商品描述
The Metaverse: Hype or Hoax? offers a rigorous, balanced, and evidence-based examination of one of the most contested technology narratives of the twenty-first century. Set against the backdrop of accelerated digital transformation, this book situates the metaverse within the longer history of technological disruption, platform evolution, and socio-economic change. Rather than accepting optimistic forecasts or dismissing the metaverse as speculative hype, this book critically evaluates its foundations, ambitions, and constraints.
Drawing on industry research, academic literature, and real-world case analysis, this book explores how immersive technologies, cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and spatial computing converge to shape emerging virtual ecosystems. It examines where genuine transformation is taking place; where value remains unproven; and how organisations, regulators, and societies can navigate this uncertain terrain with strategic clarity.
Key features include:
- A clear conceptual framework distinguishing metaverse reality from hype cycles
- A layered architectural view of metaverse ecosystems and enabling technologies
- A critical assessment of business, economic, social, and governance implications
- Practical guidance for enterprises, policymakers, and technologists
Written for technology leaders, policymakers, researchers, and postgraduate students, this book provides a grounded reference for understanding whether immersive digital worlds represent a substantive evolution of the internet or a rebranding of existing technologies amplified by market enthusiasm.
商品描述(中文翻譯)
《元宇宙：炒作還是騙局？》提供了一個嚴謹、平衡且基於證據的檢視，針對二十一世紀最具爭議的科技敘事之一。在加速數位轉型的背景下，本書將元宇宙置於技術顛覆、平台演變和社會經濟變遷的更長歷史中。這本書不僅接受樂觀的預測，也不將元宇宙視為投機的炒作，而是批判性地評估其基礎、抱負和限制。
本書借鑒行業研究、學術文獻和現實案例分析，探討沉浸式技術、雲平台、人工智慧、區塊鏈和空間計算如何交匯，塑造新興的虛擬生態系統。它檢視了真正的轉型發生在哪裡；價值仍未證明的地方；以及組織、監管機構和社會如何以戰略清晰度在這不確定的領域中導航。
主要特點包括：
- 清晰的概念框架，區分元宇宙的現實與炒作周期
- 元宇宙生態系統及其支持技術的分層架構視圖
- 對商業、經濟、社會和治理影響的批判性評估
- 為企業、政策制定者和技術專家提供的實用指導
本書為科技領導者、政策制定者、研究人員和研究生撰寫，提供了一個扎實的參考，以理解沉浸式數位世界是否代表了互聯網的實質性演變，或僅僅是現有技術在市場熱情下的重新品牌化。
作者簡介
Kapil Sharma is a technology strategist, author, and consultant with over two decades of experience across digital transformation, cloud computing, cyber security, data platforms, and emerging technologies. He has led and advised large-scale transformation programmes for global financial institutions, public sector organisations, and multinational enterprises operating in highly regulated environments.
Kapil is the founder of a UK-based consulting and education firm specialising in cyber security, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. He is an established technical author, having written multiple books and professional publications on enterprise technology, operating systems, and distributed platforms. His work is recognised for combining deep technical understanding with strategic and regulatory insight.
Based in London, Kapil focuses on helping organisations navigate technological disruption without succumbing to hype-driven decision-making. His research interests include immersive technologies, platform economics, operational resilience, and the governance of complex digital ecosystems.
作者簡介(中文翻譯)
Kapil Sharma 是一位技術策略家、作家和顧問，擁有超過二十年的數位轉型、雲端運算、網路安全、數據平台和新興技術的經驗。他曾為全球金融機構、公共部門組織以及在高度監管環境中運營的跨國企業主導和提供建議大型轉型計劃。
Kapil 是一家總部位於英國的顧問和教育公司的創始人，專注於網路安全、區塊鏈、人工智慧和數位轉型。他是一位知名的技術作家，撰寫了多本有關企業技術、作業系統和分散式平台的書籍和專業出版物。他的作品因結合深厚的技術理解與戰略和監管洞察而受到認可。
Kapil 目前居住在倫敦，專注於幫助組織在不屈從於炒作驅動的決策的情況下，應對技術顛覆。他的研究興趣包括沉浸式技術、平台經濟、運營韌性以及複雜數位生態系統的治理。
