Homework on Provenance - Questions

[Jules]

1. It enables it by having transactional information public for all to see.
2. Normal database is not public and therefore requires trust.
3. It removes steps in the auditing process and will make good actors rise quickly and provide better quality products/services to all.

[thekidhimself]

1. Blockchain enables digital provenances simply by making every transaction stored on the ledger and giving anyone the ability to access its origin to end and every step in between.

2. Normal database is based around a centralized entity which opens up the data to change by a master key or higher clearance. With a centralized database it is impossible to 100% trust.

3. Digital provenance will take out the worry of a transaction clearing and it was also let the person know if the information being exchanged is verified.

[tuxedocat]

[quote=“ivan, post:1, topic:8423, full:true”]
Homework on Provenance - Questions

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
   Every transaction is added to the ledger on the blockchain and cannot be removed (immutability), due to its decentralized nature.
2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
   A normal database is usually centralized and can be modified by anyone who gains access to it.
3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
   It lets transactions to be traced and verified anytime.

[File]

1. Blockchain enables digital provenance by allowing every transaction to be tracked but not edited. New transactions can only add information to the blockchain.

2. Normal database is usually stored on a piece of hardware equipment which can be easily altered with. Furthermore, a person or more people usually have the control of that data which means that we have to trust them not changing the information. Blockchain enables trustless managung because it does not depend on human error or faulty equipment.

3. Digital provenance is a great benefit for various businesses because it enables the company to accurately trace the information of their products, for example where the item is supplied from.

[Menyawga]

1. Blockchain enables digital provenance by combining transactions with the accounting of those transactions and broadcasts all of this to all participants in real time.

2. A normal database is controlled by a centralized party that usually has internal control over access and accounting of transactions, which makes it easier to hide.

3. Digital provenance is great for any business that wants immediate public digital verification to all interested parties. It saves time and energy and increases accountability and confidence in the company.

[theosebagh]

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

Blockchain is able to trace the digital provenance of any piece of digital data by accurately accounting for its exact point of origination as well as tracking all of its subsequent movements (whether we’re talking about financial transactions, more prominently, or any considerations related to supply chain or logistics).

Blockchain technology can accomplish all of this by keeping an immutable and transparent ledger of transactions that serves as a public record for all to see (from the inception of the very first data piece all the way to the ongoing blocks of transactions that are being validated onto the chain in real-time).

By establishing a network of trustworthy nodes that are constantly verifying the accuracy of the public ledger being created through time, blockchains enable their users to retrace all the movements connected to something, even all the way back to its point of origin.

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

Most regular databases can be more easily tampered with by hackers inclined to modify the data or structure within them, in order to serve their own benefits (falsifying data, digitally looting accounts, or holding sensitive information for ransom with ransomware attacks, for example).

Malevolent actors could therefore more easily corrupt a regular dataset, thus modifying the true provenance of any of the data contained within it (rendering its validity wholly untrustworthy, or not entirely trustworthy/reliable at the very best).

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

Digital provenance, in a way, establishes real/absolute trust between all participants of a blockchain by entirely removing the risk factor, that is human corruptibility, from the equation.

By doing so, blockchains instead entrust large groups of nodes with the responsibility of continuously verifying/monitoring the authenticity of any data being validated, rendering the whole process incorruptible in theory (as long as there are enough actors/noted in the chain to prevent a 51% attack from happening).

Additionally, given that most data/information can easily be doctored/corrupted online nowadays (thanks to hackers’ prolific capacities or even anyone using the simplest technologies available, such as Adobe/Photoshop, which may allow doing so), the world would greatly benefit from blockchain technologies that would help preserve whatever veracity may still be left out there (for example, it could help nip the spread of fake news in the bud by potentially helping verify the veracity/authenticity of the facts behind it maybe).

[Ruben99]

1. Blockchain enables digital provenance by providing a public ledger where every transaction can be verified, from the beginning to the end. Even though, some kind of trust would be still required to be sure that first transactions are legit. How can we ensure this?

