METAVERSE

Publications

A curated selection of scientific works contributed by our team, addressing various aspects of the Metaverse, from user interaction to ethical implications. The documents are the result of in-depth research and are presented to share findings and support discussions in the academic sphere.
This paper investigated the potential key aspects related to cybersecurity in Metaverse, regarding cyber threats and cyber crimes, challenges and risks, along with potential security measures that must be taken into account for a safe activity and an enjoyable user experience. Starting from real cases of security incidents in Metaverse, potential strategies and principles for ensuring cybersecurity in virtual environments were presented. An analysis of the user-avatar relation was carried out to synthesize the benefits and risks that the user may face in the virtual environment, when using digital devices and immersive and emergent technologies, in the interaction and collaboration with the other avatars.
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Who is Threatening My Avatar in Metaverse?

Authors:

  • Eng. Mădălina ZAMFIR
  • Andreea - Cătălina CRĂCIUN
Originally seen as a specialized aspect of Web 3.0, the Metaverse has experienced a significant transformation, now emerging as a multi-trillion-dollar industry. The educational sector holds a crucial role within this industry, utilizing the Metaverse as an inventive tool for both educators and students. Interactions within the Metaverse are anticipated to heavily rely on an extensive flow of user-derived data. This encompasses the potential to track personally identifiable biometric information using wearable devices or advanced technologies. These advancements raise ethical and legal concerns related to privacy and accessibility. Given these concerns, it is appropriate to initiate meditation on the ethical aspects and establish guidelines and frameworks regarding user interactions. The purpose of this paper is to initiate a dialogue about the ethical consequences of Metaverse-centered education, providing a nuanced comprehension of the ethical facets of this emerging field. Our objective is to highlight a broader perspective on a potential solution. In this sense, we suggest a set of Metaverse Ethical Principles that can enrich the understanding of this poorly explored territory. These principles aim to ensure the respon-sible, fair, and comprehensive implementation of the Metaverse in the field of education.
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Exploring ethical considerations in Metaverse from the education perspective

Authors:

  • Dr. Dragoș IORDACHE
  • Eng. Mădălina ZAMFIR
  • Dr. Carmen-Elena CIRNU
  • Eng. Ion-Alexandru MARINESCU
  • Monica Barbu, Phd.
The Metaverse concept describes a virtual collective space where users engage with simulated or computer-generated environments, enabled by cutting-edge technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 5G Networks. This convergence allows the creation of complex virtual worlds, enhances user interactions, enables dynamic environments, facilitates seamless integration across platforms, and ensures scalability and persistence, alongside several privacy, security, ethical and legal challenges to be considered. The constant advancement of these technologies is pivotal in shaping a future where the line between physical and virtual realities blurs, unlocking limitless possibilities in realms such as communication, entertainment, education, and business. This leads to novel opportunities for exploration and user engagement. This paper aims to present an overview of the leading technologies driving the transition from the current Internet to the Metaverse, enabling users to interact naturally and intuitively with digital objects and environments. The study explores well-established interactive simulation technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality, along with emerging technologies like somato-sensory interfaces, holographic imaging, and brain-computer interaction interfaces. Emphasizing their potential, the paper demonstrates how these technologies can offer users unparalleled levels of involvement in interactive activities spanning gaming, socializing, education, and business.
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Exploring relevant technologies for simulating user interaction in Metaverse virtual spaces

Authors:

  • Dr. Dragoș IORDACHE
  • Eng. Ion-Alexandru MARINESCU
The Metaverse is a new concept that aims to revolutionize the way people perceive the time and space in which they live. Thus, through Metaverse, the convergence between the real and the virtual world is achieved on the basis of a combination of augmented reality, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies. The Metaverse has the potential to transform many aspects of society, from entertainment and gaming to education, health, culture, economy business, and social interaction. One of the key benefits of the Metaverse is its ability to connect people from all over the world in a virtual space. This could have a significant impact on the way we work, communicate, and socialize. It could also provide new opportunities for collaboration and innovation, as people from different parts of the world can easily connect and work together. The Metaverse could also have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach education and could open up new opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds. It could also provide new opportunities for content creators, such as virtual concerts, performances, and exhibitions. In this paper we intend to present the project “Advanced research in Metaverse and emerging technologies for the digital transformation of society“ and to analyze the most important implications of Metaverse in many aspects of society.
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Virtual worlds, real technologies: an insight into Metaverse and its principles

