Headway is an EdTech startup that creates microlearning products helping 50M+ users globally achieve self-growth goals

Headway

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Three Core Principles for Avoiding Work Fatigue In the fast-paced modern world, productivity is considered crucial to success in personal and professional lives. A shows that being more productive is the most popular self-development goal in the US, the UK, and Australia. prioritizing productivity over happiness, health, and earning more money. recent survey Over 63% of Americans strive to be more productive, At the same time, the tech world is facing a quiet quitting trend and a burnout epidemic. Some employers respond by implementing various monitoring solutions and return-to-office mandates. However, all of these contribute to work fatigue and have the same strategic issue: our approach to productivity needs to be redefined. Below I suggest while nurturing emotional well-being in the workplace. shares the practices that helped our hybrid team at , overcome the challenges of the pandemic and wartime without a drop in productivity, eNPS, or employee retention. three core principles to help you maximize your team’s efficiency Mariana Boloban, Head of People and Career Expert , a Ukrainian EdTech startup Headway Determine priorities Prioritization may seem the most obvious solution to maximizing productivity, but it is not the easiest. While we understand that resources are limited, and we can’t simply do more, prioritization issues arise. People mistakenly approach minor tasks that bring quick results and satisfaction first, while comprehensive tasks, which are critical to success, remain unattended. A manager’s mission is to suggest an approach to help employees be on the same page while . You may choose a method that suits your team best. However, all of these are based on the critical principles suggested by Eisenhower’s Urgent-Important Matrix. The idea is that you skip the unnecessary, postpone the non-urgent, and delegate the least important stuff. setting priorities Each participant in the workflow must have a clear picture of how daily tasks contribute to business goals However, in most cases, the issue is not about prioritization as a tool. It is about of each employee and the company as a whole. Each participant in the workflow must have a clear picture of how daily tasks contribute to business goals. understanding the goals Make learning a part of your corporate culture Sustainable productivity is the chase for quality, not speed or quantity. Help your team identify Motivate them to devote time to education instead of spinning in a loop of minor tasks that take time and energy. While striving to do more often leads to exhaustion, aiming to improve the quality of skills will result in higher efficiency and overall satisfaction. Education also adds to the feeling of , which takes productivity to the next level and eradicates fatigue. personal development areas. self-actualization Even short learning sessions may significantly improve performance if efforts are consistent We often skip great educational opportunities, as the process is time-consuming. However, even short learning sessions may significantly improve performance if efforts are consistent. I always encourage my team to book while planning their week so education is not overhead but an essential task on the agenda. slots for learning Encourage taking breaks Employees often ignore the need to refresh as they strive to accomplish more. Both regular microbreaks throughout the day and days off work are crucial to nurturing productivity. The most widespread mistake is that high achievers only consider resting when they feel exhausted. Time off, however, is not a remedy for burnout but an essential component to prevent it. I ensure that every manager keeps abreast of their subordinates having Checking on the general well-being of each employee is an essential part of each weekly one-to-one. enough time to recharge. Time off is not a remedy for burnout but an essential component to prevent it Your team members will benefit more from an accidental day out of the office in the middle of the working week than a sabbatical taken to recover from accumulated stress. A similar approach works for microbreaks. Occasionally will help you develop new thoughts, complete daily tasks even faster, and feel satisfied with both the process and the results. switching your attention In the modern work environment chasing productivity at its expense is a disastrous mistake, resulting in decreased performance over the long run. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity. These elements will help avoid work fatigue and detrimental outcomes of employee disengagement. However, consistent learning, improved prioritization, and regular breaks are the fundamentals of any corporate culture.

Why Do Most of Us Approach Productivity Incorrectly? 

