DollarVigilante in a recent post makes a good argument for the case that Steemit could be
the "Drug" to get people addicted to the use of cryptocurrencies. While I agree with a lot
of what he said and certainly if successful Steemit will introduce cryptocurrency to many people;
its ultimate widespread adoption will depend on people using it for a wide variety of life functions
beyond what is currently available through Steemit.
Thus today I would like to make the case that the SAFE Network is the vehicle that has the depth
and horsepower to really transform not only the way we communicate; but the way we live and make
money. Clearly widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies depends not just on the ease of purchase or grant
but on the capacity and functionality of the currency. While Steem Dollars can be converted into Bitcoin
the method of earning Steem Dollars is haphazard at best. What is needed is a more predictable method for
earning cryptocurrency that coincides with everyday use of the Internet, without the need to take time to be
creative and hope that people like what you write.
It is hard to argue with the fact that communication, storage of information, and commerce are increasing
dependent on the Internet. It is also hard to argue that recent breaks in the security of Servers at big banks,
retailers, insurance and health companies are putting all of us and our data at great risk. The solution cannot be found in the current Server/Client Internet model. What is necessary is a complete break from the current normal. That break is a true decentralized non-server based form of communication such as the forthcoming SAFE (Secure Access For Everyone) network (www.maidsafe.net).
Today's Internet, while allowing millions of people to communicate and
share information, does so at the expense of one’s privacy and security.
Furthermore, this cannot change as long as we are dependent on Servers
to act as both the agent of storage and transmission of information.
The current reality comes with very high costs. Google and Facebook
make Billions of dollars annually selling our private information to the
highest bidder and an estimated 1.1 billion records were exposed during 2014.
What does this really mean? Well, IBM estimates that the average data breach
costs $3.8 million, with an average cost of between $145 and $154 per record,
Don't we deserve a way to share our data that puts us in control? Well at least
one company thinks so and they have been working on the solution for over 10 years.
That company is MaidSafe of Troon, Scotland. In less than 2 minutes their video below
provides a great introduction into the SAFE (Secure Access For Everyone) Network.
For the first time in history everyone will be able to anomalously and securely
store anytime of personal or work data that doesn't disappear and for all practical
purposes can't be hacked. Given this is such an improvement over the current Internet
why hasn't someone done this before MaidSafe? Well it turns out to be an extremely
complex, difficult endeavor involving multiple new inventive subsets of communication
methods to realize a carefree seamless experience for the end user. For those
interested in more technical analysis please explore MaidSafe's website at
www.maidsafe.net, its Forum at forum.safenetwork.io and to view its truly open source
RUST code see https://github.com/maidsafe.
Obviously this level of innovation doesn't come without a lot of testing. Why not
participate? The latest Development Report from the SAFE Network Forum explains
everything: https://forum.safenetwork.io/t/maidsafe-dev-update-9th-august-2016/10649.
Ok now that I may have your interest you may be wondering how in practice will I participate. Full participation is only months away. After 10 years that is good news. You simply download what is called the Safe Launcher, a small application file, that basically holds your unique sign in data and a data map of all files you have saved to the SAFE Network. Once you complete the sign in process you simply tell the network how much storage/disk space you are willing to commit to the Network and you are all set. All data is encrypted and stored forever. The following video describes the self –encryption process.
So that you don’t get the idea that the SAFE Network is only for data storage I want to briefly examine four derivative applications of the SAFE Network already in various stages of development.
The First is Safe Exchange at www.safex.io
The Safe Exchange will allow anyone to create a digital item and a digital contract that
can be traded, sold or exchanged with true cryptographic integrity. The exchange allows people to store and trade structured data without the necessity of a ‘trusted third party’. Thus both an EBay and
Overstock environments can co-exist on the same platform with a rating system designed to allow privacy and autonomous transaction yet provide a system to rank participates for the benefit of all.
More information can be found on the Safex Forum at https://safe.exchange.
The second application is called Project Decorum, a decentralized social platform for the SAFE Network. Project Decorum will deliver the freedom to organize and shape all your digital social activity exactly the way you want without any third party knowing all about you. More info at http://www.project-decorum.com.
Next up is n99 a spectacular approach to reward artists, writers and other creative people with
all income being divided 99% to the artist and 1% to the platform. Consumers and artists win big time
as most artists now receive 10% or less of the retail price of their work.
More at http://network99.io/.
The final example is what else but the place to find all apps that will be developed for the SAFE Network. More at http://safeappstore.io.
Will function just like the Apple or Android App Store only for Apps on the SAFE Network.
With the Alpha Release of the SAFE Network Launcher software individuals can now produce their own SAFE Website, store & share both public and private data the stage is set to implement the oil of the SAFE Network -
SAFE COINS. Like Steemit, when individuals contribute unused computer capacity & disk storage space they
are rewarded with Safe Coins. A brief introduction to the fundamental attributes of Safe Coins is provided by
this video.
Both Bitcoin and Safecoins are decentralized, autonomous cryptocurrencies secured by math. They differ
in that Bitcoin spending is tracked through a public ledger called the Blockchain which keeps track of all
spending and prevents double spending. However this is accomplished at the expense of time. It can take ten
minutes or more to confirm just one transaction. In contrast, Safecoins are processed in groups instead of
across the entire network, the effect being almost instantaneous processing creating the world's first real
digital cash.
As the economic incentive for the SAFE Network, Safecoins are awarded to any individual who contributes
resources to the network in the form of an Internet connection and storage space. So unlike Steemit, one
doesn't need talent or creativity, only a minimal level of resources, which everyone connected to the
Internet already provides. Thus, the ubiquitous nature of participation on the Internet will translate into
wide and almost immediate adoption of the SAFE Network.
The SAFE Network will soon provide access to a world of great apps with security now not available. In time the free SAFE software will give you the world’s best and most secure email, messaging, social networks with no spying, private video conferencing, and much more. Participate in the testing now so you will be better prepared for its full launch, that link again is https://safenetforum.org/t/safe-network-test-7/10460.
THE INTERNET AS IT SHOULD BE IS SOON TO BE.