德國擁抱虛擬世界的第二次機會：從虛擬承諾到實際應用

由於認識到虛擬宇宙改變產業和公共服務的潛力，德國對虛擬宇宙重新產生了興趣。各國政府和研究機構正在探索在公共管理、工業和教育等領域的實際應用。透過專注於特定用例並解決與硬體、資料安全和員工培訓相關的挑戰，德國旨在利用元宇宙的潛力來增強公民參與、改善服務交付並推動公共和私營部門的創新。

The Resurgence of the Metaverse in Germany: A Second Chance for Virtual Evolution

德國虛擬宇宙的復興：虛擬演化的第二次機會

Once hailed as the frontier of human interaction, the metaverse stumbled after its initial burst of excitement. Vague promises, uncertain financial benefits, and costly hardware hindered its widespread adoption. However, a second wave of interest is brewing in Germany, fueled by a shift towards exploring the metaverse's practical applications in public administration and industry.

虛擬宇宙曾經被譽為人類互動的前沿，但在最初的興奮爆發後卻陷入了困境。模糊的承諾、不確定的財務收益以及昂貴的硬體阻礙了其廣泛採用。然而，由於探索虛擬宇宙在公共管理和工業中的實際應用的轉變，第二波興趣正在德國醞釀。

Metaverse: The Evolution of Digital Connectivity

Metaverse：數位連接的演變

The metaverse is a virtual space built on a tapestry of technologies, including blockchain, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), big data, spatial computing, and digital twins. Its promise: to bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms, fostering a new era of connectivity and innovation in diverse sectors.

元宇宙是一個建立在區塊鏈、虛擬實境（VR）、擴增實境（AR）、物聯網（IoT）、人工智慧（AI）、大數據、太空運算和數位技術等多種技術之上的虛擬空間。雙胞胎。它的承諾：彌合物理領域和數位領域之間的差距，培育不同領域互聯和創新的新時代。

Government Services in the Metaverse

元宇宙中的政府服務

Public administrations could revolutionize their services by integrating them with the metaverse, believes Günter Wenzel, team leader of the Building Culture Innovation research unit at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO.

德國弗勞恩霍夫工業工程研究所 IAO 建築文化創新研究部門的團隊負責人 Günter Wenzel 認為，公共行政部門可以透過將其與虛擬世界結合來徹底改變其服務。

Wenzel envisions a scenario where citizens access government services from any device, using secure cryptographic technology to safeguard transactions and ensure data privacy. This paradigm shift will eliminate the need for physical interactions at government counters, empowering citizens to engage with authorities from the comfort of their homes.

Wenzel 設想了一個場景，公民可以從任何設備存取政府服務，使用安全加密技術來保護交易並確保資料隱私。這種範式轉移將消除在政府櫃檯進行實際互動的需要，使公民能夠在舒適的家中與當局接觸。

Advanced technologies, such as digital twins of buildings, will assist in managing real estate and infrastructure, enabling AI-assisted monitoring and maintenance. Moreover, immersive technologies, including VR and AR, could enhance collaboration within government agencies, leading to increased efficiency and improved communication, as demonstrated by pilot projects in Lower Saxony.

建築物數位孿生等先進技術將有助於管理房地產和基礎設施，實現人工智慧輔助監控和維護。此外，包括 VR 和 AR 在內的沉浸式技術可以增強政府機構內部的協作，從而提高效率並改善溝通，下薩克森州的試點計畫證明了這一點。

Challenges and Risks: Navigating the Metaverse's Complexities

挑戰與風險：應對元宇宙的複雜性

Despite the optimistic outlook, Wenzel acknowledges the uncertainties associated with implementing immersive technologies in public administration. He emphasizes the need for a cautious approach that considers both the potential benefits and the inherent risks.

儘管前景樂觀，但溫澤爾承認在公共管理中實施沉浸式技術存在不確定性。他強調需要採取謹慎的態度，既考慮潛在的好處，也考慮固有的風險。

Cybersecurity and data protection are paramount concerns, requiring robust measures to safeguard sensitive information. Additionally, the impact on employee health and data handling practices must be carefully evaluated.

