Project 3 - Provenance
Review the articles dealing with Provenance:
https://artnewsnviews.com/art-business/ ... rovenance/
https://www.thefineartledger.com/post/b ... ctors-2026
https://scienmag.com/transparent-blockc ... tributors/
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.17699
https://spectrum.ieee.org/blockchain-co ... simulation
Write a brief commentary about the articles, and then comment on how blockchains actually guarantee.
Project 3 - Provenance
Project 3 - Provenance
George Legrady
legrady@mat.ucsb.edu
legrady@mat.ucsb.edu
Re: Project 3 - Provenance
From the analysis of the literature reviewed on the matter, it is clear that one common thread stands out, the application of blockchain technology to increase the credibility and verifiability of provenance. In the art industry, blockchain technology has been predominantly used to monitor ownership and verify artworks. The use of blockchain technology removes the need for paper certificates, which can easily be lost or forged, thus creating a digital trail of proof that is more difficult to alter. Some authors have noted that smart contracts can automatically pay artists whenever their work is sold again.
However, provenance has implications outside of matters of ownership when used in fields like archaeology and scientific data management and includes recording who contributed to an item and what process was followed in creating the data along with any changes it has undergone over time. According to the study reviewed, provenance refers to the complete history of the data from its creation, ownership to modification. Consequently, provenance is seen to be much more expansive in scope than initially thought, suggesting that blockchains are used for this.
Also, there is one major limitation that all these articles assume but do not clearly communicate, despite their efforts to address different issues concerning blockchain technology. Blockchain itself does not provide any means of determining the truth, but rather it ensures the protection of the data after its entry. Any misinformation entered in the chain will be saved by the blockchain, hence the assertion that it is "tamper-proof" but not "truth-proof."
Therefore, after I read these articles, the most important aspects guaranteed through blockchain are related to integrity, transparency, and traceability but not necessarily to authenticity. The function of blockchain technology in generating trust is that of making records less susceptible to changes and easier to verify; nevertheless, it still depends on human input in terms of the original source of information being accurate.
However, provenance has implications outside of matters of ownership when used in fields like archaeology and scientific data management and includes recording who contributed to an item and what process was followed in creating the data along with any changes it has undergone over time. According to the study reviewed, provenance refers to the complete history of the data from its creation, ownership to modification. Consequently, provenance is seen to be much more expansive in scope than initially thought, suggesting that blockchains are used for this.
Also, there is one major limitation that all these articles assume but do not clearly communicate, despite their efforts to address different issues concerning blockchain technology. Blockchain itself does not provide any means of determining the truth, but rather it ensures the protection of the data after its entry. Any misinformation entered in the chain will be saved by the blockchain, hence the assertion that it is "tamper-proof" but not "truth-proof."
Therefore, after I read these articles, the most important aspects guaranteed through blockchain are related to integrity, transparency, and traceability but not necessarily to authenticity. The function of blockchain technology in generating trust is that of making records less susceptible to changes and easier to verify; nevertheless, it still depends on human input in terms of the original source of information being accurate.