Why They Are the Future of Commerce & Much More
Date: April 3, 2018, 7:30 pm
Location: Danbury Hospital Creasy Auditorium
Presenter: Mike Kaltschnee
We have heard about blockchain technology more than once during general meeting presentations. I believe the first time was John Patrick’s presentation about Election Attitude. He mentioned blockchain as a reliable means to securely record electronic voting. This is heavily paraphrased from Wikipedia:
A blockchain is a continuously growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography. Each block typically contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp and transaction data. This makes a blockchain inherently resistant to modification of the data. A blockchain is typically managed by a peer-to-peer network collectively adhering to a protocol for validating new blocks. Once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without the alteration of all subsequent blocks. This inherent security makes blockchains potentially suitable for recording records management activities, such as identity management, transaction processing, documenting provenance, or voting.
Note that the words “bitcoin” and “cryptocurrency” were not used even once, as they are not what define a blockchain.
Our April meeting will give us an opportunity to learn about the history and get an overview of the various cryptocurrencies, an explanation of how they work, plus the strengths and weaknesses of the various “coins”. Along the way we’ll get into a detailed look at the blockchain technology. We might even learn why, as many believe, it’s “the next big thing” that’s going to “change the world”.
Our presenter, Mike Kaltschnee, is the co-founder of the Danbury Hackerspace at the Innovation Center, an entrepreneur, father, and avid technology enthusiast. You do not want to miss this meeting.