Abstract Objectives: Incorporating new technologies into the development of smart cities means rethinking the way different services are provided. From this perspective, Blockchain might represent the future of both smart cities and smart communities as it offers new alteratives for individuals and institutions. Prior Work: Blockchain was mainly perceived through its linkage with bitcoin, but recent developments have started exploring the idea... Objectives: Incorporating new technologies into the development of smart cities means rethinking the way different services are provided. From this perspective, Blockchain might represent the future of both smart cities and smart communities as it offers new alteratives for individuals and institutions. Prior Work: Blockchain was mainly perceived through its linkage with bitcoin, but recent developments have started exploring the idea of using it for financial transactions, logistics and securing contracts. Tapscott & Tapscott (2016)have acknowledged the potential the Blockchain Revolution had on redefining the idea of trust in both digital and local communities. Blockchain technology has the ability to enhance transparency of local and regional institutions while also making it easier to communicate sensitive data without compromising security and privacy. Approach: We look at the different fields blockchain can have an impact on and we try to assess the viability of moving towards an integrated platform for intermediating day-to-day activities between both institutions and individuals. We will assess the advantages of digitizing and securing public and private data while also considering the potential risks this process might involve. Results: We aim to create a model of how blockchain might work in communities and assess its impact on the overall economic and human development indicators. Implications: Public administrators in many countries are starting to acknowledge blockchain’s potential in solving problems for local communities our results will be a valuable starting point for developing local initiatives for using blockchain as a platform for communications and transactions. Furthermore, a smart city must be a city where individuals can interact and solve their issues quickly, using digital technologies for increased efficiency. Value: Blockchain is thought to be the future of managing both public and private affairs. Countries such as Dubai, Singapore and China are incorporating blockchain technology into developing smart cities. Blockchain makes us rethink many of the different aspects of how communities can be organized, offering new alternatives and promising a more transparent and efficient economic model. Read More Read Less

Abstract In the rst part of our research we investigate the use of blockchain technology as a viable solution for a national e-voting system. To achieve this a small prototype was made, whilst still a work in progress, the main features of the prototype are there. For the prototype a web-site was created and the smart contract on the blockchain was written... In the rst part of our research we investigate the use of blockchain technology as a viable solution for a national e-voting system. To achieve this a small prototype was made, whilst still a work in progress, the main features of the prototype are there. For the prototype a web-site was created and the smart contract on the blockchain was written in Solidity. The data was saved on Ganache. We believe that blockchain is the right tool to guarantee the integrity of vote counting, yet more research is needed to safeguard the privacy aspect of a democratic vote. Read More Read Less

Abstract Purpose: Demonstrate the use of framing and network analysis to explore how the two concepts can contribute to understanding diffusion of content in social media. Design/methodology/approach: Using the most liked and shared opinion articles from Norway’s leading newspapers as starting point, the article applies framing analysis to discover which frames are most likely to go viral. Further, social network analysis of the Facebook pages... Purpose: Demonstrate the use of framing and network analysis to explore how the two concepts can contribute to understanding diffusion of content in social media. Design/methodology/approach: Using the most liked and shared opinion articles from Norway’s leading newspapers as starting point, the article applies framing analysis to discover which frames are most likely to go viral. Further, social network analysis of the Facebook pages of these newspapers demonstrate the discussion communities and reach of the articles. Findings: The most popular opinion articles are written in a personal tone and aimed at private and domestic topics. The social network analysis shows that most of these articles generate their own, free-standing discussion communities. The range of engagement with articles posted on Facebook varies a lot, indicating that framing the opinion article correctly is of high importance for generating discussion. Research Limitations/Implications: The study is limited to one country and two mainstream newspapers. A larger variety in terms of geography and media types is needed for confirmation and future studies. However, the findings confirm that personal framing is important to receive attention in social media. The implications for the wider society can be interpreted both as democratization and as a threat to rational public discourse. Originality/Value: The study demonstrates a novel approach to study how the framing of opinion articles contribute to diffusion of content in social media. The research approach of framing and network analysis is a process that can be used by newspapers and journalists to track the impact and reach of the stories they publish. Read More Read Less