准确地说，元宇宙不是一个新的概念，它更像是一个经典概念的重生。1992年，美国著名科幻大师尼尔·斯蒂芬森在其小说《雪崩》中这样描述元宇宙：“戴上耳机和目镜，找到连接终端，就能够以虚拟分身的方式进入由计算机模拟、与真实世界平行的虚拟空间。”
To be precise, the meta-cosm is not a new concept; it's more like the rebirth of a classic. In 1992, the famous science-fiction master Neil Stephenson described the meta-cosm in his novel Avalanche: "With earphones and goggles on, find a connection terminal, and be able to enter virtual spaces that are simulated by computers, parallel to the real world, in a virtual bilocation."
今年3月，元宇宙概念第一股罗布乐思（Roblox）在美国纽约证券交易所正式上市；5月，Facebook表示将在5年内转型成一家元宇宙公司；8月，字节跳动斥巨资收购VR创业公司Pico……今年，元宇宙无疑成为了科技领域最火爆的概念之一。
In March of this year, Roblox, the first dollar cosmos concept, was officially listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the United States; in May, Facebook indicated that it would be transformed into a Won cosmopolitan company within five years; in August, the bytes jumped to fund the acquisition of VR Enterprise Pico... This year, the cosmos has undoubtedly become one of the hottest concepts in the field of science and technology.
那么，元宇宙到底是什么？为何各大数字科技巨头纷纷入局元宇宙？我国元宇宙产业又该如何布局与发展？
So, what is the universe? Why are the big digital technology giants entering the universe? How should our industry be configured and developed?
元宇宙目前尚无公认定义
There's no universally accepted definition of the metacosystem.
准确地说，元宇宙不是一个新的概念，它更像是一个经典概念的重生，是在扩展现实（XR）、区块链、云计算、数字孪生等新技术下的概念具化。
To be precise, the meta-cosmos is not a new concept; it is more like the rebirth of a classic concept that is shaped by new technologies such as the expansion of reality (XR), block chains, cloud computing and digital twines.
1992年，美国著名科幻大师尼尔·斯蒂芬森在其小说《雪崩》中这样描述元宇宙：“戴上耳机和目镜，找到连接终端，就能够以虚拟分身的方式进入由计算机模拟、与真实世界平行的虚拟空间。”
In 1992, in his novel Avalanche, the famous U.S. sci-fi, Neil Stephenson, described the meta-cosmos as follows: “With headphones and goggles on, you find a connection terminal, you can enter virtual space that is simulated by computers and parallel to the real world by means of virtual divers.”
当然，核心概念缺乏公认的定义是前沿科技领域的一个普遍现象。元宇宙虽然备受各方关注和期待，但同样没有一个公认的定义。回归概念本质，可以认为元宇宙是在传统网络空间基础上，伴随多种数字技术成熟度的提升，构建形成的既映射于、又独立于现实世界的虚拟世界。同时，元宇宙并非一个简单的虚拟空间，而是把网络、硬件终端和用户囊括进一个永续的、广覆盖的虚拟现实系统之中，系统中既有现实世界的数字化复制物，也有虚拟世界的创造物。
Of course, the lack of a universally accepted definition of the core concept is a universal phenomenon in the field of cutting-edge science and technology. The meta-cosmos, while being a subject of concern and expectation, also has no universally accepted definition.
当前，关于元宇宙的一切都还在争论中，从不同视角去分析会得到差异性极大的结论，但元宇宙所具有的基本特征则已得到业界的普遍认可。
At present, everything about the meta-cosmos is still being debated, and analysis from different angles leads to very different conclusions, but the basic features of the meta-cosm have been widely recognized by industry.
其基本特征包括：沉浸式体验，低延迟和拟真感让用户具有身临其境的感官体验；虚拟化分身，现实世界的用户将在数字世界中拥有一个或多个ID身份；开放式创造，用户通过终端进入数字世界，可利用海量资源展开创造活动；强社交属性，现实社交关系链将在数字世界发生转移和重组；稳定化系统，具有安全、稳定、有序的经济运行系统。
Its basic features include: a immersion experience, with low delay and a sense of fiction that gives users a sensory experience of their presence; virtualization, with users in the real world having one or more ID identities in the digital world; open creation, with users entering the digital world through terminals and using large resources for creative activities; strong social attributes, with real social relations chains being transferred and restructured in the digital world; and stable systems with safe, stable and orderly economic functioning systems.
