the COVID-19 pandemic, technological advancements and investments accelerated to create an alternative to the real world that makes it possible for various activities and experiences to be handled online. Among these developments, the metaverse comes to the fore because
it makes possible real and virtual experiences simultaneously, regardless of the time and space the user exists in, and it acts as a mediator and medium to bring these two environments together. This article discusses the possible impacts of advancements in the metaverse on (real) urban space considering the socio-spatial dialectic through theory synthesis and adaptation. An overall evaluation of the socio-spatial impacts of this is also included and opened up for discussion. Based on a literature review, it is expected that technological developments like the metaverse will introduce a new organization to physical and virtual socio-spatial relations, and new socio-technological groups will be created in them and by using them.
Key Words
metaverse, online communities, urban space, phygital, COVID-19 pandemic