SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

KARUNA MISHRA
INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
Fourth Industrial Revolution
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad for establishing its Center for the Fourth
Industrial Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
• Blockchain is a method of recording information that makes it
impossible or difficult for the system to be changed, hacked, or
manipulated.

• A blockchain is a distributed ledger that duplicates and

distributes transactions across the network of computers
participating in the blockchain
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY
1. It is a foundational technology or a platform that allows designing a
secure way to record transactions and circulate it among signatories,
or any kind of target group with an Internet connection.

2. At its core it is an extremely democratic ledger that cannot be

arbitrarily manipulated and easily shareable.

3. Blockchain’s appeal is that it achieves this without a central

authority.
2. Private Blockchain
They are ideal for managing internal organizational
processes in finance.
Private blockchains are extensively used in supply
chain management to ensure efficiency and
transparency.
Private blockchains facilitate internal voting
mechanisms, guaranteeing secure and transparent
decision-making processes within organizations.
These applications underline the tailored utility of
private blockchains in specific business scenarios
where control and privacy are paramount.
CONSORTIUM BLOCKCHAIN
Consortium blockchain, a sophisticated category in the diverse types of blockchain, combines elements of both private
and public blockchains. This type of blockchain is distinguished by the collaboration of multiple organizational
members on a decentralized network. Therefore, in the context of different types of blockchain for finance, a
consortium blockchain offers a unique structure characterized by collective governance and shared responsibilities.
b. Advantages
The primary advantage of consortium blockchains is their enhanced security, scalability, and efficiency compared to
public blockchain networks. Moreover, they provide controlled access, a particularly crucial feature in blockchain
applications in finance. Additionally, their collaborative nature ensures a balanced power dynamic, mitigating the risks
associated with single-entity control in private blockchains. Therefore, consortium blockchains present a compelling
option for organizations seeking security and efficiency in the finance industry.
c. Disadvantages
Consortium blockchains face challenges in transparency. The network can be less transparent than public blockchains,
and the potential breach of a member node can pose security risks. Furthermore, the regulations within the
consortium blockchain can sometimes hinder the network’s functionality, an important factor to consider
when choosing the right blockchain for finance.
d. Use Cases of Consortium Blockchain
Such blockchains are particularly effective in banking and payments, where multiple banks can form a consortium to
control transaction validation. Additionally, they are used in research for sharing data and outcomes securely.
Consortium blockchains offer a reliable solution in supply chain management as well, especially in food and medicine
tracking.
CRYPTOCURRENCY : A cryptocurrency is a subset of virtual currencies, and is
decentralised, and protected by cryptography.

The Supreme Court has struck down a ban on cryptocurrency trading in India, which was in
place after a Reserve Bank of India's order from April 2018.

WHAT ARE VIRTUAL CURRENCIES?

A virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally

traded and functions as

a) a medium of exchange, and/ or

b) a unit of account, and/or

c) a store of value, but, unlike fiat currency like the rupee.

Cryptojacking is a cyber-attack that is hard to detect, wherein a computing device is
hacked by the attacker, and its resources are used to illicitly coin mining of cryptocurrency.

Coin mining is a legitimate, competitive process used to release new crypto coins into
circulation or to verify new transactions. It involves solving complex computational
problems to generate blocks of verified transactions that get added to the blockchain
Non-fungible tokens, often referred to as
NFTs, are blockchain-based tokens that each
represent a unique asset like a piece of art,
digital content, or media.

An NFT can be thought of as an irrevocable

digital certificate of ownership and
authenticity for a given asset, whether
digital or physical.
EXTENDED REALITY : Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY) Startup Hub and Meta collaborate to accelerate XR technology start-
ups in India
METAVERSE

• Metaverse projects refer to blockchain-

based games and applications that are set
in virtual worlds.
• Such games follow a play-to-earn model,
where gamers are rewarded for being
invested in the game.
• Metaverse can be understood as a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual

reality, augmented reality and video where users "live" within a digitally enhanced surrounding.

Virtual Reality (VR): VR can be understood as the use of computer modelling and simulation that

enables a person to interact with an artificial three-dimensional (3-D) visual or other sensory

environment.

Augmented Reality (AR): It is an enhanced version of the real physical world that is achieved through

the use of digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology. E.g., games

like Pokémon Go.

o Hologram: Holograms are virtual three-dimensional images created by the

interference of light beams that reflect real physical objects.

o Avatar: An avatar in the metaverse is a representation of an individual in the virtual

world, this digital avatar enables the person to function like an actual human being in a

digitally created world.

o Platform/Developer/User distinction: In metaverse, digital engagement will get very

personal and tailormade for the user. In this context, it is important that role played by

the platform, the developers and the users is clearly understood.

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing

Constructs a three-dimensional object from a digital 3D model

or a Computer-aided design (CAD) model by adding material
layer by layer.

