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Attending: Thomas, Jim, Mattise, Scott, Kathleen, Domenico, John W., Marc, Anne Ann Vroom, Luk, Marco, Andrew.
Would SWOT analysis help us closeup use-cases. Can we flip the question: does my use case require a blockchain (with its features, such as consensus algorithm)?
Anne V. asks a definition of blockchains as we understand, and then see if it fits the use-case. Marc states if smart-contracts could be used to improve efficiency/automation while leaving out use-cases that don't benefit from it. Kathleen: rule engine running & coming up decisions. Thomas: blockchain as one-function ledger (e.g. bitcoin mining node) and Ethereum node as highly programmable nodes (smart contracts). John W: at IIW one working defintion of block chain is a system with distributed ledger and a leader selection process. Also notes difference between ledger and smart contracts. PoW systems and Non-PoW system (eg. Stellar). Anne: bimodal description is useful.
Thomas: does this bimodal view help the use case, such as Alice and consent to research data. Kathleen: the consent model is what the industry understands today. Alice could have a life-threatening situation and she has to consent to her data being accessed. Policy-enabling vs policy agnostic.
Thomas: blockchain is used to capture the act of Alice consenting and the hash of the data being released. So the blockchain acts as a digital notary.
Blockchain empowering Alice is a new aspect in this area. Kathleen: this is critical in Precision Medicine. Alice still co-owner of her data, and must not be cut out of the loop. Blockchain can increase transparency.
John: add 5th actor (Edna). Edna wants to access Alice's data at the sponsor's location (after Alice's data is accessed and copied to sponsor's org).
Tuesday August 2
Agenda:
- Work on "Trust and verification in a health research context" (was: Alice Consents to Health Research) and discuss implications for technologies sections in the report
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