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This is the third part of a series of articles on how GenAI is revolutionizing Rev-Ops functions in enterprise technology businesses. In the first part, we saw some broad applications of Gen AI in Rev Ops. In the second article, we explored how GenAI use cases are being developed and deployed in the first of the four core Rev Ops pillars - business strategy and planning. In this article, we move on to the second Rev Ops pillar- Marketing. A little bit about myself - I am a Sr. Director of Rev Ops at Cisco. Here is my LinkedIn profile - prior to Cisco, I was a Manager at McKinsey, with a background in Industrial Robotics and Electrical Engineering. Marketing is one of the principal functional areas that is primed to leverage the full potential of generative technology : multi-modality (text, audio,and video), scale, rapid iteration, automation, and creativity- all can be leveraged to unlock a step-change in how Marketing is executed. And Enterprises big and small are already leveraging these capabilities in their day-to-day. Key advantages of Gen AI in marketing: Enhanced customer understanding at scale: GenAI based capabilities help generate  deeper insights into customer preferences and persona, from a variety of structured and unstructured data including video interactions, customer feedback, product / service usage, and telemetrics to generate a truly 360 degree view of customers and leads, improving conversion rates and quality of engagement. Systems are already capable of taking this a bit further, generating product recommendations, as shown by Stitch Fix.


Hyper Personalization at scale: Previously, marketing efforts had to be prioritized to the biggest customer opportunities, and the best that B2B sales came to personalized marketing was Account Based Marketing. Gen AI offers the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale. Marketers can now go beyond audience segments and be truly personalized even in lower tiers like SMB which previously were starved of quality marketing resourcing.


Content creation and automation : Gen AI is multi-modal, and can be extremely creative, reducing time and resources required to create individualized marketing campaigns, collateral, landing pages, and email campaigns. What previously took weeks, can now be accomplished in hours with a fraction of the manpower needed. Companies that are leveraging AI to generate extremely personalized email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results.


Marketing Analytics and Strategy: Gen AI has unprecedented ability to combine vast and disparate data sets to generate reliable and nuanced insights faster. It enhances the accuracy of key tools of marketers such as attribution mix modeling, media mix optimization, and Search Engine Optimization, while lowering marginal cost dramatically. It also facilitates rapid experimentation and A/B testing, and optimization of campaigns across multiple dimensions. One no longer needs an army of analysts to support a growth campaign- just the right combination of skills and tools.


Automation and efficiency: McKinsey estimates that gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually. The productivity enhancement is expected to happen across three dimensions: human augmentation (providing leverage to human teams, helping them scale), automated agents working alongside humans to accomplish complex tasks, and eventually, through the creation of automated teams that own significant portions of workflows. What sounded like distant future is almost here today - and the race is on to be the first and best at leveraging the potential of this technology to the fullest extent. As the Gen AI landscape and capabilities evolve, adoption is expanding and new workflows and applications of Gen AI in Marketing are being uncovered rapidly. The rich entrepreneurial activity in this space is testament to the value at stake. But as the industry collectively navigates this space, it will be important to do so with adequate guardrails around privacy, and content rights - two of the most important concerns with the evolution of Gen AI. And these concerns are extremely valid and noteworthy in this space. It will be interesting to watch how industry, advocate groups and governments come together to shape this space in the coming days. This is the third part of a series of articles on how GenAI is revolutionizing Rev-Ops functions in enterprise technology businesses. In the first part , we saw some broad applications of Gen AI in Rev Ops. In the second article, we explored how GenAI use cases are being developed and deployed in the first of the four core Rev Ops pillars - business strategy and planning. In this article, we move on to the second Rev Ops pillar- Marketing. In the first part In the first part A little bit about myself - I am a Sr. Director of Rev Ops at Cisco. Here is my LinkedIn profile - prior to Cisco, I was a Manager at McKinsey, with a background in Industrial Robotics and Electrical Engineering. LinkedIn profile LinkedIn profile Marketing is one of the principal functional areas that is primed to leverage the full potential of generative technology : multi-modality (text, audio,and video), scale, rapid iteration, automation, and creativity- all can be leveraged to unlock a step-change in how Marketing is executed. And Enterprises big and small are already leveraging these capabilities in their day-to-day. Key advantages of Gen AI in marketing: Enhanced customer understanding at scale: GenAI based capabilities help generate  deeper insights into customer preferences and persona, from a variety of structured and unstructured data including video interactions, customer feedback, product / service usage, and telemetrics to generate a truly 360 degree view of customers and leads, improving conversion rates and quality of engagement. Systems are already capable of taking this a bit further, generating product recommendations, as shown by Stitch Fix. Hyper Personalization at scale: Previously, marketing efforts had to be prioritized to the biggest customer opportunities, and the best that B2B sales came to personalized marketing was Account Based Marketing. Gen AI offers the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale. Marketers can now go beyond audience segments and be truly personalized even in lower tiers like SMB which previously were starved of quality marketing resourcing. Content creation and automation : Gen AI is multi-modal, and can be extremely creative, reducing time and resources required to create individualized marketing campaigns, collateral, landing pages, and email campaigns. What previously took weeks, can now be accomplished in hours with a fraction of the manpower needed. Companies that are leveraging AI to generate extremely personalized email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results. Marketing Analytics and Strategy: Gen AI has unprecedented ability to combine vast and disparate data sets to generate reliable and nuanced insights faster. It enhances the accuracy of key tools of marketers such as attribution mix modeling, media mix optimization, and Search Engine Optimization, while lowering marginal cost dramatically. It also facilitates rapid experimentation and A/B testing, and optimization of campaigns across multiple dimensions. One no longer needs an army of analysts to support a growth campaign- just the right combination of skills and tools. Automation and efficiency: McKinsey estimates that gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually. The productivity enhancement is expected to happen across three dimensions: human augmentation (providing leverage to human teams, helping them scale), automated agents working alongside humans to accomplish complex tasks, and eventually, through the creation of automated teams that own significant portions of workflows. What sounded like distant future is almost here today - and the race is on to be the first and best at leveraging the potential of this technology to the fullest extent. Enhanced customer understanding at scale: GenAI based capabilities help generate  deeper insights into customer preferences and persona, from a variety of structured and unstructured data including video interactions, customer feedback, product / service usage, and telemetrics to generate a truly 360 degree view of customers and leads, improving conversion rates and quality of engagement. Systems are already capable of taking this a bit further, generating product recommendations, as shown by Stitch Fix. Enhanced customer understanding at scale: GenAI based capabilities help generate  deeper insights into customer preferences and persona, from a variety of structured and unstructured data including video interactions, customer feedback, product / service usage, and telemetrics to generate a truly 360 degree view of customers and leads, improving conversion rates and quality of engagement. Systems are already capable of taking this a bit further, generating product recommendations, as shown by Stitch Fix. help generate  deeper insights help generate  deeper insights Hyper Personalization at scale: Previously, marketing efforts had to be prioritized to the biggest customer opportunities, and the best that B2B sales came to personalized marketing was Account Based Marketing. Gen AI offers the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale. Marketers can now go beyond audience segments and be truly personalized even in lower tiers like SMB which previously were starved of quality marketing resourcing. Hyper Personalization at scale: Previously, marketing efforts had to be prioritized to the biggest customer opportunities, and the best that B2B sales came to personalized marketing was Account Based Marketing. Gen AI offers the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale . Marketers can now go beyond audience segments and be truly personalized even in lower tiers like SMB which previously were starved of quality marketing resourcing. the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale the ability to deliver unprecedented levels of personalization of campaigns and strategies at scale Content creation and automation : Gen AI is multi-modal, and can be extremely creative, reducing time and resources required to create individualized marketing campaigns, collateral, landing pages, and email campaigns. What previously took weeks, can now be accomplished in hours with a fraction of the manpower needed. Companies that are leveraging AI to generate extremely personalized email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results. Content creation and automation : Gen AI is multi-modal, and can be extremely creative, reducing time and resources required to create individualized marketing campaigns, collateral, landing pages, and email campaigns. What previously took weeks, can now be accomplished in hours with a fraction of the manpower needed. Companies that are leveraging AI to generate extremely personalized email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results . email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results email campaigns have already started seeing differentiated results Marketing Analytics and Strategy: Gen AI has unprecedented ability to combine vast and disparate data sets to generate reliable and nuanced insights faster. It enhances the accuracy of key tools of marketers such as attribution mix modeling, media mix optimization, and Search Engine Optimization, while lowering marginal cost dramatically. It also facilitates rapid experimentation and A/B testing, and optimization of campaigns across multiple dimensions. One no longer needs an army of analysts to support a growth campaign- just the right combination of skills and tools. Marketing Analytics and Strategy: Gen AI has unprecedented ability to combine vast and disparate data sets to generate reliable and nuanced insights faster. It enhances the accuracy of key tools of marketers such as attribution mix modeling, media mix optimization, and Search Engine Optimization, while lowering marginal cost dramatically. It also facilitates rapid experimentation and A/B testing, and optimization of campaigns across multiple dimensions. One no longer needs an army of analysts to support a growth campaign- just the right combination of skills and tools. accuracy of key tools of marketers accuracy of key tools of marketers Automation and efficiency: McKinsey estimates that gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually. The productivity enhancement is expected to happen across three dimensions: human augmentation (providing leverage to human teams, helping them scale), automated agents working alongside humans to accomplish complex tasks, and eventually, through the creation of automated teams that own significant portions of workflows. What sounded like distant future is almost here today - and the race is on to be the first and best at leveraging the potential of this technology to the fullest extent. Automation and efficiency: McKinsey estimates that gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually . The productivity enhancement is expected to happen across three dimensions: human augmentation (providing leverage to human teams, helping them scale), automated agents working alongside humans to accomplish complex tasks, and eventually, through the creation of automated teams that own significant portions of workflows. What sounded like distant future is almost here today - and the race is on to be the first and best at leveraging the potential of this technology to the fullest extent. gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually gen AI could increase marketing productivity by 5-15%, worth about $463 billion annually As the Gen AI landscape and capabilities evolve, adoption is expanding and new workflows and applications of Gen AI in Marketing are being uncovered rapidly. The rich entrepreneurial activity in this space is testament to the value at stake. But as the industry collectively navigates this space, it will be important to do so with adequate guardrails around privacy, and content rights - two of the most important concerns with the evolution of Gen AI. And these concerns are extremely valid and noteworthy in this space. It will be interesting to watch how industry, advocate groups and governments come together to shape this space in the coming days.

Reimagining Rev-Ops with Gen AI: Precision Marketing 

This is the second part of a series of articles on how GenAI is revolutionizing Rev-Ops functions in enterprise technology businesses. In the first part, we saw some broad applications of Gen AI in Rev Ops. In this article, we will explore how GenAI use cases are being developed and deployed in the first of the  four core Rev Ops pillars - business strategy and planning. A little bit about myself : I am a GTM veteran & Sr. Director of RevOps at Cisco. Business Planning - what is it, how is it done, and what is changing? Business Planning is the primary cross-functional performance in the corporate ballroom. Lead actors from Product, Engineering, Finance and Sales participate in this song-and-dance routine with Rev Ops called upon to choreograph the arrangement as tightly as possible. The perennial challenge in these situations is that everybody performs to their own sheets of music with not-so pleasant outcomes for the company or stakeholders. A single source of truth for business planning has historically been the holy grail of corp-strategy and execution if ever there was one. Enter language models with context awareness and generative capabilities. Generative AI enhances data-driven decision-making in business planning by providing advanced tools and capabilities that improve the efficiency, accuracy, and depth of insights. Here are some ways it contributes to this process: Democratising Data Accessibility and Usability: Generative AI makes data more understandable and accessible to people across different functions in an organization. Finally, we can move past domain specific jargons and inconsistent data structures by giving average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language. By combining this with intuitive interfaces and user-friendly data presentations, it democratizes data access and encourages a more inclusive approach to decision-making.


Real-Time Insights and Analysis: Generative AI can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data quickly, providing executives with real-time, actionable insights. This capability allows businesses to identify trends and patterns that were previously invisible, enabling more informed decision-making.


Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling: Generative AI models can drastically lower the reaction times of business to emerging trends and geo-political situations, by allowing businesses to quickly simulate various scenarios and plan contingencies. This helps in testing different strategies and predicting outcomes without the need for extensive real-world experimentation.


Automation and Efficiency: While there has been a lot of discussion on AI replacing analysts and other workers, the more pertinent use case of AI in this space is in augmenting human capability. The automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks through generative AI allows teams to focus on higher-value activities. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also supports a more agile business model that can quickly adapt to market changes. In the following articles, we will continue these discussions across Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success. This is the second part of a series of articles on how GenAI is revolutionizing Rev-Ops functions in enterprise technology businesses. In the first part , we saw some broad applications of Gen AI in Rev Ops. In this article, we will explore how GenAI use cases are being developed and deployed in the first of the  four core Rev Ops pillars - business strategy and planning. In the first part In the first part A little bit about myself : I am a GTM veteran & Sr. Director of RevOps at Cisco. Business Planning - what is it, how is it done, and what is changing? Business Planning - what is it, how is it done, and what is changing? Business Planning is the primary cross-functional performance in the corporate ballroom. Lead actors from Product, Engineering, Finance and Sales participate in this song-and-dance routine with Rev Ops called upon to choreograph the arrangement as tightly as possible. The perennial challenge in these situations is that everybody performs to their own sheets of music with not-so pleasant outcomes for the company or stakeholders. A single source of truth for business planning has historically been the holy grail of corp-strategy and execution if ever there was one. Enter language models with context awareness and generative capabilities. not-so pleasant outcomes for the company or stakeholders. not-so pleasant outcomes for the company or stakeholders. Generative AI enhances data-driven decision-making in business planning by providing advanced tools and capabilities that improve the efficiency, accuracy, and depth of insights. Here are some ways it contributes to this process: Democratising Data Accessibility and Usability: Generative AI makes data more understandable and accessible to people across different functions in an organization. Finally, we can move past domain specific jargons and inconsistent data structures by giving average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language. By combining this with intuitive interfaces and user-friendly data presentations, it democratizes data access and encourages a more inclusive approach to decision-making. Real-Time Insights and Analysis: Generative AI can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data quickly, providing executives with real-time, actionable insights. This capability allows businesses to identify trends and patterns that were previously invisible, enabling more informed decision-making. Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling: Generative AI models can drastically lower the reaction times of business to emerging trends and geo-political situations, by allowing businesses to quickly simulate various scenarios and plan contingencies. This helps in testing different strategies and predicting outcomes without the need for extensive real-world experimentation. Automation and Efficiency: While there has been a lot of discussion on AI replacing analysts and other workers, the more pertinent use case of AI in this space is in augmenting human capability. The automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks through generative AI allows teams to focus on higher-value activities. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also supports a more agile business model that can quickly adapt to market changes. Democratising Data Accessibility and Usability: Generative AI makes data more understandable and accessible to people across different functions in an organization. Finally, we can move past domain specific jargons and inconsistent data structures by giving average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language. By combining this with intuitive interfaces and user-friendly data presentations, it democratizes data access and encourages a more inclusive approach to decision-making. Democratising Data Accessibility and Usability: Generative AI makes data more understandable and accessible to people across different functions in an organization. Finally, we can move past domain specific jargons and inconsistent data structures by giving average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language . By combining this with intuitive interfaces and user-friendly data presentations, it democratizes data access and encourages a more inclusive approach to decision-making. average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language average user the ability to query and understand data in natural language Real-Time Insights and Analysis: Generative AI can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data quickly, providing executives with real-time, actionable insights. This capability allows businesses to identify trends and patterns that were previously invisible, enabling more informed decision-making. Real-Time Insights and Analysis: Generative AI can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data quickly, providing executives with real-time, actionable insights . This capability allows businesses to identify trends and patterns that were previously invisible, enabling more informed decision-making. real-time, actionable insights real-time, actionable insights Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling: Generative AI models can drastically lower the reaction times of business to emerging trends and geo-political situations, by allowing businesses to quickly simulate various scenarios and plan contingencies. This helps in testing different strategies and predicting outcomes without the need for extensive real-world experimentation. Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling : Generative AI models can drastically lower the reaction times of business to emerging trends and geo-political situations, by allowing businesses to quickly simulate various scenarios and plan contingencies. This helps in testing different strategies and predicting outcomes without the need for extensive real-world experimentation. Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling Dynamic Scenario Planning and Modeling Automation and Efficiency: While there has been a lot of discussion on AI replacing analysts and other workers, the more pertinent use case of AI in this space is in augmenting human capability. The automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks through generative AI allows teams to focus on higher-value activities. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also supports a more agile business model that can quickly adapt to market changes. Automation and Efficiency: While there has been a lot of discussion on AI replacing analysts and other workers, the more pertinent use case of AI in this space is in augmenting human capability. The automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks through generative AI allows teams to focus on higher-value activities. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also supports a more agile business model that can quickly adapt to market changes. In the following articles, we will continue these discussions across Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success.