It allows creation of lighter, more complex designs that are too

difficult or too expensive to build using traditional dies, milling
and machining.
Types of 3D Printing Technology
There are several technologies used in 3D printing. The most common are:
•Ink-jet Printing: It uses inkjet technology to selectively deposit liquid photopolymer materials
layer-by-layer which are cured with UV light. It offers high resolution and surface quality.
•Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM): A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound from a coil and
supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off.
• The nozzle is heated to melt the material and lays down the melted material in thin
layers on the build platform.
•Stereolithography (SLA): A laser is used to selectively cure a tank of liquid photopolymer
resin layer by layer.
•Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): A high-power laser is used to fuse small particles of plastic,
metal, ceramic or glass powders into a mass representing the desired 3D shape.
•Electronic Beam Melting (EBM): Uses an electron beam in a vacuum environment to melt and
fuse metallic powder particles layer by layer.
• Commonly used for titanium alloys in aerospace and medical implants.
•Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM): Layers of adhesive-coated paper, plastic or metal
laminates are successively glued together and cut to shape with a knife or laser cutter.
•Digital Light Processing (DLP): Similar to stereolithography but with a digital light processing
chip controlling the light source, enabling faster build times.
Facebook will partner with Bharti Airtel to expand 2Africa Pearls to India.
• 2Africa Pearls is one of world’s longest subsea cable systems that will ultimately
interconnect
countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
• 2Africa Pearls will improve connectivity of fixed-line broadband internet in India.
FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM (FRS) - DIGIYATRA

FRS is part of the Digi Yatra initiative (Ministry of Civil Aviation) to

promote seamless and hassle-free experience at airports and
simultaneously improving the security.

Government is looking to make ticket booking, airport entry and

boarding pass security check-in digital.
Geospatial technology:

Geospatial technology is a term used to describe the range of modern tools contributing
to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies.

These technologies have been evolving in some form since the first maps were drawn in
prehistoric times. In the 19th century.

They are involved in gathering, storing, processing, integrating, managing, mapping,

analyzing, and distributing data tied to a particular location on Earth.

Geospatial technologies include Geographic Information System (GIS)/Spatial Analytics,

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) & Positioning, Earth Observation, and Scanning.
Geospatial technology: The Ministry of Science and Technology has
notified a citizen-centric National Geospatial Policy (NGP) 2022.

• To make India a World Leader in Global Geospatial space.

• Integrated Policy to move towards a digital economy and improve services to

citizens.

• Better utilization of data.

• Encouraging participation of the private sector

Geospatial technology is a term used to describe a broad

range of modern tools that contribute to Earth’s
geographical mapping and analysis and human society.
These tools have evolved since users drew maps in
prehistoric times.
Geographic Information System (GIS) utilizes digital
software to combine datasets and maps about
socioeconomic trends and environmental events
DARK WEB/NET
Dark Net is a network of
computers on the internet
that are:-

a) not accessible through the

normal search engines

b) provide anonymity to the

source of web content.
Bluebugging
• It is a form of hacking that lets attackers access a device
through its discoverable Bluetooth connection.
• Once a Bluetooth connection is established, hackers use
brute force attacks to bypass authentication.
• Once a device is blue bugged, a hacker can listen to the calls,
read and send messages and steal and modify contacts
Related Terms
• Bluejacking: Pranks device owners by sending harmless
messages.
• Bluesnarfing: Hackers access devices without owners'
permission to download sensitive data.
• Juice jacking: Involves accessing sensitive data or installing
malware via USB charging port.
Akira Ransomware
• Akira is a ransomware family targeting Windows and Linux devices, demanding double ransom for decryption
and recovery. It targets users and threatens to release their data on the dark web if they refuse to pay.
• Features: It is designed to close processes or shut down Windows services that may keep it from encrypting
files on the affected system.
• Mode of Operation: It is typically spread through spear phishing emails that contain malicious attachments in
the form of archived content files
• Ransomware is a type of malware that denies access to files on a computer by encrypting them and
demanding a ransom for the decryption key.
• Cyber attackers use this method to force organizations or individuals to pay the ransom to regain access to
their files.
• Some variants may also include additional functionality, such as data theft, to further incentivize victims to pay
the ransom.
(5G)
5G spectrum
• Spectrum relates to the radio
frequencies allocated to the
mobile industry and other
sectors for communication.
• Spectrum is a sovereign asset.
• Operators are most likely
going to use a mix of low-band, mid-
band, and high-band spectrum to
deliver the type of 5G experience
that their customers demand.
5G is a cocktail of various technologies such as:
• Massive multi-user MIMO (Multiple input multiple
output) enabled network.
• Small cell stations to connect the base stations and
users seamlessly.
• Mobile Edge Computing that brings cloud computing
closer to the user.