The world has changed. The push economy that has long dominated the way we consume products and services has been disrupted by a new pull economy, characterised by platforms such as Uber and Airbnb, where consumers take part in providing and shaping the services provided. The rise of the digital currency Bitcoin, along with its supporting technology Blockchain, offers a radical new model of peer-to-peer trading, which raises questions about our existing economic models, and threatens to undermine long accepted financial power structures. This has precipitated an explosion of new products and thinking around decentralised trading of goods and services.

Design Informatics and Design In Action has created a workshop toolkit for anyone interested in exploring this rapidly developing new territory. Block Exchange is a fast-paced workshop activity that will open minds to alternative means of value exchange. Using Lego to simulate the Blockchain, participants will experiment with different ways of trading, starting from the basic acquisition of resources, through a fluctuating market and finally exploring peer-to-peer trading of value where anything goes!

This activity is aimed primarily at people with non-technical backgrounds who want to explore the possibilities of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, to consider the potential for social change and disruption, and the wealth of new scenarios and applications this technology might support. People skilled with technology may also benefit from involvement in the activity, especially if they are new to Blockchain, as this is more about opening up ideas on value rather than a technological explanation. The inclusion of technical people in the activity can therefore enhance the overall experience of the group, by bringing this expertise into the conversation.

For more information and to download the toolkit visit the project website- http://blockexchange.designinformatics.org

Project is part of Design in Action, funded by the AHRC

Researchers:

Prof Chris Speed (Co-Investigator), Design Informatics

Dr Ella Tallyn (Research Fellow), Design Informatics

Dr Debbie Maxwell (Research Fellow), Design Informatics

Blockexchange

In December 2017, IoTUK travelled to Edinburgh to take part in a workshop on blockchain, The Block Exchange. This was run by Chris Speed and Ella Tallyn at Design Informatics, who are exploring the notions of value and design in blockchain as part of PETRAS.

The world has changed. The push economy where advertisers sell us products and services that has long dominated the way we consume has been disrupted by a new pull economy, characterised by platforms such as Uber and Airbnb, where consumers take part in providing and shaping the services provided.

Alongside this, the rise of the digital currency Bitcoin, along with its supporting technology Blockchain, offers a radical new model of peer-to-peer trading, which raises questions about our existing economic models, and threatens to undermine long accepted financial power structures. This has precipitated an explosion of new products and thinking around decentralised trading of goods and services.

The workshops is fast paced, involving a pack of cards which symbolise oil, sheep, wood and other goods and materials, a big box of Lego and a lot of frantic trading.

Watch the IoTUK and PETRAS case study video on the Block Exchange: Value and Trust by Design to learn more HERE.

For more information and to download the toolkit visit the project website- http://blockexchange.designinformatics.org

Any queries please contact Ella Tallyn: e.tallyn@ed.ac.uk