Tag: #startup

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Edu Tech

Transforming Education through Tangible STEM Projects: The Story of Magicbit

education

Written by Migara Amithodhana on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership).

Background

In the midst of Industry 4.0, technology has seamlessly integrated into every facet of our lives, reshaping our world at a rapid pace. Buzzwords like AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), Cloud computing, AR (Augmented Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality) dominate conversations. 

The job landscape has undergone a tectonic shift, with roles that were unheard of in the early 2000s now in high demand.

This digital transformation has created an urgent need for “future-ready” skills in the upcoming workforce. Surprisingly, while technology takes center stage, the most sought-after skills for the future are not those associated with these cutting-edge technologies, but rather, skills such as innovation, critical thinking, and creativity. 

Developing technology innovation skills is paramount to preparing the next generation for an ever-evolving industry.

Problem & Solution

In today’s tech-dominated world, there’s a growing concern regarding the adverse impact of technology on children. Parents worldwide worry about issues like mobile phone addiction, excessive computer gaming, and technology dependency.

Numerous studies have illuminated the psychological issues stemming from technology overuse, with children aged 8-18 spending a staggering 6-9 hours a day on screens. This is where STEM education emerges as an innovative solution to enhance children’s innovation and creativity skills.

STEM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and STEAM when incorporating the Arts, is being adopted by educational systems in approximately 96 countries worldwide. STEM education introduces hands-on, experiential learning to teach these subjects effectively.

Combining STEM education with technology innovation is a focal point in many nations to nurture the future-ready skills of the next generation. Areas such as coding, robotics, AI, IoT, and electronics are being actively promoted among children.

Why Magicbit for STEM Innovations?

In 2019, against this backdrop, Magicbit was born. It was founded by Anuruddha Tennakoon, Migara Amithdhana, and Akalanka De Silva, three preprofessional engineers with over a decade of industry experience, who shared a passion for making technology innovation accessible to everyone.

Magicbit’s core mission is to create the next generation of problem solvers and change-makers.

Products and Services

Magicbit’s flagship product is the hexagonal-shaped Magicbit development board, which can be programmed to foster innovation in coding, robotics, IoT, and electronics. The product includes a hardware kit bundled with software and lessons, offering three main versions: Learner, Explorer, and Master.

Each kit differs in hardware features, with the Master kit said to have the most extensive range of activities and additional plug-and-play sensor modules compared to the Explorer kit.

Magicbit’s comprehensive lesson series, accessible via subscription, covers each of these areas with step-by-step guidance.

Unique Value Proposition

Magicbit products stand out with their plug-and-play modules and pre-loaded code, allowing users to see examples even before coding. This eliminates the need for soldering, wires, and breadboards, making innovation more accessible.

The feature-rich hardware provides versatility for various projects. Magicbit supports different coding options, from Scratch for young learners using block programming to Arduino and Python for beginners and seasoned innovators.

The platform even extends to the .NET Nano framework and magicblocks.io, a cloud-based IoT platform developed by the team. This versatility caters to learners of all levels and simplifies the teaching process for educational institutions.

Key Milestones

Magicbit made its debut as a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter, astonishingly getting funded within the first 4 hours and garnering a massive global response.

As of 2023, Magicbit boasts a user community spread across 40 countries worldwide, validating its universal appeal and functionality. 

The platform is also accredited by STEM.org in the USA as a certified STEM education product. In 2022, Magicbit was recognized as the best startup in Sri Lanka, earning a national award.

 

Next Steps

Education is continually evolving in tandem with technology, and Magicbit remains committed to integrating the best technologies into its innovation ecosystem. Plans are underway to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the platform.

The Magicbit team is also developing a Python-based robotics farm that can be remotely accessed from anywhere in the world, marking another stride toward accessibility and convenience.

Founder’s View and the Path Forward

As a founder, I am, driven by the desire to empower the next generation, not just as a social entrepreneur but also as a father of two. 

I believe in passing on the best knowledge to the next generation, addressing the accessibility gap that hampers technology adoption for a significant portion of the world’s population, including 1.3 billion children worldwide.

Given the pressing global issues of climate change, poverty, economic disparities, pollution, and energy crises, innovation is the key to survival while safeguarding the planet.

I believe that empowering future change-makers to find solutions to these real-world problems is crucial. This path, I envision, will lead to more effective solutions to achieve sustainability development goals (SDGs).

Hailing from a developing country like Sri Lanka and creating world-class products has been a challenging journey.

However, I firmly believe that this story can serve as an inspiration to all children and young entrepreneurs, demonstrating that we live in an era of limitless possibilities in our global village.

Innovation is the way forward, and the world needs smart farmers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and more. It’s time for a paradigm shift in the traditional education system, embracing a modern, innovative approach.

Most searched questions

What is Magicbit?

How does Magicbit helps in transforming education?

Most searched queries

Magicbit

IoT (Internet of Things)

Robotics

AI

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AI Tech

Do you believe that AI will eventually replace humans altogether?

AI will eventually replace humans altogether????

Written by : Shweta (SOHAM) R on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Let’s try to understand the term first:

💡What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence is a new and exciting field that is quickly gaining popularity. It is a method of making a computer, a computer-controlled robot, or a software think intelligently like the human mind. AI is accomplished by studying the patterns of the human brain and by analyzing the cognitive process. 

It can be considered a tool to assist us to rise above our circumstances.

Before getting threatened and believing in speculations take a moment and register this, AI is a replica we have created to make our lives better.

It is made of code not cells!

Having said that, we must strive for creative sense because it’s just the beginning, we have only touched the surface of what Artificial Intelligence can accomplish. Our thinking capabilities and problem solving abilities are endless.

💡The four A.I. types are:

🧩Reactive Machines

🧩Limited Memory

🧩Theory of Mind(Exits only in theory)

🧩Self Aware(Exits only in theory)

We are currently well past the first type and actively perfecting the second. At the moment, the third and fourth types exist only in theory. 

Most of the recent or past developments are data driven. I am looking forward to the theory of mind and self care developments because their AI will have to deal with thoughts and emotions.

How on earth a machine is going to handle that?? 

According to Forbes AI is expected to see an annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. AI continues to revolutionize various industries, with an expected annual growth rate of 37.3% between 2023 and 2030, as reported by Grand View Research. This rapid growth emphasizes the increasing impact of AI technologies in the coming years.

A quarter of companies are adopting AI because of labor shortages as labor shortages become a pressing concern, 25% of companies are turning to AI adoption to address this issue, according to an IBM report. AI helps businesses optimize operations and compensate for the lack of human resources.

Software engineers and data engineers are being recruited for AI support

As AI becomes more integrated into businesses, there is a growing demand for AI support roles. In 2022, 39% of businesses reported hiring software engineers, and 35% hired data engineers for AI-related positions, according to a McKinsey report.

97% of business owners believe ChatGPT will help their business

According to Forbes Advisor, a staggering 97% of business owners believe that ChatGPT will benefit their businesses. One in three businesses plan to use ChatGPT to create website content, while 44% aim to generate content in multiple languages. More than half believe AI will improve written content. 

Over half of respondents, 54%, believe that AI can improve written content, suggesting that AI-driven solutions such as ChatGPT have the potential to enhance text quality, creativity and efficiency in various content creation contexts.

💡What can we do to adapt the process?

In the emergence of AI technology, we may need to accept and reassess ourselves. We will need to be equipped skills-wise and knowledge-wise on how to handle and prosper in a world that is continuously changing and improving as days move on.

Conclusively, I will say it is important to get the hang of AI but again try to acquire a balance while you are turning into a robot with AI advancements to keep your natural stupidity alive to be creative. YES, AI is the present, but will it be the future?!

That’s a question mark for me, I believe quantum computing will take over.

