Maersk, Walmart & others already applying blockchain technology to everyday use

[Hydrogen]

What links flowers, mandarin oranges, and pineapples? They’re all neatly recorded on Maersk’s new digital shipping ledger.

Moving millions of gigantic metal boxes around the world is hard work—but circumnavigating the associated paperwork can be even harder. So the world’s largest shipping company has been trialing how it can make use of the digital technology behind the world’s most notorious cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, to make it a little easier.

Bitcoin is built on what's called the blockchain: a digital ledger where each line is recorded based on the previous one using cryptographic techniques, making it almost impossible to modify at a later date. The ledger isn’t stored centrally, and multiple parties can agree by consensus that the details contained within it are accurate—which means that it's in everyone's interest to keep it so. That makes it perfect for recording financial transactions, but also doing plenty else, too.

The shipping company Maersk has now announced that it has been working with IBM to use the blockchain to keep track of shipments as they’re hauled across the seas. This isn’t the company keeping track of the metal boxes themselves, but rather their contents. The company claims that a single container being hauled from East Africa to Europe might require paperwork to be dealt with by as many as 30 different people, spread across 200 or more interactions.

So with IBM it’s built a tool based on blockchain that allows every participant in a supply chain to see the progress of a shipment, including where the container is and the status of its documents. The hope: shippers reduce the weight of paperwork that needs to be done, while customs officials and clients can see where goods are at all times. So far, shipments of flowers from Kenya, mandarin oranges from California, and pineapples from Colombia have all been tracked using the tool as they flowed into the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Maersk isn’t alone in using the blockchain to keep track of stuff. As the New York Times points out in a long piece describing IBM’s foray into blockchain, Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations. That includes Wal-Mart, which announced last year that it was using blockchain to record and log the origins of produce in order to improve health and safety standards.

IBM is clearly looking to assert its control as a blockchain force to be reckoned with, but others will snap at its heels. Microsoft is already working on the technology, and its open nature means that it’s already being used by smaller upstarts to do everything from build cryptocurrencies for the world of corporate finance to make a more private Internet. One thing is clear: there's certainly more to blockchain than Bitcoin.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603791/the-worlds-largest-shipping-company-trials-blockchain-to-track-cargo/

Looks like blockchain technology is already being utilized in applications other than currency.

Have to believe Satoshi is dead.    If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.  

Also, who would have guessed blockchain could be utilized in this way? Very interesting!

[Amadues]

Wow! I love this blockchain adoption for real life!
I think there is also another news:

[IBM ]Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations

Have to believe Satoshi is dead. If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.

The blockchain is a technology for all. No patent no copyright it's a technology for humanity.

We are all Satoshi

[Hydrogen]

Wow! I love this blockchain adoption for real life!
I think there is also another news:

[IBM ]Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations

Have to believe Satoshi is dead. If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.

The blockchain is a technology for all. No patent no copyright it's a technology for humanity.

We are all Satoshi

Satoshi could patent blockchain if he chose to do so.

Then those who use it would pay him licensing fees.

I like this as evidence blockchain is useful for things other than currency & has other applications.

[cpfreeplz]

Wow! I love this blockchain adoption for real life!
I think there is also another news:

[IBM ]Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations

Have to believe Satoshi is dead. If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.

The blockchain is a technology for all. No patent no copyright it's a technology for humanity.

We are all Satoshi

Satoshi could patent blockchain if he chose to do so.

Then those who use it would pay him licensing fees.

I like this as evidence blockchain is useful for things other than currency & has other applications.

You do know that bitcoins are open source right? That's the opposite of patenting something. Go patent the internet you flippin hurpadurp. This thread is a waste of precious computing power.

[sotoshihero]

There are many uses of blockchain technology and we are glad that some big transportation and shipping companies are utilizing this technology. Satoshi really has a great invention that is shared to humanity tat can be apply and adopted on any businesses.

[Hydrogen]

You do know that bitcoins are open source right? That's the opposite of patenting something. Go patent the internet you flippin hurpadurp. This thread is a waste of precious computing power.

For blockchain to be released under an open source license, it would need to be explicitly stated by Satoshi and other original bitcoin developers.

No one knows who Satoshi is. *Hint, hint*

This is why banks and others have tried to patent blockchain technology in the past.

[criptix]

So anyone can explain me the advantages over like lets say a mysql database?

Else i would just say: lol what?

[Hydrogen]

So anyone can explain me the advantages over like lets say a mysql database?

Else i would just say: lol what?

No SQL injections, less downtime, could eliminate login/password/authentication steps for users, more tamper proof/secure than backend databases, no licensing fees like there might be if they used oracle or some other enterprisey backend software, the code could be more compact, scaleable and portable than SQL and using a blockchain could eliminate the need for firewalls, VPN, SSH, HTTPS and other standard security practices that would be used with a backend db.

This is off the top of my head, there are probably many reasons for using a blockchain over SQL I'm missing.

[squatz1]

Wow! I love this blockchain adoption for real life!
I think there is also another news:

[IBM ]Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations

Have to believe Satoshi is dead. If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.

The blockchain is a technology for all. No patent no copyright it's a technology for humanity.

We are all Satoshi

Satoshi could patent blockchain if he chose to do so.

Then those who use it would pay him licensing fees.

I like this as evidence blockchain is useful for things other than currency & has other applications.

You do know that bitcoins are open source right? That's the opposite of patenting something. Go patent the internet you flippin hurpadurp. This thread is a waste of precious computing power.

The guy was just making the point that he could've patented it if he really wanted to and could've charged these big companies to use the tech if they wanted to. It would've really been something that would've earned Satoshi a lot but he didn't feel the need to do this.

