Information Systems Review (경영정보학연구)

The Korea Society of Management Information Systems (한국경영정보학회)
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Beyond Platforms to Ecosystems: Research on the Metaverse Industry Ecosystem Utilizing Information Ecology Theory

플랫폼을 넘어 생태계로: Information Ecology Theory를 활용한 메타버스 산업 생태계연구

  • 신석영 (연세대학교 경영대학 정보시스템) ;
  • 손재열 (연세대학교 경영대학 정보시스템)
  • Received : 2023.05.14
  • Accepted : 2023.09.07
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Recently, amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic shifting towards an endemic phase, there has been a rise in discussions and debates about the future of the metaverse. Simultaneously, major metaverse platforms like Roblox have been launching services integrated with generative AI, and Apple's mixed reality hardware, Vision Pro, has been announced, creating new expectations for the metaverse. In this situation where the outlook for the metaverse is divided, it is crucial to diagnose the metaverse from an ecosystem perspective, examine its key ecological features, driving forces for development, and future possibilities for advancement. This study utilized Wang's (2021) Information Ecology Theory (IET) framework, which is representative of ecosystem research in the field of Information Systems (IS), to derive the Metaverse Industrial Ecosystem (MIE). The analysis revealed that the MIE consists of four main domains: Tech Landscape, Category Ecosystem, Metaverse Platform, and Product/Service Ecosystem. It was found that the MIE exhibits characteristics such as digital connectivity, the integration of real and virtual worlds, value creation capabilities, and value sharing (Web 3.0). Furthermore, the interactions among the domains within the MIE and the four characteristics of the ecosystem were identified as driving forces for the development of the MIE at an ecosystem level. Additionally, the development of the MIE at an ecosystem level was categorized into three distinct stages: Narrow Ecosystem, Expanded Ecosystem, and Everywhere Ecosystem. It is anticipated that future advancements in related technologies and industries, such as robotics, AI, and 6G, will promote the transition from the current Expanded Ecosystem level of the MIE to an Everywhere Ecosystem level, where the connection between the real and virtual worlds is pervasive. This study provides several implications. Firstly, it offers a foundational theory and analytical framework for ecosystem research, addressing a gap in previous metaverse studies. It also presents various research topics within the metaverse domain. Additionally, it establishes an academic foundation that integrates concept definition research and impact studies, which are key areas in metaverse research. Lastly, referring to the developmental stages and conditions proposed in this study, businesses and governments can explore future metaverse markets and related technologies. They can also consider diverse metaverse business strategies. These implications are expected to guide the exploration of the emerging metaverse market and facilitate the evaluation of various metaverse business strategies.

최근 코로나 엔데믹(Endemic)을 배경으로 메타버스의 미래에 대한 회의론이 부상하는 한편, 로블록스(Roblox) 등 주요 메타버스 플랫폼이 생성형 AI를 결합한 서비스를 출시하고 애플(Apple)의 MR(Mixed Reality)하드웨어인 비전프로(Vision Pro)가 발표되면서 메타버스의 새로운 기대감이 형성되고 있다. 이처럼 메타버스의 전망이 엇갈리는 상황에서 메타버스를 생태계적 관점에서 파악하고, 주요 생태계적 특징과 발전 동력 그리고 향후 발전 가능성을 검토하는 것이 필요하다. 이에 본 연구는 정보시스템(IS)분야에서 생태계 연구를 대표하는 Wang(2021)의 IET(Information Ecology Theory)를 사용하여 메타버스 산업 생태계(MIE : Metaverse Industrial Ecosystem)를 도출하였다. 분석 결과 MIE는 네 가지 세부 영역(Tech Landscape, Category Ecosystem, Metaverse Platform, Product/Service Ecosystem)으로 구성되며, 디지털 연결성, 현실과 가상의 연결, 가치 창출, 가치 공유(Web 3.0) 라는 특징을 확인하였다. 또한 MIE의 세부 영역 간 상호작용과 상술한 특징들은 메타버스를 플랫폼을 넘어 생태계 차원에서 발전시키는 동력으로 작용하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 생태계 차원에서의 MIE의 발전은 크게 세 가지 단계(Narrow Ecosystem, Expanded Ecosystem, Everywhere Ecosystem)로 정의되었으며, 향후 로봇, AI, 6G 등 유관 기술과 산업의 발전은 현(Expanded Ecosystem) 생태계 수준을 넘어 현실과 가상이 연결되는 Everywhere Ecosystem으로의 발전을 촉진시킬 전망이다. 본 연구는 다음과 같은 시사점을 내포한다. 기존 메타버스 연구에서 취약했던 생태계 분야에 있어 핵심 이론과 분석 기반을 제공, 다양한 메타버스 연구 주제를 제시한다. 또한 메타버스 연구의 주요 분야인 메타버스 개념 연구와 영향력 연구를 통합할 수 있는 학술적 기반을 제공한다. 마지막으로 본 연구가 제시하는 메타버스의 발전 단계와 발전 조건 등을 참고하여 기업과 정부는 미래 메타버스 신시장 및 관련 기술을 발굴하고, 다양한 메타버스 사업 전략을 검토할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Keywords

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