You hear the word “metaverse” all the time. But how often have you considered the definition? Coined in 1992 by science fiction author Neal Stephenson, the relatively obscure term exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly after Facebook rebranded as Meta in October 2021. There are now myriad articles on the metaverse, and thousands of companies have invested in its development. Citigroup Inc. has estimated that by 2030 the metaverse could be a $13 trillion market, with 5 billion users. From climate change to global connection and disability access to pandemic response, the metaverse has incredible potential. Gatherings in […]

You’ve likely heard how the metaverse will bring a new era of digital connectivity, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and e-commerce. And tech companies are betting on it: Microsoft’s massive $68.7 billion acquisition of game-developing giant Activision Blizzard reflected the company’s desire to bolster its position in the interactive entertainment space. Prior to this, Facebook’s parent company rebranded itself as Meta — a key pillar of founder Mark Zuckerberg’s grand ambitions to reimagine the social media platform as “a metaverse company, building the future of social connection.” But other non-tech corporations are clamoring to get in on the ground floor, from […]

Higher education in the United States is in trouble. Spiraling tuition costs and a student debt crisis threaten to make college unaffordable to all but the wealthy. In an attempt to cut spending and control tuition hikes, American universities have become increasingly reliant on temporary instructors who are underpaid, teach a heavy course load, and often lack job security and health insurance. Many schools are also increasing class sizes and moving courses online to lower costs. And students are not happy: Online learning is less popular than in-person instruction, and dissatisfaction has only increased during the pandemic. On top of […]