The promise of blockchain technology for interaction design

Abstract

After its first prominent application as part of the digital currency Bitcoin, blockchain technology is gaining in popularity. It comprises a chain of blocks (the ledger) that provides a secure, immutable and auditable list of ordered records. Using both cryptography and a distributed database, once a block is recorded, it can no longer be changed. In Bitcoin's case, the ledger contains the history of all currency transactions. This paper offers a critical overview of the blockchain technology for an interaction design audience, in three parts: (1) The principles making block-chain technology possible are briefly explained using examples. (2) Specific cases such as food provenance and supply chain tracing, are used to illustrate both the wide array of possible applications and the profound implications of blockchain technology. (3) Opportunities and challenges for HCI and interaction design are discussed in the form of a nascent research agenda.