受到科技巨头、政府部门的青睐
They're favored by tech giants, government departments.
8月以来，元宇宙概念更加炙手可热，日本社交巨头GREE宣布将开展元宇宙业务、英伟达发布会上出场了十几秒的“数字替身”、微软在Inspire全球合作伙伴大会上宣布了企业元宇宙解决方案……事实上，不仅是各大科技巨头在争相布局元宇宙赛道，一些国家的政府相关部门也积极参与其中。5月18日，韩国科学技术和信息通信部发起成立了“元宇宙联盟”，该联盟包括现代、SK集团、LG集团等200多家韩国本土企业和组织，其目标是打造国家级增强现实平台，并在未来向社会提供公共虚拟服务；7月13日，日本经济产业省发布了《关于虚拟空间行业未来可能性与课题的调查报告》，归纳总结了日本虚拟空间行业亟须解决的问题，以期能在全球虚拟空间行业中占据主导地位；8月31日，韩国财政部发布2022年预算，计划斥资2000万美元用于元宇宙平台开发。
Since August, the concept of the meta-cosm has gained momentum, and Japan’s social giant, GREE, has announced that it will be conducting a meta-cosm business, that it will present a 10-second “digital double” at its launch meeting, and that Microsoft has announced the enterprise cosmopolitan solution at the Inspire Global Partners Conference. In fact, not only are the major scientific and technological giants competing for a meta-cosmos track, but a number of relevant government departments are actively involved. On 18 May, the Korea Ministry of Science, Technology and Information and Communications launched the “Cosmos Alliance”, which includes more than 200 local Korean enterprises and organizations, such as the modern, SK, LG and others, with the aim of creating a national platform for enhancing reality and providing public virtual services to society in the future. On 13 July, the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Japan released the Survey on the Future Potentials and Topics of the Virtual Space Industry, summarizing the issues that need to be addressed by Japan’s virtual space industry with a view to gaining a dominant position in the global virtual space industry. On 31 August, the Ministry of Finance of Korea released a budget of $2022 million for the development of its own space platform.
元宇宙为何能受到科技巨头、风险投资企业、初创企业，甚至政府部门的青睐？
How can Yuan cosmos be favoured by technology giants, venture capital firms, start-ups, and even government departments?
从企业来看，目前元宇宙仍处于行业发展的初级阶段，无论是底层技术还是应用场景，与未来的成熟形态相比仍有较大差距，但这也意味着元宇宙相关产业可拓展的空间巨大。因此，拥有多重优势的数字科技巨头想要守住市场，数字科技领域初创企业要获得弯道超车的机会，就必须提前布局，甚至加码元宇宙赛道。
From a business perspective, the meta-cosm is still in its early stages of industrial development, and there is still a large gap between the underlying technology and the application landscape, and the mature shape of the future, but this also means that the industries associated with the meta-cosm have enormous space to expand. So, the digital technology giants with multiple advantages want to stay in the market.
从政府来看，元宇宙不仅是重要的新兴产业，也是需要重视的社会治理领域。伴随着元宇宙产业的快速发展，随之而来的将是一系列新的问题和挑战。元宇宙资深研究专家马修·鲍尔提出：“元宇宙是一个和移动互联网同等级别的概念。”以移动互联网去类比元宇宙，就可以更好地理解政府部门对其关注的内在逻辑。政府希望通过参与元宇宙的形成和发展过程，以便前瞻性考虑和解决其发展所带来的相关问题。
From a government perspective, the meta-cosm is not only an important emerging industry, but also an area of social governance that needs attention. The rapid development of the meta-cosm industry will be accompanied by a series of new issues and challenges.
在技术、标准等方面做好前瞻性布局
A forward-looking layout in terms of technology, standards, etc.
