The Social Shaping of the Metaverse as an Alternative to the Imaginaries of Data-Driven Smart Cities: A Study in Science, Technology, and Society

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 832 - 874

Published: July 28, 2022

Science and technology transform the frontiers of knowledge have deep powerful impacts on society, demonstrating how social reality varies with each era world. As a set fictional representations technologically driven future worlds, Metaverse is increasingly shaping socio-technical imaginaries data-driven smart cities, i.e., outcome radical transformations dominant structures, processes, practices, cultures. At core systematic exploration science relationships between scientific knowledge, technological systems, values ethics from wide range perspectives. Positioned within science, this study investigates complex interplay as form wider context in which it embedded. Therefore, adopts an analytical philosophical framework STS, doing so, employs integrated approach to discourse analysis, supported by comparative analysis Ambient Intelligence. This shows that activity socially constructed, politically driven, economically conditioned, historically situated. That is, inherently human hence value-laden, well can only be understood contextualized socio-political-economic-historical gives rise it, sustains makes durable material effects networks. view turn corroborates raises serious concerns determinism, exclusion, marginalization, privacy erosion, surveillance, control, democratic backsliding, hive mentality, cyber-utopianism, dystopianism. argues that, due problematic nature terms its inherent ethical implications, there need more explicit processes practices for enhancing public participation allowing role especially early decision-making process development—when opportunity effective inputs informed choices greatest. The novelty lies first kind respect probing link cities STS perspective. main contribution deepening extending critiques understandings based evaluation warning signals troubling visions conveys animates order help construct desirable alternative futures greater good all citizens. ultimate goal structure ways are morally acceptable collectively most democratically beneficial society.

Language: Английский

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Generative artificial intelligence in the metaverse era

Cognitive Robotics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 3, P. 208 - 217

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a form of AI that can autonomously generate new content, such as text, images, audio, and video. provides innovative approaches for content production in the metaverse, filling gaps development metaverse. Products ChatGPT have potential to enhance search experience, reshape information generation presentation methods, become entry points online traffic. This expected significantly impact traditional engine products, accelerating industry innovation upgrading. paper presents an overview technologies prospective applications generative breakthrough metaverse technology offers insights increasing effectiveness creating creative content.

Language: Английский

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The Metaverse as a virtual form of data-driven smart cities: the ethics of the hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, and platformization of urban society

Computational Urban Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2(1)

Published: July 28, 2022

Recent advances in computing and immersive technologies have provided Meta (formerly Facebook) with the opportunity to leapfrog or expedite its way of thinking devising a global platform called "Metaverse". This hypothetical 3D network virtual spaces is increasingly shaping alternatives imaginaries data-driven smart cities, as it represents ways living virtually inhabitable cities. At heart Metaverse computational understanding human users' cognition, emotion, motivation, behavior that reduces experience everyday life logic calculative rules procedures. implies users become more knowable manageable their predictable controllable, thereby serving passive data points feeding AI analytics system they no interchange influence on. paper examines forms, practices, ethics form paying particular attention to: privacy, surveillance capitalism, dataveillance, geosurveillance, health wellness, collective cognitive echo-chambers. Achieving this aim will provide answer main research question driving study: What ethical implications on post-pandemic urban society? In terms methodology, deploys thorough review current status Metaverse, informatics, science, cities literature, well trends, research, developments. We argue do harm than good due massive misuse hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, platformization underlying associated architecture computer mediation. It follows needs be re-cast re-orientate how are conceived; recognize characteristics; take into account moral values principles designed realize benefits socially disruptive while mitigating pernicious effects. contributes academic debates emerging field urbanism by highlighting posed speculative fiction illustrates concerns raised pervasive use advanced doing so, seeks aid policy-makers better pitfalls repercussions upon wellbeing core society. also stimulates prospective further critical perspectives timely topic.

Language: Английский

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Environmentally sustainable smart cities and their converging AI, IoT, and big data technologies and solutions: an integrated approach to an extensive literature review

Energy Informatics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: April 5, 2023

There have recently been intensive efforts aimed at addressing the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change through applied innovative solutions AI, IoT, Big Data. Given synergistic potential these advanced technologies, their convergence is being embraced leveraged by smart cities in an attempt to make progress toward reaching targets sustainable development goals under what has termed "environmentally cities." This new paradigm urbanism represents a significant research gap itself. To fill this gap, study explores key trends driving factors environmentally maps thematic evolution. Further, it examines fragmentation, amalgamation, transition underlying models as well converging Data technologies solutions. It employs combines bibliometric analysis evidence synthesis methods. A total 2,574 documents were collected from Web Science database compartmentalized into three sub-periods: 1991-2015, 2016-2019, 2020-2021. The results show that are rapidly growing trend markedly escalated during second third periods-due acceleration digitalization decarbonization agendas-thanks COVID-19 rapid advancement data-driven technologies. also reveals that, while overall priority topics dynamic over time-some AI techniques sustainability areas received more attention than others. synthesized indicates increasing criticism fragmentation cities, widespread diffusion SDGs agenda, dominance ICT significantly impacted materialization thereby influencing landscape dynamics cities. suggests provides approaches tackling sustainability. However, involve costs pose ethical risks regulatory conundrums. findings can inform scholars practitioners emerging technology assist policymakers designing implementing responsive policies.