2. A normal database is quite centralized, meaning that data could be erased at any time by the database manager.

3. This can have great benefits for the final user which can be sure that the product it’s receiving it’s what he was expecting. Altough a shift in consumers behaviours would be needed in order for this to happen, or also contribute to improve internal processes in the companys.

[Kryptford]

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
   By being a public ledger. Blockchain allows to track the provenance of a transaction. Every transaction is written on the blockchain and cannot be removed (immutability). Blockchain is an open ledger where every transaction can be traced back.
2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
   Because in a normal database, a transaction can be removed or erased. If the database crashes, data can be lost. And it is probably much more difficult to trace back a transaction, it doesn’t have the same simplicity as with blockchain.
3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
   Because it provides the possibility of real-time auditing and accurate traceability without the need of a middlemen, among other benefits.

[DNC]

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
   Provenance is all about being able to track transactions (digital and physical). Through its nature (mainly through its most important property - immutability), blockchain technology ensures that the entire history of the transaction (monetary or not) is recorded as it occurred (without any changes). It also means that the transaction can be audited at any step of its lifecycle, in real-time. A trustlessness environment can emerge.

2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
   A normal database, because of its centralized nature and mutability allows the person(s) who controls it to modify the data it stores. This drawback compromises the intrinsic value that provenance brings (being an essential benchmark for assessing authenticity and enabling trust), and creates an environment where the participants have to rely on trust.

3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
   Because provenance tracks the entire lifecycle of a transaction (how it’s initiated, collected, stored, used), it offers businesses transparency (mainly in the relationship with their collaborators) and credibility (mainly in the relationship with their clients and potential customers).

[rishibehl4]

1. Let’s think of blockchain as an operating system, i.e., many applications can be built on this, and by its nature it’s digital. The information/transaction gets stored as blocks and each transaction has a timestamp and sequence, which can be tracked. This is how blockchain enables digital provenance of a transaction.

2. A normal database doesn’t bring the same level of provenance as blockchain because of the following factors:

• it’s not immutable;
• it’s not always shared with public;
• it’s not transparent

3. It crucial for many businesses because it will help them to track their products and its ingredients/source. Moreover, there will be greater transparency among the participants of a business network and its customers/clients.

[starkus]

1. The blockchain includes the complete transaction history and therefore enables tracking each output to its origin.
2. Normal databases are centralized and can be manipulated, whereas the blockchain is immutable. Also normales databases might reflect information at a certain point in time, whereas the blockchain includes the entire history.
3. It simplifies many processes and makes them more efficient (e.g., supply chain tracking).

[Manuel1982]

1. Blockchain enables digital Provenance through the following:
   • Decentralized computer systems that keep every aspect of the history on a file copy.
   • you can only add data but not delete it from the Blockchain
   • the Blockchain can not be changed or manipulated by any person without the decentralized system
     noticing the “attack” and ignoring the wrong and keeping the right data

2.- A normal Database can be altered and manipulated

• Entries can be deleted and changed
  -The Blockchain integrates timestamps for every action into it’s encryption to secure data integrity
  and a processing protocol with no holes in regards to time.

3. As a business it enables you to have direct access to all your finances and accounting in seconds.
   you can make your own audit without time consuming and expensive specialists.
   Businesses can track their products and their quality throughout every step from their suppliers
   supply chain starting.
   A business can so guaranty quality to their customers

[JordanT]

1. Blockchain records digital footprints of all transactions within the networks. It is trustless and immutable and irreversible. Encrypted or not, all transactions once signed, are sealed and cannot be doctored. Decentralized or centralized, each transaction occurs on the blockchain has accountability should once chooses to pursue.

2. A normal database are just softwares or cloudbased at its best, data is amendable, fabricable, and manipulatable. The trustworthiness and authenticity is just as good as the person that you give this data to.

3. Digital provenance streamlines the accounting of everything - trustless, instant verification, absolute authentication.

[jollycoin8]

1:Because blockchain is a “digital stone,” the data on the blockchain is transparent and immutable.

2: A normal database means one can add or subtract the data at any point, which is where fraudulent or illicit activity can occur.

