Homework on Provenance - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#1781

1.How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
A. Blockchain enables digital provenance by tracking and tracing, through a trustless environment. There is no requirement to trust any one individual or organisation as the system verifies all transactions.

2.Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A. A normal database has to rely on individuals being trustworthy and correct on their input. There is room for error or misleading behaviour in a normal database environment.

3.Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
A. Digital provenance is a great benefit as it provides efficiency, saves time, saves money, reduce waste/cost. It creates reliability because the system is based on maths and not totally reliant on human behaviour, therefore making it a trustless environment.

1 Like
#1782

  1. It creates a trust less history of information.

  2. A normal database is mutable and controlled by one party, the blockchain is audited by many nodes to see if anything is wrong. Once it is written to it is not changed.

  3. This allows for instant auditing of transactions and for them to trace where products come from. It takes out the trust you have to have for a vendor.

1 Like
#1783

  1. Blockchain enables digital provenance through its ability to verify transaction data present within the block. The data is not alterable, therefore you cannot corrupt it to serve your own purposes (i.e. in the case where you might have an incentive to hide something or make it disappear altogether), and since it is a public ledger, anyone can go in and verify what you are saying, increasing credibility to 100% and removing trust from the equation.

  2. A normal database may have vulnerabilities within it that can be taken advantage of along with gaps in some areas where the database may have no control (i.e. where trust takes on the primary from of transparency).

  3. Because it increases efficiency and creates incredible amounts of transparency, which will ultimately serve businesses, whether that be through cost minimization, greater value added to the consumer or otherwise.

1 Like
#1784 
How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
  Blockchain provides an immutable chain of transactions providing a history from   
  provenance

Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
   A normal database can be easily altered and generally transactions are entered at a 
  date after the transaction has happened.

Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
   From my perspective it gives the business assurance of supply chain time and 
   materials. It can also give the end consumer the same confidence of source 
   materials and production methods
1 Like
#1785
  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance? Blockchain enables digital provenance by allowing there to be absolute transperancy. Not only is the blockchain used as a ledger for transactions but also a verification method for goods and services being bought or sold.
  2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance? A normal database isn’t interconnected to other businesses’ databases so it’s practically impossible to keep all the information open. Better said, traditional databases are centralized and operated by a central authority usually a government or a corporation.
  3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses? Digital provenance is a great benefit because it allows businesses to easily track and keep up to date with the status of each and every one of their products.
#1786
  1. Blockchain enables digital provenance through being immutable and verifiable.
  2. Normal Database allow for manipulation of the data by those with permission to alter or remove data.
  3. Digital Provenance provides businesses a trust-less environment where transactions are open and verifiable.
1 Like
#1787

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
Blockchain is a public ledger that is a decentralized database of verified transactions that is trackable and traceable using math and the technology. Having all the transactions in the blockchain helps us to “PROVE” that the transaction took place and we are able to trust the network that has verified the transaction. With all the tracking, tracing, verifying and trust that this built into blockchain we can enable digital provenance.

2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
“Normal” databases are inherently not built with features to be stored in multiple locations on a large network of computers with the same data being verified publically, and the transactions that are added or removed be trusted within the database or network. In a “normal” database structure the database is centrally held and transactions are not verified. The information is only as good as the personal entering the information into a database which can be manipulated by that personal as well, and no verification is required. There is no way to “PROVE” that data has not been taken out of the database or added since the database is not tracked and traced by a public ledger. “Normal” databases can build tracking and tracing into the system, but since this is all held centrally and is not in the public domain, it too can be manipulated.

3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
Digital provenance is able to bring trust to many businesses which can be publically verified. This adds value to the business and its products and customers purchasing the end product can be assured of the goods and services they are purchasing. Provenance can also safeguard all parties in the supply chain since that information that is traveling from source to the end product or service can be trusted and verified. There is openness and transparency for all involved through the process, and any business that implements provenance will have a value added advantage over their competitors.

