Web 3.0 Flux Features Privacy, Edge Computing and AI for Small Business

11 min read

Web 3.0 will bring about profound changes in our society and our world with three defining innovations – edge computing, artificial intelligence, and decentralized networks. Flux aims to provide Web 3.0 with the most powerful, technologically advanced, and decentralized infrastructure.

Web 3.0 represents the next iteration or phase of the evolution of the web/internet and potentially could be as disruptive and represent as big a paradigm shift as Web 2.0. Web 3.0 is built upon the core concepts of decentralization, openness, and greater user utility.

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These three areas of innovation are solving common problems people encounter daily along with expanding capabilities of use.  Edge computing enables more efficient and cost-effective processing and analysis of big data.  Artificial intelligence can make almost anything possible online in a decentralized and trustless blockchain environment.  As we can see from their track record, the quantity and quality of data used in Web 3.0 will be far too great to trust to today’s profit-seeking middleman companies.  In addition to encouraging respect for individual privacy, decentralized networks make it possible for an individual to sell data while keeping ownership, and incentivize quality content by allowing users to gain ongoing value from it.  


Plus, what value will this add to small businesses ability to compete in the market place?

Running a Google search for “Web 3.0” pops up the word semantic web, which is equally complex for everyday readers, except that most of us already know that the word semantics is about studying meaning and inferences. If we apply this to the web, semantics is about making the underlying technologies of the web more sophisticated for data interpretation.

The outcome of this will be a more useful and interactive web that predicts and satisfies users’ needs. Artificial intelligence gives machines near-human capabilities to transform functional semantics into beneficial interactions and interfaces. 3D graphics represented definitively by the most recent advances in augmented reality, extended reality, virtual reality, and IoT are already setting the pace for the most immersive experience ever on the internet.

Web 3.0 is the most connected and intelligent web the world has ever experienced.

The Defining Concepts of Web 3.0

  • Cloud/edge computing
  • Blockchain and decentralized networks
  • Artificial intelligence

The three defining innovations in Web 3.0 are edge computing, artificial intelligence, and decentralized networks.

Cloud computing relies on data centers, resulting in latency problems that can slow down responses as data grows beyond current capacity. Edge computing is an effective response to these crucial infrastructural challenges. Edge computing involves spreading data out to give owners of this data control over it. Edge computing enables faster big data processing and analysis by executing these processes in areas closer to where the data was created.

Decentralized networks promote respect for individual privacy by allowing owners of data to sell their data while retaining ownership of it. The advantage of decentralized networks is that it makes participants honest by incentivizing them to provide quality data, which can then be used in the owners’ best interests.

Artificial intelligence can use data stored in decentralized and trustless blockchains to make pretty much everything possible on the internet. The quantity and quality of data used in Web 3.0 will be too much to be entrusted with today’s profit-seeking middleman companies. These companies control so much, but how can we be sure that they act in the best interest of the majority.

Web 1.0 consisted mostly of static pages without user profiles or interactive features. It was simply a bunch of interlinked pages. With the advent of JavaScript and flash, developers were able to add many useful features that aided the consumption of information on the web. With Web 2.0, the interactivity of the internet increased, and web pages started getting and storing information from the users.

The information-gathering feature of Web 2.0 was masterminded by large tech companies, who, in turn, packaged this information and sold it to advertisers. Users were given the ability to upload their content and share important timelines and life events with others. All this came at the expense of privacy. The stewards of our data had full control and could remove or censor it at any time. These companies also used machine learning algorithms to profile their users by exploiting the personal information and behavior of their users, completely undermining user privacy.

Flux is the Global Prime-Mover of Web 3.0

Web 3.0 needs a decentralized infrastructure that meets the technological requirements of the future decentralized internet. Flux aims to deliver the most powerful, technologically advanced, and decentralized infrastructure for Web 3.0.

Flux is an ecosystem and suite of decentralized computing services and environment agnostic development systems for building decentralized applications according to developer preferences.

Here is an example of why Web 3.0 requires the specialized infrastructure that Flux delivers:

In Web 3.0, video-sharing and social media platforms are controlled by the users of the network. Developers of the application cannot control the content uploaded to these platforms. Instead, users can decide on what happens to distasteful content through a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization).