3: Because everyone and anyone can verify that the businesses they patron, or if a business receives goods from their manufacturer/supplier, don’t have to work on blind trust, but can instead verify the data on the public blockchain. This not only brings transparency, but greater confidence between patrons, business, and suppliers.

[tchel]

1. Blockchain is a permissionless ledger, transactions can be traced due to being transparent and impossible to remove.
2. A normal DB has severe flaws such as no way to verify the system of trusting the owner of that said DB. The DB can also be modified at will which is the definition of fraud in most cases.
3. Digital Provenance can be verified or validated as evidence of a business claim(s) (e.g. real-time auditing).

[Lennart_Lucas]

1. The block chain acts as a public ledger where transactions can only be added, not changed. This allows you to track back through transactions.
2. A normal database is owned by people, and as user your only option is to thrust the owner as you’re not able to verify what they’re doing behind the screens. Did a hospital use too much chemo killing a patient? Just change the number in case someone requests the data. Nothing outsiders can do against this.
3. It removes the ‘thrust’ part from transactions, instead you can simply audit or verify the information.
   Certain akward situations could have been prevented by verifying provenance of goods.

[NewEra]

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
   It enables digital provenance by keeping a track of every single transaction (also able to input required data for the specific field) from the genesis block which is immutable, trustless and decentralised. Bottom line, these records are immune to forging.

2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
   Normal databases originate from a centralised power, giving them the ability to do what they want and when they want even though it may not be in the best interest long term. Additionally, centralised databases are more prone to breaches as opposed to secure, decentralised framework blockchains. We only need to google search breaches to find the numerous amounts of breaches.

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

They will be able to verify the ingredients/material/product they are receiving from their suppliers and where these came from and where they have been. They will be able to stamp out things such as child labor and promote it in upmost confidence. They will also be able to provide verification to their clients as well. This is just a small part of what can be verified and we are now seeing it in things such as NFTs and artists authenticating their work. Can’t fake the contract and provenance of artworks when the data is stored in an immutable ledger.

[Ilhan_Sumertas]

@ivan

• How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
• Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
• Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?

1 - How -Due to its open (public), immutable nature and consensus structure of the network , information that has been entered into the chain cannot be changed or altered as the change will be disregarded by the operators / verifiers involved therefore, providing clarity as to what is true and can be trusted.

2 - A normal (centralised) database can have the data within it changed by the owner of the database therefore, creating a scenario where one party will have to trust and rely on the the information or data which, is given to them by the owner of the centralised database without any type of verification process taking place. There is no way of knowing whether the information within the database has been altered, is incorrect or fraudulent.

3 - Digital provenance - As, Ivan claimed, “Verify do not Trust”. Digital provenance allows the actors within the network to base their actions on verification rather than human trust as the data which flows within the chain cannot be altered. Other advantages include real time extraction of data to a point of possible fault / failure. Basically, in the supply chain scenario that Ivan mentions allows the immutable nature of the network to take affect by becoming very easily traceable where parcels or goods flowing through the supply chain can easily be tracked from beginning to the end of its journey. This in turn shows that operators can trust the data which is presented to them rather than trusting the actors themselves.

Please correct if I have missed anything

[motond30]

1. Blockchain enable digital provenance because transactions can be tracked in real time. Any transactions that occur cannot be removed or manipulated by a central authority.

2. A normal database is typically offered by a software company. This company ultimately can alter the database if needed. Additionally, that database is owned by that company. If companies use different databases, then there may not be interoperability. Blockchain technology keeps the database decentralized and neutral.

3. Digital Provenance provides an amazing benefit to businesses because of the removal of the need for trust. You can now verify all of the ingredients in your food, or verify whether your clothing goods come from a supplier who utilizes child labor. “Don’t Trust, Verify”

[Mr.Gold]

@ivan

Homework on Provenance - Questions

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?

1. Through a public ledger that can at any point be verified by anyone. This removes the need for auditing.
2. Normal databases are not public.
3. It removes friction from business transactions and provides full transparency.