jc01480 (OP)
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 06:00:59 PM |
|
Hello, all. I am attempting to come up with ideas on writing an undergraduate capstone paper on Bitcoin. The Bitcoin idea has been a fascination for some time and I feel it would be a good topic to explore on the network security side. I'm having some difficulty in coming up with ideas and how to explore the security side of this subject.
What I have to come up with is an outline containing this:
Subject Goal (high level summary of project, no more than 2) Objectives (Specific concrete objectives with measurable deliverables)
This will be contained in 5 sections. Summary Review of Other Work Rationale & Systems Analysis Goals and Objectives (project deliverables)
I am approaching this way to broadly and would like some suggestions on how to narrow the scope. Can someone with project management experience give me a hand?
Thanks for any input.
|
|
|
|
Peter R
Legendary
Offline
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1007
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 06:32:26 PM |
|
Yes, you need to narrow your scope. "Network Security" is a broad topic. I would pick something that is often misunderstood but still interesting, such as: "The purpose of this paper is to analyze the feasibility of accepting zero-confirm bitcoin payments for purchases at brick-and-mortar stores." The objectives of this paper are to: 1. Identify vectors that an attacker could employ to attempt zero-confirm fraud when making a purchase from a brick-and-mortar store; 2. Outline the precautions that the merchant (or their payment processor) should take to mitigate these threats; 3. Quantify the feasibility of successfully double-spending a zero-confirm payment, as a function of network (system) parameters (e.g., % of hashpower accepting out-of-band double-spends); 4. Establish guidance, based on the expected losses due to fraud, for the conditions (e.g., purchase limits) under which a brick-and-mortar retailer should be confident in accepting zero confirm payment. 5. Compare anticipated losses due to zero-confirm bitcoin fraud to losses due to fraud using legacy payment systems. Here is a discussion on what it actually takes to successfully double-spend in a brick and mortar store: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=549141.msg5977547#msg5977547https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=549141.msg5984842#msg5984842And here is a discussion on the ethics of bitcoin mining as applied to zero-confirm fraud: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=502571.0
|
|
|
|
|
jc01480 (OP)
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 06:43:59 PM |
|
Thanks, guys. This helps a lot!
|
|
|
|
Peter R
Legendary
Offline
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1007
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 06:45:06 PM |
|
I hadn't seen that quote before. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
jc01480 (OP)
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 07:11:11 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
Peter R
Legendary
Offline
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1007
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 07:16:40 PM |
|
Are you going to give us a percentage of the salary of your first job in return for us helping do the work for your degree? In my day, people didn't have internet strangers do their homework for them. That was called cheating back then. But alas, this is the information age. The dawn of the age of mutual-trust and collaboration. I suppose our individual-competition based educational model is just as obsolete as our individual-competition based economic model</a>. Good luck. Networks are powerful. Jc01480 wants to write a paper on a bitcoin topic involving security. He posts a question on the forum looking for what an interesting and important topic might be, and receives some suggestions on how to proceed. This represents "consultation with people knowledgeable in the field" and is an important part of research. In fact, this collaborative approach makes it more likely that Jc01480 could produce a paper that becomes widely circulated and cited--this would help the bitcoin community make progress and also improve Jc01480's future career prospects. Win-win. Success still depends on individual competition, but that fact that "who you know" is as important as "what you know" is now more transparent.
|
|
|
|
Beliathon
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 07:46:21 PM |
|
Success still depends on individual competition... It's an illusion at this point. And young people know it. It's only old farts that are clueless to the reality of the internet-connected, collaborative world. Why do you think so many clueless old-fart teachers fear and despise Wikipedia? Because it reveals the entire educational process as the fucking FARCE it is! Modern schooling "education", like capitalism itself, is a ritual. An obsolete, shitty ritual. A ritual we need to toss into the dustbin of history. ![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffrankslepthere.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ft4_thankswikipedia_thumb.jpg&t=665&c=6NPaaDg4zWO8bA)
|
|
|
|
whtchocla7e
Full Member
![*](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/star.gif) ![*](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/star.gif)
Offline
Activity: 392
Merit: 116
Worlds Simplest Cryptocurrency Wallet
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 08:03:03 PM |
|
How is giving him topic ideas the same as cheating?