Most asked questions

What are the pros and cons of AI?

 Can AI take over the world?

 

Most searched queries

Generative AI 

Machine learning

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Web 3.0 Tech Law Tech

Pixels to Possibilities: Unravelling India’s Gaming Odyssey

Pixels to Possibilities-gaming

Written by : Ankita Sambyal on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership

Who isn’t fond of video games? From teens to adults, isn’t it? Some play video games as a source of living or to relieve stress. 

The genesis of video games dates back to their early development when a human being used to interact with a massive video device and an analog remote to give commands to the machine to move a pixelated character. 

The earliest recorded U.S. video game patent dates back to 1948, known as the ‘Cathode-ray tube Amusement Device.’ Some of the earliest video game examples include the Nimrod Computer, a massive machine weighing over a ton, as well as Oxo (1952), Tennis for Two (1958), and Spacewar (1961). 

However, these early video games were not available for public purchase due to their immense size and high costs.

The evolution in video game technology has witnessed the progression from classic games like Mario to multiplayer gaming and now to the concept of metaverse gaming.

 Ralph Baer, the Father of Video Games, played a significant role in advancing the Gaming Industry.

In 1967, he invented the prototype called the ‘T.V. Game Unit #1,’ followed by other inventions like the ‘Brown Box Light Gun’ and the ‘Pump Unit’ in 1967-68. In 1972, Baer introduced the Video Game Console named “Odyssey.” 

The Global gaming industry experienced substantial growth, with a valuation of USD 231.34 billion in 2022 and a projected value of USD 353.35 billion over the next five years. 

The year 2023 shows promising developments, including the introduction of generative AI support that simplifies gaming development and increased investments in the metaverse.

In contrast, the Indian gaming industry was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 5.0 billion by 2025.

Considering the exponential growth of the gaming industry, it becomes crucial to establish and enforce regulations to protect the interests of players. 

These regulations should focus on promoting fair play, ensuring player safety, safeguarding minors, protecting intellectual property rights, and preserving the confidentiality of data and sensitive personal information of gamers.

 Additionally, such regulations should consider the financial interests of both the gaming industry and the players.

“Most Parliamentarians don’t have a clue as regards the challenges or the opportunities the games industry faces” – David Puttnam

A videogame can be classified on the basis of mode: – 

    1. Online Games

    1. Offline Games. 

Further, Online and Offline Games can further be classified on the basis of interaction: – 

    1. Game of Skill

    1. Game of Chance.

    1. A Mixture of Game of Skill and Chance.

On 6th April 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India proposed Amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which gives a comprehensive framework for Online Gaming Ecosystem, however, these amendments still fail to address the vital connotations of the Gaming Industry. 

Although, the endeavour has been made through implementing these Amendments to define and explain the terms like “Online Game” (Sec. 2(qa)), “Online Gaming Intermediary”(Sec. 2(qb)), and “Online Real Money Game” (Sec. 2(qd)), however, the definitions and explanations are not comprehensive enough, and there is still a significant gap in the interpretation of these terminologies to fit in the practicality of today’s gaming that we are witnessing in and around.

In 2020, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in partnering with Ernst & Young (EY), released a report stating that USD 817 million has been garnered by the Indian Online Gaming Industry, which involved real-money transactions which depicts that 71% of Indian players are involved with ‘Online Real Money Gaming’. 

Therefore, Regulators need to take a nuanced approach while defining online games and should consider different examples and illustrations to help clarify the distinction between games of skill and games of chance.

    • In situations where monetary transactions are involved in an online game (skill-based or chance-based), it is crucial to adopt a risk-based approach and enforce mandatory KYC verifications for the players utilizing that platform. Additionally, the platform should implement restrictions on financial transactions based on spending limits to ensure responsible and controlled monetary involvement.

    • The legislative amendment should provide clear and detailed explanation of fraudulent activities, that occur in the virtual realm, including services that hijack gaming accounts, theft of virtual identities, fraudulent manipulation of in-game items, cheating and hacking through the use of bots, deceptive game modification, Phony Game Currency Sellers, etc.

    • The legislative amendment should provide detailed and clear distinction of gaming intermediaries and their roles involved in the virtual realm such as online gaming platforms, game developers, publishers, marketplaces etc. along with their roles and responsibilities such as hosting game servers, game distributors, facilitating communication among players, offering customer support etc.

    • The gaming platforms must be legally obligated to provide clear and explicit information on their websites regarding the nature of the game mode in which the player is engaging, distinguishing it is primarily based on skill, chance or a combination of both. By doing so, they will ensure transparency, promote user awareness, and facilitate a fair gameplay environment in compliance with legal requirements.

“The people are pieces of software called avatars. They are the audio-visual bodies that people use to communicate with each other in the metaverse.” – Neal Stephenson

As we have transitioned from traditional gaming to more immersive and interactive experiences facilitated by VR Headsets, we may also witness the emergence of evolved forms of criminal activities in this virtual space. 

Some Countries like Hong Kong are policing the Metaverse to design ‘user safety’ and to educate the public about the potential dangers associated with Web 3.0 and the Metaverse. 

In conclusion, it is imperative for India, which is having a base of 421 million of online gamers and is likely to reach over 442 million by the end of 2023, needs to take a thorough revamp of its gaming regulations to encompass games such as Blockchain-based gaming, Metaverse Gaming. 

By proactively, embracing and regulating these advancements, can help protect consumers, prevent problems of gambling, and ensure a fair and level playing field for all participants that can help India to position itself as a leader in effectively overseeing the Gaming Industry. 

This strategic approach will ensure that India remains competitive and doesn’t lag behind in effectively policing the dynamic and evolving gaming landscape. 

Most asked questions

What is the current size of the gaming industry?

What are the job opportunities in the gaming industry?

Most searched queries

Fastest growing gaming company

Mobile gamers in India

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HR Tech Digi Tech

The technological and digital evolution of a remote business 

Written by Kiran Bhatia Tandon on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

As the world becomes more connected and technology continues to advance, remote work has become increasingly popular among businesses. 

The demand for digital and technological tools has increased more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many businesses to move to remote work. 

A remote company’s digital and technological journey can be both exciting and difficult. Companies have had to modify their strategies and tools to meet the demands of a distributed workforce as a result of technological advancements and the rise of remote work. 

The need for constant adaptation to new technologies and tools was one of the biggest obstacles the company faced on its digital and tech journey. They recognized that technology is constantly evolving, and they needed to be agile and adaptable in order to stay ahead of the curve. 

This meant investing in ongoing training and development for their employees to ensure that they had the skills and knowledge needed to work with the latest tools and technologies.

Here are some common strategies adopted by companies to manage a distributed workforce:

1. Use of collaboration tools

One of the most difficult aspects of managing a distributed workforce is ensuring effective communication and collaboration among team members who may work in different locations and time zones. 

To get around this problem, companies used a variety of strategies and tools to improve communication and collaboration, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack for video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management. 

2. Regular check-ins

Regular check-ins with remote employees can help to ensure that they are on track and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner. These can be done with the use of collaboration tools

3. Clearly defined goals and expectations

Clear goals and expectations can help remote employees stay focused and productive. These goals should be measurable and communicated effectively.  These can be defined using technology in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples: 

  • Project management software: Project management software, such as Asana or Trello, clickup can be used to create tasks and assign them to team members. This allows for clear expectations and deadlines to be set, and progress to be tracked in real-time.

  • Performance tracking tools: Performance tracking tools, such as OKRs or KPIs, can be used to set measurable goals and track progress towards achieving them. This provides a clear framework for employees to work toward specific outcomes.

  • Communication tools: As stated above, tools, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams, can be used to facilitate regular check-ins and goal-setting conversations between managers and team members. This helps to ensure that goals and expectations are clearly understood and can be adjusted as needed.

