Ohio State Will Use The Metaverse to Train First Responders

Multiple metaverse use cases have started to emerge in spite of several people believing the interest in the technology is declining. Recently, Ohio State reportedly used virtual reality (VR) for training first responders for emergency scenarios. This shows how the digital space could better replicate real-world chaotic situations.

Is The Metaverse A Hedge Against Disasters?

According to an Ohio-based independent newspaper, The Lantern, the first responders can upskill themselves in a simulated emergency environment. The Ohio State team is preparing for extreme events in the metaverse to deliver life-saving aid to people in the physical world. The initiative will enable the ones involved in such rescue operations to analyze and act quickly.

Nicholas Kman, Ohio Task Force 1’s medical manager, explained that these events are low in frequency while high in stakes. They are primarily focusing on scenarios like the 2016 Belgium bombings. Reports say that the attack was carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), killing over 30 people and injuring more than 300. Additionally, he is willing to try an earthquake simulation, just in case.

Law enforcement has already given a shot to the virtual worlds. The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) launched their metaverse in October 2022. Registered users have access to the organization’s France-based General Secretariat headquarters.

These initiatives are focused on how the law enforcement agencies are going to handle criminal activities in digital realms. According to a research conducted by Gartner, an information technology (IT) and advisory company, one out of every four people will spend around an hour in the metaverse by 2026.

As the population in the metaverse will grow, so do cybercriminals. Experts believe crimes including money laundering, identity theft, counterfeiting, data theft, phishing  and more will increase. One cannot walk on the Moon without understanding the rules of gravity. This is why the police need to experience the digital world first hand.

Other nations are coming up with metaverse utilities too. Khaleej Times, a UAE-based daily newspaper, reported during January 2022 that the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHaP) launched a healthcare focused metaverse for customers. The goal is to provide wellness services in an immersive environment. Al Olama, MoHaP undersecretary, says that the agency intends to expand their services using the technology to improve citizens’ quality of life.

The Metaverse is Not Dead Yet

Recently, Ed Zitron, CEO of media relations firm EZPR, wrote an article entitled ‘RIP Metaverse,’ explaining that virtual worlds have died after being abandoned by the business world. However, with developments including this initiative by a US State, clearly, the metaverse has some nerves of steel.

Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) might hamper (or boost) the growth of digital worlds but it may not be able to undermine their existence. We must not forget the one who made the term ‘metaverse’ talk of the town — Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta Platforms CEO. He says that the metaverse is still the company’s vision in the long run, despite shifting their focus on AI.

Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.