Authors:

  • Dr. Ing. Ionuț PETRE
  • Dr. Dragoș IORDACHE
  • Ing. Mădălina ZAMFIR
  • Ing. Ion-Alexandru MARINESCU
  • Dr. Monica BARBU
  • Răzvan DUȚESCU
Society is undergoing a profound digital transformation, where efforts to build a virtual replica of the physical world promise to revolutionize the quality of life. Among the obvious benefits are hybrid work formats, increased access to education, easy access to information for citizens, improved socialization, and economic efficiency through cost reduction. The success of these initiatives depends on the implementation of AR/VR technologies, the development of high-speed networks and Web 3.0, artificial intelligence, IoT and Cloud infrastructure, as well as the social acceptance of these innovations.
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The City Halls of the Future and Immersive Technologies in Service of Citizens

Authors:

  • Dr. Ec. Ioana Petcu
As a virtual highly immersive and interactive world, Metaverse can unlock its potential in many different fields through a diversity of tools and technologies. We will analyze the way Metaverse may be used to simulate different scenarios and test the effectiveness of smart city technologies in a virtual environment before implementing them in the real world. By providing a platform for virtual town halls, public meetings, and feedback mechanisms, the Metaverse can enable citizens to participate in the planning and decision-making processes that shape the future of their cities and raise citizen engagement and participation in the development of smart cities. By experimenting on this theme, even academia may benefit as the learners gain practical knowledge of smart city concepts such as IoT, AI, and sustainability, enabling them to develop the skills needed to participate in the development and maintenance of smart cities. In this paper, we intend to study a few possible scenarios of Metaverse evolution in the field of education (to understand how Metaverse may be used as a platform for collaborative learning and experimentation), of smart cities (to help policymakers and stakeholders imagine a better town for each citizen), and to explore their intersection through potential Metaverse-based educational innovations in the development of smart cities.
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Educational Innovations Based on Metaverse in the Development of Smart Cities

Authors:

  • Dr. Ella Magdalena CIUPERCĂ
  • Alin Zamfirou
  • Ramesh C. Sharma
While false information has always represented a challenge to societal trust, democratic engagement, and public discourse, new technological advancements have led to the emergence of deepfakes and created a new challenge related to disinformation. The Metaverse, as a platform for immersive virtual experiences, also raises concerns about misinformation, privacy, and security. In this article, we analyse the possibilities of addressing the risks of deepfakes but still harnessing the technology for positive outcomes within the Metaverse. We systematically reviewed the literature using the PRISMA methodology and discussed several use cases that show the potential ethical use of the technology.
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Can Deepfakes Benefit the Metaverse in an Era of Disinformation? Insights from a Systematic Review

Authors:

  • Dr. Ella Magdalena CIUPERCĂ
  • Dr. Ing. Alexandru STANCIU
In the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology, the advent of eLearning systems has brought about transformative changes, accompanied by an escalating wave of cyber threats. This paper addresses the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the realm of eLearning systems, focusing on the multifaceted challenges posed by cyber threats in virtual educational environments. The article also emphasizes the significance of a prevention guide and an adaptive cybersecurity approach in virtual classrooms. It provides a framework for applying a set of security rules and identifies key security principles to fortify eLearning systems against cyber threats. To define the appropriate security rules for eLearning systems, the following domains were considered: Authentication and Authorization, Data Encryption, Regular Software Updates and Patch Management, Monitoring and Incident Response, Secure Communication Channels, User Education and Awareness. Future works could involve the implementation and validation of the proposed framework and principles in real-world educational settings.
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Ensuring Cyber Resilience: A Thorough Guide to Securing Virtual Classrooms

Authors:

  • Dr. Dragoș IORDACHE
  • Eng. Mădălina ZAMFIR
  • Dr. Carmen-Elena CIRNU
  • Eng. Ion-Alexandru MARINESCU
  • Monica Barbu, Phd.