Reimagining Rev-Ops with Gen AI: Always-On Strategy and Planning 

ISTJ is one of the 16 personality types according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. It’s one of the most common personality types, comprising 11 to 14% of the world’s population, and is about 1.5 to 2 times more prevalent in men than women. Myers-Briggs framework distinguishes personality traits based on how a person perceives the world, performs in certain activities, and manages their life decisions. Four aspects that are taken into account: attention focus: extravert (E) / introvert (I);
information intake: senses (S) / intuition (N);
decision-making: thoughts (T) / feelings (F);
world approaching: judgment (J) / perceptiveness (P). ISTJ is the abbreviation for Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging, with the dominant function for Sensing. Generally, these people have a rational outlook, are practical, organized, and methodically purposeful in all life spheres, and lean toward reservation, quietness, and mindfulness. Characteristics of an ISTJ Personality Type Focused on the present moment and grounded, noticing and collecting information on what’s happening around them. Well-organized, value order and structure, and prefer to plan everything in advance and with great attention to detail. Operate with matter-of-fact and practical information and make reasonable decisions based on objective data. Have a logical approach and seek rational explanations for all the events in their lives. Enjoy clear guidelines rather than abstract scenarios and work steadily and efficiently to accomplish concrete tasks at hand. Loyal to themselves, respectful to others, and emphasizing traditions, laws, rules, and established procedures. Hardworking, responsible, and trustworthy and tending to keep their promises. Have internal values and are fair and honest to themselves and others. Direct and straightforward in verbal communication around rational questions while experiencing difficulties expressing their emotions. Independent and preferring to be on their own, but reliable and committed friends and partners when they have met the right people. Can be stubborn, find it hard to adjust to new circumstances, and can be too harsh on themselves when something goes wrong. Careers for ISTJ Personality Types People with an ISTJ personality type strongly focus on tasks, have developed analytical skills, delve into the smallest details, are responsible and materialistic, all about the practical value of information and its accurate application, and prefer working independently. Generally, the best fit for ISTJs is careers aligned with a logical approach and connected to facts and figures, extensive data analysis, planning, and reporting. It makes the IT sector a favorable sphere for their successful professional application. The roles can vary from data and information security analysis and computer network administration to engineering and software and web development. They also feel comfortable and confident in the fields that operate strictly by facts, rules, and norms and require a high level of responsibility, such as banking and accountancy, law, and medicine. Professionals in these domains are expected to be able to navigate through large volumes of data and interpret information accurately and reasonably. As for work environments, ISTJ personalities feel more comfortable in quiet and stable places with defined schedules and deadlines, clear assignments, well-regulated and performance-driven protocols, and a concrete set of duties and distinct areas of responsibility. ISTJs are likely to fail in professions that require creativity, active communication with people, or have a degree of uncertainty, spontaneousness, and the necessity of dynamic adjustments. These are creativity-related professions like design, art, or copywriting. Since ISTJs prefer to rely on the rational part of their brain rather than their imagination and emotions, these occupations will be naturally uncomfortable for them. Entrepreneurship is another unlikely match associated with high risk and uncertainty levels. It requires the readiness to accept challenges, instantly react to changes, and seek brand-new solutions, contrary to the ISTJ type. Introverted individuals will also feel stressed in sales and services as these professions involve active and constant communication with other people. How to Best Interact With ISTJ Colleagues Understanding and engaging with ISTJ individuals based on their four core personality traits is essential for effectively communicating with them. Introverted: Be respectful of their personal space. Introverts need time to feel comfortable around you and open up to you. Sooner of all, you won’t become close immediately. You should respect their wish for privacy and be as correct as possible, not overloading them with questions. Sensing: Try to express your thoughts accurately and factually, with no lyrics or excess emotions. Give preference to verbs and nouns and use adjectives to a lesser extent. And be prepared for multiple follow-up questions, as they will try to get as many details as possible. Thinking: Be direct and structured with your statements and messages. Try to explain thoughts logically and gradually. Judging: Be patient. This personality type is reliable and fair, but needs time to make a decision and won’t rush into it. They would rather follow the rule of measuring twice and cutting once. ISTJ personalities are fans of independent work tasks, and usually, they do not seek close communication with their co-workers. They can seem cold and closed because they are trying to protect their personal space. Ultimately, successful relationships in the workplace are based on shared interests or beliefs. ISTJs require a particular effort from your side to convince them of the worthiness of allocating their work time to external communication. ISTJ is one of the 16 personality types according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator . It’s one of the most common personality types, comprising 11 to 14% of the world’s population, and is about 1.5 to 2 times more prevalent in men than women. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Myers-Briggs framework distinguishes personality traits based on how a person perceives the world, performs in certain activities, and manages their life decisions. Four aspects that are taken into account: attention focus: extravert (E) / introvert (I); information intake: senses (S) / intuition (N); decision-making: thoughts (T) / feelings (F); world approaching: judgment (J) / perceptiveness (P). attention focus: extravert (E) / introvert (I); information intake: senses (S) / intuition (N); decision-making: thoughts (T) / feelings (F); world approaching: judgment (J) / perceptiveness (P). ISTJ is the abbreviation for I ntroverted, S ensing, T hinking, and J udging, with the dominant function for Sensing. Generally, these people have a rational outlook, are practical, organized, and methodically purposeful in all life spheres, and lean toward reservation, quietness, and mindfulness. I S T J Characteristics of an ISTJ Personality Type Focused on the present moment and grounded, noticing and collecting information on what’s happening around them. Well-organized, value order and structure, and prefer to plan everything in advance and with great attention to detail. Operate with matter-of-fact and practical information and make reasonable decisions based on objective data. Have a logical approach and seek rational explanations for all the events in their lives. Enjoy clear guidelines rather than abstract scenarios and work steadily and efficiently to accomplish concrete tasks at hand. Loyal to themselves, respectful to others, and emphasizing traditions, laws, rules, and established procedures. Hardworking, responsible, and trustworthy and tending to keep their promises. Have internal values and are fair and honest to themselves and others. Direct and straightforward in verbal communication around rational questions while experiencing difficulties expressing their emotions. Independent and preferring to be on their own, but reliable and committed friends and partners when they have met the right people. Can be stubborn, find it hard to adjust to new circumstances, and can be too harsh on themselves when something goes wrong. Careers for ISTJ Personality Types People with an ISTJ personality type strongly focus on tasks, have developed analytical skills, delve into the smallest details, are responsible and materialistic, all about the practical value of information and its accurate application, and prefer working independently. Generally, the best fit for ISTJs is careers aligned with a logical approach and connected to facts and figures, extensive data analysis, planning, and reporting. It makes the IT sector a favorable sphere for their successful professional application. The roles can vary from data and information security analysis and computer network administration to engineering and software and web development. They also feel comfortable and confident in the fields that operate strictly by facts, rules, and norms and require a high level of responsibility, such as banking and accountancy, law, and medicine. Professionals in these domains are expected to be able to navigate through large volumes of data and interpret information accurately and reasonably. As for work environments, ISTJ personalities feel more comfortable in quiet and stable places with defined schedules and deadlines, clear assignments, well-regulated and performance-driven protocols, and a concrete set of duties and distinct areas of responsibility. ISTJs are likely to fail in professions that require creativity, active communication with people, or have a degree of uncertainty, spontaneousness, and the necessity of dynamic adjustments. These are creativity-related professions like design, art, or copywriting. Since ISTJs prefer to rely on the rational part of their brain rather than their imagination and emotions, these occupations will be naturally uncomfortable for them. Entrepreneurship is another unlikely match associated with high risk and uncertainty levels. It requires the readiness to accept challenges, instantly react to changes, and seek brand-new solutions, contrary to the ISTJ type. Introverted individuals will also feel stressed in sales and services as these professions involve active and constant communication with other people. How to Best Interact With ISTJ Colleagues Understanding and engaging with ISTJ individuals based on their four core personality traits is essential for effectively communicating with them. Introverted: Be respectful of their personal space. Introverts need time to feel comfortable around you and open up to you. Sooner of all, you won’t become close immediately. You should respect their wish for privacy and be as correct as possible, not overloading them with questions. Introverted: Sensing: Try to express your thoughts accurately and factually, with no lyrics or excess emotions. Give preference to verbs and nouns and use adjectives to a lesser extent. And be prepared for multiple follow-up questions, as they will try to get as many details as possible. Sensing: Thinking: Be direct and structured with your statements and messages. Try to explain thoughts logically and gradually. Thinking: Judging: Be patient. This personality type is reliable and fair, but needs time to make a decision and won’t rush into it. They would rather follow the rule of measuring twice and cutting once. Judging: ISTJ personalities are fans of independent work tasks, and usually, they do not seek close communication with their co-workers. They can seem cold and closed because they are trying to protect their personal space. Ultimately, successful relationships in the workplace are based on shared interests or beliefs. ISTJs require a particular effort from your side to convince them of the worthiness of allocating their work time to external communication.

What Is the ISTJ Personality Type, and Why Do They Favor IT Careers?

2022 was a tough year for crypto and the blockchain industry. Cryptocurrencies plunged into unrealized losses, with Bitcoin seeing a below its November 2021 all-time high. The 2022 bear market tested resilience, but the industry clung on with continuous innovations. That year was a crucible, forging narratives and trends poised to propel the next wave of innovation and impactful projects for the next bull season. In this article, we will delve into some of these narratives and explore how they are reshaping the crypto scenery. 73.3% drawdown What are Crypto Narratives? Crypto Narratives are prevailing ideas or stories that dominate the crypto industry at any given time. They essentially represent shared beliefs and expectations about blockchain technology and how its applications influence investor sentiment, market trends, and project development. From NFT season to airdrop season, to memecoins, to a belief that the Bitcoin halving event fuels bull runs every four years, investors (especially in crypto) use these narratives as some sort of North Star to guide their investment sentiment and decisions. The blockchain industry is experiencing a surge in narratives this year, each exploring, revealing, and testing the technology's potential. For an industry still in its nascent stages, the level and amount of narratives emerging are impressive. While these narratives can be exciting, they can also be misleading or just being pushed and taking center stage based on hype. Therefore it's important to scrutinize these narratives before investing in them. In this article, we will look at four crypto narratives that I find exciting and look poised to make major runs this year: Blockchain Modularity Blockchain technology is embracing modularity to overcome limitations and unlock new possibilities. Early blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum handle tasks within a single structure, and now, the focus is shifting towards modular architectures that break down blockchains into specialized components. This shift is driven by the need for enhanced scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency in meeting the demands of a growing ecosystem. Modular blockchains deconstruct operations into four core components; consensus, execution, settlement, and data availability. This concept —modularity— is permeating both Layer-1 and Layer-2 blockchains. The OP Stack modularizes Layer-2 elements into open-source modules, while Celestia, a Layer 1 chain, focuses on consensus and data availability, letting Layer-2s built on top optimize execution. This trend signals a new era of blockchain evolution, characterized by specialized components working in tandem to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, flexibility, and scalability. Scalability limitations have often been the Achilles heel of the blockchain. It is crucial to address scaling challenges, and solutions like layer-2 protocols and cross-chain bridges are paving the way for faster and more affordable transactions. Imagine a world where blockchains and DeFi platforms process transactions in milliseconds, data storage solutions scale to handle the ever-growing ocean of information, and immersive blockchain games with lag-free experiences. SparqNet provides an architecture that empowers developers with a suite of tools and services to build blazing-fast (up to 400k TPS) blockchains, programmable in any language, and seamlessly integrated with the Avalanche ecosystem. Learn-to-earn Long criticized for its rigid structures and limited access, the education industry is finding an ally in blockchain technology. This 'partnership' of sorts is incentivizing learning by rewarding both content creators and learners with cryptocurrency or Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for their engagement. In this narrative, students earn tokens while learning and mastering concepts, and educators monetize their expertise through gamified learning modules. The tokens market is increasingly competitive and this model is a win-win for both the companies behind the platforms and the people who learn on them. Projects are leveraging NFTs and blockchain to create a collaborative ecosystem where learners progress through interactive courses while earning token rewards for their achievements. Educators also benefit from their content, by building dedicated communities and receiving royalties for each learner's progress. According to a report by Global Market Insights, the global e-learning market valued at $339.3 billion in 2022, is bound to to about $1 trillion by 2032 at a CAGR of 14%, highlighting the immense potential of blockchain-powered education platforms. Projects like Edu3labs and Mogaland are pioneering the learn-to-earn concept on the blockchain. rise Decentralized Privacy 2024 is set to witness the rise of a critical narrative in the blockchain; decentralized privacy. This concept, once a fringe ideal, is now evolving into a powerful narrative driven by a confluence of factors. Centralized data storage has become synonymous with breaches, leaks, and government overreach. The surging public consciousness is igniting a fire for data sovereignty. With decentralized privacy solutions, individuals have an alternative where they can own and manage their data, reducing reliance on vulnerable centralized systems. Erosion of Trust: The beauty of the blockchain lies in its distributed nature. Decentralized privacy protocols leverage this network effect to create robust, censorship-resistant systems. This paves the way for a future where your online identity isn't held captive by a single entity but instead secured by a distributed network of nodes. This decentralized architecture makes manipulation or breaches unfeasible. The Power of the Network Effect: Innovations like zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and secure multi-party computation are setting the stage for practical decentralized privacy solutions. These technologies enable secure data sharing and computation without revealing sensitive information, opening up a new era of privacy-preserving transactions and communication. Convergence of Technologies: The implications of this narrative are far-reaching. In an ideal privacy-effective world,  you will own and manage your data, communicate and transact anonymously, and access decentralized social media seamlessly. ATOR Protocol is leveraging a globally distributed network of relays to build a decentralized network for internet privacy. Meme-Powered Marketing Memes are digital jabs of wit and satire that have found fertile ground in the world of crypto. This culture serves for more than just entertainment; it acts as a social glue, fostering community, spreading awareness, and even influencing market sentiment. A key aspect of crypto memes is their ability to simplify complex concepts. Take for example the infamous "Hodl" meme, a misspelling of "hold" that became a rallying cry for long-term investors. This simple misspelling perfectly captured the sentiment of holding on through market dips, and it resonated with investors across different experience levels. Beyond all the jokes, crypto memes can also exert real-world influence. Dogecoin, a meme-inspired cryptocurrency, skyrocketed in value in 2021, largely fueled by viral tweets from Elon Musk. That event highlighted the power of community-driven hype and the potential for memes to shape market sentiment. BONK, PEPE, SHIBA INU, and at the time of writing WEN are some memecoins that have helped/are helping newbies get into crypto. Buygarbage is another project tapping into the meme culture with its playful meme-generating platform. Conclusion These are just a glimpse into the narratives shaping the future of the crypto industry in 2024. Modularity, Learn-to-earn, decentralized privacy, and meme-driven tokens are just a few trends poised to lead a potential bull run. Always remember that these narratives are dynamic and continually evolving. They are influenced by news events, technological advancements, regulatory decisions, and the actions of influential figures. This article is for educational purposes only and it is important that you critically analyze the validity and potential outcome of any narrative before making investment decisions in the crypto space.

