Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), Cryptocurrencies, and the Art World

After reading a recent article entitled "Boy makes $400,000 in Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) with digital Whale Art", I decided it was time to do a little research and write a short blog to our readers providing a very brief introduction on the topic of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) and their use in the Art World.

I started my research with an interesting and amusing article about Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and Art Marketplaces. It was a good read, but unfortunately, after reading the article I was just as confused about the topic as when I started.

A much more informative article was published by The Atlantic called NFTs Weren't Supposed to End Like This. According to the article, a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items and videos and they can be bought and sold online, frequently with cryptocurrencies that use blockchain technology. Read Unraveling the Confusion about Blockchain Technology and Bitcoin

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) exist on a blockchain, which is a distributed public ledger that records transactions. The use of blockchain technology and NFTs afford artists and content creators a new way to monetize their artwork. For example, artists no longer have to rely on galleries or auction houses to sell their art. Instead, the artist can sell it directly to the consumer as an NFT, which also lets them keep more of the profits. In addition, artists can arrange to receive royalties whenever their art is sold to a new owner. Artists generally do not receive future proceeds after their art is first sold, so this is an attractive new feature.

Are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) worth the money—or the hype? Some experts say they’re a bubble poised to pop, like the dotcom craze. Others believe NFTs are here to stay and will change investing forever. We’ll find out over the coming years. See Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) on Wikipedia

Getting Started: If you’re keen to start your own NFT collection, you’ll need to acquire some key items. First, you’ll need to get a digital wallet that allows you to store NFTs and cryptocurrencies. You’ll likely need to purchase some cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin or Ether, depending on what currencies your NFT provider accepts. You’ll then be able to move it from the exchange to your wallet of choice. You’ll also want to keep various fees in mind that most exchanges may charge you. Explore Coinbase and Exodus

Once you’ve got your wallet set up and funded, there’s no shortage of NFT sites to shop for items. Currently, the largest NFT marketplaces include OpenSea, Rarible, Nifty Gateway, and several others. Finally, approach NFTs just like you would any investment: Do your research, understand the potential risks, then if you decide to take the plunge, proceed with caution.

Other selected articles on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) that you might want to peruse include:

• What You Need To Know About Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT)
  

• What Are NFTs and Why They Are Shaking Up the Art World?

• NFT Art: What is it, How it works, and What it means for the Creative Industry

• Lost Art: Do NFTs mean the end of real-world art?

• These millennial creators are making 6 figures selling NFTs

• NFTs for Beginners: The latest Crypto Craze
  

To conclude this very brief introduction to the topic of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) in the Art World, here are a couple of parting thoughts.

Bottom Line: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) in the Art World gives you a new way to sell your works online. But...

Caution: Investing in NFTs is a largely personal decision. If you have money to spare, it may be worth considering, especially if a piece holds meaning for you. 

 

 * Read How to Create, Buy and Sell Your Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) Artworks

Brief History of Human-Computer Interfaces

The following is a brief high level overview of the evolution of Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) from the mid-1940’s up to current days in the 2020’s. I had the opportunity to experience many of these interfaces, starting with the use of punch cards to run computer programs when I was a student attending Clemson University way back when.

 

Human-Computer Interface (HCI) systems design involves looking more closely at how humans interact and communicate intuitively. The goal is to teach computers, machines, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to better comprehend and communicate with humans.

When I went to work on automated data processing (ADP) systems at the Veterans Administration (VA) in the mid-1970’s, I was introduced to Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) mini-computer systems that used video display terminals (VDT) and a command line interface to interact with the computer systems. Over the next several decades I learned to adapt to the ever evolving range of new computer interfaces, e.g. ‘Roll & Scroll’, Graphical User Interface (GUI), HyperText Interface, Voice Interaction...

Major User Interfaces

• Batch Processing Interface – A punch card or paper tape interface used from1945 through mid-1960’s on large mainframe, batch processing systems.

