NFTs, Web3 and What's Really Changing

Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are 'talk of the town'. Artists, investors, big brands, developers; they are all joining the rapidly developing NFT ecosystem en masse, with the most diverse products, services and innovations. But what are NFTs? What can you do with it as an organization or individual? What are the latest developments? Is it a bubble, or something here to stay? What are the challenges and risks regarding this relatively new technology and how can we mitigate those risks? In this session, you will get an up-to-date overview of how NFTs actually work, what the opportunities and challenges are, a handful of inspiring use-cases and a future outlook.

During the expert session, Jan Scheele engages the audience through a Q&A session using the Mentimeter app and live demonstrations, exploring the potential uses of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) beyond digital art in various industries such as sports, education, and real estate. The interactive exercises help participants grasp the concept's significance, inspire creativity, and address their questions regarding NFTs and linking digital and physical assets using technologies like QR codes or NFC.

• Exploring NFTs Beyond Art: Delve into the diverse uses of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in various industries like gaming, fashion, and education.
• QR Codes and Physical Assets: Learn how to link digital NFTs with physical assets using technologies such as QR codes or NFC for a seamless connection between the digital and physical worlds.
• Future of NFTs and Blockchain: Gain insights into the evolving landscape of NFTs and blockchain technology, including potential applications in linking digital and physical assets and the ongoing challenges and advancements in the field.

In this expert session, Jan Scheele delves into the fascinating world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), which have gained significant popularity in various industries such as art, gaming, fashion, and education. NFTs are digital assets that represent unique ownership or proof of authenticity for one-of-a-kind items. 

Jan begins by explaining the fundamentals of NFTs, emphasizing their importance in a decentralized and trustless digital economy. He highlights some statistics on the growing market size of NFT sales and the increasing role of virtual goods and digital items in our digital lives. The conversation then shifts to the concept of metaverses, where individuals can create digital avatars and interact with others in a virtual environment. Companies like Microsoft and Gucci are already experimenting with this space, offering unique digital items as NFTs for sale.

Next, Jan discusses soulbound tokens, which function similarly to NFTs but represent certificates or diplomas rather than unique digital items. A pilot project at the Saxion Hogeschool in Groningen, Netherlands, is testing the implementation of digital diplomas as tokens on the blockchain.

As the discussion continues, Jan addresses various arguments for and against NFTs. Some people struggle to justify their high price tags, while others view them as a new form of digital ownership and investment. The impact of energy consumption and the role of large platforms like OpenSea and Ethereum are also touched upon.

The session concludes with Jan encouraging the audience to explore this topic further, emphasizing the potential for linking digital and physical assets using technologies such as QR codes or NFC. He shares his optimism about the future of NFTs and their role in shaping the digital economy.

The Metaverse: Separating Hype from Reality

Virtual worlds have been around for a while, but with the name change of the parent company from Facebook to “Meta” the concept of 'metaverse' got suddenly a lot of attention. Metaverse is the future virtual world that ties together all other pre-existing virtual worlds. This changes the current 'flat' 2D worldwide web to a three-dimensional world. We see countless organizations getting started with this, attracting tens of millions of visitors to their virtual establishment in the metaverse.

But where does the metaverse actually come from? What kind of special applications do we already see worldwide in the most diverse sectors? What is 'big tech' planning to work on and how are governments responding? What are the developments in the short and long term? In this Leqture, Jan Scheele takes you on a virtual journey through the wonderful world of the metaverse.