  • Learning management systems: Learning management systems, such as Udemy or Coursera for Business, can be used to provide employees with training and development opportunities that align with organizational goals and expectations.

4. Flexible work schedules

Companies can offer flexible work schedules to their remote employees to help them balance their work and personal lives.

5. Performance-based assessments

Performance-based assessments can help managers evaluate the productivity of remote employees and provide feedback to help them improve.

6. Regular team meetings

Regular team meetings can help remote employees feel connected to their team and can improve communication and collaboration.

7. Virtual team-building activities:

Virtual team-building activities such as online games and virtual happy hours using collaboration tools can help build a sense of camaraderie and boost morale among remote employees.

8. Training and development

Companies can provide training and development opportunities to help remote employees improve their skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends.

In addition to the above, companies had created well-defined policies and guidelines for remote work and provided employees with the necessary support and resources to ensure that they remained productive and engaged while working remotely.

Cybersecurity has become a top concern for remote companies, as remote workers often use their personal devices to access company data. To address this challenge, remote companies have had to implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

Companies need to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to managing a distributed workforce, and they should be willing to experiment with different strategies and tools to find what works best for their organization.

Overall, the company’s digital and tech journey is a critical part of their success as a remote company. By embracing technology and using it to their advantage, they will be able to overcome the challenges of remote work and build a thriving remote workplace that could compete with traditional brick-and-mortar companies. Their journey is a testament to the power of technology to transform businesses and create new opportunities for growth and success.

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Most asked questions

How advancing technology affect remote business?

How remote employees cope with advancement in technology?


 

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Web 3.0 Tech

The evolution of NFT and Blockchain Use Cases

The evolution of NFT and Blockchain Use Cases

Written by Sallyann Della Casa on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Nfts have advanced significantly since 2021, when we first learned about them. Most people now consider the functionality of NFTs in addition to the artwork when thinking about them.  

The following utility benefits provided by the still widely used Bored Apes to their customers are what has maintained their price so high:

    1. Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) membership: Each Bored Ape NFT acts as a membership card for the BAYC, a group of NFT collectors who are all enthusiastic about the project. Members of the BAYC get special access to events, products, and other benefits.

    1. Commercial licensing: The Bored Ape NFT owners have the right to monetize their digital assets, which includes using the characters’ visuals to make and sell items and to provide licenses for their use in other projects.

    1. Members of the BAYC are eligible to vote on matters of governance that will have an impact on the project’s future. This implies that Bored Ape NFT owners can influence how the neighborhood develops and expands.

    1. Royalties: The owner of a Bored Ape NFT gets paid a portion of the sale price when the NFT is sold or exchanged on a secondary market. For the owners, this offers a steady stream of income.

    1. Social standing: Among NFT collectors, Bored Ape NFTs have come to represent rank and distinction. Each NFT’s rarity and distinctiveness can raise its value and desirability among collectors, elevating its social standing in the community.

How you describe NFTs matters greatly for those of you who are still unfamiliar with the NFT notion. An NFT is just code that connects anything to blockchain, such as Javascript or C++. You could conceivably save your documents to the blockchain with a “dot NFT” just like you would when saving them in Word or Excel. 

With that reasoning, the logical question is: Why use blockchain, and what money do you hope to save? 

Definition is crucial here once more. Blockchain is the ideal notebook. Once something is printed on a page, it cannot be changed or removed. 

Blockchain is now incredibly safe, unchangeable, and verifiable thanks to this. 

Now combine the two, and let’s talk about a few recent, highly intriguing use cases of Blockchain and NFT technology: 

Transforming the legal patent filing system

 In the field of protecting intellectual property (IP), IBM has explicitly filed patents relevant to patent filing on blockchain. These patents seek to improve the speed, security, and transparency of the patent application process using blockchain technology. Details are as follows:

    1. Streamlining the application process for patents: Inventors might submit their patent applications directly to the blockchain using IBM’s blockchain-based patent filing system, without the need for the usual intermediaries like patent attorneys and patent offices. This might speed up and reduce the cost of the application procedure.

    1. Increasing transparency: When a patent application is added to the blockchain, it becomes an unalterable record that is available to the public. Due to the complete transparency and ease of verification of the application’s history and its prosecution, this could assist in preventing conflicts and issues over the validity of patents.

    1. Increasing security: IBM’s blockchain-based patent filing system may offer more defense against the infringement and theft of intellectual property. In order to avoid illegal revisions and tampering, the system would be made to ensure that only authorized parties could access and amend the records of patent applications.

    1. Automating the administrative processes involved in managing patents, such as keeping track of licenses, renewals, and ownership, could likewise be done using IBM’s technology. For patent owners and inventors, this might save time and money.

The overall goal of IBM’s blockchain-based patent filing system is to improve the efficiency, security, and transparency of the patent application and administration process. It may lessen conflicts over patent ownership, safeguard intellectual property rights, and streamline the administrative tasks involved in administering patents.

Helping us reach net zero 

Imagine your refrigerator and washing machine conversing with one another about which one is turning on and off to ensure controlled energy use. How NFTs and blockchain can assist us in reaching net zero is as follows:

    • NFTs can be utilized to create distinctive digital assets that serve as verifiable carbon offsets. These offsets can be purchased and traded on marketplaces built on the blockchain, enabling businesses and people to offset their carbon emissions and support green initiatives. Utilizing NFTs can improve the market for carbon offsets’ transparency and traceability, ensuring that offset projects are authentic and that emissions reductions are properly recorded.

    • Financial sustainability: Blockchain-based systems can be used to establish digital tokens that reflect sustainable assets, such as green bonds, sustainable agriculture, or renewable energy projects. Investors can promote and fund sustainable projects by trading these tokens on exchanges built on the blockchain. This might quicken the shift to a low-carbon economy.

    • Transparency in the supply chain: Blockchain technology can offer traceability and transparency in supply chains, allowing businesses to monitor and confirm the sustainability of their goods and raw materials. This can verify that items fulfill sustainability requirements and help reduce their carbon footprint.

    • Energy management: Blockchain technology can be used to establish decentralized energy markets, enabling people and companies to conduct direct exchanges of renewable energy. This can hasten the transition to a low-carbon energy system and improve the efficiency and dependability of renewable energy systems.

The application of NFTs with blockchain technology can open up new possibilities for carbon accounting, offsetting, and trading, as well as boost supply chain transparency and traceability and support sustainable finance. 

The objective of producing net zero emissions and reducing the effects of climate change may be achieved with the help of these developments.

Preserving Human Identity 

Life before and after ChatGPT vividly defines the era in which we currently live. 

If you haven’t been paying attention, new artificial intelligence capabilities are being produced every day at breakneck speeds. And if you aren’t already, you need to start questioning human identity and the purpose of humanity right away. 

In a time of automation, how do we capture and maintain human individuality and ingenuity? 

Your degree or birth certificate do not define your human identity or cleverness. We’re referring to the distinctive ways you reason and behave, frequently utilizing human abilities like imagination, discretion, and initiative. 

A psychometric, static profile or resume cannot adequately capture this dynamic reality. NFTs can capture all of this in a very simple way, allowing us to control our information and also use it to signal, like SEO, those we want to pay attention to. 

It is shaped by the interactions we have with others, the way we handle situations, the people we surround ourselves with, and the projects and ideas we take on.

This is part of the NFT technology-related work I’ve been looking forward to at my startup, Gleac with our tokenization of time on blockchain of the world’s leading experts in a project we call Lovely Humans. 

Tokenizing human time and wisdom is the process of developing one-of-a-kind digital assets that represent the labor and knowledge of certain people, such as consultants, coaches, or mentors. 

