Can Blockchain Help In Other Ways Apart From Cryptocurrencies?

Published on: 07 October 2021 Last Updated on: 17 January 2025

Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies go hand in hand. Whenever we think of one, the thought of another one automatically crosses our minds. Blockchain is the foundation of Cryptocurrency; it is quite known to all.

But it can not be the only identity of an amazing technology like Blockchain. It has the potential to change our lives in a wider manner. We all should know about the amazing applications of Blockchain apart from Cryptocurrency. Let’s start with the definition of Blockchain.

What Is Blockchain Technology?

Blockchain is the main technology behind almost every Cryptocurrency. It is a system of recording information in a specific way, making it very difficult or almost impossible to hack, change, or cheat.

Essentially it is a digital ledger of transactions, which is first duplicated and then distributed across the entire network of computers on the specific Blockchain network. Whenever you are trading with Bitcoin using the bitcoin revolution in a particular network, the transaction is being seen at every node of the network.

Can Blockchain Help In Other Ways Apart From Cryptocurrencies?

In case you are thinking or have a conception that Blockchain can only be utilized in Cryptocurrencies, you are totally wrong. Apart from Cryptocurrencies, an amusing technology such as Blockchain can be utilized in many ways.

In fact, across the globe, Blockchain is being used for major tasks by a number of big organizations. Here we will discuss some of the applications of Blockchain apart from Cryptocurrency.

1. Smart Agriculture

Think of a supply chain. Blockchain in agriculture is more like a supply chain. When the supply chain offers understandable applications of Blockchain, the agricultural sector can also benefit from Blockchain Technology.

Let’s take an example of tracking any ingredient like rice, quite literally from the farm to your plate. An RFID tag scan will work great as an initial block, along with tracking its entire life cycle, from farm to sale, and where the final product is actually ending up.

2. Smart Contracts

We all are pretty much aware of the fact that Blockchain is all about trust. This is the reason why it is perfect for smart contracts. Suppose an oil company has a contract with a shipping company that the specific type of oil has to be kept below a certain temperature limit all the time, at any cost, can not exceed a particular humidity level.

With the assistance of IoT devices, all these essential metrics might be easily tracked. In addition to this, Blockchain technology will make sure that smart contracts are duly fulfilled. It will also ensure that the shipment reaches its destination within a particular time.

3. Online Voting

The Electronic voting system, which is Blockchain-centric, is capable of potentially accelerating voter fraud. The concept of a Blockchain-powered voting system is quite like the following points.

It will capture votes using a token.
Then it will be placed in a wallet of a specific candidate.

As it is almost impossible to hack or cheat a Blockchain network, there will be nearly zero chance of voting fraud.

4. Refugee Aid

Every year, millions of people become refugees. For most, being a refugee is not only scary but also a dangerous experience. Generally, refugees are poor and are in need of financial assistance.

Keep in touch with whatever is happening in the Crypto and Blockchain industry. You might know that one of the biggest implementations and utilization of the Ethereum Blockchain ever-for-a-kind charitable cause has finished with a successful trial recently.

Blockchain Can Be The Future

We have got some pretty impressive applications of Blockchain apart from Cryptocurrencies. Hospitals or health sectors are also implementing and using Blockchain to keep and track patients’ records in their work system.

This way, the data will be secured and transferred without delay to the right computer system whenever needed. The data of the patients will also stay secured and protected. So, next time you are thinking about Blockchain, ensure, apart from Cryptocurrency, you are considering all these marvelous applications.

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Mashum Mollah

Mashum Mollah is the feature writer of Search Engine Magazine and an SEO Analyst at Real Wealth Business. Over the last 3 years, He has successfully developed and implemented online marketing, SEO, and conversion campaigns for 50+ businesses of all sizes. He is the co-founder of Social Media Magazine.

