Lik‐Hang Lee, Tristan Braud, Pengyuan Zhou, Lin Wang · 9 authors
Since the popularisation of the Internet in the 1990s, the cyberspace has kept evolving. We have created various computer-mediated virtual environments, including social networks, video conferencing, virtual 3D worlds (e.g., VR Chat), augmented reality applications (e.g., Pokémon Go), and Non-Fungible Token Games (e.g., Upland). Such virtual environments, albeit non-perpetual and unconnected, have brought us various degrees of digital transformation. The term “metaverse” has been coined to facilitate further digital transformation in every aspect of our physical lives. At the core of the metaverse stands the vision of an immersive Internet as a gigantic, unified, persistent, and shared realm. While the metaverse may seem futuristic, catalyzed by emerging technologies such as Extended Reality, 5G, and Artificial Intelligence, the digital “big bang” of our cyberspace is not far away. This survey presents the first effort to offer a comprehensive framework that examines the latest metaverse development under the dimensions of state-of-the-art technologies and metaverse ecosystems and illustrates the possibility of the digital “big bang”. It is essential to highlight that the metaverse encompasses diverse technologies and ecosystems, calling it an interdisciplinary and emerging field. Its primary objective is to provide users with satisfactory and interactive experiences. First, technologies are the enablers that drive the transition from the current Internet to the metaverse. We thus examine eight enabling technologies rigorously – Extended Reality, User Interactivity (Human-Computer Interaction), Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Computer Vision, IoT and Robotics, Edge and Cloud computing, and Future Mobile Networks. In terms of applications, the metaverse ecosystem allows human users to live and play within a self-sustaining, persistent, and shared realm. Therefore, we discuss six user-centric factors – Avatar, Content Creation, Virtual Economy, Social Acceptability, Security and Privacy, and Trust and Accountability. Finally, we propose a concrete research agenda for developing the metaverse.
The increasing number of computationally intensive tasks induced by digital economy development (within the framework of implementing block-chain solutions, distributed ledgers, etc.) requires more and more computational resources. At the same time users tend to move the computational process to the cloud in order to minimize costs, and the owners of cloud services are forced to look for solutions to improve their efficiency. In this paper we consider approaches that allow optimize the use of parallel computing resources for incoming sets of resource-intensive tasks, analyze different approaches to the strategy of assigning tasks to computing resources. The results of modelling experiments are provided taking into account task distribution, parameterized by execution time limit within modeling the service level agreement with the user.
In the framework of creating a digital ecosystem of commercial real estate objects, the main problem is the formation of a digital environment for managing all components of engineering systems that ensure the vital activity of the real estate object. The aim of this work is to develop a system for accounting for mutual settlements for electricity consumed on the basis of a distributed ledger using blockchain technology. To assess the effectiveness of the system a simulation model was built using AnyLogic system. Based on the model the system architecture was designed and a software application of the distributed ledger was developed. Keywords- Blockchain technology, distributed ledger, simulation model, software application.
Igor A. Prostov, Sofia S. Amfiteatrova, Natalia G. Butakova
In this article, we describe the issues of building and analyzing the security of corporate distributed ledgers based on directed acyclic graphs for the Internet of Things devices. The relevance of this topic comes from the increased interest in distributed ledger technology in a wide variety of areas. For the Internet of Things, this technology can become a key solution in ensuring the information security of processed data. The article proposes a hardware-software model of a system based on directed acyclic graphs for the Internet of Things, and also experimentally verifies its security.
Michael Milovich, Jennifer Nicholson, Darren B. Nicholson
Within the ever-changing technology and business landscape, it is imperative that students develop skills in identifying and leveraging emerging technologies to create business value in innovative and novel ways. Drawing on the Net-enabled Business Innovation Cycle framework, applied learning techniques, and current events, we developed an assignment to explore one such emerging technology – blockchain – to enhance students’ ability to apply what they have learned to solve business problems. Our findings showed that students overwhelmingly found the activity and experience beneficial in three important ways: (1) understanding an emerging technology, (2) applying the technology to contemporary business issues, and (3) leveraging what they learned to create plausible solutions to business challenges and opportunities.