On the blockchain-based market place powered by our lovely humans, these assets can be traded, enabling people to monetise their knowledge and talents in the following ways: 

    1. Making original digital assets NFTs can be used to produce one-of-a-kind digital assets that symbolize people’s labor and knowledge. These assets can be sold in markets built on the blockchain, enabling people to monetize their knowledge and talents.

    1. Increasing transparency and trust: Blockchain technology can give transparency and traceability in the exchange of knowledge, ensuring that the knowledge being offered is reliable and authentic.

    1. Cutting out intermediaries People may be able to directly trade their expertise with others via blockchain-based markets, eliminating the need for middlemen and improving the efficiency of the transaction.

    1. presenting fresh possibilities In an era of AI and automation where traditional jobs are being disrupted, tokenizing human time and insight can offer people new chances to monetize their skills and expertise. 

By giving access to knowledge that would not have been previously available, it can also generate new chances for learning and personal development.

Tokenizing human time and wisdom is essential in an era of AI and automation because it can allow individuals to not only profit from their unique skills and knowledge but also time capsule it, which AI cannot easily replicate. 

Additionally, it can easily track the source of new inventions and intellectual property (IP) from experts, particularly as we move toward a blockchain-based patent filing system which is one of the core utilities of the lovely human NFT collections. 

Additionally, it can offer up new avenues for learning and personal growth, particularly in disciplines where knowledge availability may be limited. 

With the aid of blockchain technology and NFTs, human labor and knowledge can be tokenized efficiently and openly, assuring the validity and legality of knowledge transfer.

In conclusion, NFT and blockchain technology have the potential to transform the way we interact with digital assets and create a more transparent and decentralized world. Ultimately, these technologies have the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive world, where individuals have greater control over their digital assets and access to new forms of value creation.

I released the world’s first NFT collection tokenizing time and wisdom.

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Categories
Web 3.0 Tech Art Tech

NFTs: The Future of Art?

NFTs: The Future of Art?

Written by Science Centre Singapore on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Illustrations by Sung Jernin

At this point, everybody has heard of an NFT. Some have commended them to be the future of art, while others have been more conservative with their praise, believing NFTs to be a gimmick. 

Let’s take a look under the hood at how NFTs work and decide how viable they are as the artwork of the future or as digital assets.

NFT, meaning “non-fungible token”, refers to an online asset that is not interchangeable; like trading cards or precious artefacts in how they are individually irreplaceable.

NFTs seek to create the same kind of value in the digital space – digital items with their own unique identities. 

They have become a household term after exploding in popularity in 2017, with the craze being started by groups like CryptoPunks, a brand specialising in pixelated avatars. Their work has been traded for astonishing amounts – with Alien CryptoPunk #7523 infamously sold for 11.7 million USD. 

First, let’s try to understand how NFTs work and what makes them unique. NFTs utilise ‘blockchain’ – the same technology as cryptocurrencies. Think of blockchain as a digital ledger that records transactions. The term ‘block’ refers to individual stores of data, and the term ‘chain’ describes the way these different blocks are linked to form one cohesive network. 

When each data block in the network reaches its predefined storage limit, it is rendered totally immutable, and data begins to flow into the next block instead. 

This technology guarantees lasting security, because once a block is set, its contents are forever unchanged. In the case of NFTs, this technology is used to store an address on the web or another method of access. 

The blockchain itself does not store the image or video. A key that enables access to the site on the blockchain where the NFT address is stored is kept in the buyer’s digital wallet.

The appeal of NFTs is difficult to rationalise. It might be their novelty, the futuristic appeal of the blockchain itself, or their hype and celebrity. Their guarantee of uniqueness contributes to an image of absolute exclusivity. 

In addition, the security afforded by blockchain increases buyers’ impression that they have just acquired something irreplaceable, and they take pride in ownership of these digital artefacts. 

Like trading cards, some characteristics in NFTs are more sought after than others. In the CryptoPunks collection, there are some common characteristics and some which are much rarer, like alien skin; those with that characteristic are likely to go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions. 

These art pieces also act as status symbols. There are events and exclusive clubs/communities that only permit those who have ownership over specific NFTs. 

This desire for celebrity status is a central driving force behind the NFT rage – people seek to take part in a lifestyle they have not yet gotten to experience. 

The example of basketballer Stephen Curry, who spent 180,000 USD on Bored Ape #7990 and made a tweet showing off his new purchase and his acceptance into an exclusive discord server, highlighting the usage of NFTs as a status symbol. 

When high-profile people make these purchases, it beckons more people to enter the market and try their luck.

It seems clear to at least some degree that the explosive growth of cryptocurrency over the past few years, with Bitcoin and Ethereum becoming household names, has had a major effect on propelling NFTs to the global stage. 

The NFT market has also been boosted considerably by an irrational fear of missing out on “the next big thing”. Nowadays we all hear about prophets who made bulk purchases of Bitcoin around a decade ago when it was cheap and are now multi-millionaires; people feel they would be missing out on a trend of a similar calibre if they were to ignore the NFT market.  

Therefore, people are anxious to jump in as fast as possible, leading to questionable financial decisions. To some extent, the hype around NFTs is a self-propelling cycle, attracting more and more prospective buyers as it grows larger and more tempting.

There is also something to be said about NFTs being an inevitable offshoot of the transition from the physical to the digital that has taken place over the past two decades.

Think of the migration of the cinema experience to online streaming services, or the migration of media from discs to files on the cloud. It seems like a natural progression from tangible art to NFT.

The idea of keeping things physically and valuing the ability to touch and to feel seems antiquated.Of course, despite their inevitability with increasing focus on the digital space, NFTs have not been universally accepted.

For instance, game developers are against NFTs specifically because the focus of NFTs has become their selling price rather than the quality of the digital content. Some view NFTs as a platform ripe for illegal acts like money laundering. 

The Ethereum transactions powering most NFT markets are environmentally detrimental – with the amount of computing power necessary to make transactions being a limitation on how time-efficient and energy-efficient these transactions can be. 

According to an article linked on Ethereum.org, Ethereum’s total annual energy consumption was around 112 tera-watthours per year, and their carbon emissions totalled 53 megatons per year. As pointed out in the article, this is equal to the total annual carbon emissions of Singapore! 

NFTs are marketed as being secure due to their decentralisation in the blockchain, but this decentralisation leads to its own complications. 

There is no real central authority or government agency in any country overlooking NFTs. The regulatory guidance on the subject is in a fledgling state and proof of ownership is not as secure as it could be. 

It has even been expressed that there is a risk of hackers making purchases or transferring assets using others’ accounts. This is because, as mentioned before, the code/key to access the NFT in the blockchain is stored on a digital wallet and not on the blockchain itself. 

Therefore, while the web address of the NFT is secure, the code to access the NFT is theoretically vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The decentralisation of cryptocurrency, and NFTs by extension, is a factor contributing to their massive monetary value: the supply is tightly restricted by the costs and high barriers to entry of mining operations, and the demand continues to rise, with neither supply nor demand subject to intervention from authorities. 

This leads to great price volatility (fluctuations in prices) creating a speculative market. It is reliant upon ‘greater fool’ theory; people only fork out their money hoping that a bigger risk-taker will be willing to pay an even larger sum. 

As opposed to other options like the stock market, NFTs come with far greater risks and are subject to greater price volatility, reflecting the cryptocurrency they parallel.

Payment can theoretically also be made in fiat currency, as was the case in the 11.7-million-dollar purchase of CryptoPunk #7523.  However, the issue of unregulated markets and price volatility is not addressed, because while the buyer may be protected from the risk of cryptocurrency investment, any investment into an NFT comes with the same risks arising from the tight supply and growing demand.