網路安全和資料保護是最重要的問題，需要採取強有力的措施來保護敏感資訊。此外，必須仔細評估對員工健康和資料處理實務的影響。

Equipping employees and citizens with the necessary skills for long-term use of immersive technologies is vital for unlocking the metaverse's potential. Continuous education and training initiatives will play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable adoption.

為員工和公民提供長期使用沉浸式技術所需的技能對於釋放虛擬宇宙的潛力至關重要。持續的教育和培訓措施將在確保永續採用方面發揮至關重要的作用。

Regional Initiatives Driving Innovation

推動創新的區域舉措

Lower Saxony and other German states are actively exploring the metaverse's possibilities. The Fraunhofer-IAO, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, has launched the CyberLänd project in Baden-Württemberg, a large-scale initiative to assess the metaverse's potential for the region.

下薩克森州和德國其他州正在積極探索虛擬宇宙的可能性。 Fraunhofer-IAO 與 Fraunhofer 製造工程與自動化研究所一起在巴登-符騰堡州啟動了 Cyber​​Länd 項目，這是一項評估虛擬宇宙對該地區潛力的大規模計劃。

The Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence in Heilbronn is another example of regional innovation, with its planned Metaverse Lab providing a platform for learning and experimenting with the metaverse's applications.

海爾布隆的人工智慧創新園區是區域創新的另一個例子，其計畫中的元界實驗室為學習和試驗元界應用提供了一個平台。

Industry Embraces the Industrial Metaverse

工業界擁抱工業元宇宙

The German industrial sector has recognized the metaverse's transformative potential for development and production. Siemens Energy harnesses the metaverse to model power plants, optimize maintenance scheduling, and potentially save operators billions of dollars annually.

德國工業部門已經認識到虛擬宇宙在開發和生產方面的變革潛力。西門子能源公司利用虛擬世界對發電廠進行建模，優化維護計劃，並可能每年為營運商節省數十億美元。

Siemens has invested heavily in Germany, including a new campus in Erlangen, which will serve as a hub for research and development related to the industrial metaverse. The company's partnership with Sony is another testament to its commitment, creating an innovative solution that combines Siemens' industrial software expertise with Sony's spatial content creation capabilities.

西門子在德國投入巨資，包括在埃爾蘭根建立一個新園區，該園區將作為工業虛擬宇宙相關的研發中心。該公司與索尼的合作夥伴關係再次證明了其承諾，創建了一個創新的解決方案，將西門子的工業軟體專業知識與索尼的空間內容創建能力相結合。

BMW is also investing in a digital factory powered by Nvidia's Omniverse platform, enabling extensive design and validation of digital models before physical construction.

BMW還投資了一家由 Nvidia Omniverse 平台提供支援的數位工廠，以便在實體建造之前對數位模型進行廣泛的設計和驗證。

Cautious Optimism: A Resurgent Metaverse

謹慎樂觀：復甦的元宇宙

The metaverse offers a wealth of valuable applications, and Germany's renewed interest is fueled by a pragmatic approach that emphasizes practical implementation. Public administration and industry alike are exploring ways to leverage the metaverse's capabilities to enhance their operations.

虛擬宇宙提供了大量有價值的應用，強調實際實施的務實方法激發了德國人的新興趣。公共管理和產業都在探索如何利用虛擬宇宙的功能來增強其營運。

While challenges remain, such as data security, legal uncertainties, and hardware limitations, careful planning, employee training, and collaboration between government, industry, and researchers will be key to navigating these hurdles successfully.

儘管資料安全、法律不確定性和硬體限制等挑戰仍然存在，但仔細規劃、員工培訓以及政府、產業和研究人員之間的合作將是成功克服這些障礙的關鍵。

The metaverse remains a promise for the future, with its full potential yet to be realized. However, sub-technologies and business models can be harnessed in incremental steps, fostering gradual evolution towards a truly transformative digital landscape.

虛擬宇宙仍然是對未來的承諾，其全部潛力尚未實現。然而，子技術和商業模式可以逐步利用，促進向真正變革性數位景觀的逐步演變。