Google's new “Interest Based Advertising” (IBA) program represents the company's first foray into what is generally called “Online Behavioral Advertising”: In order to deliver more relevant advertising, Google will begin tailoring ads delivered through AdSense on the Google Content...

Introductory thoughts, and preview of topics discussed in later chapters. For Chapter 2 (Means of Exchange: Ever-present Competition), see https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135028. For Chapter 3 (Platform-based Currencies), see https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135030. For Chapter 4 (Cryptocurrencies), see...

Development and usage of information and communication technology (ICT) is continuously growing in the last 30 years. The main reason is that ICT has a great potential to improve the efficiency of business processes, to increase the competitiveness, but also to facilitate and drive innovations....

The term Big Data is being used widely by companies and researchers who consider your relevant functionalities or applications to create value and business innovation. However some questions arise about what is this phenomenon and, more precisely, how it occurs and under what conditions it can...

Concluding thoughts and outlook for the future of the technology. For Chapter 1 (Introduction), see "https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135021" https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135021. For Chapter 2 (Means of Exchange: Ever-present Competition), "https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135028"...

In this chapter, we discuss economic aspects of cryptocurrencies. 4.1. The double spending problem 4.2. How does Bitcoin work? Brief overview 4.3. Not the first one – predecessors of Bitcoin 4.4. Problems with Bitcoin (new challenges) 4.5. Competition against other crypto-currencies 4.6....

In this chapter, we analyze digital currencies issued by Internet platforms. We use examples of Facebook Credits, Amazon Coins, World of Warcraft gold and Linden dollars to illustrate how designing the features of digital currencies allows the platforms to enhance their business model. 3.1....

In this chapter, we present the history of money in the light of ever-present competition between means of payment. 2.1. The medium of exchange – historical overview 2.2. What roles does money serve? 2.3. Competing money 2.3.1. Coexistence is costly 2.3.2. Network effects 2.3.3. The difficulty...

The quality of teaching and learning today is still a distant dream, even when compared to the access to education. The last decade has seen an outbreak of some kind; in educational technologies, again a much debated topic but poorly substantiated. This paper synthesises facts and trends from...

Concluding thoughts and outlook for the future of the technologies affording digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, blockchain and smart contracts. For Chapter 1 (Introduction), see https://ssrn.com/abstract=3135021. For Chapter 2 (Means of Exchange: Ever-present Competition), see...