• Command Line Interface – Teletype and cathode ray tube (CRT) terminals made use of the command line interface (CLI) to interact with large or mid-sized computer systems from the mid-1960s to 1980.

• Roll & Scroll Interface – The ‘roll & scroll’ interface with menu options emerged as the dominant method of interacting with mini-computers and personal computers (PC) from the late 1970’s through the mid-1980’s.

• Graphical User Interface – ‘Windows’ and the graphical user interface (GUI) emerged in the mid-1980’s as the use of personal computers (PC) exploded on the scene.

• HyperText Interface – In the mid-1990’s, HyperText emerged as the primary interface used when interacting with the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW)

As we entered the 21^st century, the number and type of new technologies, computer devices, and Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI) have taken off. Think of ‘smartphones’, tablets, touchscreens, wearable systems, voice interaction, haptics, implantable systems, brain-computer interfaces (BCI)... all culminating in what I call the Invisible User Interface (IUI).

Most computer interfaces today use artificial controls and tangible devices whose operation has to be learned, e.g. Windows, computer mouse, joystick. That's about to change big time with the convergence of multiple modern technologies. The Invisible User Interface (IUI) will include sound, touch, gesture, and tactile inputs and outputs as humans interact with an ever increasing numbers of 'smart' machines and sensors all around us. Think of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Wearable Systems, Implantables... Read more about the Natural User Interface (NUI) on Wikipedia.

Selected Articles The History Of User Interfaces—And Where They Are Heading History of the User Interface - Wikipedia A Timeline of Computer Interface Technology – onFOSS A Brief History of Human Computer Interaction Technology Invisible User Interface (IUI) for Health 4.0 The Evolution of the modern Computer Interface 'No UI' is the New 'Invisible' User Interface (IUI)

In essence, the emerging Invisible User Interface (IUI) or Natural User Interface (NUI) involves a major paradigm shift in traditional man machine interaction using a variety of new computer interfaces that will be basically invisible. We are rapidly getting there. Personally, I'm excited to to see how this all plays out over the coming decade.

 

* If you are interested in delving further into this topic and our future, you might want to read the novel 3001: The Final Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. It’s a followup to his more well known book 2001: A Space Odyssey.

 

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) – Now There’s Mixed Reality (MR)

The following is a brief, high level overview on the topic of ‘Mixed Reality’ for managers, students, and other parties interested in modern technologies.

According to Wikipedia, Mixed Reality (MR) involves the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. It is a hybrid concoction that encompasses physical reality, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and the use of immersive technology.  

VR and AR meet MR Using a head-mounted display Virtual Reality (VR) is fully immersive, which tricks your senses into thinking you’re in a different environment or world apart from the real world. Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital information on real-world elements. It keeps the real world central but enhances your view by layering it with selected supplemental digital details seen through some form of head-mounted display or ‘smart’ glasses. Mixed Reality (MR) brings together real world and digital elements using a variety of next-generation sensing and imaging technologies. It provides the ability to have one foot in the real world, and the other in an imaginary place, breaking down basic concepts between what is considered real or imaginary.

Mixed Reality (MR) is a new-wave technology that combines aspects of both AR and VR. People often mistake MR for VR or AR. The key to understanding how these differ is that the two technologies of VR and AR work in tandem to create Mixed Reality (MR) systems. In some ways, MR can be viewed as simply an enhanced, more interactive kind of AR.

Mixed reality has already been used in applications across a variety of fields including medicine, the arts, electronic games, entertainment, immersive training, and by the military.

The following are selected articles on ‘Mixed Reality (MX)’ that you might want to read:

• What is Mixed Reality? - Mixed Reality

• Your Guide to Mixed Reality technology by ZDNet

• Mixed Reality (MR) Market Size by 2025

• What Is Mixed Reality and What Does It Mean for the Enterprise?

Have you tried using MR technology? What was your impression of this emerging technology?