Bitcoins are opensource BUT THE TECH behind them, the blockchain, could've been something that could've gotten a patent. That's all this dude was saying and it makes sense, you're dumb and you tried to make fun of him.

But yes, it is wonderful to see all of these companies using it and it was thought that something like this was gonna happen as companies were coming out in support of the blockchain tech.

[jc89]

Even if blockchain was patented, some developers would still use blockchain's concept. That is how innovation works today. More and more developers and programmers will be utilizing blockchain in different type of applications. And come to think of it, is there some sort of problem if blockchain was used mostly in different application rather than currency at all?

[Denker]

There are many uses of blockchain technology and we are glad that some big transportation and shipping companies are utilizing this technology. Satoshi really has a great invention that is shared to humanity tat can be apply and adopted on any businesses.

This is true. Bitcoin and all the other crypto currencies are just the first application of Blockchain Technology.
Some others will follow. But lot's of it will also again disappear as it can be used and solved with other distributed databases as well.
Right now companies try to make blockchains for almost everything. This is definitely a hype which will find it's peak and burst like a bubble. Then a few use cases will remain where Blockchain definitely can be an advantage.

[TravelMug]

Banks, Pharmacuetical/Medicine and other industries are all utilizing the power of Blockchain technology. Indeed,
The technology that is likely to have an enormous impact on the future of the world economy and how to do business has arrived and it is here to stay. Its has the ability to virtually record everything of value, making the industries that will apply it solves many issues and barriers specially in consolidating and moving data around their business with ease.

[LeGaulois]

You know, there are many industries where the blockchain technology can be used, food traceability, diplomas(degrees) verification, ect. Worldline Atos is even on it for the market of second hand cars to enable people to check the maintenance history that have been done on any car. We have seen nothing yet regarding the potential of the blockchain. In my opinion the blockchain will be bigger than bitcoin.

[mindrust]

I like blockchain for being free and open source but on the other hand there is a saying which always bugs me while i'm using free stuff:

"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product."

Means, if you don't pay for the stuff you are using, you still pay in some other way but you feel good because you don't realize. 

[criptix]

So anyone can explain me the advantages over like lets say a mysql database?

Else i would just say: lol what?

No SQL injections, less downtime, could eliminate login/password/authentication steps for users, more tamper proof/secure than backend databases, no licensing fees like there might be if they used oracle or some other enterprisey backend software, the code could be more compact, scaleable and portable than SQL and using a blockchain could eliminate the need for firewalls, VPN, SSH, HTTPS and other standard security practices that would be used with a backend db.

This is off the top of my head, there are probably many reasons for using a blockchain over SQL I'm missing.

I dont think this is correct.

1. Cost
In blockchaintech security is always proportional to computational power which is proportional to cost (i.e. PoW).
Re licensing fee: would be the same. I doubt they are doing it for free.

2. Stability

A centralized database is very easy to backup and update.
I cant imagine a problem that would lead to a longer downtime (except the severfarm explodes but even then you could have backups in the cloud) - imagine your asic farm explodes.

3. Scaleability

I think in this regard both is pretty equal.

4. User friendly

I still think there has to be some kind of authentification. It is a public database where people add important info to (In your case: transport managment).

[Qartada]

You do know that bitcoins are open source right? That's the opposite of patenting something. Go patent the internet you flippin hurpadurp. This thread is a waste of precious computing power.

For blockchain to be released under an open source license, it would need to be explicitly stated by Satoshi and other original bitcoin developers.

No one knows who Satoshi is. *Hint, hint*

This is why banks and others have tried to patent blockchain technology in the past.

If even banks have failed to patent something as basic as blockchain technology, it can't be patented or it's very hard.  Satoshi clearly didn't want to patent blockchain technology and get fees from people using it - there would be no point, Satoshi hardly needs more money right now anyway and the blockchain isn't really something that he invented, it's just something that he innovated in the public eye.

[Denker]

I like blockchain for being free and open source but on the other hand there is a saying which always bugs me while i'm using free stuff:

"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product."

Means, if you don't pay for the stuff you are using, you still pay in some other way but you feel good because you don't realize. 

Well Blockchains can vary in the way they are working and created. Not all Blockchains will be open and permissionless.Especially the ones used by industry consortia or banks for instance.
Furthermore when you use opens systems such like Bitcoin and all the others you are paying with a txn fee! With Blockchain you are not the product!Exceptions might exist of course.

[HaXX0R1337]

Looks like blockchain technology is already being utilized in applications other than currency.
Have to believe Satoshi is dead.    If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.  
Also, who would have guessed blockchain could be utilized in this way? Very interesting!

There have being a list of patents filed for blockchain and hope you know who is behind all those filed patents,it is none other than Craig Steven Wright and block chain is the invention of the century which could ease many things and brings legitimacy and transparency and can decrease the cost of operation.

[dennyd999]

Wow! I love this blockchain adoption for real life!
I think there is also another news:

[IBM ]Big Blue is working with 400 different organizations to apply the technology to different situations

Have to believe Satoshi is dead. If he were still alive he would have patented blockchain technology a long time ago.

The blockchain is a technology for all. No patent no copyright it's a technology for humanity.

We are all Satoshi

Satoshi could patent blockchain if he chose to do so.

Then those who use it would pay him licensing fees.

I like this as evidence blockchain is useful for things other than currency & has other applications.

Satoshi still have 1 000 000 unused Bitcoins.

Money is not what he is about.

[Ayiranorea]

The blockchain is listed under the top innovation list. This getting implemented into the top and leading brand profiles and other firms is a big matter. This will increase slowly, now several banks have been trying to make use of it and as a part Russia is making plans to use the blockchain technology as much possible by 2018.