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AI’s Role In Combating Climate Change: A Powerful Tool for Environmental Preservation

Climate change is a big problem for our planet right now. The Earth is getting hotter, ice at the poles is melting, and we're seeing more crazy weather happening. We really need to find ways to fix this, and fast. Luckily, AI is stepping up to help out. Let's see how AI is being used to tackle different parts of this tough issue. An AI ML Course can help you learn how to use technology to tackle climate change. With this certification, you'll understand how to apply AI tools to analyze data, predict weather patterns, optimize renewable energy systems, and develop innovative solutions to combat environmental challenges. This knowledge and skill set will enable you to contribute effectively to efforts aimed at addressing climate change and creating a more sustainable future. Let’s continue reading. Understanding The Impact Of Climate Change The weather on Earth is changing a lot because of what people are doing, like burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, and doing industry stuff. These things let out gases that make the air warm up, which we call the greenhouse effect. These changes are affecting everyone around the world already. It's getting warmer, which makes ice in places like the poles melt, and that raises the level of the sea, which is dangerous for places near the coast. Also, there are more extreme weather events like big storms, long dry periods, and really hot days, which hurt nature, farming, and people. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), without urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures could rise by 1.5 to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, with catastrophic consequences for the planet. Here are some recent data that present concerning trends regarding environmental changes: Global temperature increase: Over the past century and a quarter, there has been a discernible uptick in the Earth's mean surface temperature, amounting to an approximate increment of 1.2 degrees Celsius. Ice melt observation: Studies indicate a notable decrease in Arctic sea ice, with a reduction rate of approximately 12.85% per decade. This phenomenon has adverse implications for various Arctic fauna, notably polar bears, and their habitats. Sea level elevation: Observational records demonstrate an elevation in global sea levels by around 8 inches throughout the last century. This rise poses significant threats to coastal regions, their populations, and the delicate ecosystems they harbor. Escalation in extreme weather events: There is a discernible increase in the frequency and severity of extreme meteorological occurrences, encompassing hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires, among others. These events bear substantial repercussions on human societies and natural environments alike. How AI Can Make A Difference AI includes different technologies that copy how people think to study data, recognize patterns, and make decisions. Using AI for climate change can bring new ideas in areas like energy, transportation, farming, and watching the environment. Here's how AI can make a difference: 1. Predictive Analytics AI programs can look at lots of information to guess what the weather might do and determine what might happen more accurately. They do this by studying past weather records, pictures from satellites, and other things like that. This helps predict things like storms so people can prepare and try to stop bad things from happening. 2. Renewable Energy Optimization Switching to cleaner energy like solar, wind, and water power is really important to reduce pollution and fight climate change. AI helps a lot in making these types of energy work better and more reliably. For example, AI algorithms can analyze weather patterns and energy demand to optimize the operation of solar and wind farms, ensuring maximum energy production while minimizing costs and environmental impacts. Additionally, AI-powered predictive maintenance can help prevent downtime and extend the lifespan of renewable energy infrastructure. 3. Climate Modeling And Prediction AI can help fight climate change by figuring out the weather. For instance, smart computer programs can look at tons of information from satellites, weather stations, and buoys in the ocean. They use this data to guess what the weather might be like in the future. With these programs, scientists can learn more about why the environment is changing and what might happen next. By using AI to guess what might happen based on past records like temperature changes, rain patterns, sea levels rising, and crazy weather events, people who make decisions can plan better to stop bad things from happening. 