Metaverse Applications: Challenges, Limitations and Opportunities - A Systematic Literature Review

IF 3.8 2区计算机科学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Information and Software Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-28 DOI:10.1016/j.infsof.2025.107701

Elena Enamorado-Díaz , Julián A. García-García , María José Escalona-Cuaresma , David Lizcano-Casas

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Context:

The metaverse, an emerging concept at the intersection of digital technology and society, is gaining relevance in multiple domains, including education, entertainment and healthcare. Shared virtual spaces allow users to interact in innovative ways, but the design and development of these environments pose significant challenges for software engineering teams as well as users.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive systematic literature review of metaverse applications over the past decade. The review aims to identify key areas of application, technologies employed, virtualized elements, and economic aspects, as well as to explore the objectives, motivations, scope, challenges, and limitations faced in Software Engineering when conceptualizing metaverse environments. Additionally, the study examines the nature, knowledge area, type, and validation of the studies included in the review.

Methods:

This study was conducted using the Kitchenham methodology for systematic literature reviews (SLR). A total of 35 primary studies were selected from major scientific databases, including IEEE, ACM Digital Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. These studies were evaluated to extract relevant data.

Results:

We have identified application areas, technologies used, virtualized elements and economic aspects used, as well as the objectives, motivations, scope, challenges and limitations in Software Engineering related to the conceptualization of environments and non-functional characteristics of the metaverse. The nature, area of knowledge, type and validation of the studies chosen in this review are also analyzed.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that while the metaverse presents huge opportunities across multiple domains, its development faces significant challenges, particularly in software engineering related to the non-functional aspects of these environments. To address these challenges, future research should focus on the application of the Model Driven Engineering (MDE) paradigm, which could optimize development processes and better manage the complexities of the metaverse.

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来源期刊

Information and Software Technology 工程技术-计算机：软件工程

CiteScore

9.10

自引率

7.70%

发文量

164

审稿时长

9.6 weeks

期刊介绍： Information and Software Technology is the international archival journal focusing on research and experience that contributes to the improvement of software development practices. The journal''s scope includes methods and techniques to better engineer software and manage its development. Articles submitted for review should have a clear component of software engineering or address ways to improve the engineering and management of software development. Areas covered by the journal include: • Software management, quality and metrics, • Software processes, • Software architecture, modelling, specification, design and programming • Functional and non-functional software requirements • Software testing and verification & validation • Empirical studies of all aspects of engineering and managing software development Short Communications is a new section dedicated to short papers addressing new ideas, controversial opinions, "Negative" results and much more. Read the Guide for authors for more information. The journal encourages and welcomes submissions of systematic literature studies (reviews and maps) within the scope of the journal. Information and Software Technology is the premiere outlet for systematic literature studies in software engineering.