Author

Topic: Bitcoin with mirrors, lights, telescopes (and smoke signals?) (Read 1200 times)

hero member
Activity: 798
Merit: 1000
We could probably revive the Pony Express if we really wanted to, and train dolphins for sending Bitcoin across oceans.
hero member
Activity: 854
Merit: 1000
Bitcoin: The People's Bailout
newbie
Activity: 30
Merit: 0
Hey guys! Let's transmit the blockchain using morse code.
Q7
sr. member
Activity: 448
Merit: 250
I only worry loss signal or incorrect signal will end up passing the btc to the wrong person  Grin

Or worse... Unconfirmed transaction
full member
Activity: 195
Merit: 100
We need  to think more steampunkish.All the suggestion so far lack enough gears,pistona or even steam engines!!The nerve Angry
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1000
There was a post about this sort of thing very recently where there was an article that had a guy who worked on the mining algorithm using a pen and paper.

http://www.righto.com/2014/09/mining-bitcoin-with-pencil-and-paper.html

In theory, you could do it with anything that can make a signal, but it would take a hell of a long time and be incredibly inefficient, this is why computers were invented in the first place.

I'm not saying you wouldn't use computers. I'm just saying you would not use the internet for the communication in between these nodes.

Oh right if you're talking about a decentralised internet there is a lot of talk about mesh networks too.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26285-hong-kong-protesters-use-a-mesh-network-to-organise.html#.VCvkJBbIOmA
copper member
Activity: 1498
Merit: 1562
No I dont escrow anymore.
You could "download" the entire blockchain via carrier pigeon.

Something similar was done by putting a USB drive on a pigeon's foot and sending him over a few hundred miles.

They calculated the data rate and it was a pretty competitive speed.

reminds me of this:

https://what-if.xkcd.com/31/
donator
Activity: 1736
Merit: 1014
Let's talk governance, lipstick, and pigs.
I would like to see a Bitcoin miner powered by sharks they would network with laser beams.  Grin
legendary
Activity: 1122
Merit: 1017
ASMR El Salvador
There was a post about this sort of thing very recently where there was an article that had a guy who worked on the mining algorithm using a pen and paper.

http://www.righto.com/2014/09/mining-bitcoin-with-pencil-and-paper.html

In theory, you could do it with anything that can make a signal, but it would take a hell of a long time and be incredibly inefficient, this is why computers were invented in the first place.

I'm not saying you wouldn't use computers. I'm just saying you would not use the internet for the communication in between these nodes.
legendary
Activity: 4060
Merit: 1250
Owner at AltQuick.com
I wonder if anybody would find interesting to set up the longest bitcoin end to end communication system relying just on mirrors, lights, telescopes... and so.
I think it would be interesting for instance to propagate bitcoins across an entire city with each end connected to the internet but without any internet connection in between.
One could have a telescope focusing on a window of a flat miles away and transmit the bitcoins with pulses of lights in such a chain. Do you get the idea?
It would be fun to see how many miles one could cover this way. Just using mirrors technology and light pulses communication.

Custon QR tips for the high powered lazer pointers Tongue
legendary
Activity: 1540
Merit: 1000
There was a post about this sort of thing very recently where there was an article that had a guy who worked on the mining algorithm using a pen and paper.

http://www.righto.com/2014/09/mining-bitcoin-with-pencil-and-paper.html

In theory, you could do it with anything that can make a signal, but it would take a hell of a long time and be incredibly inefficient, this is why computers were invented in the first place.
legendary
Activity: 3598
Merit: 2386
Viva Ut Vivas
You could "download" the entire blockchain via carrier pigeon.

Something similar was done by putting a USB drive on a pigeon's foot and sending him over a few hundred miles.

They calculated the data rate and it was a pretty competitive speed.
legendary
Activity: 1122
Merit: 1017
ASMR El Salvador
I wonder if anybody would find interesting to set up the longest bitcoin end to end communication system relying just on mirrors, lights, telescopes... and so.
I think it would be interesting for instance to propagate bitcoins across an entire city with each end connected to the internet but without any internet connection in between.
One could have a telescope focusing on a window of a flat miles away and transmit the bitcoins with pulses of lights in such a chain. Do you get the idea?
It would be fun to see how many miles one could cover this way. Just using mirrors technology and light pulses communication.
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