4. Precision Agriculture AI-powered agriculture technologies enable farmers to optimize resource usage, minimize environmental impact, and increase crop yields. AI systems can recommend precise planting schedules, optimal irrigation techniques, and personalized fertilizer applications by analyzing soil data, weather patterns, and crop characteristics. This enhances agricultural productivity and reduces water consumption, pesticide use, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional farming practices. 5. Environmental Monitoring AI-based monitoring systems can track environmental indicators, such as air quality, deforestation rates, and wildlife populations, in real-time. By analyzing satellite imagery, sensor data, and social media feeds, these systems can detect environmental threats, illegal activities, and ecosystem changes, allowing authorities to take timely action to protect biodiversity and natural habitats. 6. Climate Adaptation And Resilience AI can also help improve adjustment and resilience to climate change. As the impacts of climate change become more severe, communities must be prepared for and respond to events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves. Tools powered by AI can contribute to better early warning systems for extreme weather conditions, which can enable authorities to evacuate people at risk and allocate resources more efficiently. Furthermore, there are AI-supported tools for assessing risks and planning, which will help in identifying vulnerable areas and developing adaptation strategies for changing environmental situations. 7. Energy Efficiency And Conservation Improving energy efficiency is another vital element of the climate change fight, as it lowers the demand for fossil fuels and the amount of carbon emitted. In such a case, AI technologies would be capable of assisting in uncovering possibilities to save energy for buildings, transportation, and other sectors. An AI system analyzing data about energy consumption, equipment operation data, and environmental surroundings can detect inefficiencies and propose options to reduce energy consumption and waste. These solutions may comprise installing more efficient appliances, screening HVAC systems, or implementing smart heating and lighting solutions. Real-World Applications Of AI To Combat Climate Change Using AI to help fight climate change is already making a big difference in many areas: Capturing Carbon: AI helps industries capture and store carbon dioxide underground, which helps reduce emissions. Smart Energy Systems: AI makes energy distribution smarter by balancing how much energy is produced and used. It also helps use more renewable energy and reduces energy lost during transmission. Money for Climate Projects: AI tools help investors find good ways to invest their money in projects that help the environment. They can also see how their investments affect the climate. Helping in Emergencies: AI-powered drones and robots help out during disasters by finding people, checking how bad things are, and bringing help to places that need it. The Way Forward While AI holds immense potential in the fight against climate change, its effectiveness depends on collaboration among governments, businesses, researchers, and civil society. Key priorities for leveraging AI include: Data accessibility: Promoting open access to environmental data and supporting data-sharing efforts to drive AI research and development. Ethical considerations: Addressing concerns around AI ethics, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and possible side effects of the technology, will foster trust and responsibility in artificial intelligence-operated systems. Capacity building: Investing in education, training, and skills development to help enable people and organizations to use AI capabilities for climate purposes. Policy support: Develop policies and regulations that encourage AI technologies, boost and facilitate innovation, and ensure international collaboration on climate issues. Conclusion Climate change is a big problem we face today. We need to act fast worldwide, in our countries, and even in our communities. AI can help us a lot. It gives us tools and technology that can help us understand climate change better. With AI, we can predict and lessen its effects. It can also help us move towards a future that's more sustainable and able to bounce back from challenges. Using AI, we can work on the reasons behind climate change. This helps us protect the health and happiness of people now and in the future. Read Also: From Dreams To Reality: A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide On How To Buy A Farm A Viable Alternative to Wild Fish: Can Salmon Farming Be Sustainable? Here Are a Few Reasons Why You Should Use Real Estate Farming Postcards to Increase Visibility of Your Business

