End of August Tech Reading list
Welcome to another of my Tech Reading lists. A little later than usual but we do have a longer weekend here in the UK. It’s bank holiday weekend.
One source that has proved useful lately is the World Economic Forum (WEF). Bitcoin is the most recognisable expression of services that exploit Blockchain technology. The appeal of Bitcoin is that it offers users a financial service that is not regulated centrally and lets users be anonymous. All this is courtesy of the blockchain. This WEF article casts doubt; ‘Bitcoin’s biggest appeal might also leave it with a huge weakness’ (19/07/17) For Bitcoin and other crypto currencies built on the blockchain to go more mainstream trust needs to be built in and if that trust is betrayed allow users an authority they can raise complaints.
Because there is no authority to complain to, this raises a major risk that users could fall prey to dishonest traders who fail to deliver their side of the deal.
Sticking with WEF. Today the blockchain has emerged and in my view is at the same stage in terms of excitement as the World Wide Web was in the mid 1990's. What technology should we be watching over the course of the next five years. The technology to watch closely is Quantum computing. This technology holds out the promise of quantum encryption making information sent over a quantum network unhackable. The question like the Blockchain is what other services can be built on top of quantum computing? I am not going to explain the concept but this article helps a great deal ‘The Quantum Internet is just a decade away. Here’s what you need to know’ (24/08/17)
A book review next. The Economist’s take on a new book ‘The Virtual Weapon and International Order by Lucas Kello. The books it seems is challenge to academics who think the world we have now with cyber weapons, “cyber war” and cyber attacks happening with more regularity is not business as usual. Fundamentally he argues these developments change our understanding of warfare.
Lastly a film. A poster for my film selection hung on the office wall of the outgoing Coordinator for Cyber Issues in the Secretary’s Office at the State Department, Chris Painter. The film made in the 1970's echoes today’s concerns about Robots, AI talking to each other behind our human backs 🤔. In Colossus two Cold War computers link up then start calling the shots on how the world should be run.
