The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things ecosystem has created an urgent need for efficient data processing and analysis technologies. This review aims to systematically examine and compare edge computing, cloud computing, and hybrid architectures, focusing on their applications within IoT environments. The methodology involved a comprehensive search and analysis of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and industry reports, highlighting recent advancements in computing technologies for IoT. Key findings reveal that edge computing excels in reducing latency and enhancing data privacy through localized processing, while cloud computing offers superior scalability and flexibility. Hybrid approaches, such as fog and mist computing, present a promising solution by combining the strengths of both edge and cloud systems. These hybrid models optimize bandwidth use and support low-latency, privacy-sensitive applications in IoT ecosystems. Hybrid architectures are identified as particularly effective for scenarios requiring efficient bandwidth management and low-latency processing. These models represent a significant step forward in addressing the limitations of both edge and cloud computing for IoT, offering a balanced approach to data analysis and resource management.

Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger that guarantees the immutability of data and asset tracking. Its characteristics can result in an improvement to traditional agri-food Supply Chains. Blockchain-based traceability systems let producers improve their visibility and consumers trust the products they buy and where they come from. Actual literature lacks an exhaustive analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of Blockchain applied to the agri-food domain. This paper aims to overcome this issue: to understand the state-of-the-art related to the application of Blockchain in the agri-food sector, we screened 183 papers and performed a literature review answering six Research Questions. The work takes into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of implementing such paradigm, with an analysis on the role of industries. The main findings are related to research directions: they regard the lack of training both for industries and stakeholders, the involvement of additional technologies (i.e., Big Data, Edge Computing), and the absence of supporting tools for developers.

Gamification, the integration of game design elements into non-game contexts, has gained prominence in the software engineering education and training realm. By incorporating elements such as points, badges, quests, and challenges, gamification aims to motivate and engage learners, potentially transforming traditional educational methods. This paper addresses the gap in systematic evaluations of gamification’s effectiveness in software engineering education and training by conducting a comprehensive literature review of 68 primary studies. This review explores the advantages of gamification, including active learning, individualized pacing, and enhanced collaboration, as well as the psychological drawbacks such as increased stress and responsibility for students. Despite the promising results, this study highlights that gamification should be considered a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for traditional teaching methods. Our findings reveal significant interest in integrating gamification in educational settings, driven by the growing need for digital content to improve learning.

Metaverse is an engaging way to recreate in a digital environment the real world. It allows people to connect not by just browsing a website, but by using headsets and virtual reality techniques. The metaverse is actually in a rapid development phase, thanks to the advances in different topics. This paper proposes a smart tourism platform in which tourists can interact with guides and different kinds of suppliers, without the need to phisically visit the city they are in. We propose some techniques to scan the real world and transpose it in a metaverse platform, using the recreation of an Italian city, Bari, as a real life scenario.