Crypto Narratives to Look Out For in 2024

2024 সালে ক্রিপ্টো ন্যারেটিভস খোঁজার জন্য

Krypto-Erzählungen, auf die man im Jahr 2024 achten sollte

Criptonarrativas a tener en cuenta en 2024

Récits cryptographiques à surveiller en 2024

2024 में देखने लायक क्रिप्टो कथाएँ

2024 年に注目すべき仮想通貨の物語

2024년에 주목해야 할 암호화폐 내러티브

Narrativas criptográficas a serem observadas em 2024

Крипторассказы, на которые стоит обратить внимание в 2024 году

2024'te Dikkat Edilecek Kripto Anlatıları

Những câu chuyện về tiền điện tử cần chú ý vào năm 2024

2024 年值得关注的加密货币叙事

Having long hesitated between development and teaching, today I bring together both of my aspirations to serve everyone, after making an observation that seems rather obvious but is nonetheless concerning: 📌 Tech professionals are not necessarily interested in ecology. 📌 Ecology advocates often have other priorities than digital technology. This is when iTeach was born, a project for an eco-responsible programming learning platform centered around four core values: interactivity, free access, ecology, and privacy. It aims to debunk the misconception that "IT is virtual and has no real environmental impact." 🌍 Indeed, servers, data transfers, everything virtual exists and contributes to our daily ecological footprint. It seems imperative to raise awareness about this, starting with developers, who tend to exploit the abundance of IT resources rather than opting for simplicity and eco-responsibility. 🌱 Regardless of your initial knowledge, iTeach enables you to become a competent web developer. The main courses are designed to train you effectively without delving too much into complex theoretical subjects. An introductory course provides initiation to the web world, followed by a JavaScript course teaching programming concepts and logic. 💻 Next, a React course teaches you how to create your own web applications. To conclude the main curriculum, an eco-design course shows you how to use IT resources responsibly, combining simplicity and efficiency. Optional additional courses cover advanced concepts and related topics for those wishing to go beyond the basics. You can also find cheat sheets for each course, providing a quick reference to a concept and copying relevant code snippets. While many platforms offer theoretical courses, whether free or paid, using videos or images, offering projects to clone, files to download, focusing on specific themes or a broader range of courses... On iTeach, you have an all-in-one solution that allows you to quickly build skills without falling into the pitfalls of overly theoretical and complex courses. This is made possible through code snippets to complete directly on the course page and end-of-chapter quizzes! Moreover, no installation is required; you can learn and practice from anywhere, anytime. To top it off, an additional "sandbox" section allows you to practice freely by choosing an initial code from a list of presets. Perhaps the project's strongest and most distinctive value is ecology, also the most underrepresented in the digital world. That's why iTeach goes against the tide by offering a dedicated eco-design course. Additionally, strong actions are taken: the almost complete absence of media on the entire platform, no calls to external services, and no database system. In short, the goal is to use as few resources as possible to operate the system. To give you an idea, browsing the entire platform consumes less bandwidth than watching 3 seconds of a high-quality video! This inevitably results in some constraints, such as regarding statistics: not using a remote storage system means they are managed and stored locally. Another value that is not given enough priority (although increasingly considered since the implementation of GDPR) is privacy. Fortunately, its implementation naturally stems from the ecology pillar because no behavioral analysis is carried out via a tool like Google Analytics, no advertising cookies are required, and thus, no data is transmitted. The absence of a database and login system also means that no personal information is stored. 🕵🏻‍♂️ What you need to remember is that privacy is a cornerstone of iTeach, aiming to go beyond the general rule that free services ultimately have a cost. But then, how could such a project come to life and, more importantly, remain sustainable? What is its business model? In reality, the choice is to have almost none. The only planned funding comes from a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, with the pre-launch link . You can also browse the beta version of the platform , but expect all the information to be detailed when the Kickstarter launches. already available here here Why Kickstarter? iTeach is a time-consuming project and does not intend to generate revenue in the long run. However, it is necessary to verify that the project can generate enough interest while allowing its development to be financed. It is also crucial to get your feedback, in order to ensure the platform will have the best quality one would expect, despite being free. 💸 The campaign will be launched on February 13 and will last for a month. Having already conducted such a campaign in the past but for a completely different domain, I know that it is possible to rally around ideas that are worthwhile, and I hope that this one will seem to be part of that category. 💫

ITeach — the Eco-responsible Programming Learning Platform

Table of contents Prerequisites What is Web Accessibility Principles of Web Accessibility Versions of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Web accessibility and ReactJs Testing and Debugging Accessibility Conclusion In the world we live in today, the Internet serves as the most essential gateway to information, services, and opportunities for people all over the world. However, for millions of individuals with disabilities, the online experience can often be riddled with barriers, limiting their access to the digital world. This is where the concept of web accessibility steps in—a pivotal approach that ensures everyone, regardless of their abilities, can navigate, interact, and engage with websites and applications seamlessly. In this article, we explore what web accessibility is, how it intersects with , and the core principles of web accessibility. ReactJs Prerequisites This article assumes that the reader knows Basic , and . HTML, CSS JavaScript, ReactJs What is Web Accessibility According to , Web accessibility or eAccessibility is the inclusive practice of ensuring there are no barriers that prevent interaction with, or access to, websites on the World Wide Web by people with physical disabilities, situational disabilities, and socio-economic restrictions on bandwidth and speed. Effectively, Web accessibility strives to ensure that everyone is included when it comes to accessing the web. Wikipedia With the help of experts in the digital accessibility field, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) published the first version of the Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) in 1999. These guidelines exist to help developers and designers create web content that is accessible to people with disabilities. However, with the advancement of technology over the last two decades, the World wide web consortium (W3C) has updated its WCAG guidelines to address new technical issues and share accessibility improvement insights. These guidelines are summarized into four core principles. Principles of Web Accessibility To ensure consistency of accessibility throughout the web, the principles of web accessibility should be taken as a sort of criteria to be met for every website or web application. These principles are often summarized using the acronym "POUR" which stands for Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. Let us delve into them. : The content displayed on a website or webpage should be available for consumption for every kind of user. Overlooking this puts users with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments at a great disadvantage. Some simple practices that will make your web content perceivable are: Perceivable Adding alternative text to image content to provide meaning to users that cannot see them. Including captions and transcripts of audio and video content. Ensuring text content has enough contrast against the background to improve readability. Avoiding the use of color-coded diagrams to convey information. : Content on your website or web application should be easy to read, use, navigate, and interact with. This ensures inclusivity for users with motor or dexterity impairments. Some ways this can be implemented are: Operable Ensuring interactive elements like buttons and links are easily selectable and clickable. Ensuring users have enough time to interact and read content by avoiding self-loading content. Ensuring users can navigate your site using just the keyboard. : Text content occupies a large part of most websites, and making sure that text content on your website is understandable, identifiable, concise, and readable to the broadest audience possible is important. Some ways you achieve this are: Understandable Using the clearest and simplest language possible or providing simplified versions. Providing meaning or context for uncommon words or abbreviations. Ensuring content is arranged consistently. : Content is said to be robust when it is compatible with a range of different web browsers, assistive technologies, and . Some ways to implement robust designs are: Robust user agents Providing a name, role, and value for non-standard user interface components. Avoiding reliance on specific browsers or technologies that might limit accessibility. Ensuring markdowns can be reliably interpreted. Versions of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Now that we understand the principles, let us take a brief look at the versions of the WCAG so far. The guidelines are organized into three priority levels; Priority 1 (A), Priority 2 (AA), and Priority 3 (AAA). Each guideline was associated with checkpoints that provide specific requirements for achieving accessibility. These checkpoints were further divided into specific techniques that developers could follow to meet the requirements. : Consisted of 14 guidelines that serve as the principles of accessible design. WCAG 1.0 : This update came when mobile Internet devices were just becoming popular, making it difficult to predict what the future use of mobile devices would look like. WCAG 2.0 : Released in June 2018, it adds 17 new success criteria to version 2.0. These new guidelines are built around helping people who have low-level vision, cognitive disabilities, and learning disabilities. It also includes guidelines to assist in removing mobile technology barriers. WCAG 2.1 As of the time of writing this article, WCAG version 2.2 have not been released, but they have been said to include information about improving accessibility of mobile applications. You can learn more about these guidelines . here Web accessibility and ReactJs ReactJs has cemented itself as the for 40.6 percent of JavaScript developers worldwide (According to Statista, 2023). That said, with a large number of developers using the technology for websites globally, it becomes important for these websites to be accessible for all kinds of users. go-to UI library So how exactly does React achieve this? Several simple practices can be implemented to ensure that your ReactJs application is accessible. Some of these practices are: : Semantic HTML elements can be said to be the backbone of accessibility for any web application. Sometimes HTML semantics are broken when we group elements like lists ( , , ) and HTML tables in elements. In cases like this, it would be best practice to make use of React Fragments. The code snippet below shows how to implement them. Utilizing semantic HTML elements in React components <ol> <ul> <table <div> import React, { Fragment } from 'react';

  function ListItem({ item }) {
    return (
      <Fragment>
        <dt>{item.term}</dt>
        <dd>{item.description}</dd>
      </Fragment>
    );
  }

  function Glossary(props) {
    return (
      <dl>
        {props.items.map(item => (
          <ListItem item={item} key={item.id} />
        ))}
      </dl>
    );
  } Manage focus appropriately to ensure keyboard users can navigate through your application smoothly. You can use the attribute to access DOM elements and apply focus programmatically. The attribute can also be used to control the order in which elements receive focus. Enabling keyboard navigation and focus management: ref tabIndex import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';

  function FocusableComponent() {
    const myRef = useRef();

    useEffect(() => {
      myRef.current.focus();
    }, []);

    return (
      <div tabIndex="0" ref={myRef}>
          Focusable Element
      </div>
      );
  }

  export default FocusableComponent; . Providing alternative text for images and icons used in React components : ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes provide additional accessibility information to assistive technologies. For instance, you can use attributes to define the purpose of an element, such as a navigation menu or a button. Additionally, attributes like , , and can provide context and labels for screen readers. Implementing ARIA roles and attributes for enhanced accessibility role aria-label aria-describedby aria-labelledby import React from "react";

  function myButton () {
      return (
          <button aria-label="Close" role="button" onClick={handleClose}>
            <span aria-hidden="true">×</span>
          </button>
      )
  } To learn more about accessibility, you can check out the official documentation . here Testing and Debugging Accessibility Accessibility testing involves assessing your web application's usability for individuals with disabilities. By evaluating your application from these perspectives, you can uncover areas that might hinder user experience for certain groups. Some techniques for testing and debugging accessibility are: Automated Accessibility Testing Tools: Axe is a widely used accessibility testing tool that enables testers with little knowledge of accessibility to perform step-by-step manual accessibility testing. It can be integrated into your browser's developer tools or used as a standalone extension. To learn more about this tool, visit . Axe: here Lighthouse is an integrated tool in Chrome DevTools that offers accessibility audits and then gives an accessibility score, among other performance checks. You can learn more about this tool Lighthouse: here. Performing manual testing operations on your application is essential for catching nuanced issues that automated tools might miss. Some manual testing techniques include: Manual Accessibility Testing: Navigate through your application using only the keyboard to ensure all interactive elements are reachable and usable. Keyboard Testing: Use screen reader software (e.g., VoiceOver, JAWS, NVDA) to experience your application as users with visual impairments would. Verify that information is conveyed accurately and interactions are meaningful. Screen Reader Testing: Adjust your browser settings to simulate low vision conditions and test whether your application remains usable. Zoom and High Contrast Testing: Focus Management Testing: Verify that focus indicators (such as outlines) are present and properly styled for keyboard users. Ensure that focus is not trapped in certain elements and that it moves in a logical order. Semantic HTML and ARIA Testing: Review your and verify that you're using appropriate semantic elements (e.g., headings, lists) to convey content hierarchy. HTML structure Check your usage of ARIA attributes to provide additional context to assistive technologies. Real User Testing: Engage users with disabilities in usability testing. Essentially this is also a way to uncover real-world accessibility challenges that automated tools might not detect. Gather feedback on pain points and areas that might need improvements. Conclusion Including web accessibility while building React applications is not an optional consideration; it's an essential responsibility that we all share as web developers. In a world that thrives on digital interactions, ensuring equal access to information, services, and experiences for every individual is paramount. By adopting a proactive approach to accessibility, we can bridge the gap between technology and inclusion, creating a more compassionate and universally usable online environment.

Enhancing Web Accessibility in React Applications

Imagine having a house where you trust everyone inside, but as soon as they step out, they are treated as strangers until they can prove their identity. They must ring the doorbell, show their face, and possibly answer a security question each time they want to reenter. This is the essence of (ZTNA), a modern approach to network security. Zero Trust Network Access What is ZTNA? is like the strict but fair parent of the internet world, it doesn't trust anyone until they prove themselves to be trustworthy. It follows a simple rule, "deny access to everyone and everything unless explicitly allowed." In the traditional model, once someone gained access to the network, they could wander around freely. But ZTNA, much like a vigilant parent, limits what users can "see" and do, restricting them only to the specific applications and resources they need to use. ZTNA : Vested Interest Disclosure The author is an independent contributor publishing via our . Be it through direct compensation, media partnerships, or networking, the author has a vested interest in the company/ies mentioned in this story. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR brand-as-author program Why Do We Need ZTNA? In our rapidly evolving digital world, the boundaries that once defined our working environment are disappearing. The traditional "castle-and-moat" approach where everything inside the corporate network is trusted, and everything outside is untrusted, isn't effective anymore. As more people work remotely and applications shift to the cloud, the need for a more stringent security model has increased, and ZTNA fills that gap. ZTNA allows for greater visibility and control over who accesses what in your network, reducing the risk of breaches and data leaks. Gartner that by 2023, 60% of enterprises would replace their old VPNs with ZTNA solutions. predicted Use Cases for ZTNA The versatile and adaptive nature of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) makes it applicable across several scenarios. Let's delve into these contexts, and understand how ZTNA caters to different needs effectively. ZTNA as a VPN Alternative: Guided Tours in the Digital World Traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) often operate on an 'all-or-nothing' model. Once a user is allowed access, they essentially have the keys to the kingdom, granting them access to the entire network. This is akin to letting a visitor wander through a museum without any supervision, potentially putting sensitive exhibits at risk. ZTNA changes this model completely. Rather than granting blanket access, it restricts users only to the resources they need to fulfill their tasks. In essence, ZTNA is like giving a guided tour of the museum to the visitor, allowing them to see only the exhibits relevant to their interests. It ensures the protection of sensitive network resources, while still providing users with the access they require. Third-Party Access: Lending a Book, Not the House Keys In today's interconnected business world, organizations often need to provide network access to third parties like vendors, contractors, or consultants. Traditional access controls can make this a risky proposition, like giving someone the keys to your entire house just to let them borrow a book. ZTNA revolutionizes this process, allowing organizations to provide secure, granular access to third parties. It's like lending a book to a friend, but instead of giving them your house keys, you hand over the book at your doorstep. ZTNA ensures third-party users only have access to the specific applications and resources they need for their tasks, minimizing the potential for unauthorized access or data breaches. Secure M&A Integration: Managing Guests in a Corporate Merger During mergers and acquisitions (M&As), integrating two different network systems can be a complex and challenging process. Traditional access controls can make this process akin to trying to merge two guest lists for a grand event, with the potential for confusion, mix-ups, and security issues. With ZTNA, this process becomes significantly more manageable. in an M&A scenario works much like an efficient receptionist at a merged company, carefully checking every guest, confirming their identities, and guiding them to their designated locations. It allows for secure, controlled access for the newly merged entities, ensuring the integrity of both networks is maintained while achieving seamless integration. ZTNA By offering customizable and context-aware security, ZTNA provides a flexible solution to various access needs and challenges. It makes network security more robust and dynamic, adapting to a wide range of situations, from everyday operations to significant corporate transitions. ZTNA in Action: A Detailed Look at Its Four Core Processes When it comes to the implementation of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) in an enterprise setting, the system operates by adhering to a four-step process: Identify, Enforce, Monitor, and Adjust. Let's delve into each step with a more detailed perspective to truly grasp how ZTNA operates. Identify: The Roll Call of the Digital World Just as a school teacher begins the day by taking roll call of all the students, the ZTNA process starts by identifying the entire gamut of systems, applications, and resources within the organization's network. This stage involves meticulously mapping out all the potential access points to the network. It's like a warehouse manager taking inventory of all the items present. The manager needs to know what goods are in the warehouse, their quantities, and their specific locations. Similarly, ZTNA first identifies all the network's resources and acknowledges who might need access to them. This comprehensive understanding forms the foundation for setting access controls in the next stage. Enforce: Setting the Rules of the House Once ZTNA has a complete map of all network resources, the next step is to enforce access controls. These are the rules of the house, defining the conditions under which individuals can access these resources. Think of it like the rules set by parents for their teenage children. Certain areas of the house, like the parent's bedroom or the home office, might be off-limits unless necessary. The child may only access these areas under specific conditions – perhaps when the parents are around, or only for a limited time. Similarly, ZTNA sets the rules for accessing the different resources within a network, enforcing stringent conditions based on the user's role, the sensitivity of the resource, and other context-aware factors. Monitor: Keeping a Close Eye on the Network ZTNA isn't just about setting rules; it's also about vigilantly ensuring they're followed. Like a network's personal CCTV system, ZTNA monitors all activities within the network. It logs and analyzes all access attempts and interactions with the network resources. Imagine a security guard at a shopping mall. Their job isn't over once they've let a customer in. They must continually monitor the customers to prevent theft and ensure everyone's safety. Similarly, ZTNA doesn't stop working once access is granted. It continuously watches over the network, ensuring that all users are adhering to the access rules set in the previous stage. Adjust: Ensuring a Balanced Network Environment The final step in the ZTNA process is adjusting the access controls as needed. If ZTNA finds that the rules are too strict or too lax, or if the network's needs change over time, the controls are tweaked to maintain the perfect balance between productivity and security. Consider a city's traffic management system. If a particular intersection sees frequent traffic jams or accidents, the city might adjust the traffic signal timings or add additional signage. The goal is to create a smoother, safer traffic flow. Likewise, ZTNA adjusts the access controls based on ongoing monitoring and feedback, ensuring the network stays secure without hindering the users' productivity. Conclusion In an increasingly interconnected and remote world, traditional network security measures fall short. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) presents a modern, comprehensive solution that keeps up with the evolving landscape of network security. It doesn't blindly trust but verifies and limits access, protecting valuable data from breaches and leaks. Just like a vigilant parent or a strict but fair security guard, ZTNA provides the tough love our networks need to stay safe. Don’t forget to like and share the story!

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Why You Need It and How It Works

Acceso a la red Zero Trust (ZTNA): por qué lo necesita y cómo funciona

Accès réseau Zero Trust (ZTNA) : pourquoi vous en avez besoin et comment cela fonctionne

जीरो ट्रस्ट नेटवर्क एक्सेस (जेडटीएनए): आपको इसकी आवश्यकता क्यों है और यह कैसे काम करता है

ゼロトラスト ネットワーク アクセス (ZTNA): 必要な理由とその仕組み

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Por que você precisa e como funciona

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Tại sao bạn cần nó và nó hoạt động như thế nào

零信任网络访问 (ZTNA)：为什么需要它以及它如何工作

The cryptocurrency industry is notorious for its ability to use exotic terminology to confuse the shit out of non-technical people. Hell, sometimes even the most technical of people can get lost in the sauce. The absurd rate of innovation that takes place in crypto is a breeding ground for new ideas. These new ideas require new, yet familiar forms of being communicated. One of the most overused forms of communication is through the formulation of terminology as “PROOF-OF- ”. xyz Everybody is always trying to prove something & this is for good reason, after all, the very essence of blockchain is “Don’t Trust, Verify.” However, at some point it all just becomes overwhelming. Today we put an end to this! Ok, not really, but we will dissect one of the most important technical aspects upon which the entire industry is built: Consensus Mechanisms This is a very dense topic that requires an understanding of many different technical elements; I will try to break them all down as we go through it & provide links/resources for those that want to dive in deeper. Cryptocurrency operates through a cloud computing system called a DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology), such as a Blockchain or DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph). This technology has been developed as a solution to a computational “paradigm” known as which explains the difficulty of establishing secure communication in decentralized environments. The Byzantine Generals Problem Basically, if 3 generals surround a city & want to capture it, they must attack all at once. Any less than all 3 & the plan will fail. How can these generals coordinate with each other if there is so much risk involved in sending a message? The messenger getting lost, being delayed, losing the message, forging a fake message, getting caught by the enemy or just lying about it. It is actually a pretty stimulating read for anybody interested; but for the sake of brevity, we must move on. Blockchains/DLTs are (supposed to be) immutable, transparent, append-only digital ledgers that provide an operational guarantee of consistently only showing the truth. These properties have given blockchain technology the colloquial nickname as “ ”. the trust machine While we intuitively know what trust is, defining it is no simple task. Trust is the assurance that future outcomes are dependable. It is the ability to put faith into something/someone without the fear, uncertainty, or doubt of that something/someone fucking you over. Trusting is the ability to make a decision, with a high degree of confidence, and not have to worry about the counterparty risk. Consensus mechanisms are the vehicles for establishing the truth, avoiding non-truth, & in turn garnering user trust in cryptocurrencies. What is a consensus mechanism? As it relates to crypto, consensus mechanisms provide the dual functionality of security guarantees & reward regulation. They are systems/protocols that are used to agree on a single version of history for all the chain’s activity. A code of conduct for establishing a common agreement on the shared, single, true state. They dictate:- who verifies & confirms the transactions that are submitted into a blockchain block(s).- how that verification & confirmation happens- who & how is somebody rewarded for their efforts/contributions This is where things get a little tricky: Consensus mechanisms do not have to only have to deal with the cold hard computational logic of blockchain security. They can be used to express the coming to an agreement of trust on virtually any arbitrary social, technical or mechanical element. The nuances of the delicate architecture behind consensus mechanisms are extremely complex… but at the highest level they can be boiled down to four core composing design elements: Computational complexity The amount of resources & steps that are necessary in order to arrive at the desired outcome (the quicker/shorter, the better) Fault-tolerance At the core of any computational network’s consensus is the ability to maintain operations in the event that network participants drop out or stop working (which can happen sporadically) The higher the fault tolerance, the easier it is to game the system; the lower the tolerance the more resilient the system it. So if the fault tolerance of a system is 51% that means that the system can continue to operate as long as 49% is compromised. If the tolerance is 67%, that means the system can handle only 33% of compromised nodes. Resilience The ability to continue delivering proper results in the event of malicious activity (which can happen for prolonged periods of time) Liveliness The guarantees that even after some unforeseen event happens, the network will continue to operate truthfully Tradeoffs in Mechanisms: There is no single universal mechanism to rule them all. Consensus mechanisms are radically different according to their application. The blockchain trilemma poses that it is impossible to have the presence of all 3 properties: Security, Scalability, & Decentralization in a single system. There can only be some degree of a mixture between 2-of-3 elements. Based on which combination is present in a blockchain, each mechanism will differ according to: - performance - consistency, - scalability, - efficiency While there are hundreds, if not thousands of different mechanisms out in the marketplace today; there are two general types of Consensus mechanisms based on their operational logic, . Every other variation will just be some modular adjustment or combination of these two. proof-of-work & proof-of-stake Now that we have a general understanding of Consensus mechanisms; let’s review some of them: Disclaimer - Not every “Proof-Of-something” serves the same functions as the others. - Not every consensus mechanism needs to have “Proof-Of” in its name. - Byzantine Fault Tolerance is an element of any/every mechanism. POW — Proof Of Work Very High Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: Resource-intensive process of extreme mathematical complexity that demands dedicated hardware. POW consensus is reached via the contribution of computational resources to solving mathematical problems of monstrous complexity. Here, nodes are called miners and earn their rewards through the emission of new network tokens. Leaders for block proposals are chosen on a first-come, first-serve basis according to whoever is able to solve the mathematical problem. Description: POW itself has a built-in sub-rule of “chain weight” or “chain height” & truncation. Whenever POW is running, miners are building their own versions of the next block; however, only one block will be accepted. Meaning that the network will truncate/discard all non-accepted blocks & always recalibrate to the version of the chain that is longest/heaviest (in terms of the amount of work done on it). This is considered the most secure/decentralized model of consensus because of its ability to resist global government scrutiny. , , , POW Examples - Bitcoin (BTC) Dogecoin (DOGE) Litecoin (LTC) Kaspa (KAS) POS — Proof Of Stake moderate-high Decentralization: 67% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: The most popular model for consensus. The concept behind this one is straightforward, users lockup/collateralize their tokens in order to participate. In POS models there are fixed circulating supplies meaning that no new tokens are issued as block rewards, the rewards are earned through the accrual of transaction fees. Additionally, unlike POW, POS models employ stake-slashing for any misbehavior; in the event that malicious/subversive behavior is found, that violating node will have ~50% of its stake forfeited to the network for redistribution amongst the fair nodes. Commonly considered to be less secure & more centralized than POW in the sense that incentives of network nodes are similar to legacy financial systems; deeper-pocketed players have a better chance to own the network nodes. Description: Another important element to not overlook in POS is that there in order to become a node there is a minimal requirement of stake. In the example of Ethereum, it is 32 ETH. The tradeoff with this design is that a high level of truthful activity is expected in order to not lose stake; while it does minimize potential accessibility & in turn, decentralization count. Additionally, POS is known to suffer the “rich getting richer” problem, the consensus is rooted primarily in just the amount/value at stake; therefore those who have more, will earn more & not give others a fair chance. Aside from the prior, the truth of why this scores lower on decentralization than POW is resilience against governments. Governments can in theory hunt down these networks & force them to shut down operations; POS is easier to subvert on a mass scale. However, one major benefit of POS over POW is energy efficiency. , , , , , , POS Examples — Ethereum (ETH) Cardano (ADA) Tezos (TEZ) CELO (CELO) Polkadot (DOT) Avalanche (AVAX) ThorChain (RUNE) dPOS — Delegated Proof Of Stake Low Decentralization: ** 67% : Fault Tolerance Securing blockchain history Use case: The most popular adaptation of regular POS; delegated Proof of Stake is an attempt to democratize access to participation in the network’s operations & rewards. Only the largest can partake in the securing process while smaller-sized token holders “delegate” their tokens to the operating nodes; basically, they vote with their tokens, never giving them to the actual node. dPOS