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Λαμπροπούλου, Υπατία Άννα

Metaverse as a virtual form of data driven smart cities

Master Thesis

Author

Λαμπροπούλου, Υπατία Άννα

Date

2023-06

Abstract

The concept of the Metaverse, a virtual world where people can interact, communicate and engage with each other in a three-dimensional space, has become increasingly popular in the recent years. Dating back to the late 1990s, when the first virtual worlds made their appearance in forms of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) games and through popular science fiction novels, such as the Snow Crush by Niel Stephenson, the idea of living in a futuristic, virtual world started to spread. Later, it was explored as concept in movies and tv series, until the technological advances of the 21st century permitted the dream to become reality. Already the first editions of a virtual world (ex Second Life, Decentraland) have increasing number of users, leading to believe that the metaverse and the immersive, extended reality technology it uses, will become the next big technological advance and it will have a profound impact on our society. Interestingly enough, the idea of a virtual reality dates back much further than the internet and modern technology. The philosopher Plato explores a similar concept in his famous allegory of the cave: Plato describes a group of people who have lived their entire lives in a cave, staring at the shadows on the wall, until one of them is eventually led out of the cave and into the real world, where they discover that the shadows they had been staring at were just a poor reflection of reality. The allegory can be seen as a metaphor for the Metaverse, in the sense that people may be led out of their physical reality and into a digital one. But what are the implications of this? Is it possible to become so engrossed in the metaverse that the touch with what is truly real could be lost? Or is it simply an extension of the reality, just a new way of experiencing and interacting with the world? After the COVID-19 pandemic, the adaptation to living in a more digital world, in conjunction with the radical policies regarding the evolution of urban life into smart (and ecological) cities, using the applications of information and communication technologies, places the metaverse as the ultimate goal, the culminating form of the smart city. Gradually transferring every aspect of life into the digital and virtual world, from the work life (through remote conferences and meetings) to the social life (connecting with people from all around the world as if they are in the same place) and the many applications to the education (virtual classes, realistic training in medical, military and other professions), the well-being (virtual gym with AI trainers), and hobbies like gaming, travelling or visiting museums, are only a few of the benefits that the metaverse will bring into the people’s everyday lives. However, as with all new technologies, concerns arise regarding the privacy and safety of the users. Given the fact that regulations such as GDPR in Europe and HIPAA in the USA, are the only ones protecting the overall privacy of the users and the management of their personal data, even though they’re not entirely applicable to the metaverse, and in wait of more regulations about the AI, the cryptocurrencies, the blockchain and its applications, like NFTs, all of which frame the metaverse, there is mistrust and apprehension with regard to the privacy and the safety of users (data leaking, user profiling, device hacking, uncontrollable collection of personal data without informing the users etc). 6 Furthermore, due to the duality of the world (one physical and one virtual, either with clear limits or with the second being the extension of the first), the users’ life will be also split, and this duality will be particularly complicated in regards to crime management. Virtual crime (like harassment, hate speech, theft, and more) has already been documented in existing virtual worlds and in online gaming communities; although most of the platforms have already taken initiatives and have set strict rules (in their EULAs and terms of service, accompanied by the appropriate penalties) to reduce malicious behavior between their users, virtual crime in the metaverse, as a larger phenomenon that extends in the real world, will be requiring specific and designated regulation. All in all, the metaverse will be a new world to live in, a community to build ab initio, offering the opportunity to rectify past mistakes humanity was driven to, while creating a safe space for all people to live in, as their unique, authentic selves. The key in building an equal and fair world, is by (ethical) design; using the right tools to ensure trust, neutrality and equity (such as blockchain and derivative technologies, like DAOs) in governance and commerce; implementing just, unbiased policies, which will serve as soft law and guidelines to ensure a harmonious living; and finally, structuring the totality of the metaverse around a human-centered design, so as to align the development of virtual life with indisputable moral values, that promote human rights, the human effort and experience.

Postgraduate Studies Programme

Δίκαιο και Τεχνολογίες Πληροφορικής και Επικοινωνιών (MSc in Law and Information and Communication Technologies)

Department

Σχολή Τεχνολογιών Πληροφορικής και Επικοινωνιών. Τμήμα Ψηφιακών Συστημάτων

Number of pages

Language

Greek

URI

https://dione.lib.unipi.gr/xmlui/handle/unipi/16118
http://dx.doi.org/10.26267/unipi_dione/3540

Collections

Τμήμα Ψηφιακών Συστημάτων

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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα