Web3. Let's talk possibilities

I am honored to be among like-minded #web3 people. People who share my passion for exploring the endless possibilities offered by Web3.

So I want to start this article by wishing everyone a "Good Morning" or in our #web3 lingo - "GM".

GM is an important greeting in the #web3 community. These two letters convey an important message about being available to connect with like-minded people. For me, it represents the human side of Web3, which is what it is all about. Web3 is about changing lives - let's dive into four stories that I believe demonstrate the power of the global adoption of the Blockchain.?

Today, Tuesday 23rd May 2023, I spent time in the MarthaVerse - in Spatial - which is the perfect place to learn to walk in the footsteps of others - because it allows a person to engage all their senses and to feel, not just think, about the lives of the people my story is about.

There is much talk about the Blockchain and what this technology can do - so instead of the technology I'm focussing on the human side, sharing stories of people's lives to simply show how significantly enhanced lives can be if we were to adopt, Blockchain, globally.

I wanted to start by sharing Ben's story Ben is a person very close to my heart. At 20, while studying in Germany, he suffered a severe brain injury from a tragic accident. The accident damaged Ben’s right cortex, prefrontal and frontal lobes. I’m sure you all know these are the parts of the brain responsible for rational thought, executive decision-making, memory, and emotional intelligence. This accident has shaped his life, causing numerous challenges which are becoming worse as he ages.

As you can imagine Ben has complicated health needs and he finds himself often having to share his story with different health professionals. But on many occasions, he has to ask his mum to share his story. Because of his health Ben does not feel comfortable traveling unless he travels with someone who knows his full medical history in case something happens and he needs to access health services.? But if Ben's health record, dating all the way back to the accident, were stored on the blockchain accessible via a wallet, he would have much more control over his own life and be less dependent on his mum.??

Ben doesn't feel able to hold down employment.? This means every two to three years - Ben is assessed by the state to determine if he qualifies for disability support from the government. It is that time of year again and Ben is currently in the process of being assessed, again. And can you believe it - the assessment requires the completion of a paper form. The expectation of Ben is unfair and necessary. If Ben’s last assessment was stored on the blockchain as a permanent record, one that can not be altered - immutable - every couple of years Ben's support team could help him add to that existing form. But as it stands Ben’s mum has to hold all the papers and every few years she has to start again - she is now 80! Who is going to do this in the future for Ben??

The blockchain could give Ben more power over his own life, provide the state with assurance over the accuracy of the information, speed up the process, and decrease assessment costs.??

So from the story of one to the story of many. In fact, 125 people who survive the 23-mile journey across the English Channel, in a small boat (sometimes a rath), from France to the UK.

But this is not the story of just 125 souls, because it is 125 people each day. This story is about 45,756 every 365 days, who reach the UK shores are picked up and taken to shelter.??

Which on the surface sounds perfect.????

But whilst the shelter provides a roof over their head it comes with restrictions. They are not allowed to leave to work - until their rights to live in the UK are confirmed, a process which can take up to 24 months.? These restrictions remain even though today in the UK employers are crying out for qualified medical personnel, teachers, carers for the aging population, and so on, and many who live in the shelter could take up the roles.

So we have qualified people living in shelters provided by the state and masses vacancies. A solution would be to allow people who live in the shelter to contribute to the society/community they live in by taking up employment. But even if they were allowed to take up employment they have no proof of their qualifications - they forgot to grab their qualification certificates as they left their home on their journey to secure safety - so they would have to take up unskilled labour opportunities whilst their qualifications are confirmed. ?

Our collective focus should be moving to the use of the Blockchain to store qualifications so that people can immediately be released into the world of work.??

Sticking with the theme of qualifications and certificates let me introduce you to my daughter.

My daughter is the first generation from my whole family to go straight to university from school.? As a young child she was assessed and given a certification to confirm that she has dyslexia - but guess what has happened?

If you guessed the certificate was lost - you are correct.??We have moved house a few times and at some point, we forgot to put the certificate in a safe place.??

Now unless I pay to have her assessed again she does not qualify for additional time in exams whilst at university.? Now I can afford to pay this cost, but some might not be able to.? In fact, there are thousands of people who would not be able to fund a second assessment and as a result, they would be negatively impacted for the rest of their life.

If you think I’m overstating this point - please do remember that currently, employers want graduates with a degree, whether a degree is needed for the job. And without the additional time her degree result will be not as good and therefore affect her life outcomes.????

Yes, there is a simple solution.? You have heard it before.??This assessment certificate could be held on the Blockchain, accessible via her wallet so she can share the certificate with any institution at the right time.

So my last story is another personal example.??

I was an unlucky child.? Born into an abusive family.? So after suffering years of abuse, at the age of 10, I went into the care of the government in the UK.? I spent the next 8 years living in foster homes, children's homes, boarding schools, and independent units - I know, funny names for spaces that were supposed to be my home.??

Anyway, that isn't the point I wanted to make.?

Because of this experience I only own:

• 3 pictures of myself between the age of 0 - 12
• 4 pictures of myself between the ages 12-17

Seriously I have 7 pictures of my first 17 years.? Take a moment and think about how many pictures you have of yourself during your first 17 years.?

I also have:

• 0 certificates of my attendance and education outcomes between the years of 0 - 18.
• No swim certificate, no badges from when I belonged to Brownies and Guides, no sports badge.?
• No cuddy toy images.
• No birthday card or gift.

So whilst my life between 0-18 was very colorful - the experience I had, the places I lived, the people I met I have no physical evidence to share my story - I’m an empty vessel - which is emotionally difficult because life is about our history and our stories.? And this does not just affect me - it affects my daughter, as she can not see my history in images.??

It's like my life started at 18 - well in stored memories anyway.??

And this is not jsut something that impacts me - there are 82,500 children (just over 1% of the British population), raised in the British government care system, the Blockchain could be mine, and their, memory box, accessible at any point for sharing with those near and dear to me.???

So, yes I believe in the blockchain - its ability to free people from oppression, give people control over their identity, the means to be economically independent, their history, and freedom from disadvantage. With all these gains it is no wonder I am an advocate of the Blockchain.????

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Please do share your stories and ideas about how the Blockchain is and can further positively change lives.