Most people know blockchain as the secret sauce that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. We're joined by Arcwebers Shahrukh Tarapore and Mark Hughey as we dig into the ups and downs of harnessing blockchain for everything from healthcare data to mortgages. Is it going to transform the way we handle data and commerce, or just make everything really confusing?   This is part 1 of our 3-episode series on emerging technologies to consider in 2018. Check out episodes 2 and 3, where we explore wearables/IoT and voice interfaces.   Come visit Arcweb at SXSW, March 11-12!   1:10 – Meet Mark and Shahrukh 1:40 – Augmented reality, machine learning, & why we're not talking about them 5:20 – How our tech outlook works 7:10 – Is 2018 the year that blockchain "happens"? 8:40 – Using blockchain to eliminate the middleman (and what to do if you ARE the middleman) 11:20 – Is technology or bureaucracy holding back blockchain? 17:50 – Blockchain platforms vs. blockchain apps 19:40 – Should you start using blockchain now or wait for it to mature?   Shahrukh Tarapore, Head of Engineering @ Arcweb Technologies | LinkedIn Shahrukh has 15 years of experience in research and development and delivering software technology to both startups and large corporations. At Arcweb, he leads the team of engineers and sets technology strategy for the company and its clients.   Mark Hughey, Project Manager @ Arcweb Technologies | LinkedIn Mark has spent his career consulting with organizations of every shape and size. At Arcweb, he helps customers establish digital product strategies and tackle business challenges with the help of our integrated agile design and development teams.