Special Issue on Metaverse for IoT

Introduction:

The term "metaverse" encompasses a hypothetical future iteration of the internet where individuals can actively participate in a unified virtual realm utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality. In contrast, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) represents a network of interconnected physical devices equipped with sensors, software, and internet connectivity, facilitating data collection and exchange. By merging these two advancements, a novel level of interaction between humans and devices can potentially emerge within a simulated environment.

Within a metaverse-based Internet of IoT framework, physical devices can assume digital representations within the virtual realm, enabling innovative interactions among devices and users. Picture a virtual city where the optimization of traffic management relies on real-time data obtained from IoT devices embedded in vehicles, roads, and infrastructure. Through the metaverse, transportation authorities gain the ability to monitor traffic flow, identify congested areas, and dynamically adjust traffic signals and routes to enhance efficiency and alleviate congestion. Commuters, in turn, can navigate the virtual city using augmented reality overlays that provide up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, public transportation schedules, and available parking spaces. This seamless integration of the metaverse and IoT in the transportation sector holds transformative potential, revolutionizing urban mobility, bolstering transportation planning, and fostering the development of smarter, more sustainable cities.

Furthermore, the combination of the metaverse and IoT offers opportunities for the development of innovative data-driven services and applications that leverage the wealth of data generated by IoT devices. For instance, a virtual store using data from IoT sensors to optimize their supply chain and real-time inventory management, thereby delivering a personalized shopping experience to users. This metaverse-based IoT integration holds immense potential to transform our interactions with physical devices and data within a virtual environment, unlocking novel possibilities for both businesses and individuals.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

• The use of IoT sensors and data collection in the Metaverse
• IoT based immersive and interactive experiences for users
• Smart wearables and other IoT devices to track users' physical movements and translate them into movements in the virtual world
• The use of the Metaverse as a platform for managing and controlling IoT devices
• Integration of Smart systems into the Metaverse, allowing users to control their devices from within the virtual world
• Digital twin for Metaverse
• The potential security and privacy risks associated with connecting IoT devices to the Metaverse
• Mitigating the potential risks involved in integrating IoT and Metaverse
• The potential impact of the Metaverse on the design and development of IoT devices
• The potential business and economic opportunities created by the intersection of IoT and the Metaverse
• The development of new tools, products and services that leverage the power of IoT and Metaverse
• Security focusing on IoT and Metaverse
• Metaverse and IoT-based intelligent transportation systems
• Metaverse and IoT-based healthcare monitoring and management systems
• Machine learning and data analytics for IoT systems

Important dates:

• Submission deadline: January 5, 2024
• First notification: March 8, 2024
• Revised version deadline: March 29, 2024
• Final notification: April 19, 2024
• Publication date: December 2024

Submission instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online via the editorial management system, please select article type：Metaverse for IoT.

Guest Editors:

• Lei Chen (Lead Guest Editor), Georgia Southern University, USA. LChen@georgiasouthern.edu
• Sibi Chakkaravarthy Sethuraman, VIT-AP University,India. hakkaravarthy.sibi@vitap.ac.in
• Meenalosini Vimal Cruz, Georgia Southern University, USA. mvimalcruz@georgiasouthern.edu
• Wenlin Han, California State University, Fullerton, USA. whan@fullerton.edu