Basic Knowledge on Flow Meters

In ancient history, resources are abundant, but with the fast-growing population of the earliest civilization, it’s either compromise or face the wrath of bloody conquest. Flow meters are widely used equipment that can create miracles in the 21st Century. To avoid bloodshed, the earliest civilization were civilized enough to meet an agreement regarding everything, and this would include water resources. Flow meters can make things easier for you. It can help you to achieve your goals. The wisest engineers of their time created a way to distribute the water from a nearby river equitably. They aim to justifiably distribute enough water to each city with accordance to their population’s needs. Thus, given only the flow of the river and with the help of mathematics, they strategically developed a way to measure the amount of distribution of water in the aqueducts of each city. The answer to their problem is flow measurement or flow meter. Up to this day, this system and the works are still applicable to our modern day plumbing and has helped engineers throughout the globe in flow measurement challenges. Essential Factors To Know About Flow Meters There are several essential factors that you need to consider about the flow meters while you want to get the things done in the correct order. Flow Measurement Importance: Typically, in a household setting, this is very much needed to regulate gas or water flow through installation or fixing. In layman’s term, it helps your plumber troubleshoot with your clogged sink or toilet. But for mass production factories, engineers like chemical, mechanical and application engineers use this to understand what went wrong, how to maximize production, if the process is accurate. Flow measurement is essential to have a smooth-flowing operation of their products. What is Flow Meter? The most basic stuff you need to know about flow measurement is flow meter. Basically, this is an instrument that measures volumetric flow (Q) denoted in a unit of cubic meters per second, linear or nonlinear mass indicated by kilograms, pounds, etc.. A typical flow meter design would include parts like paddlewheel sensor, locknut, built-in temperature sensor, and pipe tee. Flow Meter Appropriation: There are all sorts of type of flow meters available in the market, but you can’t just buy one and try it on the operation. Unless you know what you are doing and you were told to buy so, other than that, you won’t have a problem. Though having a lot of options for this instrument is liberating, this is also a disadvantage for personnel. Personnel should know how a particular device works to avoid miscalculations. Staff should also be knowledgeable for recalibration if needed. Staff should also be prepared for casual maintenance. There’s a lot more to consider like fixing the instrument, etc. The flow meter should be chosen wisely to reduce expenses. Guidelines When Choosing a Flow Meter: What fluid do you intend to measure? How viscous is the liquid you intend to measure? Do you also want a rate measurement? Which do you prefer a primary local display on your instrument or electronic signal output? What are the limitations of your chosen instrument based on flow rate, temperature, and pressure? Will the liquid not dissolve your instrument? Common Types of Flow Meter: Ultrasonic Flow Meter: If you intend in using this instrument is waste waters or other dirty fluids; ultrasonic flow meter is more applicable in this kind of areas. The Doppler Effect or the frequency shift is necessary during operations to harness suspended particles and gas bubbles at large. Variable Area Flow Meter: Also called Rotameters, this flow meter is a low cost and a simple instrument efficient for liquid and gas flow measurement. It also displays a wide rangeability of flow measurement, low-pressure drop, and linear output. Vortex Meters: If you want an instrument that quickly detects sudden fluctuations in process conditions or turbine meters, this flow meter is what you are looking for. Vortex meter possesses a low sensitivity quality to variation in the operation. This type also is available in many sizes and doesn’t sting in the wallet; that is why many users prefer it. Spring and Piston Flow Meter: This type somewhat looks likes a rotameters because of the tapered tube, used in both instruments. It must be situated in the no-flow position through a calibrated spring. This is more preferred than rotameters because it is user-friendly and economically friendly. It can also transmit electrical signals, and the design is much simpler. Paddlewheel Sensors: It is the most popular flow meter for water and water-like substances, but it is essential to check the compatibility of the fluid to be measured and the sensor. The rotor of this instrument is situated perpendicularly to the flow; thus, a better opportunity for personnel to avoid contact in case of toxic fluid is measured. Turbine Flow Meter: This instrument gives an accurate reading for the flow measurement, providing only a 0.5 probability of error. The Turbine Flow meter looks like a paddlewheel sensor with the rotor perpendicularly situated to the flow and is hanged in the fluid stream. Due to its accuracy, it is highly recommendable if the liquid to be measured is made of clean and viscous liquid. Read Also: Four Basic Types Of Water Flow Meters Tools Used In Building Surveying Add Accuracy To Your Testing With The Help Of Multimeter

