解密「元宇宙」What In The World Is The Metaverse?
一探你我共享的數位未來虛實An introduction to our shared digital future
新冠疫情迫使我們大多數人比以往更常掛在網路上，不管我們想要或不想要這樣生活。
現在，大家都透過Zoom, Teams和Line參與工作會議、上課學習以及探視家人。
不過，雖然我們很感謝視訊通話技術，但卻也有不少人討厭它。
長時間透過螢幕彼此連結會讓人情緒受到疲勞轟炸；一般非正式的說法稱為「視訊會議陰影」。
心理學家談及該現象則會用稍微正式一點的詞：「視訊會議疲勞」。
然而，即將來臨的未來網路——元宇宙——將會有所不同。
細想一下我們的平面、二維視訊通話和瑪蒂娜．韋爾霍夫元宇宙式虛擬實境會議之間的對比： 「我有幸在整個疫情期間，以VR虛擬實境方式主持多場會議。經歷過……幾個月的視訊通話會議後，VR的互動與戴著耳機的那些視訊互動對比非常明顯。結束VR交流時，我確實是充滿活力而且更加開心的……。我能跟同事握手、擁抱朋友，並且體驗面對現場觀眾的興奮感。科技的確讓我們朝著更緊密連結、更具意義，最終達人性化的數位體驗愈來愈靠近。」
The pandemic has forced millions of us to live even more online than we already were, whether we wanted to or not. We now use Zoom, Teams and Line to attend work meetings, go to classes and visit with family. But as much as we are grateful for
video-call technology, many of us also hate it. Relating to one another through screens for long periods of time can leave us feeling emotionally tired. Informally this is called "Zoom gloom."
Psychologists refer to this phenomenon with a slightly more formal term: "Zoom fatigue.”
But the internet that's coming – the metaverse – will be different. Consider the contrast between our flat, two-dimensional video calls and Martina Welkhoff's metaverse-style, virtual reality (VR) meetings:
"I had the privilege of ... hosting many meetings in VR throughout the pandemic. After ... months of video calls, the contrast to those interactions I had in the headset was stark. I reliably left VR exchanges energized and happier ... . I got to shake hands with colleagues, hug friends and experience the thrill of being in front of a live audience. [Technology is] getting us closer to a more connected, meaningful and ultimately human digital experience."
gloom（n.）沮喪；憂鬱
The students were filled with gloom when they realized how short their spring break was.
Dave looked out his back window into the gloom of the winter evening.
只見黑暗的冬天夜晚
cast a gloom over something 讓某是蒙上一層陰影
Naida’s bad behavior cast a gloom over the entire dinner party.
不當舉止讓晚宴蒙上一層陰影
fatigue （n.）疲憊；勞累
The fatigue from the hard labor during harvest made the workers eager for a long rest.
The whole taeam showed signs of fatigue after the rugby match.露出疲累的樣子（橄欖球）
fatigue （n.）金屬被過度使用而產生的疲勞
This metal has been bent so many times that I am afraid it might break in half from fatigure.
what in the world/ what on earth
What in the world is this?
What on earth is this?
whether one wants to or not
as much as
We use these words in kind of a way of saying despite one fact or even though one thing, and then you say something that might contrast it a little bit.
But as much as we are grateful for video-call technology, many of us also hate it=
Even though we are grateful for video-call technology, many of us also hate it
stark（adj.）毫無修飾的；明顯的
The contrast between the two friends’ attitudes was very strak.態度上的差異非常明顯
Peter lvoes the stark beauty of the desert at sunset.沙漠日落時分的原始美景
Jane likes a plain, stark house, so she doesn’t have many decorations. 樸素、簡單的房子
to resent憤慨；怨恨
drained
emotionally drained
stark reality 赤裸裸的事實
ultimately（adv.）終究；最終
The surgery was long, but ultimately successful.
Ultimately, the final decision lies with Maxine’s parents.最終決定權在父母手中
Even though the designers of the two machines say the machines are different, they ultimately do the same thing.
to have the privilege of …
reliably reliably
there was a very, very clear difference between, the calls that she had and the VR meetings that she had
a novel experience
If something is a novel experience, that just means that it's so new that it's going to seem neat or enjoyable.
the novelty wore off
novelty （n.）新穎，新奇[U]；新穎的事物；新奇的經驗
human digital = oxymoron or paradox
oxymoron（n.）【文】矛盾修飾法
paradox（n.）似非而可能正確的議論[C][U]；自相矛盾的議論[C][U]
Virtual reality (VR)
Metaverse
two-dimensional,
