The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability in Urban Futures

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 771 - 801

Published: July 8, 2022

Data infrastructures, economic processes, and governance models of digital platforms are increasingly pervading urban sectors spheres life. This phenomenon is known as platformization, which has in turn given rise to the phenomena platform society, where have permeated core societies. A recent manifestation platformization Metaverse, a global project launched by Meta (formerly Facebook) globally operating company. The Metaverse represents an idea hypothetical “parallel virtual world” that incarnate ways living working cities alternative smart future. Indeed, with emerging innovative technologies—such Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, IoT, Digital Twins—providing rich datasets advanced computational understandings human behavior, potential redefine city designing activities service provisioning towards increasing efficiencies, accountabilities, quality performance. However, there still remain ethical, human, social, cultural concerns Metaverse’s influence upon social interactions its prospective scope reconstructing paper undertakes upper-level literature review area from broader perspective. Further, it maps products services explores their contributions respect incarnation, particular focus on environmental, economic, goals sustainability. study may help policy makers better understand opportunities implications tech-mediated practices applied agendas, well assess positives negatives this techno-urban vision. also offers thoughts regarding argument disruptive substantive effects forms reality platformized society. will hopefully stimulate research further critical perspectives topic.

Language: Английский

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The rising trend of Metaverse in education: challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations

PeerJ Computer Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9, P. e1252 - e1252

Published: Feb. 13, 2023

Metaverse is invading the educational sector and will change human-computer interaction techniques. Prominent technology executives are developing novel ways to turn into a learning environment, considering rapid growth of technology. Since COVID-19 outbreak, people have grown accustomed teleworking, telemedicine, numerous other forms distance interaction. Recently, has been focus many educators. With Facebook's statement that it was rebranding promoting itself as Meta, this field saw surge in interest areas computer science education. There literature gap studying Metaverse's role This article systematic review following PRISMA framework reviews education shrink gap. It presents various uses aid future research field. Additionally, demonstrates how enabling technologies like extended reality (XR) internet everything (IoE) significantly impact services Metaverses teaching learning. The also outlines key challenges, ethical issues, potential threats using for offer road map investigate improve experiences.

Language: Английский

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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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Smart cities and sustainable development goals (SDGs): A systematic literature review of co-benefits and trade-offs

Cities, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 146, P. 104659 - 104659

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Despite the wealth of research on smart cities, there is a lack studies examining interlinkages between cities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In other words, limited how implementing city solutions can lead to co-benefits and/or trade-offs for achieving SDGs. This systematic literature review was conducted fill this gap. Results show that responsible development/implementation technologies could contribute progress toward The mainly focused SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption Production), 7 (Affordable Clean Energy), 6 (Clean Water Sanitation). More work SDGs needed. There bias reporting benefits cities. These include accelerating economic growth, improving efficiency, strengthening innovation, raising citizen awareness. indicate catalyze transition sustainable development address climate change challenges. However, requires addressing related issues such as privacy cyber security, costs infrastructure upgrading, rebound effects associated with efficiency improvements, biased decision-making, reproduction social biases, digital divide skills, misuse AI, legal setup. elaborates these offers minimize them. COVID-19 pandemic has increased attention interactions SDGs, particularly those health action. it also cemented many new unethical practices. highlights governance/policy challenges should be addressed ensure better It concludes multi-scale transparent governance mechanisms regulatory frameworks are crucial ensuring support resilient

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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A Review of Metaverse’s Definitions, Architecture, Applications, Challenges, Issues, Solutions, and Future Trends

IEEE Access, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 125835 - 125866

