course-details-portlet

IMT4306

Introduction to Research in Decentralised Systems

Lessons are not given in the academic year 2025/2026

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Language of instruction English
Location Gjøvik

About

About the course

Course content

The topics of this course will include some from the list below, but are not limited to:

  • Mobile systems
  • Decentralized and distributed systems
  • Peer-to-peer systems
  • Blockchain-based and distributed ledger (DLT) systems
  • Identity and Self-sovereign identity systems
  • Wearable computing systems
  • Usability, UI, and UX of distributed and decentralised systems
  • Data logging and user behavioural tracking
  • Efficiency and optimization on mobile platforms and decentralised systems (e.g. GPU, CPU, battery life, etc)
  • Mobiles and the relationship to cloud services and cloud technologies
  • Ethical considerations for decentralised systems, eg. cryptocurrency or mobile surveillance and sensing
  • Legal frameworks for mobile applications, with a focus on the EU, US, and Norway
  • Publishing, distribution channels, monetization on mobile platforms and decentralised systems, like decentralised autonomous organisations (DAO)

Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, students possess the following:

Knowledge

  • understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of distributed, decentralized and mobile systems and technologies
  • in-depth understanding of development restrictions related to mobile and decentralized platforms, their lifecycle, and maintenance
  • insight and understanding of the current state-of-the-art research in mobile, distributed and decentralized systems
  • an appreciation for future developments in mobile hardware, distributed, peer-to-peer and decentralized systems
  • understanding of different methodologies for complex technology systems research
  • understanding of challenges in decentralised systems engineering

Skills

  • ability to analyze existing interactions with mobile devices and peer-to-peer nodes
  • ability to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in the context of mobile/wearable and decentralized technology
  • ability to analyze the role of mobility and decentralization in connection with society
  • ability to critically review literature and case studies related to decentralization and mobile systems
  • ability to use insights to solve new problems in the decentralized systems space
  • ability to express an opinion, review and counter-argue someone else's opinion in a written essay.

General competence

  • ability to analyze ethical issues related to the use of mobile devices, p2p networks and decentralization technologies
  • ability to present and discuss the results of research work, to computer scientists and subject matter experts, and the general public
  • ability to communicate (in a written form) academic issues, analyses, and conclusions
  • ability to contribute to innovative thinking and innovation processes

Learning methods and activities

  • Lectures
  • Assignments
  • Practical lab work, project

Additional information:

This course will focus on recent publications in research on mobile, distributed and decentralisation technology. The form of activities might vary from year to year subject to the selection of topics and the size of the group.

Further on evaluation

Forms of assessment

  • Portfolio of assignments, worth: 60%
  • Oral evaluation worth: 40%

Re-sit

Re-sit the oral part in August (alternative month/date subject to an individual agreement with the course responsible). No re-sit for the portfolio, but can be subject to an individual agreement with the course responsible.

Retake

Retakes can be carried out for some partial assessments without all partial assessments having to be taken up again.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Applied Computer Science (MACS)

Required previous knowledge

No formal requirements.

Course materials

This course will use recently published articles, technical specifications and up-to-date information from the industry. The content may change and it will be contextualised for a given semester. Online materials will be posted each year for students.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
IMT4093 5 sp Autumn 2017
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Computer Science

Contact information

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Computer Science

Examination

Examination