How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf]

#11

Post by ecesena » Mon, Sep 22, 2014, 4:39 PM UTC

bnegreve wrote: post #8

anirudhan wrote: post #2

Can someone give some background on zero knowledge protocols and how this pdf relates to the protocol?

A good definition from the PDF: He wanted, in fact, to show that it is possible to convince without revealing, and so without unveiling his secret. Or from wikipedia [1]: In cryptography, a zero-knowledge proof or zero-knowledge protocol is a method by which one party (the prover) can prove to another party (the verifier) that a given statement is true, without conveying any information apart from the fact that the s…

I think the privacy component is also important (somehow hidden in "without unveiling his secret", but not so clear imo). When Alice proves her knowledge to Bob, no external party would "believe in the proof", as A & B might have colluded.

Re: How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf]

#12

Post by gknoy » Mon, Sep 22, 2014, 5:32 PM UTC

atmosx wrote: post #10

Eiriksmal wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The finest book I've ever read. Perhaps by the time my 2-year-old is ~13, a nano-scale machinebook will exist that can teach the both of us about zero-knowledge protocols. I understand, at the surface level, how it works, but am far too dense to see how such a system could exist in, say, computer authentication.

Hm, is it that good??? I've read only 2 NS novels and really loved them (Cryptonomicon & SnowCrash).

The Diamond Age is my favorite, by far, of the work of his that I've read (including the two you mentioned). It's very very good. I like the way he imagines a world where everyone can print whatever they need from The Feed (nanomachines + materials), and yet it's so different from the techno-utopias we have seen before where such is possible.

Most importantly, I really liked the characters (just like I did in Snow Crash). It's interesting in that there doesn't seem to be an antagonist, really -- it's more about the journey of the young lady. It's a neat fairy tale.

Re: How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf]

#13

Post by dropit_sphere » Mon, Sep 22, 2014, 6:29 PM UTC

atmosx wrote: post #10

Eiriksmal wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The finest book I've ever read. Perhaps by the time my 2-year-old is ~13, a nano-scale machinebook will exist that can teach the both of us about zero-knowledge protocols. I understand, at the surface level, how it works, but am far too dense to see how such a system could exist in, say, computer authentication.

Hm, is it that good??? I've read only 2 NS novels and really loved them (Cryptonomicon & SnowCrash).

It is that good.

Re: How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf]

#14

Post by icu » Mon, Sep 22, 2014, 6:56 PM UTC

atmosx wrote: post #10

Eiriksmal wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The finest book I've ever read. Perhaps by the time my 2-year-old is ~13, a nano-scale machinebook will exist that can teach the both of us about zero-knowledge protocols. I understand, at the surface level, how it works, but am far too dense to see how such a system could exist in, say, computer authentication.

Hm, is it that good??? I've read only 2 NS novels and really loved them (Cryptonomicon & SnowCrash).

This book opened my mind to what might be possible with AI and convinced me to start my journey into Machine Learning.

Having said that, one of the messages I took from the story is that AI cannot replicate human to human contact.

Re: How to explain zero-knowledge protocols to your children (1998) [pdf]

#15

Post by r00fus » Mon, Sep 22, 2014, 7:12 PM UTC

gknoy wrote: post #12

atmosx wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm, is it that good??? I've read only 2 NS novels and really loved them (Cryptonomicon & SnowCrash).

The Diamond Age is my favorite, by far, of the work of his that I've read (including the two you mentioned). It's very very good. I like the way he imagines a world where everyone can print whatever they need from The Feed (nanomachines + materials), and yet it's so different from the techno-utopias we have seen before where such is possible. Most importantly, I really liked the characters (just like I did in Snow Cr…

I never really noticed the "no antagonist" until you just mentioned it - I find that's a sign of maturity in a literary work - a story can be riveting by just seeing different people/organizations in contention with their own aims - not the simplistic good vs. evil trope.