Homework on Provenance - Questions
It’s data can only be added and not removed. It is a source of truth and integrity.
A normal database can be altered or tampered with, unlike the blockchain.
A shared, open database which cannot be tampered removes the need to question it’s validity, and increases efficiency for businesses.
Questions
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
Provenance is the record of ownership, in the case of the blockchain the record of ownership is ensured by a network of independent computers that have to agree upon the data entry in order for it to be approved. The entries are unchangeable thus ensuring integrity.
Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A normal database allows for data to be duplicated and double spending could occur, therefore duplicating ownership.
Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
Blockchain can promote the traceability of the supply chain by tracking goods over multiple tiers utilizing markers, such as RFID and QR codes.
The Blockchain makes the digital provenance completely decentralized from Governments, Organizations etc and allows real-time auditing through a public ledger. Thereby it is completely different to centralized databases that needs to be trusted.
Because it is not verified by a public-ledger and can be modified by the owner at any time. This requires a high level of trust in the database.
Blockchain is a trustless system! It allows businesses to get a full transparent insight in databases and takes away from data manipulation.
Yes exactly, and because the data is transparent and immutable. For example, in Bitcoin, any bitcoin can be tracked to the origin of the creation (miner who was rewarded for confirming transactions)
Blockchain ensures a digital provenance by having a global network of a shared ledger that enables new entries to be verified by the network.
Normal databases have no global verification system that ensures that the data is not copied or hacked.
The information stored in blockchain is verified, trust is no longer a requirement. This creates infinite benefits both for businesses and for the end users.
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
Blockchain is a public immutable ledger, where anyone can view the data/information but can’t remove the data and can only add to it
Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A normal database won’t be as accessible to view and it’s possible to corrupt the data/information by changing it
Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
Information can be verified by anyone and know that it has not been corrupted, this allows for trust-less transactions to take place
Q1. Once a new transaction is agreed upon by the peers, the transaction is written into a block. This block of data is recorded be each of the peers on the network. From that point on that block can never be rewritten or modified in any way. Each peer has a copy of the block and it can be referenced but it can not be modified or altered. in essence the transaction is written in a digital stone Ledger and it can not be erased or nullified. Any changes or updates would be written into a new block as another transaction against the first transaction. With this history of transaction blocks, any auditor can see what was historically done. To hack all the peers on the network to try and rewrite a read only encrypted block would be an impossible task which makes this a solid viable technology. Audits can also be done within seconds of transactions being completed.
Q2. two major reasons why. #1 Central control vs public peer to peer. Under Central control a database can be manipulated to show what ever the controlling party desires it to show. Under a more public peer to peer system this will not happen because I’m checking you, you checking someone else and someone else is checking me. #2 the focus of a database and a ledger are different. The focus of a data base is to show a current status. It’s not the focus of a database to show the history of what was. Databases do have a history of transaction but in most cases the transaction history is a database value that can be modified at any time after the fact. There for bogus transactions could be added or valid transactions could be deleted at any time. a Ledger how ever is designed to show the history of what was. You use a ledger to calculate current value or status by summing up transactions or events that happened. By nature once something is written in a ledger it is not to be changed or rewritten. any corrections are written as new entries and stated as such.
Q3. The applications for this are never ending. This gives companies the ability to prove that things are true/false or have been done/not done. The History is iron clad and the information can be disseminated to who ever needs it almost instantly. This is a way for companies to be transparent to their customers and this is something that customers will be demanding. Instead of relying on trust you can now rely on proof.
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
On a decentralized blockchain (only Bitcoin), all transactions will be verified and confirmed from all the nodes (public ledger) in the system to ensures no double spending but consensus. The transactions are stored there forever and can not be deleted or changed. Anyone can see all transaction ever made in the past -> trust.
Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A normal database is centralized and can be modified (changed, written, deleted) by a single entity. This leads to no public trust and requires companies to audit the datas. Even then we can not be certain as the topic Wirecard teaches us 
Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
a) No need of a 3rd party like PwC… to audit the correctness of the datas.
b) higher transparency, traceability and trust instantly
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
one of the features of blockchain is to track all the transactions; it is a publicly accessible ledger; an information cannot be removed from blockchain
Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
a normal database allows operations such as modify and delete the content, so it is impossible to track a record of information, also everything in the database can me changed
Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
public ledger provides better options for audit, verifying of transactions, real-time tracking of transactions
Blockchain is a public ledger, meaning anyone can access it to track and trace any entries. It’s 100% transparent so it is impossible to hide anything from the public.
Normal databases are centralized and can be modified by those who control it so it’s not 100% trustworthy.
Currently, most businesses need to blindly trust whatever their suppliers are saying and customers need to trust whatever businesses are saying. So throughout the supply chain and all the way to the final consumer, there is blind trust with no transparency and no way to verify anything.
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
By allowing transactions to be tracked and audited by anyone, as soon as they are complete, that live on a public digital ledger which is unalterable.
Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A normal database is usually centralized and private, forcing you to simply trust that the information you’re receiving is accurate, has not been manipulated or changed, and is up to date at the time.
Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
Transactions and can be tracked, verified or audited in real time to achieve a trustless relationship with their partners and clients, who can rely on the digital record’s accuracy. Creating this sort of transparency ultimately improves a business’s integrity with the assurance that the information is correct and readily accessible at all times.
Blockchain is immutable public ledger that tracks transaction and is verified by a decentralised network of node operators, enabling provenance.
A normal database is centralised and often has low or no level of verification process. This allow a normal database to be edited at will by the central owner.
Digital provenance is a great benefit to business because transactions can be verified in a trustless way uterlising wide scale decentralised networks. Tracking, auditing and verification can also be done in real time reducing in encumbersome and costly processes.
1/ How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
It allows it because it provides the possibility of verifying where it comes from and what it comes with, it makes it transparent to anyone, in the ledger only information can be added, therefore the information it provides is reliable because the protocol allows it so
2/ Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
because traditional databases work in a different way, they do not work on the basis that the information is accessible to all participants, it is partial
3/ Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
because it is capable of eliminating the distrust factor, which has never been done before.