Selected Links for Mixed Reality (MR) Microsoft 'Open Source’ Mixed Reality Toolkit Mozilla: Mixed Reality for the Open Web YouTube: What is mixed reality?

TechnoEthics: Ethics and New Technologies

This article provides a brief high level introduction to the topic of ‘Technoethics’, a sub-field of ethics that is focused on both the professionals working on the development of new technologies and the broader social, ethical, and legal issues related to the role and use of technology by society. The importance of this topic cannot be understated.

New technologies often become integral to organizational business processes before many people have fully considered the ramifications of their usage. The following are selected articles discussing the relationship between ethics and the development and deployment of emerging technologies:

 

• Ethical tech: Making ethics a priority in today's digital organizations

• The Many Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies – Scientific American 2015

• Silicon Valley Raises Questions On Ethics Of New Technology – NPR

Ethics address the issues of what is 'right', what is 'just', and what is 'fair'. Ethics describe moral principles influencing conduct, focusing on the actions and values of people in society, i.e. what people do and how they believe they should act in the world. Technoethics, a sub-field of ethics, is focused on both the professionals working on the development of new technologies and the broader social, ethical, and legal issues related to the role and use of technology by society.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethics: 5 questions CIOs should ask
• The Next Administration Must Get Science and Technology Policy Right

• A Crisis of Ethics in Technology Innovation – MIT 2020

• Big Tech, Out-of-Control Capitalism and the End of Civilization

We really need to take the time to think carefully about the many unintended consequences of new technologies before we unleash them on society. Think about the impacts of social media, robots, artificial intelligence, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), nuclear fusion, DNA editing, telehealth, drones, implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) technology…

Selected Links Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at the Santa Clara University Online Ethics Center (OEC) for Engineering and Science Stanford University: Ethics, Society and Technology Hub (EST) TED Talk: Can we protect AI systems from bias? Other TED Talks: Videos on New Technology, New Ethics, e.g. Robots, AI, CRISPR...

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

This blog provides a brief, high level introduction to the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and its role in the Future of Education.

Our education system, schools, and universities are in the process of dramatically redefining their mission, purpose, structure, funding, curriculum, new technologies and tools as we adapt to an ever changing future. Think about Education and Online Learning available to everyone, anywhere, anytime. Think about personalized, Lifelong Learning solutions tailored just for you.

Televideo, virtual reality, robotics, implantable systems, brain interface technology, artificial intelligence systems, personal learning assistants, augmented reality... so many new technologies and tools are in the process of being developed and deployed to bring about change in how we will educate and train people in the coming decades. The focus here is on the use of just one of these new technologies – Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A report entitled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market in the US Education Sector 2018-2022” predicts a nearly 48 percent growth rate for AI tools over the next three years. There’s no rulebook yet for deploying artificial intelligence in schools. However, solutions such as IBMWatson Education and Google Cloud Platform & AI initiative offer the potential for schools to deliver personalized learning strategies and offer analytics-based performance feedback and insights. It is not yet clearly defined how K–12 educational institutions will actually best leverage these tools.

The following are selected articles on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of education that you might want to read:

• Unleashing the power of AI for education | MIT Technology

• Artificial Intelligence in Education | Case Studies

• AI in Education: Where is It Now and in The Future

• Artificial Intelligence in Education: Benefits and Challenges for Students and Teachers

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications In Education – Forbes

• Brooking Institution: The Need to rethink education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

• AI in Education is Revolutionizing Student & Teacher in K-12 Schools

• AI In Education: 12 Companies You Should Know

Understandably, most institutions still lack a formal strategy or approach to advance the effective use of emerging AI solutions at this early stage. Initial development is well underway on AI solutions aimed at improving administrative processes and daily operations. Much work is yet to be done on adaptive 'personalized education' programs, individualized assessment and feedback, intelligent tutoring, use of immersive technologies, 'accelerated learning' programs for motivated students, augmented and virtual reality, mobile ‘learning companions’, gamification and more.

