The development of the metaverse is a hot topic. As envisioned by technologists and futurists, the metaverse is a collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of physical and virtual reality. It’s a space where users can interact in a digital world similar to our own but without the physical limitations. This concept has the potential to transform many aspects of society, including education, healthcare, entertainment, and work.
The Metaverse: A Virtual Future and Its Environmental Footprint
However, the metaverse’s environmental footprint is a crucial aspect often overlooked. With the current reliance on large data centers to host and manage the vast digital landscapes of the metaverse, the environmental impact is significant. The emissions associated with these data centers are staggering, with projections showing that they could contribute to the release of 3373 million tonnes of CO2 over the next ten years, equivalent to the entire carbon footprint of Italy. This model of rendering the metaverse via data centers is clearly unsustainable.
The YOM Approach: Circular Sustainable Energy and Efficient Rendering
Enter YOM, a tech startup aimed at disrupting the current paradigm with a new, sustainable infrastructure for rendering the metaverse. YOM proposes a radical shift from data centers to a peer-to-peer infrastructure, resulting in a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions. In this model, local emissions would amount to only 43 million tonnes of CO2 annually, reducing the carbon footprint by an astounding 294.3 million tonnes each year.
YOM’s innovative approach utilizes a circular sustainable energy model that repurposes specific consumer hardware and employs advanced algorithms for efficient rendering. This approach doesn’t just shift consumption from data centers to the YOM network; it does so smarter, leading to an 80% cost reduction compared to traditional data centers.
The YOM infrastructure aims to empower a wide range of industries, fostering a creator’s economy and the jobs of the future. It’s about breaking barriers and opening up the metaverse to all sectors, from robotics to museums, healthcare, and education, enriching content while globally sharing knowledge.
The YOM Beacon Network: A Community-Run, Peer-to-Peer Mesh
One of YOM’s key innovations is the YOM Beacon Network, a community-run, peer-to-peer mesh network that allows for sustainable, cost-efficient rendering with lower latency and superior graphics. This network is powered by a proprietary algorithm that matches clients’ rendering demands with community members who contribute their CPU and graphics card resources.
The YOM model is unique in its open, customizable, and distributed nature. Creators can directly publish their work on their websites, allowing for faster deliveries while retaining data ownership. YOM’s innovative platform extends far beyond just entertainment, with potential applications in advanced scientific simulations, urban planning, and immersive education.
YOM’s business model is both innovative and sustainable. A user running their beacon 24/7 for a month would spend approximately €87 in electricity, but the network generates gross revenues of €642, with €406 flowing back to the beacon. Even the heat produced, considered waste in many data centers, is utilized in homes, maximizing cost-efficiency while preventing CO2 emissions.
YOM’s goals for 2023 and 2024
YOM aims to deliver an alpha version of the Beacon network in 2023, and by 2024, expand their partner base to at least 150 companies. These targets align with YOM’s mission to drive cooperation and economic growth across industries, inspire the next generation and build the jobs of the future. We believe in a sustainable, decentralized metaverse, promising a future where technology is a force for good and a driver for a new, greener economy.
