Technology: It’s not about what it can do, but rather, what we can do with it…
Blockchain is here and it has the power to do great things
There’s an app for everything.
You want a cuddle? There’s an app for that. There’s an even an app that does Nothing… yes, it actually does nothing. How about wanting the satisfaction of popping a pimple? It’s a little gross, but yes, there’s even an app for that.
As of March 2017, there were 2.2 M apps on Apple Store and 2.8 M on Android
There will be more apps with the rise of Blockchain
As the rise of Blockchain technology reaches critical mass there will be more apps on the market and hopefully, some of them will do something useful or meaningful.
But as we get inundated with apps, the best application is still called “Humanity.”
Blockchain has the ability to change lives
There are people who believe that Blockchain can be revolutionizing. And, I’m one of those people… deep in the rabbit hole of this technology.
For many months, I have been talking about the transformative nature of this new system. More often than not, I was met with blank stares, deaf ears or a “huh?”. But recently, that conversation is now becoming less monologue and more dialogue.
Technologists are developing interesting, innovative solutions on the Blockchain. Block V, for example, is an innovative system that runs on top of the Blockchain which allows the creation and trading of digital goods, presented in a dynamic, multi-media platform.
Is it cool? Yes.
Will I use it? Probably.
Will it impact consumer behavior? I think so.
Will it change someone’s life? I don’t know.
Where Blockchain technologists and I intersect is in its ability to materially change the lives of those ignored within the banking infrastructure. I’m talking about the 2 billion unbanked. Going from not having a bank account to now having one is a material change in someone’s life. That’s the power of Blockchain.
Humanity marries Blockchain to create Blockchain for Social Good.
Blockchain technology could leapfrog us into materially impacting or solving some of the world’s biggest problems should we harness this power for good.
With transparency, accountability at the helm, those dedicated businesses who utilize and leverage this powerful tool could really affect civil societies globally — From the obscureness of corrupt regimes to financial inclusion to modern day slavery.
The start of poverty reduction lies within ID, or lack thereof, for the 2 Billion unbanked. No ID means no bank account. No bank account means no way of getting credit. No credit means not being able to buy the seeds to sow for next season’s crop. And so the cycle of poverty continues. And who do you think are the most vulnerable in times of typhoons or natural disasters? The poor.
In 2014 when typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines which affected millions of people, one of the least talked about epidemics were the “sudden” orphans who were abducted and sold into sexual slavery. Having no ID and no parents to claim them, these kids were easy targets for the sexual black market…..
But that will soon change.
Even with rise of A.I, there is no replacing Humanity
As we build machines, computers and processes on top of tech, lest us not forget each other… the natural system that connects us all — Humanity.
At MIT, Professor Daniela Rus maintains that robotics and AI are more about human / machine collaboration. That they should not replace us, but rather enable us — making our lives easier. In her view, pervasive robotics and AI will lead to a user-specific application of the technology
As more applications are being built on top of the Blockchain technology, I can’t help but think about the end user. How are their lives being affected?
Sure, Artificial Intelligence can do things faster and it has the power to make our lives easier, but the true power of this technology can’t fully be unleashed unless we understand the end user first.
Blockchain is here and it has the power to do great things. But, Technology has never been about what it can do, but rather, what we can do with it… and there in lies the important point — Human & Humanity first.