Overall, I think that in their current iteration, NFTs cannot fully replace traditional art. However, each has its advantages and disadvantages; and NFTs bring very new and innovative ideas to the table; shaking up the scene significantly. 

And, of course, we must address that while art pieces like physical paintings can technically only be expressed along two dimensions, NFTs can dip into four, as they can be 3 dimensional objects which change over time. 

For example, the supposed ‘first-ever’ NFT, Quantum, which sold at the same auction as CryptoPunk #7523, is a geometric shape that morphs and bends with time. However, their environmental effects and the security concerns limit their sustainability for now.

At the moment, it seems unlikely that NFTs are going to be phased out anytime soon; but outliers with ludicrously high valuations will become increasingly scarce; these are just symptoms of the excitement of the market and are not reflective of the way NFTs should progress. 

NFTs are fundamentally different from traditional art in many positive ways; for one, NFT trading is much more accessible in the modern day given that all one really needs is a computer and internet connection. 

NFT markets and creators should move forward with an intent to promote openness and continue to innovate.

Glossary:

Greater fool theory: It is when people disregard the actual valuation of an asset and make a purchase with the intent of selling it off to a higher bidder.

This relies on a speculative market. When the so-called “speculative bubble” dies down, the asset is left in the hands of the unfortunate highest bidder with nobody to sell it to. 

For further reading: https://www.fool.com/investing/how-to-invest/greater-fool-theory/

Fiat Currency: Acts legal tender by the decree of a government or authority without any kind of intrinsic value on its own. As such, it is backed by authorities and is subject to regulation.

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HR Tech

Lead the Leaders – Digitizing the 4Cs approach 

Lead the Leaders – Digitizing the 4Cs approach

Written by : Sriparna Sen on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

In today’s world, start-ups have become as common as daily bread. And I firmly believe this is the beauty of our times. Every start-up comes with new dreams, goals and journeys that are waiting to be charted out. The founders start with a vision and then slowly and steadily people join hands and the voyage goes on. 

For each of these voyages, several storms are encountered and surpassed. It takes the whole crew along with their varied areas of expertise and varied personalities to help the ship sail through troubled waters. And every single member of the organization learns through the journey. This is the best example of “on-the-job” learning that can be provided in today’s times. 

Just like a human pyramid, the organization keeps building up through the years. If the foundation is robust and the channels of communication are strong, then every layer in the pyramid is cohesively aligned towards the goal. 

Some start-ups achieve this by maintaining a flat hierarchy so that it’s easier to communicate and some start-ups achieve this by maintaining a strict growth path for their leaders. 

But, the underlying principles are the same to achieve organizational success for these growth-phase start-ups. 

They need to focus on an emerging set of middle managers. It is immensely critical. I call this the “Lead the Leaders” approach.

Like everything in our world today, technology can play an important role in implementing this approach efficiently in your organization during the fast-paced growth phases. If we can digitize the onboarding and learning of early stage managers, it’ll help in minimising losses and maximising productivity. 

In my experience, the 4Cs of Manager Development need to be incorporated into the culture of growth-phase start-ups.

  1. Co-create the learning vision and strategy – Senior leaders, along with HR (and Learning experts), need to stitch a learning strategy for all managers in the organization. The learning strategy has to be customized for the industry and the company. Tools like Appreciative Inquiry can be useful. 

  1. Coaching programs – Ownership and empowerment comes with self-confidence. Every manager needs to act as a coach. For that they need to learn what are good coaching skills. Companies need to create in-house coaches and sponsorship programs for future leaders. There is a quote in the book – A Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt – “Coaching is no longer a speciality; you cannot be a good manager without being a good coach.”

  1. Competency driven career paths – Several start-ups see team and organizational efficiencies in their early days which “seem” to diminish as the company grows. Most of this is due to the lack of capturing the competencies which created the original winning streak. Creating the right competency matrix and then implementing it for every job role is a key factor in developing future leaders. 

  1. Communication and creating a culture of trust – Finally, the one ring to rule them all! The leaders, HR and the systems in the organization – all need to come together to communicate regularly and consistently the learning vision and the competency based approach to the managers. 

The great thing about the market today is that there are several Learning Management Systems (LMS) built and sold which cater to all categories of companies. But this is also the bane of it – how do you choose the right one? 

The simple answer is – always keep your end objective very clearly written when you research the market for the right technology for your setup. And trust me when I say, most of these tools are built for being customized for your company as long as your requirements are crisp and clear.

Any LMS that you deploy for your employees should be able to implement the 4Cs that you stitched for your unique environment. You need to ensure that the system is built with and drives your approach if you hope to see any success in developing your talent.

Here are some of the tips that work well, in my experience: 

  • Define the objectives 

  • Check and review the learning strategy 

  • List your expectations from the system 

  • State all the people and culture constraints 

  • Ensure ability to easily evaluate learning outcomes and generate reports 

  • Do a thorough market research 

  • Compare and get product demos for all your stakeholders 

  • Review and confirm the post launch support 

Companies will thrive only when digitisation and humanisation are used in a collaborative way to understand human behaviour. If you can support your new and emerging people managers to lead their teams well, then your business will not just survive, but thrive in this VUCA world.

Sriparna Sen is General manager HR | People and Culture @ Great Learning

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Climate Tech Wellness/Beauty Tech

The Green Age of cosmetics

The Green Age of cosmetics

Written by Science Centre Singapore on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)
Illustrations by Lim Daphne

As consumers we have a responsibility to the climate while shopping for personal care items.

The infographic below can be used as a guide to look for what ingredient is climate friendly as we buy our cosmetics.

Text Description automatically generated with low confidence

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Ad Tech

Recycled advertising impressions and eco-friendly campaigns

Recycled advertising impressions and eco-friendly campaigns
Recycled advertising impressions and eco-friendly campaigns

Written by : Anas Ech-chaoui on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)
Illustrations by Lim Daphne

The idea was born from an inventory recycling idea by Thomas OBJOIS and Julien GALIM.

The two co-founders and entrepreneurs used their previous experience, and they have established this unique technology for digital marketers..

During the rise of programmatic in digital, they realised the downside of the complexity of this technology and established a company for recovering lost ad calls and turn them into valuable/monetizable impressions.

The extent of this phenomenon is still little known, as are the various causes of this consequent advertising mess.

This 100% French-origin company has been combating advertising waste and reducing the carbon footprint of digital campaigns through its pipes.
Ampoule et engrenage contour

Sustainable and profitable solution for publishers

Based on our team’s experience at Lagardère Group, we have seen that more than forty technical problems were preventing the distribution of millions of advertising impressions.

We call them “ghost impressions”.

How this works in a nutshell:

After our script is integrated into the publisher’s code base and we start to analyse the site’s inventory pages and advertising placements, we are able to map the loss and suggest the worth of the “ghost impressions”. After the full launch of the solution, we can identify and recycle the lost impressions in real time. It is important to mention that we respect all Core Web Vitals without impacting the quality of the user experience or the page behaviours such as loading time.

Being in the market for years, we see that the recyclable impressions represent on average 20% of a website’s total display inventory.

In 2022, our technology recovered and monetised more than 19 billion ad impressions.

Where do ghost impressions come from ?

ADVERTISING RELATED ISSUES

    • Connection problems during API calls of solutions (SSPs/Ad Servers/bidswitch…). 

    • Glitches in cross-origin requests to REST APIs or calls to solution servers. No ad response.

SITE RELATED ISSUES

    • Failed or misconfigured lazyload ad logic that does not allow the execution of the slot 

    • Issues in the ad slot CSS that prevent the ad from being displayed

VISITOR RELATED ISSUES

    • Loss of connection to the user’s device caused by micro-cuts 

    • Website or web tools are not adapted to certain browsers

How does our solution work for a publisher?

