David Burden created his first virtual world in 1996 and has spent most of the time since working in virtual spaces and with virtual humans for a variety of clients through his company Daden Limited. His first presentation on the Metaverse was in 2008. David and Maggi co-wrote the book Virtual Humans for Routledge in 2019, and also worked together on the book Digital Afterlife in 2020.

Maggi Savin-Baden is a research Professor at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford. She has researched and evaluated staff and student experience of learning for over 20 years and has a strong publication record of over 70 research publications and has completed 25 books. Her research and writing reflect her interests on the impact of innovative learning, digital fluency, digital afterlife and the postdigital and she has worked with David on a number of research projects since 2008.

Introduction, 1. A History of the Metaverse, 2. What Is the Metaverse?, 3. The Uses and Benefits of the Metaverse, 4. Technologies of the Metaverse, 5. Opportunities and Challenges, 6. The Future of the Metaverse