PrismPapers is a blockchain-powered platform designed to revolutionize academic publishing by introducing transparency, efficiency, and equity. By leveraging Solana’s low-cost and high-speed blockchain, PrismPapers ensures researchers retain full copyright, incentivizes honest peer reviews through token rewards, and allows institutions and readers to directly access research papers without traditional paywalls.
The current academic publishing landscape suffers from high costs, restricted access, and inefficiencies. PrismPapers addresses these issues with a decentralized, open-access publishing model that incentivizes reviewers and streamlines the peer-review process while empowering researchers and institutions to take control of their publishing needs.
- Demographics: Early-to-mid career academics, often affiliated with universities or research organizations.
- Interests: Publishing their research, gaining visibility in their field, and contributing to scientific knowledge.
- Motivations: Frustrated by high journal fees and long review cycles. Seeks platforms that ensure equitable access and control over their intellectual property.
- Demographics: Subject matter experts from academia and industry.
- Interests: Contributing to their field and being recognized for their expertise.
- Motivations: Values recognition and fair compensation for their peer review contributions. Desires a transparent and efficient review process.
- Demographics: Universities, research libraries, and labs with limited budgets.
- Interests: Accessing high-quality research without exorbitant subscription fees.
- Motivations: Wants to support their researchers and improve access to academic knowledge through cost-effective platforms.
- Demographics: Independent researchers, professionals, and students.
- Interests: Accessing specific research papers without institutional affiliations.
- Motivations: Frustrated by paywalls. Values affordable and transparent access to academic knowledge.
1. User Persona
- Name: Dr. Bergman
- Role: Researcher
- Goal: Publish a research paper quickly and retain full copyright.
2. User Story: As a researcher, I want to submit my paper to PrismPapers and retain my copyright so that I can ensure my work is freely accessible and under my control.
3. Acceptance Criteria:
- Functionality:
- The platform allows researchers to upload papers in various formats (e.g., PDF, LaTeX).
- Researchers can select a Creative Commons license or similar options.
- User Interaction:
- Researchers can track the review status of their submissions.
- Notifications are sent when a review is completed or feedback is provided.
- Security:
- Papers are stored immutably on IPFS or Arweave.
- Submission data is encrypted and tamper-proof.
4. Priority: High
1. User Persona
- Name: Dr. Andre
- Role: Peer Reviewer
- Goal: Provide honest and timely reviews while earning rewards.
2. User Story: As a peer reviewer, I want to evaluate papers transparently and earn tokens for my efforts so that my contributions are recognized and incentivized.
3. Acceptance Criteria:
- Functionality:
- The platform matches reviewers to papers based on their expertise.
- Tokens are awarded for completing reviews within specified deadlines.
- User Interaction:
- Reviewers can view and submit comments through the platform.
- Reviewers’ contributions are recorded on the blockchain for transparency.
- Security:
- Anonymity of reviewers is maintained during the review process.
- The token reward system is fraud-proof and automated.
4. Priority: High
1. User Persona
- Name: Nate
- Role: Turbin3 University Librarian
- Goal: Provide affordable access to research for students and faculty.
2. User Story: As a librarian, I want to purchase access to research on PrismPapers for my institution so that our students and faculty can access valuable knowledge without budget constraints.
3. Acceptance Criteria:
- Functionality:
- Institutions can purchase annual subscriptions or pay-per-access to research papers.
- Bulk access options are available for multiple papers.
- User Interaction:
- Librarians can manage access through an institutional dashboard.
- Usage reports provide insights into paper access and usage.
- Security:
- Payments are processed securely using blockchain.
- Institutional data is stored privately and securely.
4. Priority: Medium
1. User Persona
- Name: Srinath
- Role: Blockchain Researcher
- Goal: Access a specific research paper without an institutional subscription.
2. User Story: As an independent researcher, I want to purchase individual papers on PrismPapers so that I can access knowledge affordably and conveniently.
3. Acceptance Criteria:
- Functionality:
- Users can search for papers using keywords, authors, or topics.
- Papers can be purchased using tokens or traditional payment methods.
- User Interaction:
- Users receive an email or in-platform notification with access details after purchase.
- Purchased papers are accessible via the user’s profile.
- Security:
- Transactions are encrypted and recorded on the blockchain.
- Access links are secure and non-transferable.
4. Priority: Medium
This user story document provides a roadmap for developing PrismPapers to address the unique needs of its diverse stakeholders. By ensuring transparency, incentivizing reviewers, and empowering researchers and institutions, PrismPapers aims to create a fairer and more efficient academic publishing ecosystem.