BCOVERY is a comprehensive technology and it operates by inspecting/scanning the content and HTML structure of the publisher sites.

When a ghost impression occurs due to any technical reasons, our proprietary algorithm analyses the ad call  and makes the impression available to the publisher/advertisers for monetisation.

We are is present in 5 countries and continuously growing.

It supports more than 400 publishers worldwide (France, Germany, Japan, UK, USA)

Milestone 2022 : 

We as a company decided to do more for our environment and help digital marketers in maximising their potentials, therefore and to create the first eco-responsible French Marketplace.

This Marketplace brings together all the publishers’ recycled inventories allowing us to provide incremental, trusted and high-performing impressions to the demand side.

Advertisers – How do we reduce the carbon impact of media campaigns?

Agencies and advertisers are increasingly aware of the carbon impact of their campaigns and realise that not all of the supplies emit the same amount of carbon.

We also see that agencies and advertisers are increasingly favouring low-carbon impact inventories, and we want to help them achieve this…

Echoing the above, BCOVERY convinced and determined about the need to measure and reduce the carbon emissions of advertising impressions and keep a more sustainable overall nature of digital campaigns.

As a matter of fact, using our network, an advertiser considerably reduces the carbon footprint of its media activity. Here are the three drivers:

    1.  Recycled and low-carbon impressions

    1.  Reduced creative weight while ensuring effective communication

    1.  A direct and secure delivery channel (vs. a complex programmatic chain)

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What is next?

Our next mission is to create similar marketplaces in other countries and help the digital industry to be more sustainable than before.

The three pillars of our ambition: 

SENSITIZE 

on the importance of the delivery channel in its CSR advertising strategy.

POSITIONING 

advertising recycling as a solution to buyers’ need for great performance and energy savings.

REPLACE 

energy-consuming advertising strategies with investing in recycled, responsible and qualitative inventories.

Finally, one of our achievements:

Our recycled campaigns

ALDI Digital Campaign

    • 80M recycled impressions

    • 60% carbon saving

    • High performance clicks and viewability

In line with its anti-waste strategy and its desire to reduce the carbon footprint of its advertising campaigns, ALDI has partnered with BCOVERY in 2022 and because of our success we renewed our partnership –  as one of the major partners of ALDI for 2023.

If your answer is YES to the following:

You are a publisher and want to know the amount of your recyclable inventory?

You are an advertiser and want to reduce your carbon emissions?

Contact us directly by mail at hello@bcovery.com

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AI Tech

ChatGPT and Generative AI’s – A Digilah view

ChatGPT and Generative AI’s
ChatGPT and Generative AI’s

Written by Vidya Dhareshwar on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Chatgpt, Bard AI and all the generative AI seems to be the current flavour. There is an insurmountable buzz around and about it . 

Everyone has an opinion on its impact and the ways that it can change, how we and our future generations engage with and use tech in our daily lives.

Whilst there have been many concerns on its impact on search engines, students, jobs and livelihoods, the fact remains that this evolution has happened and is here to stay.

ChatGPT alone has been the fastest growing consumer internet app ever with over 100 million users two months after launch. This itself shows the vast potential of generative AI.

 Just as life evolves, so does technology and yet this revolutionary technology doesn’t take away from human intelligence instead it is trained to learn what humans mean when they ask a question. 

Many users are awed at its ability to provide human-quality responses, inspiring the feeling that it may eventually have the power to disrupt how humans interact with computers and change how information is retrieved.

In the context of Digilah, where we like to provide a digital platform for every tech enthusiast to learn and contribute their tech journey and thought leadership, we view chatGPT, Bard AI and all other generative AI’s as an enabler and an opportunity for many of our start up and tech founders to share their learnings.

Let’s talk about the tech startup market in South East Asia alone. As per a Forbes article, The digital and tech industries of this region have enjoyed an enormous boom over the last few years. 

According to Jungle Ventures, Southeast Asia’s technology startups had a combined valuation of $340 billion in 2020, and they anticipate this will triple by 2025.

This is a diverse but very strong prospective market with a focus in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

This market is quite complicated. Many entrepreneurs are hindered by concerns over a difference in mentality and a lack of understanding of how to do business there. We @ Digilah look at this as a huge opportunity.

There is a need to get all of the learnings and journeys of these startups and founders so that this rich knowledge repertoire is available to all. 

Many of them would like to share their journeys and provide their insights but sometimes are busy learning and navigating the markets and business challenges and for some it might also mean a constraint in terms of resources and skills to share their journeys be it content creation or communication skills or just time.

We present the combined power of Human Experience with the generative AI’s in the form of articles published by us at Digilah. Our submission is to use the vast reach of the generative AI tools to start the journey.

What this tech will do is provide for a framework, a skeleton, a structure of an article , a startup founders journey as a start point. This can then be brought to life by adding the content  and context of experience, leadership, success, failures and insights by the tech founders.

These articles are extremely valuable and become a  rich database of insight and knowledge for all knowledge seekers today and for the future.

In short, in our view, ChatGPT, Bard AI AND Human Experience is the opportunity to build the knowledge here at Digilah, all at the click of a key.

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Categories
HR Tech

Define the shared PURPOSE

Define the shared PURPOSE

Written by : Lori Figueiredo on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

External rewards, such as fair pay, only AVOID dissatisfaction.  

External rewards are NOT the most critical motivators.  

Internal rewards are the most critical motivators. Striving towards a PURPOSE that is meaningful to you – is a powerful internal reward.  It may include enjoying what you are doing and experiencing personal growth.  

Even more powerful than this, is when we have a shared PURPOSE with those whom we respect and connect with.  The larger common purpose we co-create with others is usually:

  • aligned to our own personal purpose

  • inspirational and uplifting so we connect to it emotionally and deeply

  • aspirational as a breakthrough which goes beyond our current achievements

Based on these findings, we formulated the SYZYGY® PURPOSE. It is a tool to envisage and define your direction, value and roles of your ecosystem of Stakeholders.  As we get clear on who are the right PEOPLE, co-creating a shared PURPOSE is the next habit.  

A pre-defined PURPOSE ensures you target, track and measure the required IMPACT! We always need to begin with this end (shared PURPOSE) in mind to anchor, motivate and inspire ourselves and others. 

Think about…? Do you have a clear picture of the impact of your efforts and activities on your organization and people?

How might you pre-define a shared PURPOSE as you engage your ecosystem of Stakeholders?

With your Stakeholders you discuss and define the broader purpose which is your collective value to the organization and/or larger community:

  • Your breakthrough goals with concrete measurable indicators

  • Your strategy which is simply your approach or plan to get there

Then you discuss and define the roles. This means you define and communicate what each Stakeholder group needs to:

  • ACHIEVE = results

  • DO = behaviours

  • LEARN = knowledge, skills and attitudes

When you breakdown performance into very simple, clear and measurable terms, the desired IMPACT on organization performance and people performance becomes very clear. 

This role clarity empowers and aligns each Stakeholder group to take targeted, critical and meaningful action. Once all your Stakeholders understand and are aligned to your breakthrough goals and strategy – this state of alignment is called SYZYGY. When aligned, with less effort we achieve greater results.

For example, while working, learning, and empowering people to improve their performance – we found it worked best when those involved imagined their own shared purpose.

In addition, we found when there is alignment, all the Stakeholders within the ecosystem share information and insights up and down the value chain every day. All those involved can then use this feedback loop to continuously improve what they LEARN and DO to ACHIEVE their shared PURPOSE.   