consensus models will typically have in the range of 21–101 nodes that are handling network operations. These network operators are selected based on the amount of tokens they have at stake. The largest benefit of the dPOS variant is that by constraining the amount of nodes; while this leads to centralization, it does also bring the added benefit of faster processing times. Description: , , , , dPOS Examples — Polygon (MATIC) , Tron (TRX) EOS (EOS) Lisk (LSK) Ark (ARK) Radix (XRD) LPOS — Leased Proof Of Stake Low - Moderate Decentralization: 67% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: This is an advanced variation of POS. Very similar to the delegated proof of stake model, Leased Proof-of-Stake provides the technical difference in; that in dPOS the network nodes accrue the rewards & then distribute them to their delegators; but in LPOS users are actually lending their tokens to the nodes, thereby they own a portion of that nodes weight & accrue the rewards directly, rather than through the delegate. The tradeoff here is that to run the physical node, a very high level of technical knowledge & equipment is needed. So far this implementation has only been utilized in one project. Description: LPOS Examples — Waves (WAVES) HPOS — Hybrid Proof Of Stake (also called Proof of Activity) Moderate Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: As the name might have hinted out, HPOS is a creative architecture that leverages both base consensus models (POW + POS). In this model, there are two tiers of processes that take place. On the base level, miners (just as in POW) verify & package transactions into blocks. Then these pre-vetted blocks are submitted into the mempool of the second tier, where POS nodes run an extra round of checks on the blocks & validate them. Description: , HPOS Examples — DASH (DASH) Decred (DCR) PPOS — Pure Proof Of Stake Very High* (not really) Decentralization: 67% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: Another variation of POS. Novel in design when compared to other variations because it is arguably more decentralized (not). This variant does not have a punishment mechanism; so technically bad actors can act badly & not suffer. However, this design is extremely low in its barrier to entry, only 1 single token is required to join as a node. In theory, this is easy to game because a single actor can make a silent-Sybil attack by distributing 1,000 tokens over 1,000 different wallets. Description: PPOS Examples — Algorand (ALGO) POI — Proof Of Importance Low-Moderate Decentralization: 67% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: Reputation-based model that is yet another implementation of POS. Difficult to become accepted as a valid node, easy to get kicked out. I must admit, this one is a little more creative in its approach. Proof of importance utilizes two factors outside of just the stake; these include: Description: 1. the staking nodes’ network activity *(rather than just staking passively, they must contribute to the velocity of the token on the network) 2. the quality of the nodes’ activity (spam transactions will not help) POI Examples — NEM (XEM) POA — Proof Of Authority None - very low' Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: Centralization is the name of the game here. POA utilizes a valuable non-financial primitive to operate, identity. By using identity, all of the operating network participants risk their reputations in order to be part of the consensus circle. Anywhere there is identity there is centralization. However, by having small constrained amounts of known operators, networks that use POA have extremely high throughput potential. This is definitely a mechanism that you want underpinning any public goods blockchains, but that hasn’t stopped projects from leveraging it. Description: not POA Examples — VeChain (VET) pBFT — Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance Low Decentralization: 67% Fault Tolerance: Developing robustness of a mechanism Use case: A key compositional component for building other consensus mechanisms. Typically found in permissioned networks, pBFT works by leveraging the replication of data throughout nodes. Not the most efficient of models due to inherent communication restraints, but very resilient (obviously tolerance is high in centralized systems, the players only have themselves & their friends to blame). Description: pBFT Examples — Zilliqa (ZIL) {uses a mixture of POW + pBFT} dBFT — Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerance Low Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Developing robustness of a mechanism Use case: As is the case with its cousin above (pBFT) delegated Byzantine fault tolerance is a compositional element for the creation of more robust blockchain systems. On its own, the mechanism can be used to support distributed communications, however, they are limited by communication constraints that make dBFT systems centralized by default. Description: dBFT Examples — NEO (NEO) POC — Proof Of Capacity/Commitment Low Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: Unique twist on the POW consensus mechanisms; rather than utilizing processing units to constantly solve problems; proof-of-Capacity leverages disk space/memory. POC plots potential solutions to future problems & stores them in the empty disk space of miners. Not to be confused with a total lack of mining, because mining still takes place; it just happens pre-emptively (which then might bring up potential security risks). Not very effective at large scale due to high sensitivity in the event of a node dropping out, which requires a re-plotting of the whole network & becomes less efficient as more mining nodes join (they require additional plotting which then creates huge backlogs on the computers allocating disk space). Description: , , POC Examples — Storj (STORJ) Chia (XCH) Signum (SIGNA) POH — Proof Of History N/A Decentralization: N/A Fault Tolerance: Timestamping & organization Use case: This is not a standalone protocol to build a blockchain on. POH is used with, you guessed it, POS, as a technique used to timestamp transactions using a VRF (verifiable random function) hashing method that allows for blocks in a blockchain to be processed & submitted into a mempool. This allows for a network to continue operations at maximum capacity regardless of what might be happening with any individual node at a given time. If a node did not submit a block on time that is not going to hinder the production of the next block because the delayed block will be organized into its correct position as soon as possible. Description: POS Examples — Solana (SOL) POET — Proof Of Elapsed Time Nope Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing blockchain history Use case: This is an extremely centralized model for building a network, primarily because it is Intellectual property (IP) that is protected by patents & nobody wants to go to war with Intel. Nevertheless, the design itself is brilliant. POET is yet another model that leverages POS logic with a mixture of the Nakamoto consensus principle of the longest/heaviest chain, along with its own added concepts of an internal timer & “resting”. Miner nodes are selected at random & the same node cannot be selected back to back. Once a node commits a block a random timer is put on the node & it falls “asleep”. While it is asleep it does not use any computational resources; which makes this model greener in terms of electrical consumption than other POS variants. Description: POET Example — HyperLedger Sawtooth POA — Proof Of Access Low Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing Storage & data Use case: An augmented version of POW, Proof-of-Access is an algorithm created by the Arweave project that uses a clever technique to verify incoming blocks. Instead of solely relying on the previous block, miners use something called a “recall block” along with a randomly picked previous block. Recall blocks can be thought of as reliable points in the history of the chain that do not require the storage of all the chain data. This creates a lightweight model for proving data, resulting in more efficient storage capabilities, less computational resource waste & increased throughput. One potential downside of this model is that it prefers older nodes due to their history archives; newer nodes do not have access to the same archived data & will only be downloading the recall blocks. Which in theory creates a hierarchy by age. Description: POA Examples — Arweave (AR) POREP — Proof Of Replication N/A Decentralization: 51% Fault Tolerance: Securing Storage & data + Cloud Computing Use case: This beauty of a model is actually an expansion of a predecessor model in data storage (Proof-of-Space) with a build-out integration of POW that prioritizes the ability of storage space on the network/in the operational node’s disk space. There are elements of the pBFT consensus mechanism in that data that is added into the network, is replicated throughout network miners. The ingenuity of POREP is defined by its ability to combat the decentralized cloud computing industry’s most devious attack vector known as a “generation attack”, whereby a mining node pays to upload a document & then infinitely requests that document, collecting fees for providing the storage of it. Description: POREP Examples — Filecoin (FIL) That is only a small sample of how much incredible work is actually out there. Consensus mechanisms are the crux of a distributed system’s trust. The mechanism dictates the rules/laws by which the system operates. Every choice in a system’s design must be made with extreme scrutiny, applying an improper mechanism to a system will cause cognitive dissonance between the users & network operators; in turn, causing a loss of trust. It is impossible to quantify which mechanism is better than the other; everything is contextual, and everything is subjective. With infinite opportunity ahead of us, Thank you for reading May your journey be incredible & Your portfolio be plentiful 🥂 Also published here.

