Over the decades I've been involved with digital art, no matter the application: education, tourism, commercial art or fine art, one thing remained constant - how do you protect your digital artwork?

Years ago, many would protect their work with a watermark over an image. This is counterproductive to a degree as it detracts from the image itself. Sure, it protects your work but at the cost of making it more difficult to appreciate said work of art.

It also only protects your virtual art when it is displayed online. If you sell your digital file, there is no way of stopping the illegal replication and distribution of it. The format of your content doesn't matter.  Stills, videos, interactive content, and animations are all at risk.

Working with 3D printed art isn't too far removed. The physical 3D printed model can't be replicated and traded as easily as the digital file, but, all 3D printed models come from digital designs.

If someone gets a hold of my digital files, they could 3D print my sculptures to exacting detail. Can blockchain technology solve this issue across the board for digital art?

Reading this article, "10 Ways Blockchain Technology is Changing Art" by Bennett Garner sums up ways that blockchain technology affects the way people create and trade art both virtual and physical.

One of those ways is by making digital art unique. Being able to sell and trade a digital work as unique pieces is a big change from the past.

In addition, blockchain technology promises benefits on the selling and trading of physical art pieces as well. A win on both sides of the 3D printing coin.

While I still don't fully understand the nuances of how the technology would be deployed to protect digital files, it definitely presents a major change in the way we interact with any computer generated works of art.  And it's an area of technology that I'm keeping my eye on.

If you have any thoughts on, or experience with, blockchain technology and its application in protecting digital files please leave them in the comments below.

Till next time, a hui hou.

This article, “Blockchain Technology Job Market and Salary Trends so Far” by Elizabeth Gail on CoinCentral, outlines the 300% increase in blockchain technology-related jobs compared to the same time in the previous year.  She goes on to point to a current shortage of blockchain talent.

The article reminded me of parallels to the general growth cycle of the 3D printing industry. I worked in that industry as it went through the cycle from a mainstream introduction to media hype to consumer disillusionment then consumer enlightenment.  And eventually, 3D printing will find stability.

Keep in mind, when I refer to the 3D printing industry here, I use it in a general sense. There are many different 3D printing technologies, specialties and closely related fields that fall within the category of 3D printing.  Some of these lie in a different phase of the cycle.

Similarly, Blockchain technology seems to currently be surrounded by a lot of hype but, like 3D printing, it is gaining mainstream acceptance with practical applications as indicated by the growing number of jobs with major institutions like Bank of America.

By looking at the parallels between theses two technologies, one can perhaps project a similar path to mainstream acceptance for blockchain technology.

As with 3D printing, a lot of the hype was just that, hype.  It's not to say that 3D printing doesn't have practical value, but a good majority of people still believe 3D printing is more than it actually is.

Until that hype is dispelled, 3D printing will not reach it's full potential as people will implement the technology under false intentions leading to disappointing results.

Do I think that blockchain technology is over hyped? Yes and no. There are real practical applications for the technology in many industries with many other areas of application to be explored.  Those who work in the blockchain field understand its real value. But, for the layman, many proceed with a fair level of misinformation and unjustified expectations good and bad.

Because it is largely without a tangible aspect, blockchain technology has a bigger uphill battle to gain acceptance than 3D printing.

As more and more people actually come into contact with the technology and grasp the reality of what it is and its true benefits and limitations, only then will the hype start to give way to real practical value.

Like 3D printing, blockchain technology has a future where it proves to be a true game changer. Although, the reality of how the game will change will probably not unfold the way many imagined it would based on the hype.

Please let me know your thoughts on the over hyping of technologies in the comments below.