It was in the late 1950s that computer network was first used, in US military radar system to be exact. The use of network has been growing by much ever since. It is no longer one for the military radar system only. As you might have seen today, network has become the very place where everyone across the globe would flock to, each for different purpose to do. Despite the diversity, what we have been doing actually involves around the same thing that is to share resources and exchange data between nodes by data links.
You might never realize that simply browsing the Internet alone has created lots of data for use in the network. Sure, since you are the one who creates it, it is only right that the data belongs to you. However, the fact says differently to what we have thought. After all, our data has long become susceptible to all sorts of data exploitation, like selling, tampering, or extraction without us knowing, let alone giving consent to it. To put stop to such thing, Datum has come to existence. So, let’s see everything we need to know about it here.
Fact of Today’s Database and Marketplace
We might have touched the topic a little before, but we need to dig further about how this network technology comes to existence before we learn what Datum really is. As it was said before, network is all about sharing resources and exchanging data. The existence of data is what makes the network development we know today. Did you know? We create about 2.5 Quintillion bytes of data every single day. It wouldn’t be strange to say that the data created for the last 2 years has made 90% of the world’s data today. It is quite a number.
Individuals and organizations are the ones who create them. Browsing the Internet is just one of the means to do so. Others include interacting on social networks, uploading personal files, syncing devices, and even shopping online. Unfortunately, our data are in the possession of large private organizations. They have huge data silos to store them. Then, those data become susceptible to exploitation. Just when exactly do we lose control over our own data? We are sure that you must have been wondering how this can happen.
To be precise, mostly we lose control over the data when we sign up to various network services. They offer what they claim as free services, while they actually do so in exchange of data exploitation. Those network services include what you must have known today, like Facebook, Google, Instagram, Twitter, and many more. Taking others’ possessions has never been a right thing to do no matter how you put it. Network users have to find the way to retake the control over their data and Datum is there to help us with that.
Datum to Give Solution to Data Exploitation
You have known the problem and this so-called Datum is said to be there to solve it. So, what is this Datum then? How is it going to be the solution? Actually, with the data network problem we face today, those behind the creation of this network technology think that there is a need for new database and marketplace. That is why they come to propose new network for the users. Of course, it is the kind of network that is different than any others. Secure smart contract blockchain is used to run the network with. How does it benefit?
This specific blockchain is there to make it possible for users to gain back the control of their data. The data to gain back is not just the personal and habitual ones that we produce every day. It is to gain back the data from the IoT devices as well. With decentralized database, users will be able to store their structured data as secure as possible. Storing and sharing data will only be possible with DAT token. To put it simply, DAT token is the currency we use in Datum network. We pay them to protect our data from exploitation, indeed.
However, by doing so, we make our data not available for free. If someone wants to use our data, they will have to pay with DAT token. You mainly protect your data, but you can also benefit from this network by monetizing it. Of course, you can have your own terms for those data. After all, you are the originator of the data. Thus, others have to follow your conditions. How can your data not be safe in such network? That is why Datum is the best distributed database and marketplace of personal data. It is worth the consideration.
Introducing Datum - Video
Data Access Token As the Network Currency
Many blockchain platforms today use their own currency to fuel the trade within their ecosystem. With real money, you buy their tokens. Then, you can use those tokens to sell or buy things in the ecosystem. The currency of blockchain platforms is widely known as token. However, the way they call it depends on what the platform is. In this case, Datum’s currency is called Data Access Token which is simply known as DAT token. As it was said before, the token will be the “money” you can use to store the data and others to buy them.
The use of this currency plays an important role here. If you think about it carefully, the token is the only means for others to get your data. Unlike the transaction with real money, token is safer since it is used by the participants within the ecosystem only. Go to https://datum.org/ if you are interested in buying this currency. If you are the data originator, make good use of the token to secure your data in the network. If you are other entities, make sure to use the token to obtain the users’ data properly. They are not meant to be exploited.
