DDATT to figure out what a blockchain is April 6 at Abbott Memorial Library

DEXTER — On Friday, April 6 Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) will be hosting its monthly free public discussion at the Abbott Memorial Library. Beginning at 6 p.m. a few short videos will introduce the topic of “blockchains,” after which we’ll try to figure out how what we just saw may affect our lives, even if we are not hi-tech in the slightest.

Here’s how Wikipedia defines the process, “A blockchain, is a continuously growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography. Each block typically contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp and transaction data. By design, a blockchain is inherently resistant to modification of the data.”

With so many of our daily actions now dependent on computerized data, blockchain offers a revolutionary decentralized method for recording of events, medical records, identity management, transaction processing, food traceability, voting, and countless other activities which have previously depended on large, centralized, and hierarchical databases. Think: horizontal instead of vertical.

As DDATT’s mission is to help our area reduce our use of fossil fuels and create a more stable rural economy, we are committed to examining all sorts of ideas which may increase our common wealth. If you are intrigued, please come and add your insights.

For more information on DDATT and future events, email info@ddatt.org to get on news list or call 277-4221 or 924-3836.