State-of-the-Art Human-Computer-Interaction in Metaverse

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of the Metaverse concept, human beings have stepped to a new height in the intelligent technology progress. This work presents a literature review of the current research on Human-Computer Interaction in the Metaverse. Keywords like “Metaverse,” “Human-Computer Interaction (HCI),” “virtual space,” “virtual technology,” “three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction,” “parallel universe,” “independent identity,” “access to interests,” and “blockchain” are used to search for relevant articles in the literature in databases like Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Academic. Nearly 100 advanced studies on the Metaverse are selected from over 20,000 documents covering 2018-2023. Finally, the current application state of the Metaverse’s underlying technologies is explored and described using the PRISMA principles; these technologies include the fifth-generation (5 G) communication, HCI, virtual technology, blockchain, and 3D reconstruction. Moreover, the predictions for HCI's future growth in the Metaverse are made. The review concludes that the rapid advancement of the 5 G connection has made the concept of the Metaverse possible. The blockchain ensures the safety of currency transactions in the Metaverse virtual space. There will be a shift toward “invisibility” in the way that humans and computers interact in virtual worlds. In other words, HCI will be transparent to the user in the digital realm, and people will get along with the computer in a natural and equitable way. In the interaction, wearable devices allow for an immersive experience in the interaction, but they restrict the participants’ freedom of movement and perception. The more humanized somatosensory connection will gain traction in the future, bringing people one step closer to the Metaverse.