1 Like
#1788

Why does blockchain enable digital provenance?
All new data is added to the chain. The chain is saved decentralized and constantly verified by independant parties, thus all data in the chain could never be removed or changed. By this, all previous data is available at any time and digital provenance guaranteed.

Why doesn´t a normal database bring the same provenance?
Normal databases and their backups are saved and managed centralised. Without the decentralised independent verification all data and backups could be changed by intention, by hacks or by accident at any time.

Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
In todays globalised world, the supply chains are very complex. To maintain a constant reliable connection of trust with all involved supply steps is economical almost impossible. With todays high tech the possibilities of manipulation are manifold. To verify quality standards for each and every product is economically in most cases not feasable or impossible. Today, businesses need fast and efficient processes. The digital provenance of blockchain offers a fast (instant) trustless verification that is saving money and time in many ways.

1 Like
#1789
    • it enables digital provenance by end to end digital tracking
    • because it is not verifiable whether the information is correct or not. This is fixed by having multiple databases of the same type and each node verifying the information.
    • because there will be no need to have a central verifying authority. it also will also shorten the time needed to audit information that normally will take days or weeks.
1 Like
#1790

  1. By keeping a public (transparent) and immutable records of all transactions without the need of trust; although the authenticity of the information recorded on the 1st entry (from off-chain to on-chain) is still a challenge.

  2. Because it represents a single point of failure. A “trusted” party oversees the records. These record-keepers might not be trustworthy. Records can be changed all the way back to its 1st entry and even deleted.

  3. Because it adds great value to their products and services and more efficiency can be accomplished in the global supply chain without compromising its (so needed) resilience (broken long time ago).

1 Like
#1791

  1. by the ability to verify transactions in public, immutable ledger.

  2. because normal DB is controlled by a centralized entity and can be manipulated.

  3. because you don’t have to rely on trust. You can just verify.

1 Like
#1792

  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
    The database is copied into each pc of each miner (Is it Ivan?). So if my friend miner A writes into his database he owns 100BTC, I can raise the question to the network and get fast confirmation from miner B that he has not such a record.

  2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
    In normal database, owner can write/erase anything.

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

#1793

1: By using a decentralized system there is one central authority that can alter the data therefore making reliable
2: because if it is central controlled it can be manipulated by the owners of the centralized system
3:it offers complete traceability of the whole supply chain. From the source of the different components making up a finished product to the end user. therefore ensuring that the product is actually what it pretends to be

#1794

Mauro,
Provenance by being able to go back in the blockchain and verify each intervention
The blockchain gives trusted info since it is unidirectional so when information is needed verifiying what is on the blockchain tells the history of the item.
Ia this what you are looking for?
Thanks

#1795
  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?

Blockchain is a secure and transparent public ledger that can be seen in real time and can’t be changed or removed.

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

A normal database is open to fraudulent transactions, audits have to be prepared, data can be hacked or erased, certain information is not visable, so there is alot of trust required.

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

Transparency removes the need for trust, this has many benefits to many types of businesses. Blockchain will also help to eliminate fraudulent businesses and scams, and with the ability to essentially audit in real time, this is a great benefit.

1 Like
#1796

  1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
    Blockchain = digital stone. you can add data through a ledger. data can never removed.
    All transactions are traced/saved.

  2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring same provenance?
    Any data base outside blockchain is owned and is at risk of corruption. This means you can lose trust from corruption.

  3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to businesses?
    Trace transactions in real time. Real time auditing and accounting + transactions merge.

1 Like
#1797

  1. Blockchain enables provenance as it is a public and immutable ledger, hence every transaction can be traced back to its origin

  2. Records in a normal database can be altered or deleted hence trust must be placed in the central authority administrating the database

  3. Digital provenance allows businesses to trace back transactions, production, supply etc. to origin without having to place trust in partners, suppliers etc.

1 Like
#1798

  1. Provenance can be traditionally defined as “ the place of origin or earliest known history of something”. Blockchain enables digital provenance because data can only be added to the public ledger and never removed, because the network is decentralised and therefore all data on the public ledger is distributed in a way that is identical at each individual node (or component ledger) of the network, which itself is not only immutable and neutral but has 100% incentivisation for accurate verification at each individual point and further to that, no single point of failure.