Language: Английский

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The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Data-Driven Smart Urbanism: On Post-Pandemic Governance through the Prism of the Logic of Surveillance Capitalism

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(2), P. 715 - 727

Published: May 31, 2022

The Metaverse, as a gigantic ecosystem application enabled mainly by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the IoT, Big Data, and Extended Reality (XR) technologies, represents an idea of hypothetical "parallel virtual environment" that incarnates ways living in virtually inhabitable cities. It is increasingly seen transition from smart cities to new target for city governments attain “new” goals. However, Metaverse project was launched amid COVID-19 pandemic, crisis purported be rare opportunity should seized reset reimagine world—though regard its digital incarnation, what this entails terms both cementing normalizing corporate-led, top-down, technocratic, tech-mediated, algorithmic mode governance, well forms controlling urban society. “new normal” has already set stage undemocratically resetting unilaterally reimagining world, resulting abrupt large-scale transformation society, process digitization digitalization turn paving way era merging virtuality urbanity. This raised serious concerns over risks impacts surveillance technologies have been rapidly massively deployed wake pandemic. These also relate global architecture computer mediation upon which logic capitalism depends, constituted control commodification mechanisms seek monitor, predict, control, trade behavior human users, exile them their own. viewpoint paper explores questions prism social economic capitalism, focusing on how why practices post-pandemic governance society are bound undemocratic unethical. novelty lies providing insights into understanding dark side ostensible fancier successor Internet today, thereby value contribution ongoing scholarly debates field Science, Technology, Society (STS). In addition, shedding light emergence computing platform, seeks help policymakers understand assess ramifications wide adoption, users make informed decisions about usage everyday activity—if it actualizes.

Language: Английский

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Advances in Metaverse Investigation: Streams of Research and Future Agenda

Virtual Worlds, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 1(2), P. 103 - 129

Published: Oct. 29, 2022

The metaverse has increasingly attracted the attention of academics and practitioners, who attempt to better understand its theoretical foundations business application areas. This paper provides an overarching picture what already been studied investigated in academic investigation. It adopts a systematic literature review bibliometric analysis. study designs thematic map research. proposes four streams research (metaverse technologies, areas application, marketing consumer behaviour sustainability) for future investigation, which practitioners should explore. also contributes towards advancement knowledge field, some preliminary contributions by shedding light on avenues, offers insights business.

Language: Английский

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Harnessing the Potential of the Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence for the Internet of City Things: Cost-Effective XReality and Synergistic AIoT Technologies

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(5), P. 2397 - 2429

Published: Sept. 13, 2023

The Metaverse represents an always-on 3D network of virtual spaces, designed to facilitate social interaction, learning, collaboration, and a wide range activities. This emerging computing platform originates from the dynamic convergence Extended Reality (XR), Artificial Intelligence Things (AIoT), platform-mediated everyday life experiences in smart cities. However, research community faces pressing challenge addressing limitations posed by resource constraints associated with XR-enabled IoT applications within Internet City (IoCT). Additionally, there is limited understanding synergies between XR AIoT technologies their implications for this framework. Therefore, study provides detailed overview literature on potential applications, opportunities, challenges pertaining deployment broader framework IoCT. primary focus navigating powered VR AR as key components MR Metaverse. also explores paradigm its synergistic interplay relation future realm study’s contributions encompass comprehensive IoCT, providing valuable researchers practitioners. It identifies constraints, identifying areas that require further investigation. fosters interdisciplinary insights into XR, IoT, AIoT, cities, bridging gap them. Lastly, it offers innovation pathways effective IoT/AIoT These collectively advance our opportunities complementary strengths cutting-edge advancing paradigms urban development.

Language: Английский

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Metaverse for smart cities: A survey

Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 4, P. 203 - 216

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The concept of a smart city is geared towards enhancing convenience and the efficient management areas through innovation. As Metaverse rises in 2020s, providing possible direction for new generation Internet, it has huge number opportunities to promote cities. can empower cities various aspects. In this article, we provide detailed review based on technologies. Firstly, introduce describe future vision applications cities, which are Metaverse. addition, discuss essential technologies currently available solutions. Additionally, have some concerns regarding potential there still unresolved issues that should be addressed. purpose article researchers developers with guidance propel development

Language: Английский

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Government in the metaverse: Requirements and suitability for providing digital public services

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 203, P. 123346 - 123346

Published: April 3, 2024

Language: Английский

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The Metaverse: Survey, Trends, Novel Pipeline Ecosystem & Future Directions

IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 26(4), P. 2914 - 2960

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The Metaverse offers a second world beyond reality, where boundaries are non-existent, and possibilities endless through engagement immersive experiences using the virtual reality (VR) technology. Many disciplines can benefit from advancement of when accurately developed, including fields technology, gaming, education, art & culture, socialization, commerce, businesses. Nevertheless, developing environment to its full potential is an ambiguous task that needs proper guidance directions. Existing surveys on focus only specific aspect discipline lack holistic view entire process. Moreover, most refrain providing detailed about development process metaverse, impact technologies, businesses, existing challenges, research directions due their macro micro perception such topic. To this end, more holistic, multi-disciplinary, in-depth, academic industry-oriented review required provide thorough study pipeline fill gap in surveys. address these issues, we present survey novel multi-layered ecosystem composed (1) computing, networking, communications hardware infrastructure, (2) digitization, (3) user interactions. For every layer, discuss components detail steps development. Also, for each components, examine set enabling technologies empowering domains (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Security Privacy, Blockchain, Business, Ethics, Social) advancement. In addition, explain importance support decentralization, interoperability, experiences, interactions, monetization. Our presented highlights challenges component, followed by solutions. best our knowledge, comprehensive allows users, scholars, entrepreneurs get in-depth understanding find opportunities potentials contribution.

Language: Английский

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