 

It will be interesting to see the changes to our education system that will unfold over the coming decade, It's interesting to take a quick look back at the History of Public Schools and when they came into being in the U.S.

Other Selected Links China's Squirrel AI IBM Watson AI Education Team and Solutions‎ Google Cloud & AI Platform for Education McGraw Hill's ALEKS OpenAI Organization YouTube: Future of Education

* If you are interested in this blog, you might also read the collection of other Summerton Blogs on Technology and the Future of Education

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) – Moving from Wearable to Implantable Technologies

The 1^st generation of computers back in the 1950-60 timeframe was all about building and using ‘big iron’ mainframe systems. In the 1970s we saw the migration to networked mini-computer systems. In the 1980s we saw the transition to widespread use of microcomputer or personal computer (PC) systems. In the 1990s desktop PCs were replaced by laptop computer systems. In the 2000s, we saw the emergence of mobilecomputer systems, i.e. tablets and ‘smartphones’. We are now in the midst of the rollout of wearable and embedded computer sensors in the 2020s such as Google Glasses, FitBits, Smart Watches, Alexa voice-activated ‘personal assistants, and so many other everyday ‘smart’ devices.

Meanwhile, work is well underway on what is yet to come - implantable computer technology systems that will enter the marketplace en masse in the 2030s and change our world in ways many are unable to imagine. This article is focused on providing a brief overview of a key subset of emerging implantable computer systems involving Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology. It will give you a hint of the future your children and grandchildren will experience. So here we go!

Brain Computer Interface (BCI), mind-machine interface (MMI), or brain–machine interface (BMI), involves the direct communication between an augmented or 'wired' brain and some sort of external computer-driven device. - See Wikipedia

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) Technologies

The idea of using emerging technologies to begin telling machines to do what we want simply by telepathically thinking about it – a form of synthetic telepathy – has suddenly begun to be plausible.

Such technology is starting to be being developed, tested, and marketed as a new way to control video games, for battlefield communications, interactions with medical prosthetic limbs, and interfaces to many other computerized devices as we move into the future. The following is a brief list of a growing number of companies that are already working on a wide variety of BCI technologies and solutions. Check them out!

BrainCo Emotiv Facebook BCI Kernel MindMaze Neuralink

NeuroSky NeuroPro Neurable OpenBCI Synchron Paradromics

Selected Articles & Findings

The following are a selection of recently published articles on brain computer interface (BCI) technologies that you ought to take the time to scan if you find this topic of interest:

• A Small Neurotech Startup Beat Neuralink to FDA Approval
• An Initial Assessment of BCI Applications for US Military
  
• Are You Ready for Implantable Tech that Connects to Your Brain?
  
• Brain-Computer Interface Market 2020: Size, Share, Top Companies

• Brain-Computer Interfaces and Mind Control Move Forward at Georgia Tech

• China completes successful Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) implant
• DIY Brain Computer Interface (BCI) kit allows you to control things with your mind
• Elon Musk says 'awesome' Neuralink BCI update is coming in 2020
• Facebook Building Its Own Operating System (Eye OS) for AR/VR and BCI Systems
• Facebook Acquires CTRL-Lab – A BCI Technology Company

• First Ever Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface Developed at Carnegie Mellon

• Mind-reading BCI technology lets you control tech with your brain — and it works

• MIT Technology Review: Brain-Computer Interface

• Brain Computer Interface Allows for Telepathic Piloting of Drones
• Neurable Raises Series A Funds to Build An ‘Everyday’ Brain-Computer Interface

The Summerton Blog often runs articles on new technologies for parents and students because these are going to be tied to the careers, jobs, and tools of the future.

Selected BCI YouTube Videos Brain-Computer Interfaces - Sep 2, 2018 How could brain computer interfaces be used in the real world? - Mar 27, 2019 Elon Musk’s Neuralink BCI Solution - July 19, 2019