Page 74 - Proceedings of the 2017 ITU Kaleidoscope

2017 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

have its corresponding token to administer open these knowledge-based alternatives to Proof-of-Work
participation. The current permissioned nature of SDOs and (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS), already available as
NSOs would make DLTs more suitable but, as the same published research, we propose the Proof-of-KnowHow
DLT-based Hyperledger’s Chief says “DLTs have to be a (PoKH) as the consensus algorithm for blockchain-based
shared assed rather than a technology controlled by a single standards drafting and the KHnow as its token.
vendor. We want Hyperledger to be a home for many As mentioned earlier, the proposed blockchain-based
different blockchain technologies” [13]. It is therefore standards development will allow for the participation of
acknowledged by the DLT community that stakeholder key expert knowledge during standards drafting that under
empowerment capacities offered by blockchains are to be the current process is being left outside. A possible strategy
promoted by eventually having blockchains sitting on top of for this more inclusive standards development proposition
DLTs. This actually connects quite well with ITU’s would be the transformation of current Technical
standards development model and places UN’s standards Committees (TC) into Expert Collaboratories [18]. Each
organization as the most suited of all SDOs to pioneer former TC would become an Expert Collaboratory (EC) on
blockchain work. the blockchain. Not in typical TCs or SGs but ITU’s FGs
The ITU typically investigates a new standardization are quite close to the proposed ECs, although this
domain by first setting up a Focus Group (FG). To capture blockchain-based standards development model would still
the maximum expertise, participation in FG is free of charge require the inclusion of certain groups currently left behind.
and open to any stakeholder. If and when FG work is Besides the well-established groups participating in todays’
successfully completed, then a Study Group (SG) will be traditional TCs -Supply side and Demand side-, ECs will
created to develop standards based on FG’s elaborations. also include the Innovators, typically unrepresented in
Participation in SG is subject to fees, either paid by national current standards development processes (see Figure 1).
governments who will appoint representatives, or paid by Innovators will bring thematic expertise from the following
participants representing their private organizations. The minorities, but not limited to: Innovation and Growth Hubs,
proposal made here is for ITU to test our blockchain-based LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships), PPPs (Public,
standardization model in one of the new FG working on Private, Partnerships), PPPPs (PPP+People), Charities and
blockchain-related topics (e.g in the FG on Digital Currency NGOs, Accelerators, Incubators. The inclusion of the
including Digital Fiat Currency , or in the FG on Innovators will allow for the development of novel
13
Application of Distributed Ledger Technology ), to next standards able to anticipate future needs of goods and
14
continue with standardization activities under the same FG services.
scheme and/or eventually reimagining the SG structure to Moreover, in order to creatively raise funds for the
accommodate this proposal. development of new standards, and inspired in the recent
Moreover, since blockchains are typically bottom-up very successful fundraising experiences of several
community-promoted initiatives, we can expect the blockchain ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings), Innovators would
emergence of a standards development DAO (Decentralized also include funding bodies such as: Venture Capitalists
Autonomous Organization) sooner than later, filling the still (VC), AG (Angel Groups), Social Banks, alternative
opportunity gap of a blockchain-based virtual standards funding platforms (crowd-funding, micro-funding, etc.)). In
development organization. It is therefore, not only strategic connection with blockchain’s ability to raise fresh funds and
but necessary, for SDOs and NSOs to embrace the skill to “proof-everything”, one of the novel advancements
technology without delay to keep their established of the proposed blockchain-based standards will be their
leadership positions in standards development. ‘proof of fit-for-purpose’ through embedded tests and
As mentioned by Davidson [14], anything that requires trialing before they get published and go to market. This is
‘proof of something’ can benefit from being on the explained in the next and last section.
blockchain. Thinking of how a blockchain-based standards
development process could work, we did some literature 4. MAIN CHALLENGE FOR STANDARDS IS TO
research on alternatives to Proof-of-Work (PoW) and INCREASE IMPLEMENTATION AND UPTAKE.
Proof-of-Stake (PoS) to find examples that leverage on CAN THIS BE IMPROVED WITH BLOCKCHAIN-
knowledge to build their consensus algorithms. For ENABLED STANDARDS?
instance, Swan [15] proposes Proof-of-Intelligence (PoI) as
a reputational qualifier to manage consensus in their DAC Definitively, adoption of standards can be improved by
(Decentralized Autonomous Corporation) -which is similar using blockchain for development purposes.
15
to a DAO-, a model to create organizations that emulates Standardization communities, especially de facto groups ,
the brain to take decisions. Koop [16] suggests Proof of
Retrieval (PoR) for their Distributed File Storage system. 15 SDOs and NSOs are the so called de jure standardization
And Dimitru [17] creates Proof of Trust (PoT) -with groups since they are either acknowledged by the international
resemblances to credit scoring-, to elaborate consensus in institutions as the accredited standards organization in their
their proposal of Trusted Data Marketplaces. Inspired in domain, or they are appointed by their corresponding government
as the national standards organization. De facto groups emerge
from practitioner communities and are in close connection with
13 http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/dfc/Pages/default.aspx industrial lobbies and businesses. De facto groups have no official
14 http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/focusgroups/dlt/Pages/default.aspx recognition by any governmental organization.

– 58 –