Blockchain technology is a powerful, cost-effective method for network security. Essentially, it is a decentralized ledger for storing all committed transactions in trustless environments by integrating several core technologies such as cryptographic hash, digital signature and distributed consensus mechanisms.

Cloud computing has evolved as a cost-effective, easy-to-use, elastic and scalable computing paradigm to transform today's business models. 5G, Industrial IoT, Industry 4.0 and China-2050 frameworks and technologies are introducing new challenges that cannot be solved efficiently using current cloud architectures. To handle the collected information from such a vast number of devices and actuators, and address these issues, novel concepts have been proposed to bring cloud-like resources closer to end users at the edge of the network, a technology called edge computing.

E-learning has become an important part of our educational life with the development of e-learning systems and platforms and the need for online and remote learning. ICT and computational intelligence techniques are being used to design more intelligent and adaptive systems. However, the art of designing good real-time e-learning systems is difficult as different aspects of learning need to be considered including challenges such as learning rates, involvement, knowledge, qualifications, as well as networking and security issues. The earlier concepts of standalone integrated virtual e-learning systems have been greatly enhanced with emerging technologies such as cloud computing, mobile computing, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), AI and machine learning, and AR/VT technologies.

This book is aimed at students and professionals as well as anyone interested in having a global vision and perspective on energy.

Enhanced living environments employ information and communications technologies to support true ambient assisted living for adults and people with disabilities. This book provides an overview of today's architectures, techniques, protocols, components, and cloud-based solutions related to ambient assisted living and enhanced living environments. Topics covered include: an introduction to enhanced living environments; pervasive sensing for social connectedness; ethics in information and communication technologies; service scenarios in smart personal environments; technological support to stress level monitoring; big data systems to improve healthcare information searching over the Internet; sensors for wireless body area networks; linear wireless sensor networks and protocols in next generation networks; model-compilation challenges for cyber-physical systems; health monitoring using wireless body area networks; wearable health care; and intelligent systems for after-stroke home rehabilitation.

The rapid advancements in telecommunications, computing hardware and software, and data encryption, and the widespread use of electronic data processing and electronic business conducted through the Internet have led to a strong increase in information security threats. The latest advances in information security have increased practical deployments and scalability across a wide range of applications to better secure and protect our information systems and the information stored, processed and transmitted. This book outlines key emerging trends in information security from the foundations and technologies in biometrics, cybersecurity, and big data security to applications in hardware and embedded systems security, computer forensics, the Internet of Things security, and network security.

In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that conventional electrical networks cannot meet the requirements of the 21st century. These include reliability, efficiency, liberalisation of electricity markets, as well as effective and seamless integration of various types of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, and customers as players. The emergence of new technologies such as distributed control, monitoring devices, and tremendous advances in information and communication technology have paved the way to realize the Smart Grid concept.

Key to the further growth of shares of renewables is their integration with the existing grid system including EV and sector coupling. This in turn requires technical developments to enable flexibility and dispatch. Approaches to meeting these challenges include hybridization of different distributed energy resources, forecasting and control, storage and demand response, and modelling. Technological advances are also being accompanied by changes in business models.

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) serves to transfer power from a grid or storage unit to a device without the need for cable connections. This can be performed by induction, as well as by using radio or microwaves.