Pre-defining and then targeting to impact the desired performance outcomes is one of the most critical advantages of using the SYZYGY® methodology. Let’s move onto the other 3 of the 5P framework…

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Categories
Law Tech Web 3.0 Tech

“Law and technology produce, together, a kind of regulation of creativity”

Law and technology produce, together, a kind of regulation of creativity

Lawrence Lessig

Written by : Sophie N. Ngouakang on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Sophie N. Ngouakang is the managing partner of Tchinsop Law Firm & founder of “Veritas Bitcoin”. My love for innovation has led me to combine interests in technology and law practicing in a tech-related area of law such as Blockchain which to me is very promising than other law specialties. (No offense to my law colleagues with different interests). That is what I decided to do and have been doing for quite some time.   

When it comes to law and technology, one could ask several questions among which – if laws will ultimately have to change to keep up with modern tech or tech will have to adapt to keep in line with the law, considering for instance that many terms and conditions on apps are agreed to by minors?

Minors agreeing to apps is another issue. Parents have an obligation to control what their minor children access. From time-to-time parents have gotten out of financial harm caused by their minor children spending money on apps, but it isn’t always a sure thing. There is a law about collecting information about children under the age of 13, but there isn’t much behind it since the children invariably check the boxes that say their parents have provided permission.

Laws constantly change to keep up with technology. Unfortunately, they often change too slowly. A good example of that would be the failure of the many governments to enact meaningful reforms related to privacy as technology has become more invasive. Habitually, in the law, we adjust the language of things we write or our approaches to conflict resolutions based on changes in technology. 

However, sometimes the law does not address underlying problems and without amendments to existing laws or new laws it is difficult to resolve problems, both criminal, commercial, and civil, within the legal system.

Technology is only as good as the purpose for which we use and not necessarily for which it was intended. It’s essential to state that technology therefore, can’t be considered as a neutral tool since it all depends on how it is used.

Humans abuse tools more often than the intended designer would prefer. Like screwdrivers being used as murder weapons, the technology is not neutral because human operators are not neutral.

The most spoken about technology in recent times seems to be the Blockchain technology.

Blockchain is a decentralized, peer to peer, immutable storage network which is censor free and regulator free because of the absence of one single controlling entity.

Every transaction that is written is voted upon by a majority of nodes and changing something which was written before in the chain is computationally very difficult.   

When blockchain matures to the point of being “the law”, the difference will be that “what happened when” will not take up as large a part of court hearings as today. Also, many disputes will not ever reach court because of more automatic settlements occurring before, as contracts automatically settle when parameters are breached.

You will probably see many systems of law competing for adherents, they will all have to somehow interface with the legacy system until the legacy system either innovates to compete or is abandoned in favor of better regimes.

Criminal, corporate and civil law firms will need to develop an understanding of how cryptocurrencies can be used to facilitate transfers of value worldwide, which will inevitably creep into cases of all kinds as it becomes clear that currencies like bitcoin are here to stay.

As it becomes established case law, there will also be increasing numbers of things where the incorporation of information into a blockchain becomes proof that the information existed or that something happened at that point in time.

Some countries have been much better about dealing with this technology than others as far as amending laws and/or passing new ones are concerned. El Salvador for example being the first country to legalize bitcoin as legal tender. 

I think joining the tech-space with a legal background is always a plus and the inputs one can bring are countless. The first contribution that one can do is for “Smart Contracts”. 

Smart Contracts are executable code that get executed upon the activation of an event in a contract.

I always encourage persons with an interest in law and technology to get an understanding of “Smart contracts” as I see a great demand for people in the near future. We will always rely on human cooperation to uphold the law.

As an illustration, if a person defaulted continuously on his rent payment for 3 months, a smart contract has the power to remotely lock the appartement.

Taking the comparison in the real-world contracts, the Terms & Conditions for a lease agreement would have been drafted by the Attorney of the landlord that exists on paper. In case of default in the payment of rents, although the clause gets invoked, the landlord would still have to serve the tenant a notice to quit, before confiscating the keys to the appartement.

With a “Smart Contract”, it is automated. Indeed, technology and law together produce a kind of creative regulation unprecedented in history, as Lawrence pointed out.

In the end, laws change over time. We see that constantly. For example, we didn’t always have cars. Then we didn’t have cars that went very fast. Now look at all the laws related to building, owning, and operating cars. 

Most searched question 

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Med/Health Tech

Health tech a boon to Women’s health

Written by : Bhawana Yadav on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Women’s health is the most neglected sector, even after multiple attempts of bringing attention to it on different horizontal and vertical levels. According to WHO health is the culmination of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of an individual. 

A woman starts her biological journey from the onset of puberty, fertility years, and menopause, and till life continues. 

LevelUpForWomen, a women’s health and wellness-based startup working on the niche of reversing PCOS was co-founded by partners Chetan Arora and Bhawana Yadav. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a common endocrine disturbance that affects roughly 6% to 12% of women of reproductive age. The data is still insufficient as most of the women go undiagnosed due to several factors in their lives and the lack of PCOS-based specific scientific research and developments.

 The startup was conceived based on personal experience and lack of guidance by the medical fraternity for the initial years of bearing with PCOS symptoms. It is currently bootstrapped and is already on the profitable side from the business perspective. 

Technology has been a boon for women’s healthcare, especially in the post-pandemic world. It can be looked at from both the sociological and economic lens to arrive at the conclusion that healthcare and technology are a great combination for the knowledge and wellness revolution. 

In a research conducted by Mckinsey, they analyzed 763 FemTech companies (FemTech a term coined by entrepreneur Ida Tin) largely tech-based and enabled, consumer-centric solutions addressing women’s health, excluding biopharma and incumbent medical devices as well as the companies which included unisex services.

It concluded the beginning of the FemTech revolution and domination in public awareness and generating large-scale funding, However, the services were earlier limited to menstrual products, devices, and applications. 

New startups like LevelUpForWomen have proven to be a one-stop virtual healthcare and wellness platform. 

In our experience and case studies, technology in terms of social media has become a great tool for social awareness and probing to take an action even if you are sitting in the far remote corner of the country.

It does not just act as a catalyst and solution provider to the direct consumer but also a great medium to sensitise other genders and generations which have hushed over women’s reproductive health for centuries. 

In the post-pandemic world, the mental and physical health of women has undergone a major toll, being the bearer of family and trying to manage work-life balance has become even more difficult. The results are visible in hormonal imbalances, increased stress, anxiety, and depression cases. Women feel safer reaching out to judgement

-free healthcare solutions online rather than visiting traditional clinics where the approach is the same as it was 20 years ago. 

The FemTech revolution in the healthcare industry is still in a nascent stage and will take time to be accepted in Tier-2 cities with fewer apprehensions but it is the dawn of the future.

Women are finding a supportive community via these technological mediums and a platform to grow and heal and restore balance in their lives. These developments promise a tomorrow where health tech will not just expand the female consumer-oriented business but also provide an opportunity for groundbreaking research and growth for sustainable women’s health. 

MOST SEARCHED QUESTION

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Logistic & Travel Tech

Happy employees are key to achieving goals

Happy employees are key to achieving organizational goals

 

Written by Kiran Sidhu on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Great top-down leadership doesn’t end at laying down the groundwork. A good business leader knows that a people-first mindset is key to a company’s growth. It is a fact that staff satisfaction tends to reflect on their productivity and loyalty. And who better to represent your company than a loyal and happy employee?

Business travel today is one aspect of work that is very much changed from how it was pre-2020. It is an area that business leaders must acknowledge has a direct impact on employee happiness. Travel risk and trip preparations call for more energy and closer attention to detail in order to achieve quality business trips. 

But it is not just “how” business travel is done that has changed. Companies are also assessing the “why” and assessing the rationale behind each trip. Business travel is often pitted against video calls though the former is proven unrivaled in forging connections and winning deals. However, paying more attention to the purpose of travel is worth doing to achieve greater employee happiness, less risk and save costs.

Are employees happy to travel for business? 

