Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
COURSE FOCUS
Understanding Libra cryptocurrency
FACEBOOK revealed on June 18 agreement and deciding on add- be thousands, if not millions, of Facebook Libra is not limited, to have access to the data can be
that it is working on a ons with your family – the price of servers worldwide communicating but is instead minted when an beneficial for the members. It is
cryptocurrency called Libra. BTC dropped to US$9,380 with each other on every single equivalent fiat enters the system or also a possible avenue for the
This news seems to have (RM39,470). To maintain the same transaction. Hence, it is a slow the equivalent Libra is destroyed millions of unbanked worldwide to
implications on both the dollar value, the price of the car process. This makes it unusable as when it is withdrawn as a fiat. This access financial instruments in the
cryptocurrency market as well has to increase to BTC3.47. In just a daily currency. Imagine trying to ensures it can grow and stabilises future. – By Dr Ian K.T. Tan,
as the traditional currency (fiat) 12 hours or less, the value of purchase a cup of coffee and Libra’s value. This is called the senior lecturer at the School of
market. Although Libra also uses Bitcoin had devalued by 15%. having to wait 10 minutes or more Libra Reserves. Information Technology at
blockchain distributed ledger Facebook Libra plans to achieve for your transaction to be Facebook Libra plans to be a Monash University Malaysia,
technology, it has been designed to fungibility by pegging it against a approved. world monetary authority (or and Reza Ismail, chief executive
behave like a government-issued basket of fiat currencies, and hence Facebook intends to limit the central bank) through the Libra officer Syscode Sdn Bhd
fiat rather than a cryptocurrency. achieve stability in its value by number of servers to achieve Association using a private
Part of Libra’s intention is to treating Facebook Libra as an asset consensus through membership blockchain system. It understands n For more information on
address the shortcomings of using that can be easily interchanged with the Libra Association. The that access to financial transaction programmes offered at the School
cryptocurrency as a regular with major world currencies. Libra Association has 28 initial data is a powerful tool and only of Information Technology,
everyday currency. members but this will likely grow. allowing members of Monash University Malaysia, visit
Cryptocurrency The members will use private the Libra Association www.monash.edu.my/it
Cryptocurrencies are transactions are too slow
blockchain mechanisms to
validate the transactions, greatly
too volatile speeding up the process.
A typical cryptocurrency is only
One issue when using Bitcoin
(BTC) or any other cryptocurrency
able to achieve about 10 (usually
less) transactions per second,
Limited circulation
is that their value fluctuates greatly compared with a Visa or Bitcoin has a limit to the
over a short period of time. Mastercard system that can number of units that can be
Imagine that you are buying a car achieve thousands of transactions created – just slightly shy of
on July 16 that was offered at per second. This is because of the 21 million BTCs. Other
BTC3.00, when the exchange rate way the blockchain system is cryptocurrencies also have limits.
between BTC and US dollar is designed. The cryptocurrency is minted as
around US$10,854 (RM45,673) to Using Bitcoin as an example, a reward for the miner that finds
one BTC. it needs 51% of all servers that the mathematical solution, and
While you are going through the are validating the transaction to at the time of writing, about 5/6
motions of making the purchase – come to a consensus. As it is a of the 21 million Bitcoins are
signing the sales and purchase decentralised system, there can in circulation.
2 Computing, Technology, Arts & Design THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2019
Student chapter
in running for
global award
THE Institution of Chemical as a highly commended IChemE
Engineers (IChemE) student student chapter. Winning the
chapter of Curtin University award this year would be a huge
Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has achievement,” she says, adding
been named a finalist for Best that Curtin Malaysia has a
Student Chapter at the strong association with
prestigious IChemE Malaysia IChemE in the areas of course
Awards 2019. accreditation, student activities
The Student Chapter Award and professional membership,
is presented to universities and collaborated with the world
that emphasise professional body on hosting the 29th
development and networking Symposium of Malaysian
opportunities for their chemical Chemical Engineers in Miri in
engineering students. The 2016.
winner of the award will be The Curtin Malaysia IChemE
announced on Oct 14 at the student chapter serves as a
annual IChemE Malaysia Awards platform to promote awareness
dinner in Kuala Lumpur. among engineering students at
Winners of the IChemE Curtin Malaysia on the latest
Malaysia Awards will be entered developments in the field of
into the corresponding chemical engineering, as well as
categories of the IChemE Global create opportunities for them to
Awards in the United Kingdom. expand their professional
Academic advisor to the networks.
Curtin Malaysia IChemE Student IChemE is the global
Chapter, Dr Bridgid Chin, says professional engineering
the student chapter is deserving institution for chemical,
of the recognition as it has done biochemical and process
excellent work in organising engineers and other related
industrial talks, industrial site professionals worldwide with
visits, community outreach over 44,000 members in over
programmes and training 120 countries. Its mission is to
workshops and seminars related build and support a community
to chemical engineering. It has and network of professionals
also been actively involved in involved in all facets of the
promoting IChemE student chemical engineering discipline.
membership and organising
team-building activities for its n For more information
members. on Curtin Malaysia, visit
“Last year, it was recognised www.curtin.edu.my
Familiarise yourself
with innovation
TUNKU Abdul Rahman “I am gaining valuable
University College (TAR UC) has experience by helping manage
taken the step to embrace and troubleshoot an actual
technological innovation mobile app. Although I have
through the establishment of its prior experience in developing
Integrated Innovation Hub (I2 apps through my coursework
Hub), which was launched on assignments, it is not the same
August 1 last year. The I2 Hub as actually managing an app
will help TAR UC synergise that has gone live. People are
the latest developments in using the app and there is a lot
technology towards enhancing of expectation in ensuring the
the education and learning app is constantly functioning
experience. By integrating well. The demands are high but
relevant expertise from different I believe my fellow team
faculties in TAR UC, the hub acts members and I are well guided
as a catalyst where creative by our lecturer, Dr Tang Tiong
innovations and groundbreaking Yew, who is the main lead for
applications are discovered, Cashierbook.”
especially in its four areas of TAR UC’s I2 Hub has also
focus – Smart Campus for paved the way for it to provide
Education 4.0, Industry 4.0, consultancy services to
Agriculture 4.0 and corporate industries in implementing real-
social responsibility. time Industry 4.0 solutions.
Through the hub, TAR UC Through the collaboration of
students have the opportunity to expertise from different TAR UC
work hand in hand with their faculties, the area of focus is in
lecturers in real-world industry creating and utilising Industry
and research projects that 4.0 solutions, including
expose them to the latest trends machine-to-machine
and developments taking place communication, big data
in the workplace today. analytics and incorporating
Cashierbook is a project under artificial intelligence into the
the I2 Hub and involves the decision-making processes in
participation of TAR UC students. businesses.
It is an app that utilises social TAR UC’s September and
media analytics and blockchain October intakes are still open
technology to enable fast and for application. Attractive
secure e-commerce transactions. scholarships are available on
TAR UC Bachelor of Computer the basis of academic merit and
Science (Hons) student Johnson sibling discount for qualified
Chin See How is part of the students.
team currently managing the
Cashierbook app, which went n For more information, visit
live in August last year. www.tarc.edu.my
4 Computing, Technology, Arts & Design THE STAR, TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2019
Design a successful
“IMAGINATION is the beginning of
creation. You imagine what you
desire, you will what you imagine,
and at last, you create what you