With the advent of virtual environments and communities, the metaverse has been rapidly expanding in recent years as businesses and industries have begun to see the value and opportunities this technology provides. In order to ensure this technology is utilized to its full potential, further study on the best practices, challenges, and future directions is required. The Research Anthology on Virtual Environments and Building the Metaverse considers the latest research regarding the metaverse and discusses potential issues and benefits of the technology. The book also examines strategies and tactics businesses and companies can use when implementing the metaverse into their operations. Covering key topics such as immersion, augmented reality, and virtual worlds, this major reference work is ideal for computer scientists, business owners, managers, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

This book addresses recent research trends concerning the role of the Metaverse in advancing the education and finance sectors from various perspectives. These trends are explored through multiple case studies employing diverse analytical approaches. The chapters aim to aid scholars and postgraduate students in pursuing future research in this domain and identifying potential developments in Metaverse applications.

Three-dimensional (3D) immersive virtual worlds have been touted as being capable of facilitating highly interactive, engaging, multimodal learning experiences. Much of the evidence gathered to support these claims has been anecdotal but the potential that these environments hold to solve traditional problems in online and technology-mediated education—primarily learner isolation and student disengagement—has resulted in considerable investments in virtual world platforms like Second Life, OpenSimulator, and Open Wonderland by both professors and institutions. To justify this ongoing and sustained investment, institutions and proponents of simulated learning environments must assemble a robust body of evidence that illustrates the most effective use of this powerful learning tool. In this authoritative collection, a team of international experts outline the emerging trends and developments in the use of 3D virtual worlds for teaching and learning. They explore aspec ts of learner interaction with virtual worlds, such as user wayfinding in Second Life, communication modes and perceived presence, and accessibility issues for elderly or disabled learners. They also examine advanced technologies that hold potential for the enhancement of learner immersion and discuss best practices in the design and implementation of virtual world-based learning interventions and tasks. By evaluating and documenting different methods, approaches, and strategies, the contributors to Learning in Virtual Worlds offer important information and insight to both scholars and practitioners in the field.

Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming a popular technology for gaming and entertainment; however, researchers and scientists have used the technology for decades to develop real world solutions. The criminal justice system has used VR primarily for weapons training and forensic investigation but its uses are expanding. This book discusses how the technology can be used for correctional rehabilitation. Specifically, the book explores how cognitive behavior therapy, a widely used therapeutic technique used to treat offenders, can be improved using VR. Offenders can learn new skills, role play, and practice what they’ve learned in a safe, controlled environment that mimics situations they may find when back in the community. Additionally, those without access to services can use the technology to attend virtual groups offered by trained facilitators no matter where they live. With current limitations on resources, VR can offer criminal justice practitioners another option for offender rehabilitation.

"This book presents foundational research, models, case studies and research results that researchers and scholars can port to their own environments to evolve their own research processes and studies, covering scenarios of intellectual disciplines and technological endeavors in which metaverse platforms are currently being used and will be used"--Provided by publisher.