A User-Centered Perspective for the blockchain Development

Blockchain technology is regarded as one of the most important digital innovations in the last two decades. Its applicability beyond cryptocurrencies has been a growing topic of research interest not only in computer science but also in other areas, such as marketing, finance, law, healthcare, etc. However blockchain is far from reaching the population on a larger scale. The dissertation evaluates the causes that are preventing successful implementation and adoption of blockchain technology at a larger scale, supporting infrastructure for public and private companies. The latest academic research suggests that the blockchain services are still in an early stage, and standards for developing blockchain-based applications have not been defined yet. Moreover the interaction with the blockchain technology is still complex, especially for non expert users, because it requires many technical skills. The dissertation focuses on this knowledge gap as a cause for the blockchain missing reach on society at a larger scale. This work aims to fill the gap by presenting innovative methodologies and user-centered models that could help the adoption of the blockchain technology by a larger number of private/public companies and individuals. Based on these models, specific tools for both expert and non-expert users are developed and discussed in the dissertation. First, tools for expert users, i.e., software developers, are proposed to analyze the smart contracts’ source code, to collect the smart contracts in a reasoned repository, and to identify code clones and boost the use of open source libraries for a better collective practice in developing and maintaining the blockchain. Second, tools for non-expert users, i.e. people with no technical knowledge, are proposed to suggest them the fairest fees to pay to have their transactions executed according to the price and waiting times they are willing to spend, and to identify malicious smart contracts that can deceive them, thus preventing them to trust the blockchain and use it again. Finally, visualization models for users with expertise in different disciplines are proposed to provide them with graphical representations that can foster the understanding of the blockchain underlying mechanisms.