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Metaverse is a vision enabling to constitute an environment in which someone could see real and virtualized worlds. The product (or something similar as we do not yet know its final form) of such technologies. In this circumstance, when applications that utilize the are used, there seem be no transportation charges, cap on amounts individuals, users, players, learners, or trainee who can take part. Hence, due feature, has attracted various researchers from different fields where it been exploited by them contribute those research areas. As for example, possible teach target audiences offering events classes any location globe. order participant Metaverse, necessary conditions considered well other settings initialized. line this, virtual reality, augmented availability required sensors, smart glasses, headsets, few others some examples requires. Despite advantages offers us, number considerations must taken into account while developing interested researchers. One these concerns privacy regarding participants (represented avatars inside environment). Another issue since still early stages, many attempts have made engage develop enhancing it. This review aims survey related articles concern development providing chronological stages throughout history Metaverse. It also list recent technological advances allowing Besides, Metaverse's definitions, properties, architecture, discussed listed review. novelty article suggested framework issues paid attention potential solutions aiming designers consider corresponding solution future works enhancement. Challenges faced relevant concerned detail highlighted. trends clarified.

Language: Английский

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The Metaverse as a virtual form of data-driven smart urbanism: platformization and its underlying processes, institutional dimensions, and disruptive impacts

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

Published: Aug. 12, 2022

Abstract The emerging phenomenon of platformization has given rise to what been termed "platform society,“ a digitally connected world where platforms have penetrated the heart urban societies—transforming social practices, disrupting interactions and market relations, affecting democratic processes. One recent manifestations is Metaverse, global platform whose data infrastructures, governance models, economic processes are predicted penetrate different sectors spheres life. Metaverse an idea hypothetical set “parallel virtual worlds” that incarnate ways living in believably cities as alternative future data-driven smart cities. However, this already raised concerns over constitutes architecture computer mediation underlying with regard forms life well order. This study analyzes core trends enabling driving uses outcome devise novel framework for digital computing form Further, it examines discusses risks impacts paying particular attention to: platformization; COVID-19 crisis ensuing non-spontaneous "normality" order; corporate-led technocratic governance; governmentality; privacy, security, trust; governance. A thematic analysis approach adopted cope vast body literature various disciplinarities. identifies five related cities: instrumentation, hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, platformization. novelty derived based on lies its essential processual components way which these structured integrated their clear synergies functioning towards potentially highlights how why identified processes—as intricately interwoven entirety living—arouse contentions controversies pertaining society’ public values. As such, provides new insights into understanding complex interplay between science technology other dimensions society. Accordingly, contributes scholarly debates field Science, Technology, Society (STS) by highlighting societal ethical implications societies through Metaverse.

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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Exploring the Potential of Metaverse for Higher Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications

Metaverse Basic and Applied Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 40 - 40

Published: April 27, 2023

Introduction: the Metaverse, a virtual space where users can engage with each other in variety of experiences, has gained significant attention recent years. With advent advanced technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented (AR), and Mixed (MR), possibilities Metaverse have expanded to create new opportunities for learning education. Objective: this research article aims explore potential higher education, including its opportunities, challenges, implications. Methods: provides comprehensive overview history, key components. It then examines education by reviewing relevant literature analyzing benefits that it offer. These include increased accessibility, flexibility, interactivity, as well immersive personalized experiences. Results: also identifies challenges limitations such technical limitations, privacy security concerns, need digital literacy skills. further discusses implications using impact on teaching learning, curriculum design, student engagement. Conclusions: finally, proposes some recommendations educators institutions interested exploring use developing clear understanding educational goals, selecting appropriate platforms, providing training support both students.

Language: Английский

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Mapping Metaverse Research: Identifying Future Research Areas Based on Bibliometric and Topic Modeling Techniques

Information, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 356 - 356

Published: June 22, 2023

The metaverse represents an immersive digital environment that has garnered significant attention as a result of its potential to revolutionize various industry sectors and profound societal impact. While academic interest in the surged, dearth comprehensive review articles employing bibliometric techniques remains. This study seeks address this gap by analyzing 595 metaverse-related journal using topic modeling techniques, marking first kind investigate profile research. findings reveal exponential growth research since 2020, identifying major trends, prolific authors, most active journals field. A keyword co-occurrence analysis further uncovers four clusters interests, highlighting unique facets underscoring far-reaching implications across sectors, including education, healthcare, retail, tourism. emphasizes need for more collaboration advancing field presents 27 questions future investigation. serves foundation understanding current state trajectory.

Language: Английский

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