5 Core Pillars Of Cloud FinOps

The current dynamic business environment requires companies to take a structured, proactive approach to manage, monitoring and predicting their cloud service costs. Doing so will help them to meet their financial goals. Cloud FinOps is a cultural shift and operational framework that brings finance, business, and technology together to accelerate business value realization and drive financial accountability through the cloud. At its heart, cloud FinOps enables businesses to understand the challenges and complexities of cloud information technology (IT) financial management. The core purpose of cloud FinOps is to optimize the business value generated from cloud services. It involves various techniques, like free credits, least-priced services, negotiating costs, and more. 5 Core Pillars of Cloud FinOps You need to know the core principles of the cloud FinOps design to successfully implement it. These design principles help build a cost-conscious, self-governing culture while fostering business agility and financial accountability in the cloud. The following are some key pillars of Cloud FinOps: 1. Enablement and Accountability This principle focuses on creating lean or centralized cross-functional teams. These teams may include application owners, architecture, operations, finance, and engineering. Establishing these teams enhances governance and sets guidelines for managing cloud expenditure. 2. Cost Optimization This principle requires stakeholders to identify the main cost-optimization drivers in the cloud environment. It is a continuous, iterative process that offers a consistent solution to managing cloud usage most cost-effectively. The following are the three common optimization areas: Architecture Pricing Resource 3. Realization and Measurement This principle involves creating core key performance indicators (KPIs), and business-value metrics will be utilized to evaluate the success of the transformation. In most cases, customers begin with a series of cost-optimization metrics. Afterward, business value or unit economics measurements, like cost per customer served or transaction. 4. Forecasting and Planning Proper cloud estimates and planning require the company to fully understand its cost drivers, assign cloud expenditure, and benchmark efficiency. Doing so ensures minimal deviations between the actual and forecasted costs. 5. Accelerators and Tools As you would expect, cloud FinOps requires you to employ proper accelerators and relevant tools. Doing so ensures effective monitoring and management of cloud spending. These tools may include: Automation scripts that set budget alerts and account guardrails Reporting dashboard for tracking value and managing cloud spend Cost management tools for analyzing real-time cost and billing data. How Do Cloud FinOps Work? This operational framework involves a three-step lifecycle to ensure teams remain focused on and organized to deliver business value and attain financial accountability. These steps include: Informing Optimizing Operation 1. Informing This stage involves informing the company about all cloud-related costs. It happens by providing 100% visibility and assigning cloud costs to relevant business units. Here, the goal is to let every team understand their cloud spending. Also, it involves benchmarking against the company’s internal objectives, like budgets and forecasts. Companies can visualize areas they’re attaining business value and where they do not, helping them determine their progress. 2. Optimizing Once members know the organization’s goals, costs, and achieved business value, they proceed to optimize costs. This step involves providing recommendations and actionable insights to the different teams. Here, companies cut off unnecessary services that increase their cloud spending. Also, they automate rightsizing of different resources and maximize the utilization of the available resources. As a result, it significantly reduces cloud expenditure. 3. Operation Once all costs are optimized, it’s time to architect the cloud environment to achieve and maintain minimal cloud spending. The company creates governance policies that help attain technological, business, and financial goals. The primary objective here is to achieve measurable goals and continual improvement. 4 Benefits Of Cloud FinOps: Adopting cloud FinOps best processes and practices helps enterprises achieve various high-level benefits, such as: 1. Cost Efficiency Cloud FinOps enable you to attain cost efficiency thanks to advanced tools and accelerators. These tools help you identify areas of optimization, track and optimize cloud spending, and hold every team responsible, reducing unnecessary cloud costs. 2. Positive Cultural Shift By holding every cloud consumer responsible and making their data on cloud usage and spending available, cloud FinOps helps optimize cloud consumption. As a result, it helps create a beneficial culture for all cloud-consuming parties. 3. Reduces Uninformed Decisions Uninformed decisions can be extremely costly. Without proper tracking of cloud spending and resources, your company may be spending significant resources on the cloud. Fortunately, cloud FinOps products provide real-time granular reports and insights, helping leaders to: Get service-level cloud utilization Track underutilized or idle resources Compare the business cloud resource usage by time Figure out business areas that need more resources. With such data, leaders are aware of which areas need what resources. Also, they are informed about their decisions’ financial implications. 4. Unifies the Company’s Ecosystem Every company often has a frustrating, complex, and invisible culture split between finance, IT, and DevOps teams. Requests, approvals, and processes vary from department to department, though they aim to achieve a common goal. Also, technical terms and jargon may not be understood by other teams. What’s more, the finance team often loses control of cloud infrastructure procurement when the cloud engineering team steps into the process. How does Cloud FinOps help in this case? Well, cloud FinOps help every team stay updated about their cloud costs depending upon their responsibilities. For instance, while the finance team views the cost reports and data, the engineering team can access the processor usage information. As a result, it leads to streamlined, effective, and unified operations. Challenges Of FinOps Although cloud FinOps is a great approach, it has its shortcomings. Many teams end up experiencing barriers to attaining business value. Some key challenges include: Difficulty understanding cloud costs One cannot trade off creativity and innovation for low cloud costs The DevOps teams may not exhaustively understand the financial processes Final Thoughts The cloud FinOps framework can significantly transform your company in all aspects. This operational framework enables you to optimize your company’s financial wellness while driving business value. However, to achieve the best results, you need to adopt the best practices and understand the principles and dynamics of this approach. Read Also: Top cloud security controls you should be using Hosted Mail Service That Runs on the Cloud Oracle & The Cloud: A Dream Team

Can Blockchain Help In Other Ways Apart From Cryptocurrencies?

What Is Blockchain Technology?