Subject of Research. The paper considers the process of generating reports in electronic learning systems. The aim is to optimize learning process management in generating reports using blockchain technologies. The paper analyzes existing learning management systems and their tools for generating and analyzing reports. Blockchain technology is reviewed in terms of educational opportunities. Method. The process of generating reports in the learning management system is presented as a mathematical model. It has been proven that the use of blockchain technology simplifies this process, since blockchain tools automatically register network events. A model for generating reports in the learning system using blockchain transactions has been developed. The model is implemented in a test version of the Ethereum blockchain using the smart contract mechanism. A smart contract records heterogeneous data of learning events to the blockchain without using special data structures. The blockchain stores data in a unified registry and registers event timestamp and event author’s address by itself. Event data is available through the geth console oriented for the Ethereum blockchain. Main Results. A method of learning process documenting using blockchain technology has been developed. The method does not require any special data model for storing learning events data, as well as special mechanism for recording event timestamp and event author’s address. Practical Relevance. Research results show that blockchain application provides for optimization of the learning process management.
The objective of this paper is to conduct a conceptual assessment of blockchain technology applications to universities. The paper will first address two related questions namely, the concept of smart university, and the architecture of blockchain technology. This paper contributes towards the topical debate of whether the claimed blockchain technological transformation is a hype, reality, revolution, or just an ordinary computing upgrade. It follows that if blockchain is a significant technological advancement then it can only be ignored at own’s peril. This research should benefit innovation policy decisions in the academia for out-of-the box thinking regarding internal control systems and product offering for smart universities.
Bulat Kubekov, Л. А. Бобров, Анар Утегенова, Vitaly Naumenko · 5 authors
The article presents the results of research related to the use of ontological and design competence approaches for the development of knowledge components and their subsequent use for designing individual trajectories of engineering education. The methodology of engineering education is considered, which, together with the initiative CDIO, the project-competence model and the knowledge display in the form of ontology, can be used as the main tool for modelling the propositional presentation of thought. Within the framework of the ontological approach, a knowledge specification language has been developed, which allows modelling the ontologies of supporting concepts of the semantic context of educational resources and specifying them in the form of knowledge expressions. The introduced formalisms and rules of the language of knowledge specification give the expressions of knowledge the properties of adaptability, extensibility, easement of processing and maintenance, which is important in designing engineering education level programs. This technique was tested on the material of the famous monograph by Hassan Goma “UML. Designing real-time systems, parallel and distributed applications" for the project "Banking system of client-server type" and is used on classes. Expressions of knowledge, together with their interfaces, are knowledge components from which individual learning trajectories are constructed.
A. B. Goldstein, Н.А. Соколов, Vasiliy Elagin, A. V. Onufrienko · 5 authors
Due to the increased popularity of distributed registry technology applications on the Internet, each of which uses network resources in different ways, has different characteristics and service requirements, there are the problem of impact of this technology to the network characteristics and how does the technology affect the network. In this article, the authors introduce a definition of the term blockchain, describe the services implemented by this technology and its scope. The authors identify the main technical characteristics and their features associated with transfer of information through the network. The authors explain how does the blockchain technology work and block structure. The authors indicate basic features of the network required for guarantee quality of service during provision and transfer for different type of traffic, determine the network scheme working with blockchain transactions and the dependence of network characteristics on application parameters. Authors show different classes of traffic priority, based on the requirements and behavior of certain types of applications, allowing maximum flexibility in the transmission of user information.
The creation and functioning of intelligent robots coalition is impossible without the organization of an information interaction environment between them. To solve this problem, it is proposed to use the concept of cyberphysical framework, which involves the unification of physical and cyber (virtual) environments. Intelligent robots can interact with each of the environments. The paper proposes methodology of the cyber physical smart space creation for the intelligent robots’ coalition formation and functioning, based on the concept of the “blackboard” with the support of smart contracts over the blockchain technology. It provides a new approach to the distribution of sensory, computational, information-control and service tasks between intelligent robots, embedded devices, fixed service equipment, cloud computing and information resources.