Homework on Provenance - Questions

[Mauro]

@const9090

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

• a normal database is not distributed amongst thousands of nodes (if one machine makes a transaction, all other machines will look into local copy of their data ledger of the blockchain to verify if the transaction makes sense - Question if the sender has enough money)

Yes. When we broadcast a bitcoin transaction a node has to verify its a valid one.

[Mauro]

Another amazing read. Very detailed and on point answers.

[Mauro]

@FridaL

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

• Information can only be added and not removed

A normal database can both add and remove things. I assume you meant to say that for the first question. Keep it up.

[matren]

@ivan

How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

Simply because it provides an immutable ledger and a mechanism to only store “true” data, meaning that the information is agreed upon by all involved parties.

@ivan

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

A “normal” database can be modified at any time and there is no guarantee that the data is correct at all.
There is additional trust required on the operator and/or people having the rights to modify data.

@ivan

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

It’a all about improvement of business processes, customer loyalty and trust. It brings more value and reduces costs to maintain a specific trust-level. In general you gain more transparency and reduce possibilities of cheating.

[Mauro]

I see you also took a look at others people answers. Great thing to do. You can always learn more that way, and it may open up some more information you might have missed. Great approach.

[Mauro]

@lucas

Comment: I don’t know if provenance is going to be a good application, because even if you use a blockchain how can you trust the people that are filling the specific data (like good routing, authenticity of the goods etc.) on the blockchain?

I assume that if a company fills the wrong data everyone will know they lied, which will ruin their brand. I think its in their best interest to comply and play by the rules. There could always be some kind of an incentive, just like in bitcoin. Miners are incentivized to be honest and play by the rules by getting block rewards. Great comment either way.

[Mauro]

Very nice answers. Great start.

[Mauro]

@BISKITBLOKCHOP

It is unreasonable to expect them to act in true integrity and honor when we have history guide us clearly to what men do time and again given the opportunity.

I totally agree with this. Its a shame, but its just the way the world works. We should learn from history and try to find better solutions.

@PesaCZ

2. Because normal databases are cetralised. Centralised entities are based on trust in them and that trust has been broken so many times. The one who is in the center of power will eventually use it in his interest.

Its really a shame. I am with you.

[Mauro]

@Saffa_Abroad

2. Because it doesn’t connect the “accounting” layer with the “transactions” layer;

Its not only that. We always have to trust a normal database. As a single person could always change the database information.

[Mauro]

@Rob_McCourt

1. By using mathematics and Scientific methods to verify transactions thereby removing trust from the equation

True. Decentralization is the key part. If we store a database in a lot of locations its gonna be hard to fake some data in the datatbase.

[Mauro]

@DeezSats

1. Blockchain allows for a chronology of ownership.

Yes. We can keep a record of products path and its ownership. The main thing that enables the digital provenance is that we keep multiple copies of the database between many nodes around the world.

[Mauro]

@moza8

1, So that anyone can verify from where/when/from who something came.

Yes, and we do it by the help of many nodes around the world. Decentralization of a database helps us reach provenance.

[Joi]

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
   It’s traceable, transparent, unchangeable and inherently auditable.

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

There are varying levels of trust being used in the marketplace to transact day-to-day business. We’ve inherently given our trust to bankers etc in hopes that they will do right by the consumer. Using blockchain technology will enable all businesses to operate on a trustless platform.

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

Tracking provenance to meet regulatory compliance – By serving as a public ledger system that certifies the data in a supply chain’s production log, blockchain provides the required visibility needed to track raw material provenance. This is essential in complex, global industries like food, medicine and consumer goods, where the provenance of raw materials and ingredients are highly regulated and notoriously difficult and expensive to manage.

Improving public health, safety and services – Blockchain provides a way to democratise data in order to improve public health, safety and happiness. Today data’s value disproportionately benefits large organizations like Amazon, Facebook and Google. With Blockchain, powerful organizations like these will no longer be able to successfully argue with regulators that they can’t share data with health organisations, public service providers and even citizens for fear of compromising privacy and security.

