EOS Global Hackathon Hong Kong 1st Prize Winner IDPass

Summary

The ID Pass team has developed a solution to help over a billion undocumented people access essential services like healthcare, legal, and financial support. By utilizing decentralized ID technology combined with EOS blockchain, individuals can securely create and control their own verifiable digital identity. The solution is designed to work without the need for a mobile phone, using biometric scans and disposable or smart cards. The project won the $100,000 prize at a global hackathon and aims to bridge the identity gap for those without access to formal identification.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The solution, ID Pass, is designed to help over a billion undocumented people gain access to essential legal, governmental, healthcare, and financial services.
• 🔒 ID Pass leverages a decentralized identification system based on W3C specifications and EOS blockchain for identity verification and recovery.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The ID creation process includes scanning the individual's eye to ensure they don't need to remember a private key to prove their ID ownership.
• 🏥 The solution was demonstrated using a scenario where an earthquake victim in Nepal, Jeremy, can access medical care using his ID Pass verified by the Red Cross.
• 💳 ID Pass can be used in both digital and physical formats: as a disposable card or a secure hardware-based ID card with a smart chip.
• 🔐 The smart card securely stores the private key, which can only be accessed through the user's unique eye scan.
• 🏦 The ID Pass can be presented to various entities, such as a bank, allowing users to selectively share verifiable claims, like Red Cross verification.
• 📱 ID Pass is designed to serve individuals in remote areas who may not have access to mobile phones, setting it apart from other blockchain-based identity solutions.
• 🤝 The project aims to focus on registering and providing identification to people who have no prior ID, unlike other solutions that assume mobile phone ownership.
• 🏆 The ID Pass project won the first prize of $100,000 in a global hackathon event and will represent Hong Kong in the grand finale for a chance at $500,000.

Q & A

What problem does the ID Pass solution aim to solve?

The ID Pass solution aims to help over a billion undocumented people around the world gain access to essential legal, governmental, healthcare, and financial services by providing them with a trusted, private, and recoverable decentralized ID.

How does ID Pass enable individuals to build a trusted ID?

ID Pass combines the decentralized identification specification from the W3C with EOS blockchain-based account management and recovery services, allowing individuals to build a trusted ID that is fully private, under their control, and recoverable.

How does ID Pass work in situations where there is no internet access?

ID Pass allows users like Dr. Ramon in the example to pre-stock their profile with decentralized IDs that are immutable and stored on the EOS blockchain. This ensures that even without internet access, essential information can still be collected and verified.

Why is iris scanning used in the ID Pass process?

Iris scanning is used to verify the user's identity without requiring them to remember a private key. It offers a secure and reliable method for proving decentralized ID ownership on the blockchain, and is more secure than other biometric methods like fingerprints.

What are the two formats in which ID Pass can be issued?

ID Pass can be issued in two formats: a disposable card that is cheap and accessible, or a smart card with a secure chip that stores the private key and can be unlocked using an iris scan.

How does ID Pass help users prove their identity to third parties?

Users can choose which verified claims to show to third parties, such as a bank. For example, a user might choose to show the Red Cross's verification of their ID, and the bank can trust this claim because it is signed and stored on the EOS blockchain.

What distinguishes ID Pass from other decentralized ID systems like uPort?

ID Pass focuses on providing identity solutions to people without access to mobile phones, particularly in remote villages. Many other decentralized ID systems, like uPort, assume that users have mobile phones, which limits their reach to those without such technology.

Why is ID Pass a viable solution for people in remote areas?

ID Pass is designed to be accessible even in areas with limited technology. The disposable card option does not require a mobile phone, making it suitable for people in remote villages who may not have their own devices or internet access.

What is the significance of ID Pass winning the hackathon prize?

ID Pass won first place in the global hackathon, receiving a prize of $100,000 and advancing to the EOS grand finale for a chance at $500,000. This recognition highlights the project's potential to address the pressing issue of undocumented individuals lacking access to essential services.

What are the future plans for the ID Pass project?

The team plans to make ID Pass an open-source project, allowing broader collaboration and development to help bring identification to the 1.1 billion people around the world who currently lack any formal identity.