CamFest Speaker Spotlight: Matteo Zallio

Matteo Zallio is an award-winning designer and researcher, dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusivity in emergent technologies. He is the founder of the Metavethics Institute, a senior researcher at Autodesk, and assistant professor at the University of Cambridge. He will be speaking in The metaverse: pros and cons with Shannon Pierson from the University of Cambridge and Michelle Lim from Cambridge consultants. Technology journalist and presenter Julian Clover from Cambridge 105 will chair. 22^nd March - 6-7pm [online].

What is the metaverse?
One of the most commonly acknowledged descriptions of the metaverse refers to a digital, virtual space comprising interconnected immersive 3D experiences where users, represented by avatars, can socialise, work and interact with digital environments. 

What could it be used for?
The metaverse has potential applications in various fields, including socialisation, work collaboration, gaming, education and entertainment, offering immersive and interactive experiences beyond traditional digital platforms. 

How near is it to being a reality?
The metaverse is rapidly evolving, with significant developments already in progress. Various companies are investing heavily in creating immersive digital environments, and analysts predict widespread adoption in the coming years. 

What are some of the main benefits?
Potential benefits include enhanced socialisation, new opportunities for work collaboration, innovative gaming experiences, immersive education and novel forms of entertainment. The metaverse may also foster creativity and diverse interactions. 

What are some of the main drawbacks?
Challenges include ethical and security concerns, potential privacy issues, the risk of harmful digital environments and the need for clear ethical guidelines. Ensuring accessibility, diversity and inclusion is also a significant challenge. 

Who might be excluded?
There's a risk of excluding individuals who face barriers related to digital access, technological literacy or those from marginalised communities. Ensuring inclusivity requires addressing these barriers and considering diverse user needs. 

What are you doing to make it more inclusive?
Our research focuses on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Safety (IDEAS) in the metaverse. We're exploring the ethical dimensions, sociological aspects and philosophical implications to inform the design and development of a more inclusive metaverse. We have groundbreaking assessment tools, backed by scientific research, that can help organisations ethically develop safer and more inclusive content for release to the market.