Mastering Consensus Mechanisms: 15 Powerful Forms of Distributed Agreements in Crypto

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An overly dramatic clickbait title? I don’t think so. We’re at a unique point in time. Blockchain tech, AI, and AR/VR are entering the mainstream. These are no longer things only geeks and degen traders are interested in. And although the number of people using those technologies is growing rapidly, the majority of the population still has no idea how much the world is going to change over the next 5-10 years. Change always leads to uncertainty and challenges but it also creates new opportunities. We’re at the cusp of a shift from web2 to web3 and I expect this to cause as much disruption as the Internet did in the 90s or web2 (social media and mobile internet) did around 2005-2010. Yes, we’re still in the very early days of web3 but this is exactly the right time to build a web3-equivalent of Amazon, Google, or Facebook. Sure, not everyone will (or even wants to) build a multi-billion dollar company. But there are still countless benefits of being an early adopter, whether you want to offer a product, a service, or create content in this space. Web3 is based on four main technologies: -	Blockchain -	NFTs (I will explain later why I listed NFTs separately) -	AI -	AR/VR/mixed reality Strictly speaking, none of those technologies is new. So why do I think that we’re at such a critical point in time? Let’s go back to the early days of web2, around 2005-2007, and see what happened during those few years. -	Facebook – 2004 -	YouTube – 2005 -	Twitter - 2006 -	First iPhone – 2007 And a couple of years later: -	Instagram – 2010 -	First iPad – 2010 The shift from web1 (early internet) to web2 was possible because of those 3 key elements: -	Mobile devices (smartphones and later tablets) -	Multiple social media platforms -	Affordable mobile internet Notice that none of those was new in itself – we had mobile phones, Blackberrys, social media (remember MySpace?), and mobile internet for a few years prior to 2005. But during that 2005-2010 period, we reached kind of a ‘tipping point’ – the perfect combination of conditions for web2 to emerge. I remember vividly a session in 2006 when I was still at a university. We had to use the Internet on our phones (WAP) for one particular exercise – it was ridiculously expensive per every minute of being online and the experience was dreadful – barely usable for anything beyond sending emails or checking the news. This is a rather stark contrast to using a big touchscreen on my first iPhone around 2 years later (and being online 24/7). Why am I so focused on this ‘perfect storm’ of conditions required to properly launch web3? Because no single technology can be a catalyst for such a major shift. You must have the right combination of technologies, which supplement each other. Let me illustrate this – imagine trying to use Instagram if it existed back in, let’s say, 2002. First, you would have to always carry your clunky, low-quality digital camera with you… or a film camera ;-) Ok, you took the photo… now you have to go back home and connect it to your computer to download it (or take your film to be developed and scanned). Then finally you connect via your 56.6k dial-up modem to upload the photo. Is it possible? Of course. But it’s neither quick nor convenient. And that’s exactly why social media platforms and online content creation started growing exponentially after smartphones with built-in cameras and mobile internet became ubiquitous. We’re now at a similar point in web3. Early big players are already emerging – for example, you could see Yuga Labs as web3 equivalent of Facebook (just less evil;-) We see a lot of speculative investment and trading of crypto, NFTs, and anything AI-related – quite similar to the Dot Com Bubble at the beginning of the millennium. We’re in those rough, uncharted waters of the early adoption phase. This can only mean that the next phase – mass adoption – is just around the corner. Let’s look at those four core web3 technologies and the main reasons why I think that mass adoption will take place over the next few years. 1. Blockchain This technology sits at the core of web3. It adds decentralization and ownership to the next generation of the Internet. It shifts the power from big tech companies back into the hands of the users. Blockchain has been around for over a decade but only during the last major crypto bull run (2020-2021) we started seeing more widely spread interest in this technology. As I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this article – it’s no longer just speculative traders who are into it. Here’s one example – all Big Four consulting companies ( , , , and ) now have whole departments dedicated to blockchain technology and the metaverse. Deloitte KPMG EY PwC Here’s another one – University of Nicosia in Cyprus launched last year the . I participated in it and while I will be the first one to say that there’re plenty of improvements to make, I will also say that it is a very interesting experiment and it certainly feels like a step in the right direction (I will come back to the topic of education at the end of this article). first-ever course built fully on the blockchain Also, remember when El Salvador became the first country in the world to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender? Even though the crypto market has been pretty brutal in the last 12-18 months, they still managed to . pay off $800 million of foreign debt thanks to their investment in Bitcoin Yes, we’re still in the early days of blockchain adoption but these examples are from the last crypto bull run. Just imagine what will happen during the next one. 2. NFTs Yes, I realise that NFTs are based on blockchain technology but I feel that they deserve a separate mention. Many people just see them as yet another opportunity for speculative trading but the reality is that potential use cases of NFTs are almost infinite. Think about it this way: Bitcoin = money/transactions Ethereum = code/apps NFTs = everything else Here’s one great example – . The same could be done for land/property deeds or pretty much any other proof of ownership or authenticity. California DMV has recently started a trial of using NFTs as car titles Another example is the impact NFTs are already making on the art world and they’re feeding into pop culture. Initiatives like are only going to speed up this process. The Memes by Punk 6529 3. AI ChatGPT showed the masses how AI can be utilized by an average person right now… not at some unspecified point in the future. New AI-powered tools are appearing almost every day – copywriting, video editing, art creation (DALL-E, Midjourney, etc.) – you name it. ChatGPT is in some ways much better search engine than Google. Why? It gives you specific results based on your prompt… just like Google used to before it became crippled by ads, SEO, etc. For example – if I want a recipe for a vegan chocolate brownie, ChatGPT will give me just that. Meanwhile, Google will lead me to a cooking blog, where I have to read someone’s life story, skip through the ads, close pop-ups etc. before I eventually get to the recipe. I use AI tools every day. I’m not afraid of AI replacing us anytime soon. But I’m fairly certain that those who will not embrace it as a tool to supercharge their skills/productivity/etc. will be soon left behind. 4. AR, VR, XR Web3 is closely tied with the concept of the metaverse. Some form of a persistent VR or XR experience is at the core of how most people envision the metaverse (‘Ready Player One’ anyone?) Again – the tech itself is not exactly new. But we’re reaching a point when it will start gaining popularity at an exponential rate. Why? Facebook (sorry – Meta) is pumping a huge amount of resources into this tech. . Second-gen devices are supposedly already in the works. Whether you like Apple or not, there’s no arguing that they know how to make products extremely successful. They may not even be the first to the market but they know how to make their offer very attractive and have a very loyal (and huge!) customer base. I don’t necessarily expect their first-gen XR headset to be a mind-blowing success but the second or third model (likely out no later than 2025) will be probably as popular as Apple Watch. Apple is going to release its first high-end XR head in the next few months with a cheaper device to follow likely in 2024 There’re also various really exciting projects appearing in this space. For example, check out . Their app is still at quite an early stage but the potential is crazy! Wist Conclusion Ok, so what this all has to do with the proclamation of the end of the world as we know it? Think about how much the Internet has changed the world. How much it all changed again with the rise of social media and mobile internet. We’re on the brink of another shift of similar proportions. It will change how we work, do business with others, or just simply interact with others. It will create countless challenges but also opportunities. It will render some jobs redundant but will also create new ones. In the late 90s, businesses had to figure out how to establish their presence online (website, email, then SEO etc.). Around 2010, having a strong social media presence became at least equally, if not more important. We’re at the point where every business should at least start thinking about its presence in the web3/metaverse. The next few years will present some of the biggest challenges but also opportunities of this generation.

The World as we Know it is Over

Table of contents Step 1: Installing the PlaneSections Library Step 2: Creating Beam Model Step 3: Create Support Conditions Step 4: Create Loadings on the Beam Step 5: Visualizing the Created Beam Step 6: Plotting Shear force and Bending Moment Diagram Result and Conclusion For those of us taking structural mechanics and strength of materials courses, we all know how difficult it can get when trying to verify our analysis results. This gets more complicated when doing beam analysis, as we are trying to get what our beam element’s shear force and bending moment diagram will look like. In addition, when given a reinforced concrete design project, we also start by analyzing our beam elements, which transfer wall and slab load to columns and from column to foundation. These analysis and cross-checking processes are tedious and time-consuming when verifying our results by hand. Hence, for those of us with an interest in developing finite element tools for structural analysis, this article addresses how to create a simple beam model, and plot its shear force and bending moment diagram using a python library called planeSections. This library is created by csbloom which is built upon openseesPy. PlaneSections is a lightweight finite element beam bending library built on OpenSeesPy. The aim of PlaneSections is to make beam analyses easier, allowing for faster documentation of structural calculations. Being built on OpenSees, the structural results are reliable, and there is lots of room to create more complex models. https://youtu.be/4lgD6Mv7qaA The planeSection library has four core modules which are as follows: The Builder module is used to create the beam and beam elements. The beam class is the core class of the module, and the one the user interacts with the most. The Analysis module is used to analyze the beam using OpenSeesPy and document the results. The Diagram module is used to plot the beam model. The Postprocess module is used to plot the responses of the beam from the analysis, including force diagrams and deflections. For an in-depth understanding of how to customize the existing planeSection library classes and methods, check the documentation out. This is the question we will work on: Question: A Beam 25 m long is supported at A and B and is loaded as shown above. Sketch the SF and BM diagrams. Step 1: Installing the PlaneSections Library #install the PlaneSections library using the python pip coommand in google colab

pip install planesections Step 2: Creating Beam Model # we are importing the planeSections library
import planesections as ps

#we are importing the plotBeamDiagram method for drawing our beam #model

from planesections.core import plotBeamDiagram

# Define node locations, and support conditions
L = 25 # beam length in meters
#lets instaniate or create a beam object using newEulerBeam2D #function passing the length of the beam 
# as an argument
beam = ps.newEulerBeam2D(L)# we are importing the planeSections library
import planesections as ps

#we are importing the plotBeamDiagram method for drawing our beam #model

from planesections.core import plotBeamDiagram

# Define node locations, and support conditions
L = 25 # beam length in meters
# Let instantiate or create a beam object using newEulerBeam2D #function passing the length of the beam 
# as an argument
beam = ps.newEulerBeam2D(L) Step 3: Create Support Conditions # Define beam with support conditions or fixities
# key for support conditions or fixities  = {'free':[0,0,0], 'roller': [0,1,0], 'pinned':[1,1,0], 'fixed':[1,1,1]}


pinned = [1,1,0] # support condition  

# we invoke the setFixity method and pass the position of our beam # support as the first argument and #the support type as the second argument
beam.setFixity(0, pinned)
beam.setFixity(L*0.8, pinned) Step 4: Create Loadings on the Beam # Define point Loads and labels
Pz = -1000  # This represent 1kN in the downward direction
# we use the addLabel method of the beam object and the first argument specifies the distance from #starting length of our beam to #place our label and the label name as the second argument
beam.addLabel(0, label='A') 
beam.addLabel(10, label='E') 
beam.addLabel(20, label='B') 

# addVerticalload method defines a point load where the first argument is the position of the load, the argument is the load #magntude and the third argument I the label indicating the load 
#position on the beam

beam.addVerticalLoad(15, 2*Pz, label = 'D')

beam.addVerticalLoad(25, 3*Pz, label = 'C')



# Define distributed Loads
# the first argument is the point where the distributed load starts #and the second argument is where it #stops and the third argument is its magnitude

beam.addDistLoadVertical(0, L*0.4, 5*Pz) Step 5: Visualizing the Created Beam # drawing of the beam diagram using the plot plotBeamDiagram method #and our beam object as an argument
plotBeamDiagram(beam) Step 6: Plotting Shear force and Bending Moment Diagram # instantiate the analysis object
analysis = ps.OpenSeesAnalyzer2D(beam)
# Run the analysis
analysis.runAnalysis()


# Plot the ShearForce and Bending Moment Diagram
ps.plotShear2D(beam, scale = 0.0002, yunit = 'kN') 
ps.plotMoment2D(beam, scale = 0.0002, yunit = 'kNm') Result and Conclusion The picture above is the result from the textbook where I got the question which is similar to my plot as shown in step 6. The planeSections and openseespy library are flexible for adding more functionalities. let’s explore the power of numerical methods and create our own finite element software. Also published here.

Structural Analysis of a Beam with Python

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