Skynet Cracks Open the Internet: Matt Sevey Describes Offerings beyond Cloud Storage

Ready for Web 3.0? Skynet may be the solution. Sia, one of the main decentralized internet companies that provides an open market for data storage, released a new technology called Skynet. Engineering Manager Matt Sevey tells listeners how Skynet rises above other cloud storage providers. Listen and learn

• What the basics are on how a decentralized internet works,
• How Skynet has transformed the potential for sharing of content, applications, and transfer of data, and
• How Skynet circumvents onboarding, which required downloading blockchain cloud storage, for a much more accessible user experience from the start.

Matt Sevey is an Engineering Manager and Core Developer with Skynet, which is part of the Sia network. Sia is a well-established group that utilizes decentralized internet blockchain technology to create an open marketplace for data storage. In March 2020, they launched Skynet, a technology that allows nodes, called portals, to run from a personal laptop, as well as web portals that are publicly discoverable. This means it offers a "global data layer," where any content uploaded is available to any other Skynet portal. From an application standpoint, this is huge. Matt says that it "breaks down the silos of data that we have on today's centralized internet," opening up numerous ways for building applications. From a user's standpoint, it allows for a single account for all one's interactions on the web and a revolutionary way to share data. Finally, from a content creator's standpoint, it allows for "recursive content monetization," which means advertisers no longer need interrupt the flow of content.

An example of this usability? In a recent "hackathon," their term for coding competitions for students, one of the finalists was someone new to web development and had never heard of Skynet. Nonetheless, they were able to create an award-level application. In addition, this combined with the transferability of information is a game changer. If someone were to create a twitter-like application and it became problematic, a whole new application could be created and all participants and their past posts would transfer seamlessly. He and Richard discuss the nuances of information sharing, censorship, and dangerous content control in the Skynet system. And don't worry: he says that Sia still offers encrypted, private data storage for those who want that service. For more information to get started, see siasky.net. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK