Spark-Coins are a novel approach for linking physical activities to the cyber domain. Each coin has a unique digital signature and address to this custom-written web server which shows the coin's digital twin, its relationship to other coins, and possible interactions. Each coin, by proxy of this web server, can therefore be used to intelligently perform a cyberspace action, such as automatically updating a spreadsheet, sending a message, or turning on a light.
The first use-case being developed is a novel cumulative token-voting system. For physical token-voting dating back millennia, participants are given a set amount of coins to cast into buckets of preference, with the heaviest bucket indicating the most favored choice or candidate. Spark-Coins can augment this traditional voting with a dynamically assigned fictional weight for every participating coin, implement any number of buckets while intelligently preventing monopolization, intuitively split choices between multiple buckets, tally/update/visualize the entire market in real-time, and provide additional campaign & candidate information along with seamless rewind/playback for deep analysis.
Click here to simulate scanning coin #00000 in a token-voting campaign!
Another use-case being developed is a peer-to-peer certified skill matrix between coin-holders, where one's ability to perform a task or knowledge on a subject is vouched for in a mesh of trust, credibility, and reputation. The goal of this is to highlight and make use of existing hidden talent within our ranks that would otherwise go unnoticed and unutilized. Should this variant of Spark-Coins be used as a military “Challenge Coin”, not only could they signify one's unity and camaraderie to a team, but they could show exactly how one can be part of that team, particularly in unconventional assignments or mission demands.
Or, since they're basically just laser-etched QR codes and/or NFC chips encased in epoxy resin, they make great swag that links you to a website or chatroom when scanned! But, each coin has a unique digital signature, and what happens when/where it's scanned can change! So keep it handy - there's no telling what these may do in the future!
Help me by finding flaws in the system, critiquing it, spreading the word, and volunteering to test (or co-develop) it! I can also mail free samples upon request. You can find me almost anytime in the AllSpark Discord here: https://discord.gg/DV3pFSuM5X
Spark-Coin (Patent Pending) by Brian Westgate is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
(I do this as a hobby - you can offset some of my material costs by "buying me a coffee"!)