元宇宙是一个极致开放、复杂、巨大的系统，它涵盖了整个网络空间以及众多硬件设备和现实条件，是由多类型建设者共同构建的超大型数字应用生态。为了加快推动元宇宙从概念走向现实，并在未来的全球竞争中抢占先机，我国应在技术、标准、法律3个方面做好前瞻性布局。
The meta-cosmos is an extremely open, complex, vast system that covers the entire cyberspace, as well as a great deal of hardware equipment and real conditions, and is a hyper-large digital application ecology built by multiple builders. In order to accelerate the move of the meta-cosmos from conceptual to reality, and to take the lead in future global competition, our country should be forward-looking in terms of technology, standards, and law.
从技术方面来看，技术局限性是元宇宙目前发展的最大瓶颈，XR、区块链、人工智能等相应底层技术距离元宇宙落地应用的需求仍有较大差距。元宇宙产业的成熟，需要大量的基础研究做支撑。对此，要谨防元宇宙成为一些企业的炒作噱头，应鼓励相关企业加强基础研究，增强技术创新能力，稳步提高相关产业技术的成熟度。
Technically, technological limitations are the biggest bottleneck in the current development of the meta-cosmos, and the corresponding lower-level technologies, such as XRs, block chains, and artificial intelligence, still differ significantly from the needs of the meta-cosm landing applications. The maturity of the meta-cosm industry needs to be underpinned by a great deal of basic research. To that end, the meta-cosmos should be prevented from becoming a bulwark for some enterprises, and enterprises should be encouraged to strengthen basic research, enhance technological innovation capabilities and steadily increase the maturity of relevant industries.
从行业标准方面来看，只有像互联网那样通过一系列标准和协议来定义元宇宙，才能实现元宇宙不同生态系统的大连接。对此，应加强元宇宙标准统筹规划，引导和鼓励科技巨头之间展开标准化合作，支持企事业单位进行技术、硬件、软件、服务、内容等行业标准的研制工作，积极地参与制定元宇宙的全球性标准。
In terms of industry standards, only a series of standards and protocols that define metacosystems, as the Internet does, can make it possible to achieve large connections between metacosystems. In this regard, integrated metacosystem standards planning should be strengthened, standardized cooperation between technologists should be guided and encouraged, and enterprises should be supported in the development of industry standards, such as technology, hardware, software, services, content, etc., and actively involved in the development of metacosystems’ global standards.
从法律方面来看，随着元宇宙的发展，以及逐步走向成熟，平台垄断、税收征管、监管审查、数据安全等一系列问题也将随之产生，提前思考如何防止和解决元宇宙所产生的法律问题成为必不可少的环节。对此，应加强数字科技领域立法工作，在数据、算法、交易等方面及时跟进，研究元宇宙相关法律制度。
Legally, as the meta-cosmos develops and matures, a range of issues will arise, such as platform monopoly, tax administration, regulatory review, and data security, and early reflection on how to prevent and resolve the legal problems arising from the meta-cosm becomes essential. In this regard, legislative work in the field of digital science and technology should be strengthened, with timely follow-up on data, algorithms, transactions, etc., and research into the legal regime related to the meta-cosm.
可以肯定的是，在技术演进和人类需求的共同推动下，元宇宙场景的实现，元宇宙产业的成熟，只是一个时间问题。作为真实世界的延伸与拓展，元宇宙所带来的巨大机遇和革命性作用是值得期待的，但正因如此，我们更需要理性看待当前的元宇宙热潮，推动元宇宙产业健康发展。
What is certain is that, driven by technological evolution and common human needs, the realization of the meta-cosmos landscape, the maturity of the meta-cosm industry, is only a matter of time. As an extension and expansion of the real world, the great opportunities and revolutionary effects of the meta-cosm are to be expected, but that is why we need to take a rational view of the current meta-cosm boom and promote the healthy development of the meta-cosm industry.
（作者系中国社会科学院数量经济与技术经济研究所副研究员）
(author, Deputy Researcher, Institute of Quantified Economics and Technology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
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