  2. A normal database cannot ensure a comparable level of provenance, firstly because it is centralised and reliant on the information of inputs and outputs being verified by trust (unlike Blockchain which is “trustless”); furthermore data can be both added and removed, as well as duplicated, meaning that the data entry or manipulation of a single entity, or any entity along the chain, can undermine the accuracy of the provenance-related data; and because even entities acting in good faith are relying on the data initially supplied to them (for example, food ingredients) is accurate, and will remain accurate after they have recorded it; furthermore, there is no network of identical copies of the database distributed to a wide, highly verification-incentivised community, and therefore no reliable governance.

  3. Digital provenance allows companies in different industries to verify that transactions and their origins are correct (e.g. in financial terms no double spending or fraud), that categorical data is correct (such as food ingredients, countries and factories of origin), and that the claims they make about their products and services (as well as the inputs from their suppliers) are totally accurate - and by design this enables acceptance by all stakeholders in the affected community (in this case suppliers, partners, employees and customers), in that they can be assured of the aforementioned by way of a system that is not dependent on trust, and instead hard independent verification that has a broad consensus.

1 Like
#1799

1. How does blockchain enable digital provenance?
Blockchain enables digital provenance by creating a ledger record that once verified by all (or at least a certain number of verifying node) gets confirmed and becomes part of an immutable and undestroyable record making up a ‘block’. This block is then another link in the blockchain going forward, no one can change the ledge record in a past block, any changes to a specific leger record ‘value’ happens in reference to/with the past ledger record. I.e. it has been confirmed that Bob has 10 apples on block 1. One month (and 30 ‘blocks’ later) if Bob sells 4 apples then on block 31 everyone must agree that Bob had 4 apples to sell in the first place, and as each block previous contains a record of all previous blocks - any verifier can see that Bob had 10 apples (he has not sold any) and so he can sell 4 apples, his new apple ‘value’ would be 6 apples. The ledge record in block 31 (when confirmed) and going forward will show that until block 30 Bob had 10 apples, on block 31 Bob has 6 apples (as her sold 4 in a transaction confirmed in Block 31).
2. Why doesn’t a normal database bring the same provenance?
A normal database does not usually save past transaction/value history as well as ‘metadata’ relating to why the data was changed, and if it does it does not make it impossible to change the transaction history the way blockchain technology does. Additionally, if it does contain past records, it does not contain a means to verify past and present records accuracy through independent multi-verified ‘auditors’. Also, all data contained within normal databases is centrally controlled by self-interested parties - which can be manipulated for personal/selfish gain. Finally, these databases are ‘private’ so only those with clearance can check the records, whereas blockchains such as Bitcoin are public ledgers - that everyone can look into the history and use the information freely. (Admittedly Blockchain databases do not essentially need to be wholly or in part public - they just need to be immutable)
3. Why is digital provenance such a great benefit to many businesses?
Because it allows the investigation of records within the ledger at a cheaper and faster way (and potentially by more people), as well as enabling greater trust in the accuracy and validity of the data i the information contained (as past records cannot be changed, and data value changes in the present refer back to previous block values for accuracy, etc)

1 Like
#1800

Blockchain enables digital provenance through tracking in real time exactly what is taking place with the given item or task being tracked.

A normal database does not bring the same provenance because there is not one overall ledger upon which the data of each verifiable party can be added. With the current methods being used the end result is that whoever is on the receiving end has to accept what other groups claim happened. There is way to completely verify all of the data involved from start to finish.

Digital provenance is such a great benefit to many businesses because with all of the established data from start to finish, we don’t have to trust someone’s word on what took place, we just have to compute the data and verify instead. That way if a company wants to ensure certain details i.e. ethical practices, have taken place. Then the company can trace back through the ledger verifying the given history of the item or detail in question.

1 Like