The Far Reaching Implications of the Bitcoin Protocol

Bitcoin

It is hard to imagine a world where smart phone technology is ubiquitous, and there are still individuals who do not have access to adequate financial institutions. In these modern times there are roughly six billion people with limited or no access to banking facilities. Difficult to fathom, right? Sadly this is the truth for many people in developing countries. Coupled with corruption, limited modes of transportation, and high transaction fees, bank accounts are a luxury that many people cannot afford. Enter Bitcoin into this equation and financial freedom is just the beginning.

Bitcoin is not just money for the internet; it is a programming language that allows for the decentralization of any information system. As said by Andreas Antonopoulos (2014), “Bitcoin is the internet of money.” In order to understand this let’s use the analogy of the internet; which allows any individual admission to a global communication and information network instantaneously. In this same way, Bitcoin is allowing individuals’ instant access to a free global financial network. The implication of a decentralized financial network free from the corruption of third party moderators is overwhelming. Ponder for a moment introducing 6 billion potential consumers to the global marketplace. The possibilities for economic growth and innovation are exponential. This exists because Satoshi Nakamoto cryptocurrency market cap, the inventor of Bitcoin, chose to create open source software that gave all users equal say. The power of the Bitcoin network is its users, which currently exceeds the combined computing power of the top 600 super computers on Earth. This equates to a network, which is for all intents of purposes, impenetrable. Essentially, each individual computer acts as a voting node. These nodes vote on the validity of the current Bitcoin equation, otherwise known as the block chain. In order for the block chain to be verified, a majority of the voting nodes must corroborate if the equation is done correctly. This process happens in nanoseconds, meaning not all voting nodes will participate in every given block chain verification.

Bitcoin is primarily thought of in the west as trendy, new technology and a means of accruing wealth. Recently, the popularity for crypto-currencies has grown rapidly within investment circles, hedge funds, and among the technologically inclined due to its rising value. Though Bitcoin is utilized predominantly inside these aforementioned groups, current buzz surrounding Bitcoin millionaires and the public hearings in New York regarding future regulation have catapulted the currency into the mainstream ( NPR ). However, limiting the Bitcoin protocol to these previously mentioned industries is extremely short sighted given the genius of Satoshi’s underlying goal. Remember, the Bitcoin protocol can be applied to any information system, such as the system of voting. When applied to voting, there is no longer the need for a third party organization to verify an election as this is done by each individual voting node. This completely eliminates voter fraud and voting machine tampering. Individuals would be able to vote from the comforts of their own homes, using verifiable identification codes, through a transparent voting system.

We have seen that the Bitcoin protocol not only has the power to shape the future of our global financial network, but of our voting, our phones, and our cable television. Any system that is based on an unbiased third party mediator can be replaced by implementing the Bitcoin software. As the software is policed by all participating members, the possibility of corruption, or hacking the system is minuscule. Regardless of whether Bitcoin the currency ever blossoms into a legitimate mainstream form of monetary transaction remains to be seen, however the revolution in software that Nakamoto has unleashed has only just begun.

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UI/UX Design Trends For 2018 Every Designer Must Follow

Designer

UI is the engine of the rocket that drives a user to next frontier, but UX is the fuel that powers the engine. To talk about UI in 2018 is to talk about UX.

The UI design trends of 2018 might surprise you to an extent. Since this year is full of accessibility than of looks. Your efforts on every single pixel should be more aligned towards user-friendliness as opposed to working hard on animation, good looks or color overlaps.

Let’s see the design trends that are likely to make the headlines by storm.

• Board The Train Of Usability Engineering Usability Engineering would be the new UX in 2018. Since the past year has seen a major paradigm of Bitcoin, Amazon Alexa, Cortana, and Blockchain ascertaining the actual potential for mass adoption triggering the emergent need of usability that fits for the masses. In an essence, your design style should be so user-friendly that even a kindergarten student can understand it Best ICO Listing.

• Clear Visual Language Remove the unnecessary noise, visual clutter and give a content-centered experience. A well articulated and easily readable content appeals the target users. So, prioritize your content, remove irrelevant noise and elaborate clean and clear visual language.

• Voice Activated Interfaces Simplify the operations of users by applying voice-activated interfaces. Siri has advanced this trend prompting users to take action by voice rather than the conventional use of clicking buttons. Other than this, you can also chance upon other juxtaposed techniques like fingerprint activated interfaces which reduce the work of clicking.

• Strong Colors and Contrasted Fonts For Enhanced Readability Make the design speak for itself by making use of vibrant colors. Colors have the power to draw attention, evoke emotions and trigger actions.

• Natural Curves and Simple Geometry Adopt a basic look with simple curves and geometry this fall. Avoid the excessive use of colors, graphics, buttons, animations, pictures and complex elements that make your design look extra clumsy and mind jogging.

• Full-Screen Experiences iPhone X is here. Undoubtedly a trendsetter which gives audiences a new goal of having full-screen experience in whatever they view on their phone. Besides this, the trend doesn’t set off here. The quality of images is equally important that directly influences user’s orient towards your app.

Wrapping up, 2018 this time would be much more influenced by ethical ramifications of user’s design choices, pushing designers to focus on ethics. The interconnection between users’ behavior and design philosophy would be weaved as a single entity. Hence, UX wins over and becomes the new black.

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