BLOCKCHAIN: Public Ledgers have been around for Centuries. Blockchain is simply a Digital version of them..!!

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

As an Advocate of Blockchain Technology I am constantly asked to explain exactly what it is and what it does.

Over the last few years since I have been involved with promoting and championing the technology I am always looking at different angles to use to try and explain exactly what is and what it does.

GENERATIONAL THING

One thing that I have found that stands out is that it is a generational thing for people to try and understand what it is.

When I say generational, I mean were they brought up in a time pre or post Databases.

For me, now at the tender age of 50, my career began just as Databases were just starting off.

Anyone I now speak to that is over 40-55 I first explain to them to recall a time before Databases.

For those under 40 they most likely do not recall a time before Computers and therefore before Databases.

Having this split it helps to start off the explanation.

An example of this is that I have 2 young nephews who are at school and they totally get the basics of a Blockchain as they assume that computers and databases have been around forever..!!

IT'S JUST A DATABASE

Once you have managed to fix someone's attention on a Database being nothing more than a digital list of records it is easily then to explain that this digital list of records is no different than the old fashioned written/typed ledger that were around before computers.

By simply breaking it down into bite sized chucks most people will be able to keep up.

Now that they are thinking of a written/typed ledger explain to them that in some occasions these ledgers were made public for everyone to see.

OLD FASHIONED PUBLIC LEDGER

By simply referring back to the old fashioned Public Ledger that have been around for Centuries for the ones that struggle to understand what Blockchain is this is where you have to take them.

Now that they are focused on this old fashioned Public Ledger you are getting close to seal the deal and finally explain what Blockchain is.

PUT THE TWO TOGETHER

Having now explained and focusing their mind on Databases and Public Ledgers simply tell them to put the two together.

At this point you simply say that Blockhain is nothing more than a generic name for a Digital Distributed Public Ledger and is in essence a Database that is shared identically across a network of computers.

ACCESSING THE DATA

At this point most often people will jump in and say that they get it but does this mean that everyone can see the data.

This is the simple bit to explain by saying that the data is locked behind a set of doors that only a select few have special keys to either simply view the data, access or make changes.

At this point you are usually home and dry and most people will say "...is that it..!!"

For the ones who still don't get it, take a deep breath and try not to scream..!!

Thanks again for reading.

Stephen