Homework on Provenance - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#2423
  1. Blockchain enables real-time tracking and auditing of assets on a decentralized public ledger that can only be added to, not deleted or changed. Because it it decentralized, no single entity can control the blockchain and the entire history of every transaction can be found instantly.
  2. Normal DBs allow a single user to change the input of a cell. They are editable and don’t necessarily provide the history of all the transactions…they may only contain the latest entry…leading to a need to trust the person maintaining the DB. Also, if the DB crashes, all data on it can be lost.
  3. Digital provenance enables certainty. You have an audit trail that enables businesses to audit their own transactions, supply chain, etc to find any point of failure without having to guess what happened.
2 Likes
#2424
  1. Thru tracing the origins of all transactions made, thru it’s transparency that is immutable.
  2. A normal database is usually non transparent and accessible via third parties, requiring trust vs transparent verification.
  3. Transparent, maximum efficiency thru taking out third party equation and solely relying on verification vs trust.
1 Like
#2425

Hi @JamesA! :slight_smile: Welcome to the forum! :smiley:

2 Likes
#2426

1.How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

  • By distributing the database, and by being emutable by design

2.Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?

  • It is prune to corruption and tampering

3.Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?

  • Businesses can in an trustless way verify the origin of supplies, ingredients and parts
1 Like
#2427

1.Transactions are being written on the blockchain and can not be removed. Every transaction is open to public and the history of each transaction can be traced back.

  1. A normal database has a central authority, people who can change the history of the transactions and no one will be able to see the changes made by central authorities, making a trust a major issue.
  2. Digital provenance ensures customer/user satisfaction as information in the blockchain can not be modified, giving the confidence to the users under different set of circumstances. For example, users can be certain that ingredients in the products they buy are of great quality and produced under the right/ethical conditions.
1 Like
#2428

How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

Blockchain enables digital provenance through it’s ability to include it’s own real time auditing by including the accounting layer and the transactional layer together. Blockchain acts as a data passport which can be trustless as in order for the block to be created it is needed to be verified by several different sources. We then know this data is valid and also secure as nothing can be removed from the blockchain once verified, and the only way to include new data is through adding a new block which requires verification.

Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?

A normal database doesn’t go through the same verification. Data can be easily corrupted in several ways such as being edited, added or removed.

Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?

There are several benefits of digital provenance to businesses. Some examples of this would be peace of mind having trustless relationships between third parties. Other benefits would be saving time and money on auditing.

1 Like
#2429

  1. It enables digital provenance because it is like a digital stone, it disables removing the data and it is completely decentralized and transparent, so all transactions can be traced all the way back and in real time.

  2. It does not bring the same provenance because regular database is centralized, so data can be manipulated where in Blockchain every attempt of data manipulation will alarm the hole network.

  3. It is a great benefit because the businesses doesn’t have to be based on blind trust, each and every participant in business can trace data and verify. Example given in lecture is about tracing ingredients in food.

1 Like
#2430 
1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
It allows people to be able to look into transactions by looking at a public ledger. Records of all transaction can't be erased. 
2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
Blockchain allows anyone to check all transactions, in Realtime. A normal database can easily be hacked or erased.  
3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?

It allows trustless and its decentralized. Business can prove that they are conducting their business properly. The customers can verify all activities.

1 Like
#2431
  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
    By being decentralized which means there is no trust involved and it cannot be controlled or modified by a central authority.
  2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
    Because a normal database is controlled by a central authority therefore it can be modified.
  3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
    With such an instrument businesses can track the quality of the products received from the manufacturer without having to trust the manufacturer directly.
1 Like
#2432

  1. Provenance is a way to track and verify the source of a transaction or an activity. Blockchain technology connects the sources linked to an activity in real time so that they may be verified on demand.

  2. Normal databases store data and retrieve it when needed, they do not however track the actual items accuracy in real time to provide constant verification. Current databases like Amazon do have a tracking mechanism that tracks orders but it does include people to jump in and confirm. Moreover the tracking on Amazon is updated by input of 3rd parties in the network. Provenance is a direct verification and confirmation not only of the items quality bit the ingredients that compose it all in real time.

  3. It eliminates fraud for starters and in other cases where quality is an issue it ensures that consistency is sustained so that the end result is always as close the desired outcome.

1 Like
#2433

Hi @Gennady, @Gaz_May, @siratoure95 and @Daniel_Afteni! :slight_smile: Good answers! Welcome to the forum! :smiley:

1 Like
#2434

  1. Blockchain is a immutable, decentralized, public ledger. Everyone can check the registers and everything can be registered.

  2. Normal databases are not immutable and there are always some level of uncertainty in auditing those databases. Blockchain brings trust and integration levels impractical to centralized register holders.

  3. It can reduce that uncertainty and improve control over the business processes. This means better management over quality and efficiency.

1 Like
#2435

  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
    through verification and also by mitigating the risks to trust a third-party

  2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
    because in normal databases information can be deleted/removed permanently

  3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
    to make sure auditing is crystal clear without discrepancies

1 Like
#2436

1.It is a public ledger where all information cannot be changed, there is no authority or government that can modify it.

2.because most of the databases are controlled by central entities or by some government, so it can be manipulated.

3.Because it allows to be totally reliable.

1 Like
#2437

  1. Blockchain enables digital provenance by using an immutable append-only ledger, which can be audited at any time.

  2. Normal databases don’t bring the same provenance since they are mutable and the data can be changed after it has been stored.

  3. Digital provenance can be a great benefit to many businesses as it can allow for mathematical verifiability rather than a trust based system, which is difficult to audit and enforce.

1 Like
#2438

Thank you for the warm welcome, it’s a pleasure to be a part of this communuty! :smiley:

1 Like
#2439

Hi @Rafael_Albuquerque and @studiomax! :slight_smile: Welcome to the forum! :smiley: If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask. :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#2440
  1. every block contains unchangeable info of all transactions
  2. because its a possibility that someone can change data in normal database
  3. you eliminate trust issues you can see a history of any transaction in any moment
1 Like
#2441

  1. Blockchain enables digital provenance through process of mathematical verification which cannot be altered or manipulated showing transparency in all transactions.

  2. A normal database doesn’t provide the same digital provenance because it’s centralised and data can be easily altered.

  3. Businesses can be assured through through the Blockchain to provide the authenticity or the quality of the product to their customers. The businesses can have confidence in knowing and tracking where the product or goods have come from through the supply chain.

1 Like
#2442
  1. Everything is open source and transactions are transparent.
  2. It isn’t open and transparent.
  3. Customers can better trust the company and its products.
1 Like