In the Meta VR platform, users will soon have feet, while the metaverse's virtual characters look like weird creatures floating above the surface. A new version of the avatars will appear next year.
According to the head of Mark Zuckerberg's company, the complete drawing of virtual characters is the most needed function in the project's road map, as he said during Connect's event, demonstrating new versions of avatars that are visually superior to those currently supported, and Zuckerberg stressed that such a solution is not easy to implement, which is why legs are usually absent from the virtual systems of competitors.
According to Zuckerberg, the company started with avatars without legs, because the VR garrison was difficult to estimate exactly where they were or, for example, elbows. If the system had shown them in a virtual environment, it would have spoiled users ' impression.
Meta* has a much better track and display of hands. The legs, according to Meta*, are much more difficult to do because of so-called "occlusions." For example, if the user's legs are under the table, it is difficult to determine the exact position they are in because they are not visible to the garrison cameras. In order to reproduce the position of the legs, Meta* built a 3D model to predict the position of the whole body.
Of course, Meta* is working not only on the display of virtual characters' legs. The company is preparing a set of avatar-related functions. For example, it is exploring the possibility of creating expressive and photo-realistic avatars for correct display of their behaviour in different situations. It is also expected that it will be possible to add avatars to Instagram*Reels, Messenger and even WhatsApp videos. Later this year Meta* will launch an avatar shop in virtual reality, so the process of buying dresses and setting the shape options should be considerably simplified.
* Listed on the list of voluntary associations and religious organizations in respect of which the court has taken a legally enforceable decision to abolish or prohibit activities on the grounds provided for in Federal Act No. 114-FZ of 25 July 2002 on countering extremist activities.