As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. It felt like stepping into an entirely new dimension, with a profound sense of immersion and presence. Today, with companies like Meta Quest3, Apple Vision Pro, Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, and HTC Vive introducing high-quality VR headsets, VR has transcended its gaming origins and found utility across diverse industries such as healthcare, education, and architecture. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR, aspiring to create a fully realized digital domain that transcends the constraints of the physical world. It offers a canvas where social norms and value systems can be reimagined and liberated from the shackles of cultural and economic rigidity. The possibilities are endless - envision a world where one can traverse any landscape and undertake any endeavor. Art has always held a special allure for me, and the advent of NFTs has opened up new possibilities. NFTs, digital assets representing unique items like art, music, or collectibles, are stored on a blockchain, ensuring their scarcity and authenticity. Remarkably, artists can now sell their creations at prices that reflect their value. Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, fostering the development of captivating and interactive experiences that drive user engagement and loyalty. Within the metaverse, gamification takes myriad forms, including virtual rewards, challenges, social interactions, and role-playing. It enhances the allure of the metaverse, making it a more enjoyable and immersive environment that beckons people to spend more time within its digital confines. Numerous companies are actively developing products and services for the metaverse, spanning virtual reality headsets, augmented reality devices, smart glasses, game development software, and blockchain-based games. Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro, and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Meta Platforms Inc.: Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Microsoft: Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud, a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Epic Games: Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse, with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Roblox: A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Unity Software Inc. is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Battle Infinity: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Bloktopia: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. Lenovo: It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. The journey toward a digital and virtual world is exhilarating, and I am privileged to be a part of it. The metaverse, NFTs, and gamification represent just the beginning of a transformative era. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this journey, whether as an artist, a gamer, or simply an enthusiast of cutting-edge technology. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out. As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. It felt like stepping into an entirely new dimension, with a profound sense of immersion and presence. Today, with companies like Meta Quest3, Apple Vision Pro, Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, and HTC Vive introducing high-quality VR headsets, VR has transcended its gaming origins and found utility across diverse industries such as healthcare, education, and architecture. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR , aspiring to create a fully realized digital domain that transcends the constraints of the physical world. It offers a canvas where social norms and value systems can be reimagined and liberated from the shackles of cultural and economic rigidity. The possibilities are endless - envision a world where one can traverse any landscape and undertake any endeavor. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR Art has always held a special allure for me , and the advent of NFTs has opened up new possibilities. NFTs, digital assets representing unique items like art, music, or collectibles, are stored on a blockchain, ensuring their scarcity and authenticity. Remarkably, artists can now sell their creations at prices that reflect their value. Art has always held a special allure for me Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, fostering the development of captivating and interactive experiences that drive user engagement and loyalty. Within the metaverse, gamification takes myriad forms, including virtual rewards, challenges, social interactions, and role-playing. It enhances the allure of the metaverse, making it a more enjoyable and immersive environment that beckons people to spend more time within its digital confines. Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, Numerous companies are actively developing products and services for the metaverse, spanning virtual reality headsets, augmented reality devices, smart glasses, game development software, and blockchain-based games. Numerous companies Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro, and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro , and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Apple Apple Vision Pro Meta Platforms Inc.: Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Meta Platforms Inc. : Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Meta Platforms Inc. Meta Platforms Inc. Microsoft: Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Microsoft : Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Microsoft Microsoft Mesh Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud, a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud , a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Nvidia NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud Epic Games: Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse, with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Epic Games : Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse , with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Epic Games Epic Games invests in the metaverse Roblox: A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Roblox : A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Roblox build a metaverse Unity Software Inc. is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Unity Software Inc . is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Unity Software Inc Unity Software Inc . Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. Decentraland Decentraland The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. The Sandbox The Sandbox Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Axie Infinity Axie Infinity Battle Infinity: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Battle Infinity : A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Battle Infinity Battle Infinity Bloktopia: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. Bloktopia : A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. Bloktopia Bloktopia NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. NFT Worlds NFT Worlds Lenovo: It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. Lenovo : It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. Lenovo Lenovo The journey toward a digital and virtual world is exhilarating, and I am privileged to be a part of it. The metaverse, NFTs, and gamification represent just the beginning of a transformative era. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this journey, whether as an artist, a gamer, or simply an enthusiast of cutting-edge technology. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out.

A Journey Towards Digital and Virtual Worlds

Getting your first 100 users isn't easy. Here's how I do it with Reddit, where most people don’t care about your products and hate advertising Sitting in our office (a fancy word for our favorite coffee shop), I mumble, “I thought I would do A/B testing and analysis!?” Man, was I naive! Where do you find the data to do that when the only people who know about your app are four dudes you have hung out with since high school? After devouring almost everything I could about growth for early startups, I realized the solution: Do things that don’t scale. And the first channel: Reddit! “It’s gonna be an easy game.” I thought, 'It's going to be easy because I built my TikTok channel from 0 to 2x thousands of followers. I will have hundreds of sign-ups in just three days.” Right? Over the next few weeks, I immersed myself in Reddit, exploring every possible subreddit related to my industry (notetaking), and did two things: Write heartfelt posts about why I built my product, its features, and how it will help users.


