• Online education already gives students the ability to take classes from a distance. 
• Even for students who live a few hours away, providing other options for 'attending' courses, talks, and other student activities can make a significant difference.
• Access however is still largely limited to those in the 'global north' - those with a land-based technology infrastructure; cheap or free Internet access, less expensive devices, etc.
• Some learning management systems are doing a good job of making courses available on mobile devices, but still they lean heavily towards needing laptops/desktops.
• There is still a heavy cost involved with accessing higher education around the world.
• If the overhead associated with delivering courses was reduced, naturally the cost to a student could be reduced as well.
• If the instructor doesn't have to be physically on the campus, or even in the same country, they could be paid less for greater flexibility. 
• If a student doesn't have to be on campus to take the course, they have less cost to attend.
• When the experience is delivered through smart phones - everything changes.
• We do still have to consider how that impacts the student experience. 

But what if we made the Metaverse where education happens?

• Students, instructors can tune in from anywhere.
• Courses become more 'global' with perspectives beyond local borders.
• Financial implications shift.
• Student networks expand beyond their local community. Their peers are now across the globe. 

IMPETUS: Hennessy

• Launched a new platform called H3NSY which pulls together all of their projects under one channel.

• Membership platform for creators and communities.

• This article explains it well and this post shows one of the activations.

• I'm curious as to how brands and storefronts will plant their flag using augmented and virtual reality, and what we can do as educators to equip students for the opportunities that will present themselves.

Web2

• Having entire inventory searchable via website or app

• Online menus

• Videos of mixologists or bottle reviews

• Podcasts on every topic related to beverages

• Omnichannel - ability to buy brands in more places; store, online

Web3

• Seeing info about a bottle through glasses or phone lens

• Taking AR tour of a distillery or brewery

• Instant ingredients and nutrition info

• Even more global presence

• Look at bottles and instantly measure contents, update inventory and projections

Equipment

• VR headsets will become less bulky and seamless

• It will become a normal option to get prescription glasses loaded with AR

Brand-side

• Supply chain that assumes international delivery

• More decentralized teams

• Virtual tasting experiences will focus more on lore of the brand rather than the actual taste

• Project to simulate taste - liquid in glass gets “programmed” to assume flavor

• Twin bottles in metaverse are customized for individuals (NFT 1of1s)

• Taps can be replicated for use in virtual bars, restaurants, clubs

• Entire worlds can be manifested in Metaverse

• Game opportunities are endless; characters, tie-ins, NFT prizes

Stores

• Twins of the facility (Microsoft)

• Customers can walk through virtually, browse options

• Staff can be present or virtual

• Focus on experiences

• Can expand beyond physical limitations (square footage)

Opportunities

• Create even more individual experiences

• Instant glob reach

• NFTs with utility; e.g. 10,000 people who own X NFT get first rights to new batches

Jobs that exist or will become more common (think of social media managers)

• Community managers

• Attendants will work in virtual venues

• Virtual brand ambassadors - present in Roblox, Decentraland, SuperWorld, etc.

• Designers and coders of course

• Digital merchandisers

• Virtual event planners

• Guides - helping people step foot in these worlds

Education

• Think of how many courses, degree programs and certificates grew out of social media

• New courses: Hospitality & Tourism in the Metaverse, Virtual Event Planning, Commerce in Web3

• VR simulations for students to visit far off places

• VR to participate in skill development; virtual hotels, restaurants, breweries, etc.

• Student projects will change. Instead of drawing or doing a PPT, they can build and show it within the Metaverse

• Event participation through VR/AR; attendees from elsewhere can be in person using VR, attendees on site can “see” virtual participants and speakers using AR.

• Campuses can build satellite structures in the Metaverse

• Implications for admissions, cost of education

Skills we need

• Navigate different Web3 environments

• Think of design and packaging beyond bottles and holders

• Understand line of sight between production and how individuals interact with brand in metaverse

Other

• Anonymity factor

• DEI implications

• Ensuring fair pay