[petra]

Hey @Kingdub414,

Welcome to the Academy and the forum!

[RegTora]

1/Blockchain enables digital provenance through verification and traceability of any transaction through digital ledger.
2/Normal database doesn’t have the same provenance because it won’t have the digital capability to trace the whole supply chain & ingredients from the start till end product.
3/it verifies everything for a business thus making the products trusted and making the company more profitable.

[Vaughn_Marc]

1.) I categorize Block chain into 2 types:
a. ROM (read only memory) b. (RAM Random access memory)

As for end users and businesses like us, it is a ROM.
Were we can only verify all transaction thru viewing, we
can’t edit anything or manipulate transactions in the ledger,
but even with limited access the ledger is accessible, fair and
very transparent.

But as for miners, because they are the ones confirming the
authenticity and accuracy of transactions. They belong to the
RAM or random access memory. Where they are the ones
stamping a block of blocks as legit transactions. They have
higher authority than end users like us.

2.) Private database doesn’t have the same provenance as block chain because
of a certain law. The Data Privacy Act, businesses and Governments just can’t
afford posting their database in the internet because they will be very vulnerable
for attacks and Hacks. Transparency is out of the question. There is still provenance
but this is just limited to the Management and Auditors (Accounting).

3.) Digital provenance have great benefits to businesses because it is cheap
and accessible. You can do away hiring finance manpower and external audits(Accounting). From a business perspective it will be great because less cost leads to higher profits. But I think there will be a negative side to it also. I was in Sales with Coca-cola Philippines for 7 years, and our management easily waved bonuses by declaring low or mediocre profits. With block chain, they
can’t do that anymore. Because their data can be seen by simple employees and
not only by management. Block chain is a double edged sword.

[jackswango]

1 - It makes an immutable ledger for transactions which cannot be altered. Sealed RFID labels can be used in the supply chain to check quality of produce at each step without needing a human to do so.

2. A normal database is not private, it is centralised. These records are not immutable and rely on trust to not be altered.

3. • No single point of failure helps to ensure quality in a trust-less way throughout the supply chain, verifying every point from the source throughout transit. This helps to trace the point of origin of products and materials.

[Jacob_Kocurek]

Homework on Provenance - Questions

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

• It enables it by providing realtime auditing through a public ledger. Everyone can see it. And everyone can add onto it, but not edit it - it has to be verified by others in the network.

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

• A normal database is centralised. Therefore it can be manipulated. It is much less trustworthy because there is only entity.

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

• There is no need for a business to be concerned about trust, because the digital provenance will verify every transaction/information.

[Paul]

1. Blockchain enables digital provenance, by recording data on a blockchain and verifying it using a network of servers. This data cannot be edited nor can it be deleted.

Blockchain connects multiple nodes with a network which verifies data, if it is changed and serves as a permanent recording.

2. The data on a normal database can be altered and changed, often there is a need for trust to verify data, and the data isn’t stored and doesn’t follow the same exact procedure of being checked.

3. It eliminates the need for trust. This is especially important when it comes to verifying data and the origin of goods and money, e.g. Greece is major olive oil producer, however if one looks at the amount of olive oil with a ‘Greece origin’ label that is sold every year and exported, it becomes evident that the olive oil can’t be only from Greece because the production output is less than the total amount sold with a Greece label sign.

This is because the origin is non transparent and this serves as an example of one of the many industries which could be improved by such an application.

[arunds10]

1. The blockchain allows digital provenance because it is a non centralised public ledger where transactions cannot be deleted nor edited, which means that everybody can trace these back to the origin.

2. Normal databases are centralised and can be altered by the owner, this means that we have to trust them and cannot verify ourselves.

3. Because it allows the ability to track and prove information on the blockchain in real time, and requires no middle man.