Ties
Summary and 1. Introduction
2 related works and 2.1 technological convergence approaches
2.2 Technological convergence measures
2.3 Technological convergence models
3 data
4 Method and 4.1 Proximity indices
4.2 Interpolation and adjustment data
4.3 Clustering
4.4 Forecasts
5 results and discussions and 5.1 overall results
5.2 Case study
5.3 Limits and future work
6 Conclusion and references
Appendix
5.2 Case study
To illustrate the practical implications of our results, we examine the evolution of the proximity indices between “public key cryptography” and “blockchain”, as shown in Figure 4.
A significant interpolation rate of 46% is obvious. This can be attributed to clear interactions between the two technologies from 2002 to 2012, reflecting the first stages of blockchain development in the field of cybersecurity. Consequently, during this phase, the indices remained relatively stagnant. It is important to note that this interpolation rate, although stiff, does not considerably biaise our clues between “public key cryptography” and “blockchain”; Instead, it precisely reflects the non -interactive phase between these technologies.
A significant increase in proximity indices is obvious from 2017, the common keyword and collaboration indices based on progressive H indices being particularly important. This suggests a robust correlation between the variables “current words” and “collaboration”, indicating a notable number of authors simultaneously exploring cryptography by public key and blockchain technologies. In addition, there is a marginal increase in mutual quotes between the two technologies. While citation clues have modest growth, it could be attributed to their inherent construction
rather than a lack of interaction between the two technologies. Based on these evidence, we hypothesize that a tangible technological convergence occurred between blockchain and public key cryptography from 2017 to 2021.
This convergence is highlighted by the growing adoption of public key cryptography in blockchain platforms during this period. Techniques such as digital signatures, based on public key cryptography, have become essential to verify blockchain transactions. In addition, the integration of evidence of zero knowledge, also based on public key cryptography, has gained ground in blockchain frames to validate affirmations without revealing the underlying data. In conclusion, our results highlight a central phase of technological convergence between blockchain and public key cryptography extending from 2017 to 2021.
Authors:
(1) Alessandro Tavazz, Cyber Defense Campus, Armasuisse Science and Technology, Building I, EPFL Innovation Park, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland, Institute of Mathematics, EPFL, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland and corresponding author ((protected by E-mail));
(2) Dimitri Percia David, Cyber Defense Campus, Armasuisse Science and Technology, Building I, EPFL Innovation Park, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland and Entrepreneurship and Management Institute, University of Applied Sciences from Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis), Techno-Pole 1, Le Foyer, 3960, Sierre, Switreland;
(3) Julian Jang-Jaccard, Cyber Defense Campus, Armasuisse Science and Technology, Building I, EPFL Innovation Park, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland;
(4) Alain Mermoud, Cyber Defense Campus, Armasuis Science and Technology, Building I, EPFL Innovation Park, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