The data is also stored in a decentralized infrastructure, which is different from data centers of centralized platforms that are prone to a ‘single point of failure’ as we have seen during the recent server outage of the Facebook suite of applications. There have also been countless cases of deleted posts, breaches of user privacy, and other malicious and invasive practices by centralized actors. In this example, decentralization can serve to protect user rights and privacy as well as supply a more redundant and reliant infrastructure. Also, the prospect of community voting and governance makes secure, decentralized web infrastructure all the more important in order to secure the democratic rights of the many from the rule of the few.

With a decentralized Web 3.0 ecosystem like Flux, there are many advantages for users and developers alike:

  • User data is securely stored on thousands of computers across the globe.
  • Developers save time by leveraging the Flux toolkit, blockchain, and infrastructure.n
  • Everyone can also become a part of the Flux ecosystem and contribute by running nodes or mining to earn rewards in the native Flux tokens.
  • Applications built on Flux are dockerized, which means developers do not need to learn new programming languages just to create a decentralized solution.
  • Developers can receive support and funding to build independent decentralized projects through Flux Labs grants.
  • A centralized application can be dockerized and deployed on the decentralized Flux infrastructure, migrating it seamlessly onto the decentralized and immersive Web 3.0. You can think about this as moving from self-hosted data to a cloud service like AWS or Azure.

Flux makes all this possible.

What is Flux?

The Flux Ecosystem is a suite of decentralized computing services and blockchain-as-a-service solutions which offer an interoperable, decentralized, AWS-like development environment. Flux utilizes a native POW (Proof of Work) coin to power this ecosystem, providing incentive for hardware hosters, governance on-chain, and bad actor mitigation via staking requirements for running hardware. The Flux operating system runs on top of Linux to provide the network with verified and benchmarked high-availability compute power and utilizes the blockchain to ensure transparency in governance operations.

Flux is a native crypto asset with its own blockchain. We believe Flux is vitalthe blockchain space as it provides critical infrastructure, development tools, and industry experience necessary that offer novel and easy-to-use products for both developers and consumers. By building a complete portfolio of blockchain resources, new technologies can emerge faster with more real-world use cases and advanced features so that crypto can continue its growth towards mainstream usage. Flux allows us to build our own novel blockchain products, for strategic partners to leverage computing power and services they require to thrive, and for independent blockchain developers to launch their ideas efficiently and effectively.

What are Fluxnodes and FluxOS?

FluxNodes are what really differentiate Flux from other crypto projects. There are many projects that offer “masternodes” via low-powered nodes that process transactions.

FluxNodes turn this idea on its head by requiring highly-available, enterprise-grade hardware, along with sufficient Flux collateral, to operate on the network and provide real, useful computing power to the network. Operating a FluxNode is also available to anyone with the required Flux and hardware, making the network actually decentralized both in who can run a node and the geographic location of the nodes. At the time of writing, there are over 1100 FluxNodes in operation across hundreds of operators and the globe. By the time of writing, there are currently 3 different tiers one can access for a node:

Node requirements & namesCumulus
Node
Nimbus
Node
Stratus
Node
vCores2+4+ 200+ EPS8+ 400+ EPS
RAM4+ GB8+ GB32+ GB
Storage50+ GB150+ GB SSD 160+MB/s write speed600+ GB SSD 160+MB/s write speed
Bandwidth>25mbps up/down>50mbps up/down>50mbps up/down

The node reward structure can be found here: https://home.runonflux.io/dashboard/economics

The concept of FluxNodes emerged from a discussion about how to positively scale a decentralized application, development, and smart contract network, such as Ethereum. Projects like Lisk, Neo, and others have been able to do so, however they face considerable consolidation away from being decentralized, instead only offering nodes and development tools to a limited group. This consolidation of ownership also hampers scalability considerably, as evidenced by Ethereum’s multi-year endeavor to figure out how to get above 25 TPS (Ethereum is aiming at upwards of 1 million TPS, so it could be a slow road). With FluxNodes, the goal has always been to have thousands of potential nodes operating on the network, allowing anyone to participate and solve the scalability issue through available raw processing power.

