Haleluya Hadero and Rio YamatAssociated PressLAS VEGAS (AP) — Is the metaverse closer than we think?It depends on who you ask at CES, where companies are showing off innovations that could immerse us deeper into virtual reality, otherwise known as VR.The metaverse, essentially a buzzword for three-dimensional virtual communities where people can meet, work and play, was a key theme during the four-day tech gathering in Las Vegas that ended Sunday, Jan. 7.Taiwanese tech giant HTC unveiled a high-end VR headset that aims to compete with market leader Meta, and a slew of other companies and startups touted augmented reality glasses and sensory technologies that can help users feel, and even smell,in a virtual environment.Among them, Vermont-based OVR Technology showc
