Evaluation Framework for Decentralized Identity Applications

Short Description: 

Reliance on Non-Functional Requirements (NFR) to evaluate systems, lead to ambiguous results, limited (if not impossible) reproducibility of the analysis, and unclear correlations to the desired qualities of a system. Yet, FR are essential to a system's functionality, because it describes the relationship between input, output, and state, as well as defines what a system should do to achieve certain NFR (that is, qualities). To reach clear conclusions about a DI and SSI system, there is a need for FR. Therefore, systematic identification of FR and their mapping to the existing NFR are crucial to conclude whether a system in question satisfies certain properties to qualify as an Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI). Building on FR and NFR, a reproducible evaluation framework is necessary not only for future researchers in understanding existing systems but also for conveying a coherent message about technologies to the end-user, improving transparency and trust in new technology. 

This thesis will focus on developing an evaluation framework for assessing DI and SSI systems based on their adherence to SSI principles. The research will involve defining measurable evaluation metrics, testing the framework on existing DI and SSI systems, and refining the framework based on the results. The thesis will also explore how the framework can be applied during the development phase of DI and SSI systems.

Sources to Consider: 

[1] A. Mühle, A. Grüner, T. Gayvoronskaya, and C. Meinel, ‘‘A survey on essential components of a self-sovereign identity,’’ Computer Science Review, vol. 30, pp. 80–86, 2018.

[2] . Čučko, Š. Bećirović, A. Kamišalić, S. Mrdović, and M. Turkanović, ‘‘Towards the classification of self-sovereign identity properties,’’ IEEE access, vol. 10, pp. 88 306–88 329, 2022.