Crypto Academy / Season 4 / Week 1 - Homework Post for Professor @yohan2on

Introduction

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The internet of things is an amazing development that has come along way since the inception of internet and ground breaking technologies that have come about over the years to make life simpler, easier and so much better in so many ways.

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Through my research in trying to understand a bit more about the internet of things i came to realize that internet of things looks basically at technology and how it has been integrated into systems through the use of the internet such that devices are able to communicate with each other and share information with one another.

Another thing i got to learn and understand about the internet of things is the fact that it works like a relay system or hierarchy structure where the devices we use in our homes and work and industries have to reach into the cloud to access information which is passed down from a higher common or processing center like a mainframe.

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Challenges with IOT

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Through my reading a research almost everyone and everything was point to these basic issues including professor's assignment post where the IoT tends to have issues with scalability and security due to the fact that day in day out new technology and innovations are been released which would need internet and access to the network to share and receive information and function adequately.

This means that more IT infrastructure has to be procured to keep things going and more powerup systems have to come to be able to keep the central command going and maintaining the speed of data delivery to ensure that systems don't get choked drastically affecting data sharing, input and output etc.

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Then there is also the fact that the centration of the system would make it susceptible to manipulation, security issues then goes up as any issues with the central command means an end to data sharing, manipulation of data from the higher level means people get to receive wrong information or what someone may want others to have.

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The Blockchain and how IoT Challenges may be tackled

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So basically we understand the blockchain a distributed archive or registry which is available to everyone at any point in time once connected to the network. Let's take it from the point that the it is a series of blocks or blocks in chains as it's name suggest.

Just like data stored in the cloud or central command of IoT each block on the blockchain has data stored in them and this data is protect or identified by a unique hash just like an iris scanner peculiar to every individual. New data that comes in forms another block from the old one but they all exist in the system and one can easily go back and find out about the first data, there is nothing like overwritten and gone.

What is even more beautiful is the fact that tempering with any of the blocks would mean a new hash for the block as it new, once a new harsh comes all other blocks would have to be updated too so they can communicate with the other blocks and verify that the data is indeed valid and this has to be in an agreement with all users connected to the blockchain.

This makes it quite difficult to temper with blocks on the blockchain even when one manages to temper the additional proof of work system makes it harder to change the harsh of all other blocks and cause the new block validation by other users or systems connected.

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What this means is that the blockchain can easily take care of the security issues or challenges that IoT of comes along with, ensuring that data delivery and sharing is safe and secured. The other issue then would be scalability. The blockchain tends to work as a decentralized system and employs the use of the peer to peer system in place of the central command.

With data processing coming in from all around and been shared from all around with all connected devices or users, machines with higher processing power get to deliver on demand to others that may need a particular information at any particular time without having to wait for the cloud or traffic etc. Each device connect shares, send and receive instantly without the need to continuous huge and build up of Infrastructure to enable any central command process and deliver at optimum level.

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Why Future of Internet of things depend on the blockchain

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There is only so much that can be done to continuously keep system running at optimum speed with increasing tech tools and advance that would demand bigger infrastructure and a higher data processing powerup to keep things going. It only a matter of time that blockchain is adopted into the internet of things to help make things better in many ways.

Including reducing cost of maintenance of huge machinery, faster access to data, security of data free from tempering, etc. With the blockchain a break in a node will not result in a complete shutdown or halt of systems and all connected systems will continue to operate and function.

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The blockchain eliminates the use of third party authentication which means for IoT to overcome the millions of devices connected at every point in time to beat traffic and ensure that data delivery is fast the blockchain would be the next point or source to rely on or work with. With the heirachy system eliminated and everyone contributing their quota once connected to the blockchain extremely super fast internet is just a blockchain away.

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An Case of IoT Blockchain Use Case

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An example of how i see IoT and Blockchain working together to make things better for technological tools usage is a situation where a network of hospitals have to share patient data across a particular platform. The use of IoT will help in the creation of applications and software that will enable patient data to be stored and processed and available at all branches of the hospital so patient can seek medical care wherever he or she finds himself.

With the adoption of Blockchain in this system, the hospital would not need to buy huge servers to continuously keep sharing and upgrading their data and buying infrastructure which would make it difficult for the hospital to even operate, with the blockchain everyone contribute their quota, any tempering with data will not work and patients feel secured knowing that data will not just vanish with an error and they always have their history with them.

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Financial transactions or payment of services for this institution can even use the blockchain and with devices contributing more they also get to enjoy their benefits.

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Conclusion

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The Internet of Things and Blockchain is beautiful future collaboration that can cause lots of changes in our world and i would certainly be looking forward to its collaboration in the future to come. Many thanks to @yohan2on for this opportunity to learn something new. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful time