Evolving Internet and Blockchain Technology

Study Notes

Speaker grew up in Pakistan in the 90s and first experienced the internet with Netscape browser, becoming infatuated with it.
Dedicated life to understanding how the internet functions, earning a PhD in Computer Science.
Internet usage involves middlemen and companies, including browser software creators, internet service providers, and certificate issuers.
These companies can issue incorrect security certificates, leading to users thinking they're accessing the correct websites when they aren't.
Users don't own their data on the internet; it's controlled by big companies like Google and Facebook.
Speaker proposes two requirements for a better internet: no middlemen and user ownership of data.
Introduces blockchain technology as a solution, allowing users to own digital money and securely send transactions directly to others.
Blockchain uses a private key, a highly secure password-like code, for protection.
Bitcoin, the first application of blockchain technology, aimed to replace banks and payment processors with an open network secured by mathematics and cryptography.
Blockchain browsers, such as Blockstack, create a parallel, more secure internet where users own and control their data and usernames.
The new internet eliminates the need for passwords, replacing them with secure usernames.
Concept of property rights exists in the real world but not online, with users renting from big companies.
New internet introduces ownership, allowing users to own and control their usernames and data.
Power dynamics shift from large companies to individuals with the new internet.

Description

Explore the evolution of the internet, from its early days to the current centralized structure controlled by big companies like Google and Facebook. Learn about blockchain technology's role in decentralizing the internet, enabling user ownership of data and transactions.