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The 2022 Global Metaverse Conference explores an efficient path for the landing of the metaverse industry, committed to assisting in the construction of city level, national level, and world-class metaverse industry ecosystems

Shang Bing, president of the Internet Association of China and former vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said at the meeting that the new formats of the digital economy are booming and are becoming an important driving force for world economic growth, while also accelerating the digital process of the economic society. How to make good use of digital technologies such as metaverse, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to enhance the modernization level of industrial development, information consumption, and social governance, and better serve economic and social development and improve people's lives, has become an important issue of the times.

1. Strengthen the construction of metaverse infrastructure

The development of the metaverse cannot be separated from the construction of hardware devices. Shang Bing believes that the development of the metaverse requires encouraging innovation, strengthening core technology research and application development. Specifically, we need to solidly promote the research on core digital technologies at the bottom of the metaverse, focus on solving technical limitations, and explore the integrated innovation of new generation digital technologies such as 5G, VR/AR/MR, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital twins in the immersive format of the metaverse.

In the view of Wang Tianguang, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Communications Administration, the development of the metaverse requires a strong foundation. The Shanghai Communications Administration will continue to promote the construction of communication network infrastructure, actively promote the layout and construction of new infrastructure such as 5G computing power centers by various parties in the basic telecommunications industry through the implementation of the 'Computing Power Pujiang' action plan, and lay a solid foundation for the development at the source. ”Wang Tianguang said.

Shang Bing said that the development of the metauniverse requires very strong network infrastructure, computing network and middle platform capabilities, and the construction of new information infrastructure such as 5G network, data center and industrial Internet should be accelerated. At the same time, we should continue to conduct forward-looking and global research on the layout of metaverse infrastructure and innovative applications of core technologies, strengthen overall planning, and consolidate the network infrastructure and underlying technology foundation for the future development of metaverse.

In addition, strengthening basic research and talent cultivation are equally important. We need to focus on key core technologies, strive to make new breakthroughs in theoretical methods, tool systems, and other aspects, enrich the quality of technology and industry supply. Talent is the first resource, and we need to explore mechanisms such as industry university cooperation, domestic cooperation, foreign cooperation, and cross-border cooperation, create a fertile ground for talent growth and development, and improve the construction of soft infrastructure. Ma Xingfa, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, said that we need to accelerate the application of the metaverse, attract talents, and formulate preferential policies.

2. The application prospects of digital humans are broad

Although the hardware and software infrastructure related to the metaverse is making efforts in both directions, the development of related application scenarios is still in the early stages.

Among numerous metaverse application scenarios, digital humans (also known as "virtual humans") have the fastest pace and are at the forefront of development. In the industry's view, digital human technology is more mature and easier to implement compared to other application scenarios. Digital humans mainly rely on various technological engines, including XR engines, modeling techniques, machine learning, AI algorithms+3D production, streaming media, and 5G technology. ”He Yan, General Manager of Shanghai Unicom's Modern Service Industry Division, stated that the rapid development of basic technologies will enable digital people to enter public life faster.

The reporter noticed that among the existing digital human applications, digital humans in the financial field are the most widely used. For example, the financial digital human demo launched by Gu'ao Technology and the virtual digital human anchor Shangzhen produced by Fengyuzhu for Shanghai Securities News.

Digital people are the first to make a breakthrough in the field of finance and economics, thanks to their technological advantages. It is understood that if combined with web crawling and other technologies, it only takes 20 minutes from financial report release to generating a financial report video with digital human explanations, which greatly improves the speed compared to manual labor.

In addition to financial digital people, the application of digital people in entertainment scenes is also common. The addition of digital people makes digital music, which is currently in a low period, feel refreshed like a spring breeze brushing against the face. More and more digital people are assisting in online concerts and digital entertainment activities, bringing new application scenarios for digital music.

With the help of digital people, the tourism industry has become more vibrant. It is reported that the new model of Yuanlv Shanghai developed by Shanghai Unicom uses technologies such as digital human explanation and augmented reality guidance to expand new models such as panoramic tourism around landmark buildings and attractions such as historical and cultural areas, museums, art galleries, and amusement parks.

With the development of digital humans, the construction of digital human scenarios has become increasingly sophisticated. He Yan stated that the integration of immersive and digital human technologies has empowered the online shopping experience. In live streaming sales and virtual shopping, the user experience has been improved, while the offline business operation model has also been expanded.

In addition, the construction of many scenarios suitable for digital humans is in full swing. For example, Shanghai Unicom is accelerating the promotion of digital exhibitions, encouraging the creation of cloud based exhibition halls and digital exhibition halls, providing immersive display services, developing panoramic tour services, encouraging venues to create virtual full scene tour applications, and improving indoor navigation, commercial shopping guidance, and parking tracking experience.

3. The scene is still waiting for time to mature

The development trend of digital humans is good and the prospects are optimistic, which is expected to become the "ticket" for people to enter the metaverse world. Fei Yuanhua, President of Digital Human Business Department of Weiling Times, said: "Digital human is the original people of the metauniverse, and is also the most important medium for human beings to enter the metauniverse."

However, the development of digital humans is still limited by hardware technology and requires further breakthroughs in technology. For example, some digital people have stiff expressions, and it still takes time to provide timely feedback.

In addition, establishing a digital human image involves digital face reconstruction, synchronization of sound and image, voice drive, etc., and also requires the creation of digital human supporting assets, clothing, and scenes. All of these require optimization of hardware technology support to simplify technical operation processes and reduce technical usage costs. Weiling Era is using digital human platforms as entry points to increase the accessibility of digital human images to the public.

The public's understanding of digital humans also requires the establishment of cognition and the cultivation of mental abilities. He Yan stated that the current trend in the industry is to select different types of digital people based on different scenarios. Digital human IP refers to digital individuals who only exist in the virtual world and do not exist in the real world, and have their own specific persona; Service oriented digital humans virtualize the roles of real-life services, such as commentators, guides, etc; Identity based digital humans are the virtual identities of real people