Exploring the Convenience of Open Source Applications
During a recent interaction, Vitalik Buterin needed to verify the signers of his multi-signature address but didn't have a specific wallet app installed. He discovered that he could directly query contract information via Etherscan to retrieve the necessary data.
Breakthrough Advantages in User Experience
This experience led him to realize how open-source apps and wallets offer unique benefits in enhancing user experience, enabling convenient functionality in non-traditional scenarios and surpassing the limitations of conventional websites.
Challenges in Privacy Protection
Although this method is currently viable, Vitalik noted that future privacy concerns may restrict its use. A potential solution could involve users relying on a 'view key,' an extended version of their address designed to include additional privacy information.
Future Directions
Blockchain explorers might support the handling of such privacy-sensitive data by storing it in the hash fragment of a URL, ensuring it remains client-side. However, this approach carries risks, as it might encourage users to expose sensitive information on web pages. Ultimately, achieving more secure operations will require direct execution through wallets.