Living Review Articles

1 min read

Pronunciation

[liv-ing ri-vyoo ahr-ti-kuhls]

Analogy

Think of a living review article as a Wikipedia page for a scientific topic, but curated and updated by experts in that field. Instead of being a static snapshot in time like a traditional published paper, it evolves as new discoveries are made and understanding deepens, always aiming to present the current -of-the-art.

Definition

Scholarly or informational articles designed to be continually updated to reflect the latest research, developments, and understanding in a specific, rapidly evolving field. In the space, these would track changes in protocols, security practices, or market trends.

Key Points Intro

Living review articles provide up-to-date summaries of fast-moving areas like technology.

Key Points

Dynamically updated to incorporate new information.

Aims to provide a current and comprehensive overview of a topic.

Often peer-reviewed or expert-curated.

Particularly useful for rapidly evolving fields like blockchain.

Example

A research group maintains a 'Living Review of Security Audits' online. This article is updated monthly with summaries of new audit techniques, common vulnerabilities found, and best practice recommendations, reflecting the ongoing battle between developers and attackers in the space.

Technical Deep Dive

Living reviews often leverage digital publishing platforms that allow for version control, collaborative editing (sometimes), and clear indication of when sections were last updated. They may incorporate data feeds, automated literature searches, or community contributions to stay current. The review process itself might be ongoing, with new sections or updates undergoing scrutiny before being integrated. The goal is to reduce the lag time between discovery and dissemination that is common in traditional academic publishing.

Security Warning

When consulting living review articles, always check the date of the last update for specific sections and verify the credibility of the authors or institution maintaining the article. Even 'living' documents can have delays in incorporating the very latest breakthroughs or may reflect the biases of their curators.

Caveat

Maintaining a high-quality living review requires significant ongoing effort and commitment from its authors or editors. There's a risk that articles may become outdated if not actively managed, or that the scope becomes too broad to maintain effectively.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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