Flux is the “brain” of the FluxNodes and the Flux Computational Network. It is an open-source MEVN stack built from scratch by the Flux Team which acts as a second layer operating system to complement the base Linux OS running on all FluxNodes. An operational network of decentralized computing power is one of the core modules to the Flux Ecosystem, providing the ability for Flux and 3rd party developers alike to run their applications on a fair-priced network with no single point-of-failure. Since FluxNodes are operated in a decentralized manner by individual Flux holders, and geographically-spaced all over the world, developers can rest assured that their applications are accessible by users at all times and locations. Deployment of applications, websites, databases, etc. will rely on “dockerization” with our current strategy. The advantages of Docker apps are discussed below.

Flux acts as the master coordinator for launching dockerized applications, sidechains, and asset layers. It handles the deployment of the apps, manages the resources of each FluxNode to balance hardware usage, and communicates between the FluxNodes to provide real-time computing metrics. This connectivity also helps ensure each FluxNode is meeting the minimum system requirements by active benchmarking to ensure fair operator rewards and a robust decentralized network. If you are familiar with Docker, Kubernetes, and other container-type platforms, then you’ll feel at home with the Flux Computational Network. Flux then gives Docker app builders the ability to deploy their applications onto the Flux Network at a lower cost to the developer than renting virtual or dedicated servers.

The Flux Team chose to build Flux from the ground up to provide software that was perfectly tailored to the FluxNodes Network, which will allow for faster iterative development, easier maintenance of the codebase, and a wider range of community contributions to the project by enabling JavaScript developers to take part. This ease-of-use approach will greatly assist quick deployment of sidechains, asset layers, 3rd party apps, smart contracts, basically anything that can be built into a container. All this is achievable using a relatively new concept of the MEVN stack mentioned above, which consists of MongoDB (popular databasing program), Express (web framework in JS), Vue.js (framework for JS applications), and Node.js (cross-platform JS runtime environment).

Along with Docker for containerizing applications, almost any developer can create an application that will run smoothly on the FluxNodes Network.

Each FluxNode will have a standardized web portal/GUI, viewable on the web, but with locked down access from unauthorized entry by utilizing ZelID. Only authenticated users can access the Admin privileges by logging into their FluxNode using Zelcore. When a user attempts to log into a FluxNode, a signed message is generated by Zelcore and sent to the FluxNode for authentication and only authenticated ZelID’s can be granted access. These authorized users (FluxNode operators) will also be able to update the Flux Daemon and Flux from the web portal, so no more needing to log into your server and running code/scripts to update to current releases, just click a button.

Flux leverages a tiered-privilege API system, allowing it to lock down access to FluxNode and daemon functions that should not be open to the public. Locking down access by user type allows the Network to be utilized by developers and app users without compromising the security and stability of the FluxNode itself. There are 4 levels of privileges currently employed by Flux:

  1. Public level — no sign-in required, provides very basic API access to public chain information.
  2. Zelcore User — requires a signed message from any ZelID, this level is made available for future services that would require a ZelID/Zelcore wallet to
  3. Flux Team User — requires a signed message from a unique set of ZelID’s, locking out the standard This level is critical for allowing the decentralized network to choose deployment requirements and manage FluxNode resources.
  4. FluxNode Owner/operator — Top level privilege only accessible with a signed message from the owner’s Owner can update their node software and future privileged commands/information, including assigning privilege to other Zel ID’s at owner’s discretion.

HTTP requests via URL to access daemon RPC are protected by this tiered-privilege hierarchy. This is one major difference of Flux vs. other RPC-over-HTTP or Bitcore solutions in that the FluxNode is protected against malicious calls to the daemons and server hardware.

This foundation laid out by Flux allows deep integration of the Flux chain. The daemon is accessible via API commands in the URL bar; some informational commands are open to the public, such as validateaddress, while commands to generate a transaction or query more private commands are locked down to the authenticated ZelID’s. Integrating the Flux daemon with Flux allows the computing network to seamlessly interact with the chain p2p network and provide a foundation for interacting with future sidechains, smart contract platforms, and asset layers.

Zelcore

Zelcore is the multi-asset crypto wallet and platform. It offers custody management of over 250 cryptocurrency assets, along with over 25,000 digital assets on the Ravencoin, NEO, and Ontology asset layers. Zelcore also offers built-in trading services of major centralized exchanges (Binance, Kraken, Bittrex) and quick-swap services (CoinSwitch, InstaSwap, Changelly, Kyber, etc.). This allows users to mine, store, transact, and exchange a huge number of crypto assets within the same secure, easy-to-use application.

