What Do We Truly Need?
From day one, the internet aimed to transport information from Point A to Point B, achieving more efficient connections. We then witnessed the birth of the Web, followed by Web2.0, and later, Mobile.
My life transitioned from the primitive stages of the mouse to the vibrant world of social circles, and eventually to fragmentary moments available anytime, anywhere. We moved from open-source technologies to open system platforms, from news media to social networking platforms, and from telephones to the ecosystem of smartphones.
Even though technology changes in multifaceted ways, products are colorful and varied, and industries differ, it's undeniable that a concept has deeply resonated with many: technology tends towards genuine and wonderful value. This trend has blessed us with more diverse media, more authentic networks, and better phones. Sometimes, it seems like a natural evolution, giving us a cold, restrained, and simple progression.
It's hard to say whether the previous era was about Steve Jobs discovering a better device, or we, as consumers, choosing such excellent products. But the natural outcome is that each of us benefits from these genuinely better choices. It constantly reminds us that no matter how times evolve, we always have a consistent desire: we want better things.
Indeed, "better things" are diverse. Currently, I see three categories:
- Tools that are faster, more powerful, and higher-performing. Whether for businesses or individuals, we will always need such tools.
- Creations that are more profound, more inspiring, and more original. We need tools that save us time, which we can then spend on acquiring knowledge, sparking ideas, and exploring our souls.
- Groundbreaking inventions that shine with innovative ideas, often unpredictable beforehand. But a single seed might take root in a patch of soil, quietly flourishing into a lush plant.
We weren't satisfied with 140-character blogs, and so flying cars emerged.
Instead of being engrossed in alcohol and nicotine, we got Bob Dylan.
Instead of remaining trapped within industrial confines, we witnessed the rise of computers, mobile phones, the internet, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.
How to choose then? There isn’t a straightforward answer.
But for thousands of years, it seems that what we desire has commonalities: a peaceful mind, genuine knowledge, and a wonderful life.
We always hope to have deeper and more vivid emotional interactions with our families, partners, and friends in the limited time we have.
We always aspire to eliminate repetitive and inefficient tasks to achieve richer and more vibrant life experiences.
We always long for a book that we never tire of reading or a movie we never get bored of watching, both of which inspire our exploration of the inner universe.
We always hope for more Einsteins, Jobs, and Satoshis to illuminate our future, letting us unlock new energy chapters in ways we never imagined.
We desire something that is genuine, not fake; enduring, not transient; open, not closed; creative, not replicated; profound, not superficial; and simple, not ostentatious.
Indeed, the concept of the metaverse embodies a certain aspiration. We do seem to need a different kind of "home" or "space-time."
Yet, this desire might most likely turn into a fleeting illusion, because we genuinely have other alternatives to consider.
Firstly, we have more tangible choices, options that can make our lives more real and rich. These excellent tools could change the way we interact with information.
Even though Apple's pace of innovation has slowed, the direction of selecting promising technologies to craft better products hasn’t changed. Historically, there have always been attempts to promote a culture of virtual escapism. This was, after all, the original intention behind Myspace, which Facebook once opposed, and which now seems to be shattered by the metaverse. From this perspective, we'd rather opt for the grounded reality that Apple offers.
Mentally and culturally, we have more enduring choices. There will likely be a greater focus on the act of creation itself. This essence of creation is being redefined by NFTs. Compared to more efficient platforms, we genuinely need more direct creativity and content.
Against a platform optimized for dissemination and marketing, we truly require a more straightforward, more genuine, and simpler creative environment.
The metaverse, in all likelihood, may be ill-equipped to serve as a spiritual home. Such rapidly trending concepts, much like the influencer economy that thrives on attention consumption, may inherently lack longevity.
We have more open choices. Instead of siding with a monopolistic entity, it's evident we can adopt a more open, bottom-up co-building protocol approach to reshape information technology.
We can opt to be involved in technology and product design from day one, collectively deciding on a direction.
At present, it's hard to believe in a metaverse that can ensure our personal privacy and data security.
This is not just about Facebook changing. It points to rules written by the traditional economic system.
Creativity often first concerns the issue at hand and its multiple dimensions. The potential solutions naturally hold greater possibilities. Such eureka moments, shining like stars, are incredibly challenging to articulate through mere language logic. Excessive formality and performance often deviate from genuine creativity. The choice of the anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto notably added a remarkable chapter to our description of creativity. The seed of such thought, planted and germinated within the community he enlightened, is vigorously growing. We eagerly anticipate the blossoming of inventive flowers in this soil.
The line between depth and superficiality concerns systems and layered thinking, where earnest and serious rationality plays a part.
Currently, the metaverse seems like giving you a toolkit within a nine-story iron tower and then starts building. The contemplation of people, objects, and information appears linear and superficial.
It's evident that we can learn more from Ethereum's layered thought system for the future world. Vitalik's suggestion for Facebook to develop along the blockchain is pragmatic.
Often, the best things are unadorned, or their stories are told in an honest, straightforward manner.
We used to eagerly await Apple's annual product launches. Each time, the products made up most of the story, rather than mere concepts or performances.
When flamboyant language and storytelling emerge, we must be wary of impure motives and shoddy craftsmanship.
The current vulnerability of the metaverse lies here. From top-down, it doesn't focus the community on creating something genuinely good. Instead, there's an atmosphere of misplaced priorities and ostentation.
"Stay true to one's original aspiration and keep the mission firmly in mind."
In some discourses, all we sense is the scent of being lost.
While we might need some fireworks, we long more for a starry, beautiful night.