It’s time to get used to the idea of metamobility.
From innovative windshield wipers to doubling down on hydrogen power, Hyundai has increasingly shown its willingness to explore ideas outside of the norm in recent years. It even envisions steering wheels with large, integrated screens. But it’s not only in the physical world where Hyundai is expanding its horizons.
The Korean automotive giant has also been taking a dive into the metaverse, be it conducting business in the virtual world or pioneering the concept of Metamobility by “using robots as a medium between the real and virtual worlds.” It all makes sitting behind the wheel of your humdrum Elantra seem like something from the Stone Age, but Hyundai’s latest trademark filing for Metamobility shows how serious it is about seamlessly merging the physical and virtual worlds.
Uncovered by CarBuzz and filed with IP Australia, Hyundai’s new trademark – simply titled Metamobility – describes “software for metaverse, metaverse contents operating software, blockchain-based non-fungible tokens,” and much more. Another entry in the listing was for “downloadable image files featuring virtual cars for metaverse.”
When expanding upon its metamobility concept earlier this year, Hyundai said it would explore solutions that would allow “people to overcome the physical limitations of movement in time and space.”
Hyundai says that future cars will function as smart devices to allow people to access virtual spaces. Depending on individual needs, the car could function as a meeting room, a 3D video game platform, or an entertainment space.
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IP Australia
Hyundai
Hyundai
One rather creepy possibility of life in the metaverse could see a user access a digital twin of their home within the metaverse; if you are physically away on business, an avatar robot of you could feed and hug your pet at home. Through Hyundai’s Metamobility vision, “robots will help people overcome the physical limitations of time and space, providing a means for connecting and interacting in the metaverse.”
The possibilities for metamobility are both exciting and spooky, but if a company as prominent as Hyundai is investing in the technology, perhaps it’s time for the rest of us to get on board.
