futures insights: Direct-to-Avatar Services.
futures insights: by insight & foresight looks at trends, weak signals, and emerging change that could impact for-purpose organisations 5 to 10 years from now. The content is design fiction written from a futures viewpoint about possibilities that may or may not eventuate and should not be read as fact. It is designed to support creative, exploratory thinking about futures and what might happen next. Enjoy!
In a world just beyond tomorrow...
David wheeled himself into his small home office and switched on his computer. It was time for another day in the metaverse. He had been living in this online world for over a decade now, and it had become his true home. In the metaverse, David was free from the limitations of his wheelchair. He could walk, run, and swim just like anyone else.
He logged on to his favorite virtual world and began exploring. As he wandered through the digital landscape, he felt more alive than ever before. The freedom of movement was exhilarating, and he felt like he could do anything.
It had been 15 years since the rugby accident that put him in a wheelchair. At first, he was challenged by his new life but over time he had learned to cope and eventually thrive. He had built a solid career as a data scientist working on building artificial intelligence to support people with disabilities to live their best life. No matter the success and happiness he had achieved in real-life it was the life that he lived through his avatar online that made him happiest. His avatar was his digital twin, a creation of who David was at what he believed was his best self. It was the way he could live his true authentic self, away from the limitations of the real world.
It was only natural that when the depression started to envelop him he turned to a service provider who could deliver support directly to this avatar. He had heard about direct-to-avatar services but never thought he would need them. When he found out that there was a service that could provide him with the emotional support he needed, directly through his avatar, he didn't hesitate to sign up.
Virtual service delivery.
This new form of therapy was exactly what he needed. He could talk to his therapist in a safe space, away from the prying eyes of the real world. In this virtual world, he could be honest about how he was feeling without judgment. He didn't have to worry about how he looked or sounded, he could just be himself.
The therapist was able to understand him in a way that nobody else could and together they worked through the tough times. The sessions were life-changing and he began to feel like himself again.
The direct-to-avatar service had saved him. It was a revolutionary way of providing support and he was grateful that it existed. Without it, he wasn't sure where he would be today.
For service providers, direct-to-avatar service delivery brought a whole new way of working. Treating problems in the metaverse that presented in the real world was fraught with challenges. Was the information given by the avatar a true reflection of the real world symptoms? How did you validate an issue and ensure the diagnosis was correct? For many service providers, the use of biometric sensors connected to the person in real life and then transmitted via the avatar solved part of the problem. Real-life data combined with the freedom of expression allowed by a digital twin provided patients who lived mainly in the metaverse the perfect way to maintain health and wellbeing.
An increasingly important mode of service delivery.
David was one of the first to receive direct-to-avatar therapy but as the years went on more and more people began to use the service. It became a common way for people to seek support and there was a wide range of providers offering different services. From mental health support to physical therapy, there was a direct-to-avatar service to suit everyone's needs.
The direct-to-avatar model was not without its detractors. Some people argued that the services were not an adequate replacement for real-life interaction and that they would lead to people becoming more isolated. Others said that the services were not regulated enough and that there was no way to ensure the quality of care.
Despite the criticisms, the direct-to-avatar model continued to grow in popularity. More and more services were offered and people found that they could get the support they needed without having to leave their homes. The pandemic of 2020 had served to accelerate the growth of direct-to-avatar services as people increasingly turned to tele-health and the internet for all their needs.
It is clear that direct-to-avatar services are here to stay and that they are changing the way we think about health and wellbeing. For many people, they are a lifeline that allows them to get the support they need without judgment or stigma. In a world that is becoming increasingly virtual, direct-to-avatar services are providing a vital service.
In 2038 the direct-to-avatar service delivery model is still in its early days but for those who have used it, it has already made a big impact. It is a model that has the potential to change the way we think about health and well-being forever.
How could the emergence of direct-to-avatar services impact your organisation?
Learn more about direct-to-avatar services.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyhackl/2020/08/09/is-direct-to-avatar-the-next-direct-to-consumer
https://newsblog.mgempower.com/blog-news/how-can-brands-jump-into-direct-to-avatar-d2a-commerce
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/metaverse%3A-a-new-way-for-businesses-to-connect-with-consumers
Acknowledgement
The identification of these emerging change concepts started with the Futures Platform™ database of trends, signals and emerging change. You can read more about the Futures Platform™ here . insight & foresight is a paying customer of the Futures Platform™ and we use the data to support our clients think and plan for their futures.