I assume he's going to do the research himself once he's focused on one particular thing.
Bitcoin is a broad concept. I wouldn't know where to start either.
|
▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▃▅▆█ L E A D █▆▅▃▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂ World's Simplest and Safest Decentralized Cryptocurrency Wallet! ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ • STORE • SEND • SPEND • SWAP • STAKE • ▬▬▬▬▬▬
|
|
|
Beliathon
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 08:19:13 PM |
|
I assume he's going to do the research himself once he's focused... Nope, he's going to leverage Google and the internet to do his research, like any sensible young person would. That's probably why a Bachelor's degree means less today than a high school diploma meant 25 years ago. No wait, that's not why. It's greed.
|
|
|
|
Peter R
Legendary
Offline
Activity: 1162
Merit: 1007
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 08:24:30 PM |
|
I assume he's going to do the research himself once he's focused... Nope, he's going to leverage Google and the internet to do his research, like any sensible young person would. Isn't that research? (Assuming we're talking about finding information and not copypasta. An important part of research is synthesizing the information into coherent ideas that form papers that answer important questions.)
|
|
|
|
|
zolace
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 09:32:43 PM |
|
Why dont you start with the beginning with bitcoin, Wikepedia. Im sure if you do the proper research you will find things you can put in your paper and I hope you can scan it and share it with us.
|
▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
|
|
|
Beliathon
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
March 31, 2014, 09:35:54 PM |
|
Isn't that research?
(Assuming we're talking about finding information and not copypasta.) If you don't think the internet is blurring the lines between "research" and "plagiarism", you aren't paying attention. In the near future, the very concept of "cheating" in academia will cease to exist. Everything will be collaborative and cooperative. Just as the concept of "piracy" (= culture sharing) will cease to exist. And the concept of "fiat currency" (= local nation-state scrip) will cease to exist.
|
|
|
|
b¡tco¡n
Member
![*](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/star.gif)
Offline
Activity: 84
Merit: 10
Correct Horse Battery Staple
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
April 01, 2014, 01:58:09 AM |
|
I assume he's going to do the research himself once he's focused... Nope, he's going to leverage Google and the internet to do his research, like any sensible young person would. That's probably why a Bachelor's degree means less today than a high school diploma meant 25 years ago. No wait, that's not why. It's greed. Lol education is now obsolete just "buy n hold" go travelling come back in 5 and you'll be set.
|
|
|
|
jc01480 (OP)
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
April 01, 2014, 02:18:34 AM |
|
Lol! Thanks for all the replies and links. I do actually buy the hard copies of all the textbooks, if that means anything. I'm an avid reader and can't seem to get attached to e-books as well as something I can dog-ear.
|
|
|
|
Beliathon
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
April 01, 2014, 02:29:21 AM |
|
Lol education is now obsolete just "buy n hold" go travelling come back in 5 and you'll be set. Laugh all you want, but I laugh harder. Because I am a twenty-something college dropout who will never work again.
|
|
|
|
freedomno1
Legendary
Offline
Activity: 1806
Merit: 1090
Learning the troll avoidance button :)
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
April 03, 2014, 08:14:52 AM |
|
Interesting also wrote a general undergraduate paper on the topic it is an interesting one just PM me for any questions you may encounter
|
Believing in Bitcoins and it's ability to change the world
|
|
|
blatchcorn
|
![](https://bitcointalk.org/Themes/custom1/images/post/xx.gif) |
April 03, 2014, 11:34:55 AM |
|
Interesting also wrote a general undergraduate paper on the topic it is an interesting one just PM me for any questions you may encounter
I am also going to send you a PM!
|
|
|
|
|