BEYOND AMAZING VIRTUAL BONDS
Episode 3 BEYOND AMAZING VIRTUAL BONDS
Created by Robert Caruana (artist) and Martin G. Debattista (writer)
Editor Trevor Sammut
Proofreading Christopher Giordano
Publisher
Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) in collaboration with Tech.mt and eSkills Malta Foundation
Printed in Malta (EU)
Print It Ltd
ISBN printed 978-9918-0-0859-9
ISBN PDF (digital) 978-9918-0-0860-5
Copyright © 2024 Robert Caruana and Martin G. Debattista
All Rights Reserved
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased) is intended or should be inferred.
This publication is intended for an audience aged 11 years and higher.
Particular attention has been given to ensure that all the content of this comic is correct and up to date as on date of issue. While every care has been taken during production, the publisher does not accept any liability for errors that may have occurred.
Contact Information
MDIA
Twenty20 Business Centre, Triq l-Intornjatur, Zone 3, Central Business District, Birkirkara, CBD 3050
Malta
Email: info@mdia.gov.mt Telephone: +356 2182 8800
This publication is provided free of charge and is not for sale. maltaverians.mt
The project of publishing a series of comics focused on digital innovation technology aims to emphasize the importance of expanding teens’ knowledge in this rapidly evolving field. These comics will be distributed among students studying Computing and IT to enhance their understanding of the latest technologies and potentially guide them towards their future careers. It will be available in a digital format online as well. By incorporating engaging visuals and storylines, the comics will pique the interest of young readers and promote a deeper comprehension of innovative technologies that are shaping our world. In addition, the inclusion of a glossary within the publications will further clarify technological terms and concepts, making the material more accessible and informative.
Positive, empathetic, energetic
Personality traits: Outgoing, affable
Other dimension nickname: Bella Bit
Nickname meaning: Beautiful + smallest size of data
Nationality: Maltese
Age: 24
Occupation: Secondary school teacher of Computer Studies
Main allies: Jake Spark (a friend), police, responsible citizens
Main foes: cyber criminals (especially bullies and thieves)
Special abilities: Digital vision - sees the inner workings of digital technologies like no other human
Special powers: Master traveller in virtual reality, sharp like Sherlock Holmes, virtual martial arts skills, hardcore gamer
Other powers: Can make learning fun for kids
Real Name: Jake Spiteri
Character traits: Intelligent, passionate, loyal
Personality traits: Shy, reserved
Other dimension nickname: Jake Spark
Nickname meaning: Jake + bright mind + small but fiery
Nationality: Maltese
Age: 23½
Occupation: IT manager at a local hotel
Main allies: Bella Bit (a friend), the police, responsible citizens, trusted computing devices
Main foes: Phishers, hackers, spammers etc.
Special abilities: Tech whisperer – somehow inanimate technologies seem to understand what he needs and wants
Special powers: None (at the moment)
Other powers: Effortlessly produces software like a piece of cake
Real Name: Klein Artificial Intelligence (KAI)
Type of AI: Large Language Model (LLM)
Launch date: 1st June 2023
Owner/developer: Klein Hotel – Jake Spiteri
Hosting: Malta
Access:
Limited to Bella Bit, Jake Spark and Klein Hotel. Likes to take the form of a dog.
Real Name: Professor Borgon Phase
Occupation: All we know is that he is a brilliant Maltese scientist .
Special abilities: Controlling mastermind behind large-scale tech developments including Phasecoin digital currency.
Nobody knows much about him.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
TERM DEFINITION
3D Engine Software that creates, manages and simulates three-dimensional environments, allowing for the development of video games and 3D modelling.
Access Points Devices that allow wireless devices to connect to a network using Wi-Fi.
Active Cooling
Alpha Version
Avatar
Active cooling uses devices like fans or pumps to ‘actively’ reduce the temperature of electronic components, preventing them from overheating.
An alpha version is an early version of a software program that is still being tested and developed; sometimes released for testing purposes.
An avatar is a digital character or image that represents a user in a virtual environment or online.
Bots Bots, or robots, are automated programs that perform tasks on the internet, like chatting with users or collecting data.
Cables Wires that carry data from one place to another through the use of modulated electrical signals. Cables can carry both analogue and digital signals/data or electricity from one location to another.
Capacitors
Controllers
Crypto Wallet
Crystal Oscillator
Debugging
Devs
Eduverse, ClassVR or FrameVR
Ethereum
Filters
Firewalls
Game Assets
Electronic components that store and release electrical energy in a circuit.
Controllers are devices used to operate and interact with video games or other electronic systems. In VR they can include sensors that track your hand movement.
A crypto wallet is a digital tool that stores and manages cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, and allows users to send and receive these digital assets.
A crystal oscillator is a device that uses a crystal to create precise electrical timing, often used in clocks, radios and computers.
Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors or bugs in computer software.
