Unveiling Web5.

Ajie DivineAjie Divine
5 min read

A new player has emerged, promising to redefine our relationship with the digital world. Enter Web5, a groundbreaking platform that envisions a future where individuals reclaim control over their data and identity in the decentralized web space. It is really not difficult to picture Web5 in action, simply imagine a user granting permission to her fitness tracker, nutrition app, and health monitoring device to update her personal database with real-time health data. The user maintains control, being able to withdraw access at any time and select a different service to analyze and manage her health metrics. This demonstrates the flexibility and user empowerment that Web5 brings by allowing individuals to curate and manage their data across various services while maintaining a unified, user-controlled identity. This concept aims to link data typically confined within centralized services – a predicament described by TBD (To Be Decentralized) as "a massive, unworkable mess" – to a unified user-controlled identity. Analogous to how various websites and apps utilize a user's Google account for login, Web5 proposes a single login integrated with a decentralized network of nodes.

Understanding Web5's Foundation

Web5 builds upon the foundations laid by Web3 technologies, taking decentralization to new heights. At its core, Web5 champions the idea of putting users in control of their data and identity, a fundamental principle shared with Web3's decentralized identity systems.

One notable departure from its predecessors is Web5's integration with existing Web2 services. Unlike Web3, which often seeks to replace centralized platforms entirely, Web5 works collaboratively with established services. This approach ensures a seamless transition for users, allowing them to integrate their decentralized identity with familiar platforms, eliminating the need for repetitive account creation.

The Pillars of Web5

Web5's architecture rests on three pillars:

1. Self-Owned Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)

In the business of Web5, users are uniquely identified by Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs). Unlike traditional centralized platforms where users sign up with an email or username, Web5 users are referenced by their crypto wallet addresses. This ensures a higher level of privacy and control over personal information.

2. Verifiable Credentials

Web5 introduces verifiable credentials, a mechanism that enhances the trustworthiness of digital interactions. By leveraging cryptographic proof, users can verify and share their credentials without relying on a central authority. This aligns with the ethos of decentralized identity services, providing users with a secure and tamper-proof way to share information.

3. Decentralized Web Nodes (DWN) for Data Storage

A pivotal aspect of Web5 is its reliance on Decentralized Web Nodes for data storage and message relaying. This infrastructure allows users to maintain control over their data, storing it in a decentralized manner. Platforms like Filecoin and IPFS have paved the way for decentralized data storage, a concept seamlessly integrated into Web5's architecture.

Web5 in Action

To illustrate the tangible benefits of Web5, consider a situation where users effortlessly synchronize their preferences across diverse platforms. Take, for example, a fitness app recording a user's workout routines on their Web5 decentralized identifier. Subsequently, a nutrition-tracking service could leverage this information to tailor dietary recommendations within its application. The decentralized identifier serves as a unifying element, sparing users from the inconvenience of recreating their preferences across each individual platform.

In another scenario, a user grants her travel providers access to add information to her Web5 database about an upcoming trip. This user-centric approach allows her to revoke access at any time and choose alternative services, all while maintaining a consolidated, user-controlled identity.

Building on Web5: A Quick Insight

For those eager to dive into the world of Web5, a quick tutorial provides a hands-on approach. The tutorial guides users through the process of building a decentralized application (DApp) on the Web5 platform, showcasing the power of CRUD operations on users' personal data stores. From creating a Decentralized Identifier to performing read, write, update, and delete operations on the Decentralized Web Node, the tutorial exemplifies the simplicity and effectiveness of Web5's architecture. Overall, the CRUD operations in Web5 are implemented through the Web5 SDK, providing a seamless and secure way for developers to create, read, update, and delete data within the decentralized framework. This approach aligns with Web5's core philosophy of putting individuals in control of their data and identity, fostering a user-centric and decentralized digital experience.

Web5 Rabbit Hole: My Personal Journey and Discoveries

Immersing myself in the new Web5 domain over the past 2 weeks at TBD hackathon program, the question echoing around was, "What can you actually build with Web5?" The answer unfolded in the form of Netonomy, an innovative project crafted by Anthony Dimatteo, offering users and organizations a realm to own their digital identities, data, and finances. Netonomy, powered by Web5 concepts, introduces an AI-driven chat assistant that seamlessly interacts with uploaded documents, reflecting the potential of Web5 in practical applications.

Netonomy leverages key Web5 technologies like Decentralized Identifiers (DID) and Decentralized Web Nodes (DWN). Anthony's vision extends to exploring decentralized vector databases, data sharing protocols, cryptocurrency integration, a contacts directory, decentralized messaging, and a mobile app bundling DWN for cross-device access.

Beyond Netonomy, TBD's engagement in various activities, from winning hackathons to partnering with Benri for SSI services, showcases the practicality of decentralized identifiers in parental controls and emphasizes the importance of decentralized identity in the real world.

Web5, with its focus on user-centric control and open data models, challenges the status quo in the tech landscape. The incentive lies in enabling a web free from centralized data control, providing a playground for developers resonating with a decentralized philosophy.

Web5's adoption journey unfolds as it facilitates a new application model, inviting developers to explore a world where data is shared, fostering flexibility and portability. The evolving expectations of early adopters drive a shift, compelling even major players to reassess and innovate.

My personal journey into understanding Web5 involved a hands-on project, creating and storing DIDs, interacting with a DWN using a protocol. The flexibility of Web5 became evident, allowing freedom in development without the need for an entirely new framework. Challenges exist, notably in key management, but the robust community at TBD Discord offers valuable insights and support for those delving into the potential of Web5

Conclusion

As we traverse the decentralized landscape, Web5 stands out as a beacon of user-centric innovation. By seamlessly blending with existing services and empowering users with control over their data, Web5 represents a pivotal step towards a more inclusive and decentralized digital future. As participants in the decentralized revolution, let's explore, build, and contribute to the unfolding story of Web5.

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Written by

Ajie Divine
Ajie Divine