After all, they are not yours to begin with. To obtain those data, of course you will have to ask the originator’s permission. With the massive restrictions and limitations of today’s network services by the use of API, we know that companies or developers are having a hard time accessing users’ data. So, buying them from Datum with DAT token would solve the problem. If you want to know more about it, read through https://datum.org/assets/Datum-WhitePaper.pdf. It covers everything to know about Datum and its DAT token in detail.
The Work of the Ecosystem of Datum Network
There is always distinct ecosystem in every blockchain platform. What do you think about the one in this network? How does it work? Of course, there is some kind of procedure from when the data is going to enter the ecosystem to when it is purchased by the buyers. You don’t have to worry about having difficulty in understanding it though. Datum ecosystem is easy to understand. They don’t make things difficult for all participants of its ecosystem. To better know about this, let us tell you how exactly the procedure of the ecosystem is.
- The Submission of the Data by the User
If you are the users, you own your data. So, you have to submit it if you want it to be protected. That is why the first step of the procedure is for users to submit their data to Datum network. Your data won’t be protected unless you do the submission. Once the network receives your data, it will then be encrypted. Surely, we can’t be careless enough to display the data in the form that others could understand, right? If that is the case, there really is no use of submission. Datum is not that careless.
That is why they have the data encrypted or changed into secret code. Only when companies have bought it, they could read and understand it. To do so though, the data originators have to pay small amount of DAT tokens. However, we guarantee that it is worth doing it. In this step too, you will have the rights to set your own terms for the data usage. Just because others have bought your data, it does not mean that they can do whatever to it. This is important since the users would not want the others to use their data improperly. - The Data Storage by the Node Miners
You might have submitted your data to the network. However, the data is not ready yet for the potential buyers to buy. Just who exactly is in charge of receiving and storing the data in Datum network? Of course, there are the ones responsible for it and it would be none other than the storage node miners. The tokens you pay for the submission before are actually meant for those miners. You can’t expect them to work without being paid, right? That is why we need DAT tokens.
They will do the job to store and transmit data for you. Then, you know that your data has been processed properly before it becomes available for sale. You can say this is the core of the ecosystem since Datum is mainly about data storage. To be exact, the data is stored in the form of secret code until it gets sold to the buyers. You can expect no less from the network. They do know how to hide the data so that no one other than the buyers understands it. Otherwise, there will be no use of proposing this network to all users. - The Purchase of Data by the Buyers
Now that the data has been properly stored and is ready for sale, it is the time for the buyers to make the purchase. Since Datum ecosystem has one currency, buyers will have to purchase DAT tokens first before they can purchase users’ data. Once the buyers decide to buy certain data, the DAT tokens are received by the network. Then, the Smart Contract will initiate the off-chain key exchange in order to release the data. At this point, buyers acquire the data sold by the originators.
However, we should not forget that the data comes with its terms. If we were to buy it, it means that we have to agree with the terms. Even though you have bought the data, it does not mean that you become its originator. We need to respect the one who makes the data to begin with. So, it is a no to do things beyond the terms. Then, once the data is acquired by the buyers, the DAT tokens will be paid to the data originator. This is how you get the profit from selling your data through Datum network. Data is used under the terms too.
Conclusion
Now that we have reached the end of this article, what do you think about this new network? Judging by how it works, it is quite promising solution to the current’s data storage problem. With smart contract blockchain, Datum offers you fast, decentralized database and marketplace for personal data. You can expect safe trade and exchange within its ecosystem. Your data will not be simply stored as it is. In fact, they encrypt it so that others won’t be able to understand it unless they buy it. To do so too, they will need tokens.
DAT tokens further ensure the safety of the data. After all, this currency can only be used by the participants of the ecosystem. Without unnecessary individuals interfering in the middle, Datum offers you secured transactions. The transaction happening will be between you and the buyer only. If we have this discussed in detail like this, we know that there is much we can benefit from getting involved with Datum network. It is more than just protecting your data. You can actually earn profit from it. Give Datum network a try if you don’t want others to exploit your data without knowing it.
Posted by kurniawan05