Sometime around 1999 we were introduced to the 'Web 1.0' model, which consisted of a linear connection between a user and information access. Web 1.0 was readable and made possible newfound capabilities such as the earliest digital user interfaces known as web browsers. While that data would now be deemed 'flat' and lacking any true interactivity besides rudimentary text links, or hypertext, Web 1.0's development demonstrated how the entire technological industry could make information accessible on a large public scale. Before long, we were introduced to the 'Web 2.0' - a stronger, more advanced, and intricate adaptation of the first version of the Web. It enabled interactivity, and for the first time the user had the ability to truly navigate information. Then what followed was the fastest rate of development and progress that the world has ever seen.

Today technologists, professors, and experts alike disagree when it comes to what the further development of 'Web 3.0' might look like and what it stands for. The traditional argument is that the new Web introduces 'machine to machine' interaction; however, some suggest that the 3.0 version of the World Wide Web represents such interactions only to a limited degree, and that the true connections will not be forged until Web 4.0. Regardless of your thoughts on the utility of each version of the 'Web', it's useful to explore what comes after the developments within the individual versions. Many may have heard of blockchain and how it can supposedly revolutionize the IT industry yet only few fully grasp what distributed ledger technology (DLT) could actually mean for the very technological processes we go through every day.



Though not everyone agrees, there's a strong argument to be made that the introduction of a technology that has the ability to store information and data across a network of 'nodes' could re-define privacy and utility in the digital realm. Rather than thinking of ways in which that DLT can make money, people should start to consider how this sort of technology can change lives, increase speed, and simplify user interaction in so many systems. Theoretically, any system or technological process that enables a digital technology can implement DLT. That means that anything you do in your everyday life: using your phone, watching TV, sending a text, playing video games, or buying stock, can all be affected and in some way changed through the integration of DLT.

Messaging

Let's say you're using WhatsApp, and you want to send a message to another person. WhatsApp is an incredible technology connecting people all over the world for free. Pretty cool, right? Yet the technology could be improved in so many different ways.

Present day encryption technologies are limited and do not function efficiently within our current ever-evolving system. Take, for example, the recent ban on Telegram in Russia. This government move exemplifies the need for a decentralised ecosystem in which users can freely interact through a truly private and distributed system. Today's centralised databases are hampered by legacy platforms that can only be said to be barely holding things together, as the saying goes, with chewing gum and bailing wire. Add to this mix the fact that it only takes a three-day process for an entire country to ban a hundred-million-user platform that is used strictly to communicate with loved ones across the globe, and the cracks in the centralised system model become evident. This isn't to say that we should employ decentralised systems to 'rebel' or 'fight' against any centralised system, but if we could mutually incorporate a truly decentralised model, imagine the social advancements y we might be able to accomplish.

We're seeing systems such as Viber look for future inclusions of technologies for no extra commission, simply for the efficiency. Viber CEO Djamel Agaoua had the following to say on the idea of adding new technologies and processes to Viber:

"We don't take a commission on that, we're just building a bridge ... and doing it as smart as possible."

[ Register or Signin to view external links. ] (Forbes)

eSports

Another major area that is being affected by DLT is, surprisingly enough, eSports and the gaming community, such as those within The Tech Game. Gaming companies are rushing to engage blockchain and distributed ledger-savvy developers and consultants as they start to recognize the usability and opportunity such incredible technologies offer. Running gaming infrastructure on a decentralised network can enable faster matchmaking, easier communication methods, and a more intuitive ecosystem.




Take, for example, Mingo, a mobile messaging aggregation platform that utilizes DLT to combine all messengers on one portal. Through its platform, you can access Telegram, Facebook Messenger, Discord, Twitch, and multiple other DMs without leaving the app. Although we have seen similar projects in the past, Mingo's platform essentially represents the first time this type of user interface has been deployed using decentralised technology. The platform was created with the idea that current messaging environments and ecosystems are too slow to meet the demands of not only competing gamers, but average gamers as well.

Mingo was built upon Hashgraph technology, which is a new distributed ledger technology that enables the matchmaking process between mobile gamers to be completed, at much faster rates. As with the original blockchain technology, Hashgraph was initially intended solely for transactions. However, Hashgraph is much more agile than blockchain and lets developers work on things such as gaming ecosystems or matchmaking frameworks. Mingo built its platform on the Hashgraph framework and applied it to eSports, which is simply one of the millions of possibilities available within the technology.
When it comes to mobile gaming, eSports, and the future of peer-to-peer gaming systems, Joe Arthur, CEO of Mingo, argues,

"The gaming community is making a radical shift towards DLT, starting with mobile gaming and moving towards bigger brand names like PS4, Xbox, etc. As DLT continues to succeed at its current rate, they'll have no choice if they wish to compete."

Arthur further elaborates,

"We think of it as an ecosystem rather than a singular platform. There are multiple pillars involved, including communication, emphasis on speed, and importance of accessibility. With gaming, you have to be able to switch to any other platform another gamer is using within an instant."

Conclusion

Whether you're a seasoned programmer or a complete newbie to computer systems, it may be worth getting involved or at least learning more about distributed ledger technology. Companies left and right are switching over to the decentralised and immutable infrastructure, but their rate of adoption is limited as the number of skilled workers available is nowhere near as large as it used to be. Gaming is being revolutionized through the integration of decentralised technology, enabling faster communication methods, quicker matchmaking processes, and inclusive ecosystems - and the technology is still only in its infancy.