Zelcore is available for Windows, MacOS, Linux, and mobile versions for iOS and Android. Upgrading and maintenance of Zelcore is made easy by having a single codebase for each device type and has a strong team of beta testers checking each release.

The platform utilizes a unique accounts system scheme based on a username and password combination, secured by salts and additional security features. The username/password scheme was chosen to provide convenience for the end user compared to other wallets that rely on impossible-to-remember combinations of random words or characters. These mnemonic setups are very secure but not convenient enough to act as the login for people who use their crypto wallets every day. To secure Zelcore’s username/password approach, additional layers of security are available including

second-layer passphrases and biometrics, and our unique decentralized two-factor authentication system. This entire identification and authentication platform is called ZelID, described below.

Zelcore acts as a frontend for the Flux Ecosystem. The Zelcore Team is always adding new assets and features for users, and as more Ecosystem modules roll out, Zelcore will allow users to interact with these features. Some examples are: creating metrics dashboards for FluxNode operators, a digital marketplace for apps and services running on FluxNodes, and a payments gateway for purchasing computing services on the network.

Upcoming features include aggregated crypto and fiat-ramp pricing with transparent costs, native integration of the upcoming Kadenaswap decentralized exchange, yield and staking for Flux and other assets, addition of lending protocols and next-gen smart contract negotiations.

FluxLabs

FluxLabs is an incubation and acceleration program of Flux Technologies for blockchain and technology-based projects with a focus on early stage start-ups in the emerging blockchain and cryptocurrency industries. The program focuses on three main functions:

  1. Beneficial specific use-case and adoption in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space,
  2. Structured brainstorming workshops, community events, and raising awareness of both Flux and FluxLabs projects together,
  3. Facilitate connections with like-minded projects and co-marketing for new technologies and

FluxLabs specifically focuses on projects that add beneficial and functional technology to the blockchain space. All projects invited to join FluxLabs incubation program need to be operational in full developmental phase and have a reviewable business model. FluxLabs is creating one of the best communities and networks of blockchain technology entrepreneurs, experts, mentors and investors. This network is leveraged to support and develop startups in growing their business, strengthening their commercial presence and increasing outreach and competitiveness in local, regional and international markets. The Flux Ecosystem benefits from each and every partnership as diverse technologies are adapted for and integrated into the Flux Project.

Projects brought under FluxLabs also receive asset management integration into Zelcore, along with solicited advice on many aspects of developing a complete, functional project and business. General FluxLabs features include:

  • Asset integration in Zelcore for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
  • Accelerate legal, security, business and operations if desired
  • Focus on the development of chosen platforms and guidance through iterative build processes including integration in Zelcore
  • Guidance to other partners in the space to grow their project and build logical partnerships

FluxLabs services are included in the Zelcore integration price for early projects that meet set standards and are accepted for the incubation and acceleration development program. Zelcore integration and FluxLabs assistance is provided at very competitive rates, unlike other services in the space that have a large reach but require a substantial amount of coins for manipulative market making and advertising schemes that do not necessarily benefit the applicant project.

Parallel Assets

We have made the Flux asset more accessible, trade-able, and interactive with the DeFi space by doing strategic airdrops of Flux-based assets on other major chains. Snapshots are taken of current native Flux holders’ addresses and the new tokens are claimable via the “Fusion” app within Zelcore. The first parallel asset is Flux-KDA, allowing Flux holders to experience the Kadena ecosystem and Dex without having to buy new assets. This also allows Flux to effectively be traded on Kadenaswap when it’s released.

More parallel assets will be released including Flux tokens on Ethereum, Tron, Binance Smart Chain, and more protocols as new DeFi products emerge and stabilize into reputable service platforms.

To participate, crypto users only need to be holding Flux. Flux staked for FluxNodes is automatically captured in the snapshots and available for claiming within Fusion.

Although the material contained in this website was prepared based on information from public and private sources that FLUXhighway.com believes to be reliable, no representation, warranty or undertaking, stated or implied, is given as to the accuracy of the information contained herein, and FLUXhighway.com expressly disclaims any liability for the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in this website. 

Via this site: https://web3-flux.com/about/