{"id":4813,"date":"2018-10-09T20:39:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T20:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ormuco.com\/?p=4813"},"modified":"2019-03-21T14:23:35","modified_gmt":"2019-03-21T14:23:35","slug":"blog-blockchain-iot-computing-no-longer-matter-centralization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ormuco.com\/fr\/blog\/blockchain-iot-computing-no-longer-matter-centralization","title":{"rendered":"Blockchain and IoT: When Computing Is No Longer A Matter of Centralization"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the rise of interest in bitcoin, blockchain has been in the forefront of the mind of many luminaries in the world of IoT (the Internet of Things<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But, because the topic is not common, many are still unaware of what blockchain is, how it works, and how it’s linked to IoT or bitcoin.<\/p>\n

So, let’s take a look at the basics of these technologies, and discuss both the challenges and opportunities of the integration of IoT and blockchain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Let’s Start with Bitcoin!<\/h2>\n

Bitcoin is a digital currency or cryptocurrency<\/strong>. It was created as a peer-to-peer system for online transactions. Bitcoin differs from traditional currency models because it relies on a global, distributed network of computers to validate the transactions, rather than a centralized authority.<\/p>\n

In December 2017,\u00a0the price of one bitcoin (BTC) reached a record high value of US<\/strong>$19,783.06<\/b><\/p>\n

How is blockchain related to bitcoin? Blockchain is used to verify the cryptocurrency transactions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What Is Blockchain \u2013 And How Does It Function?<\/h2>\n

Webopedia<\/a> defines blockchain as\u00a0“a type of data structure that enables identifying and tracking transactions digitally and sharing this information across a distributed\u00a0network\u00a0of computers”.<\/p>\n

Simply put, a blockchain is a secure, distributed database<\/strong>. So, it is decentralized by design. It runs on multiple, independent systems at the same time \u2013 rather than a single, centralized server that is controlled by one company or organization.<\/p>\n

The word blockchain conveys the idea of a real-time list of records (called “blocks”) replicated to several, “chained” computers and secured using advanced cryptography.<\/p>\n

The primary advantage of the technology is that it\u2019s both encrypted and public<\/strong>. It is nearly impossible to tamper with it in any way, due to its design. Any data or record in a given \u201cblock\u201d of data cannot be changed retroactively<\/strong>, unless all other blocks that come afterward are altered, which requires a \u201cnetwork majority\u201d approval from all systems. This makes bitcoin transactions irreversible, for instance.<\/p>\n

The decentralized nature of blockchain is why it\u2019s become such a hot topic among IoT professionals, who are seeking to create secure devices and technologies that rely on edge computing, rather than centralized cloud computing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What Is IoT?<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve certainly heard the term IoT, which is short for \u201cInternet of Things<\/a>\u201d. And IoT is exactly what it sounds like \u2013 a method to integrate any network-enabled devices into the global internet network<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The goal of IoT is to allow devices other than common computers to automatically transmit data to a centralized network, for processing and analysis.<\/p>\n

Smart heart monitors for hospital patients, moisture sensors on farmland, IoT thermometers to ensure refrigerated trucks are properly cooled, surveillance cameras, wearables such as smart watches,\u00a0 or intelligent home appliances \u2013 all of these connected “things” are part of the Internet of Things.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Challenges Facing IoT \u2013 And How Blockchain Can Help<\/h2>\n

According to Forbes,\u00a029% of companies are using IoT.<\/a><\/u> While it’s been adopted by many companies, there are still some big challenges facing IoT’s widespread adoption. Blockchain could hold the key to solving these problems, such as:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n