The novelty of jet setting for work can wane over time – no one likes long layovers, delays and crowded airports. But the bleisure trend shows no sign of slowing. On top of that, people want to deliver their best work and excel in their careers. And research shows that face-to-face meetings and business trips yield better business results. Whether employees like to travel for business comes down to a matter of preference and support. 

This is where business travel management makes all the difference, not just to those traveling but also to employees in human resources, finance, managers, and other roles. Modern travel management empowers employees to choose how they travel within the parameters of the company travel policy. Travel management done right lets employees know they are well protected, trusted and valued. The culture of a company is determined by how people feel at work.

Here’s how modern, technology-driven business travel management keeps employees happy.

Peace of mind with risk & safety tools

Safety is not just about having a policy in place but communicating it well to ensure employees know how they are covered. Employees having peace of mind is invaluable, especially when in a new and unfamiliar environment. Feeling safe during business trips positively impacts confidence and unwittingly equips them to do better work.

 Your company travel policy may cover how employees are taken care of if something goes wrong but using a modern travel management tool ensures you stay proactive in preventing untoward incidents. 

Global disease outbreak? TruTrip’s integration with Riskline, for example, alerts you ahead of time so you can choose your next course of action – whether repatriation, treatment or other support. 

Employees achieve more when admin tasks are fewer

Business travel requires careful planning, budgeting and reporting. When done manually, one business trip creates spillover tasks for human resources, finance, team managers, travel managers, administrative staff and the traveler itself. That’s a lot of time that can be saved through streamlining and automation.

Using a travel management platform frees up your employees’ time, letting them do more of the work they take pride in. No more booking and comparing flights and hotels on different platforms; researching travel requirements; reimbursements and reporting; lengthy back and forth travel approvals and requests, and arcane company travel policy. 

Overall, it sets your company up to do more and better meet your goals.

Empowering employees to make travel choices 

Company travel policies inform employees of budgets and other rules to comply with. But despite the best of intentions, business trip bookings and expenses may sometimes fall outside the confines of travel policy. Using a travel management platform takes away the challenge of implementation. Set up your company travel policy and bookings are automatically compliant. 

Instead of restricting employees to booking with certain hotels and star ratings, smart policy implementation lets them choose travel based on their needs and preferences – whether that is direct or connecting flights, unique accommodation types and other trip extras. Select a travel management partner that gives you extensive travel choices. These minor customisations can go a long way to ensuring business traveler satisfaction. 

Support and service at every stage of your business trip 

A dedicated support team that’s one call, chat, or email away at all times can take the edge off traveling in a high-stress environment. Quality travel management gives you easy, self-service options to make planning business trips a breeze. And at any point, if you need help, having someone to talk to makes for a better overall experience. 

But it is not just pre-trip that support is useful. Employees having access to the right support while on business trips are critical. Things can go wrong when traveling – missing travel documents, injuries, bad hotel experiences and more. Your travel management partner is your dedicated point of contact to help resolve issues for you. 

TruTrip makes business travel enjoyable and safeWith our modern technology and tools, employees can better dedicate their time to organizational growth. There is no better time than now to get started on impactful business travel. To learn more about TruTrip, schedule a demo or sign up for a free trial.

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Digi Tech

Top 10 Secrets For A Good Website

Written by Paul Lim on Digilah (Tech Thought Leadership)

Today, we live in the world of the Web. It is common for companies to have websites and about 80% of consumers use the Internet to research on a business, product or service before making a purchase. But what if you do not exist on the Internet?

Establishing a web presence can prevent competitor from poaching your customers and simply setting up an appropriate company website can reel your target audience right in.

Websites can also improve customer service. As there is no downtime on the Internet, customers can be updated 24/7 and have their queries answered almost immediately. And what better way to provide them with value-added service than to share handy information on your website? Knowledge sharing is one method to connect with potential customers and eventually convert them into sales.

What is crucial is to build a website with the fundamental capabilities that garner and drive targeted traffic.  Here are 10 website to creating an ideal website to attract visitors and generate revenue.

1. Know Your Target Market 

The first step towards recognizing your target market is to have a proper understanding of the problems that your business tackle. Thereafter, identify the groups of people will be affected by these problems, these individuals will make up your target audience.

Make a list of your target audiences and group them accordingly to categories sure as profession, age, education levels, and gender. Find out how these groups of people may benefit from your products and services by questioning what they lack in their lives and meeting their needs where possible.

2. A Clear Navigation Bar

A clear navigation bar is a plus to any website. Choose simple names for the tabs on the navigation bar and the web pages – logical naming of both tabs and web pages should guide and direct visitors to a specific call-to-action.

3. About Us

The primary purpose of an About Us page is to inform the user about your company and what you do. The page should furnish visitors with the basic background information they need such as the company’s history, awards and achievements as well as social proof and authentic statements that can give your company image a boost.

4. Strong Headlines

There are millions of websites in the cyberspace competing for several keywords trying to be recognized as the first hit on search engines – but how exactly do you get people to read what you write?

Although good content and aesthetics are of great value to a website, a strong headline could give your website an edge over others. Pay special attention in crafting catchy and compelling titles for your headline and think out of the box to appeal to consumers and obtain the click-through.

Useful key words that trigger consumer action include Free, Discount, Guaranteed, Incredible Offer, 1-for-1 promotion etc. To truly persuade a visitor to constantly return to your website, use question words such as What, Why, When or How as visitors are often looking for answers to their various queries.

Take the subject “Driving A Car” for instance. 3 effective examples are:

  • “How to drive a car?”
  • “Why I Love Driving A Car?”
  • “10 Ways to drive a Car safety”

5. Integrate Social Media & Videos

Using Social Media and embedding videos in your content can direct traffic to your website on a regular basis. The inbound links to your website from high-profile social media platforms such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Tik Tok and others will increase your search engine results page ranking.

Consider creating the following social media profiles:

  • Linkedin – A professional site to showcase expertise and reach out to potential clients based on skills set
  • Twitter – A social sharing platform where you can post relevant tips and information with links to corresponding articles on your website
  • You Tube – Upload short yet succinct videos to demonstrate useful tutorials and give advice to

Always include a link back to an appropriate landing page on your own website and ensure you include a call-to-action on the page, for instance “Retweet” or “Share this video”

6. Power Pictures and Graphics

Simplicity and succinctness are key in creating messages that are straightforward to understand. People are often impacted visually than textually; hence good graphic designs and images are more effective in engaging site visitors compared to text alone. A dynamic picture can drive higher consumer engagement which can lead to higher sales figures.

7. Provide Impressive Testimonials

Positive and impactful testimonials are excellent for boosting site traffic. If you are in the service industry that replies on customer service and referrals, positive and impactful testimonials that appraise your company’s services will drive greater traffic to your site. For instance, an outdoor event service business could have client testimonials about the excellent service delivery and efficiency.

8. Order Page

The main goal of any e-commerce website is to convert visitors to buying customers. The order confirmation page is usually called a ‘Thank You’ page.

It is only right to thank your customers each time they complete a payment and more importantly, it helps you to maintain healthy relationships and interaction with them, thereby increasing their returns to your site.

9. An Opt-in Box

The use of personal data is a sensitive issue today-companies need to gain consumers’ approval with regards to collection, storage, usage and distribution of their information. Using an individual’s data without approval can put an organization in trouble. Hence, providing an “opt-in” box for users will allow them to indicate their consent and method of contact from the company or organization, thereby recording their decision.

10. Contact Us

Any business that strives to engage its target audience needs to have a feedback channel where those interested in the company’s services or business can contact the relevant people for more information. Sign up for a customized domain email address and phone number and make sure you attend to your calls and answer your emails promptly.

Contact for more www.pauldigitaltraining.com