Devs is short for developers, the people who create software, applications or games.
These are virtual reality platforms designed for educational purposes, allowing students to learn in immersive, interactive environments.
A type of cryptocurrency and a decentralised platform that allows developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps) using Blockchain technology. It enables the creation of a wide range of applications without relying on a central authority.
Hardware or software components that remove unwanted parts from a signal or a data set. They can be used in various contexts, such as filtering out noise from audio signals, removing spam from emails or extracting relevant data from a large dataset.
Firewalls are security systems that monitor and control incoming/outgoing network traffic, protecting computers from unauthorised access.
Game assets are the components used to create video games, including characters, environments, sounds and graphics.
Gemini
Google Cardboard
A generative AI system developed by Google, designed to create content, answer questions and perform various tasks by generating human-like text based on the input it receives.
A simple, low-cost virtual reality headset made from cardboard, designed to work with smartphones.
Hand Controllers Devices held in the hands to interact with video games or virtual reality environments.
Haptic Suit
Head Tracking
Head-Mounted Display (HMD)
Wearable device that provides tactile feedback, allowing users to feel physical sensations in virtual reality.
A technology that follows the movement of a user’s head to provide a more immersive experience in virtual reality.
A device worn on the head, like goggles, that displays virtual reality content directly in front of the user’s eyes; sometimes referred to as ‘headset’.
Headset In VR, a headset is a device worn on the head that displays VR content. The technical term is ‘head-mounted display’.
Headset Straps
The bands or straps that hold a headset securely on a user’s head.
Heatsink A device that absorbs and disperses heat away from a heat source (such as an electronic component) to keep them cool.
IC Chip
An IC chip, or integrated circuit chip, is a small electronic component that contains many tiny circuits and is used in most electronic devices.
iGaming iGaming refers to online gaming or gambling activities conducted over the internet. Several iGaming companies are based in Malta.
LANs LANs, or local area networks, are networks that connect computers within a small area, like a home, school or office.
Main Processor
The main processor, or central processing unit (CPU), is the part of a computer that performs most of the processing inside a computer.
Motion Sensing Motion sensing is a technology that detects and responds to movement, often used in gaming and security systems.
My Nice Neighbours
Network Engineer
A fictitious VR game which is played by the Maltaverians.
A professional who designs, implements and manages computer networks. This includes tasks such as configuring network hardware, optimising network performance, ensuring network security and troubleshooting issues to maintain efficient and reliable communication systems.
PhaseCoin A fictitious type of cryptocurrency created by Professor Borgon Phase, a character in The Maltaverians
Plugins
Plugins are software add-ons that enhance the functionality of a program or website.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
Ports Ports can be physical connection points on a computer or network device where cables or other devices can be plugged in. They can also be software-controlled ports used in routers or software-controlled network devices.
Processor A processor is the part of a computer that performs calculations and runs programs. See ‘Main Processor’.
Professor Borgon Phase
Routers
Sandboxed
Sentient AI
A fictitious character in The Maltaverians. He is a brilliant Maltese scientist who seems to have dark plans for world domination, but nobody is sure what his next scheme is.
Routers are devices that direct data between different networks, such as between your home network and the internet.
Sandboxed means running a program or code in a controlled environment where it cannot affect other parts of the system, often used for security or testing purposes.
Sentient AI refers to artificial intelligence that has human-like awareness and the ability to experience feelings.
Sockets Sockets are points where cables or devices can be connected to a computer or network.
Streaming TV
Subnetting
Watching television shows and movies over the internet in real-time without downloading the content first. This is done via Internet Protocol (IP) and allows viewers to access a wide range of content on demand.
Subnetting is dividing a larger network into smaller, more manageable subnetworks, improving efficiency and security.
Tokens Tokens are digital assets or units of value issued on a blockchain, often used in cryptocurrency and virtual economies.
UI UI, or user interface, is the part of a software or device that users interact with, like buttons, menus and screens.
Unreal Engine Unreal Engine is a powerful software used to create video games and other 3D content, developed by Epic Games.
Utopia Utopia is an ideal or perfect place where everything is just right, often used to describe an imagined society with perfect living conditions.
Virtual Game Assets
Virtual game assets are items within a video game that players can use, such as characters, weapons and skins.
VirtuaVerse A fictitious virtual environment, where users can interact in a digital world, featured in The Maltaverians
VLans VLANs, or virtual local area networks, are networks that group devices together logically rather than physically, improving security and efficiency.
VR VR, or virtual reality, is a technology that creates a simulated environment, allowing users to interact with a 3D world through devices like headsets.
VR Gloves
VR gloves are wearable devices that track hand movements and provide tactile feedback in virtual reality environments [see also: haptic suit].
XR Interaction Toolkit XR Interaction Toolkit is a set of tools for developers to create and manage interactions in virtual, augmented and mixed reality applications.