Reply to comments as quickly as possible to build momentum and generate buzz. It seemed easy as I sat sipping my coffee and typing away. I had dozens of subreddits to explore and hours to spare. Plus, my product vision is superb – who wouldn’t want to try it? It was a no-brainer. Within a few hours, I had already posted dozens of posts and comments. I noticed that my Reddit notifications were blowing up – I must be doing a good job. Ha ha ha. “Uhmm, I don’t expect this” As I opened those notifications, I geared up to respond to the enthusiastic comments from my beloved early adopters. But, surprise, surprise, by being a dedicated “advertiser,” I found myself banned from some of the biggest relevant subreddits. Not only that, but I received a barrage of downvotes for what seemed like explicit advertising! “No worries,” I reassured myself, “it's just some outliers.” However, as days passed, it dawned on me: the outlier was me. With early responses branding me as a scam, I couldn’t help but smile wryly and wonder, “Why do I have to go through this? Is it even worth it when you receive so much criticism?” When hundreds of people are downvoting your every move, such thoughts inevitably arise. I contemplated shifting focus to another channel, convincing myself that Reddit simply didn’t align with my product— “Focus on the Channel Product Fit,” I said The Change But fortunately, I didn’t take that route. Instead, I resolved to make it work. I delved deeper into what resonated with Reddit and what didn’t. I realized that to succeed in this channel would take blood, sweat, and tears. I then opted for a more subtle approach: Write an added post; mention your product only when allowed to.
Instead of writing a post, find a post where people are looking for solutions that are relevant to you.
DM people looking for those tools And I was relentless. Every post, every person—I reached out to them all. Yes, I mean every single one. I still stored the hundreds of post links and the people I DM’d back then. It wasn’t a scalable approach, but it was what I needed to do to get the word out when I was just starting out. How to be good at this? I’m still learning, but the key is: Don’t explicitly advertise unless permitted.
When DM, instead of directly selling, ask about their problems to determine if your products are relevant.
Relevancy is crucial; seek out relevant individuals, subreddits, and posts.
How do I find them? I typed every relevant keyword in the chat and joined any relevant subs from the search. After putting in a lot of effort, I finally managed to make some headway for my product on Reddit. I accumulated hundreds of thousands of views, attracted initial users, and continue to receive a decent number of referrals from Reddit every day. So, there you have it – how I find customers via Reddit. Next up, LinkedIn – Hm, wait a second, was I just scolded? Getting your first 100 users isn't easy. Here's how I do it with Reddit, where most people don’t care about your products and hate advertising Sitting in our office (a fancy word for our favorite coffee shop), I mumble, “I thought I would do A/B testing and analysis!?” Man, was I naive! Where do you find the data to do that when the only people who know about your app are four dudes you have hung out with since high school? After devouring almost everything I could about growth for early startups, I realized the solution: Do things that don’t scale. And the first channel: Reddit! “It’s gonna be an easy game.” I thought, 'It's going to be easy because I built my TikTok channel from 0 to 2x thousands of followers. I will have hundreds of sign-ups in just three days.” Right? Over the next few weeks, I immersed myself in Reddit, exploring every possible subreddit related to my industry (notetaking), and did two things: Write heartfelt posts about why I built my product, its features, and how it will help users. Reply to comments as quickly as possible to build momentum and generate buzz. Write heartfelt posts about why I built my product, its features, and how it will help users. Write heartfelt posts about why I built my product, its features, and how it will help users. Write heartfelt posts Reply to comments as quickly as possible to build momentum and generate buzz. Reply to comments as quickly as possible to build momentum and generate buzz. Reply to comments It seemed easy as I sat sipping my coffee and typing away. I had dozens of subreddits to explore and hours to spare. Plus, my product vision is superb – who wouldn’t want to try it? It was a no-brainer. Within a few hours, I had already posted dozens of posts and comments. I noticed that my Reddit notifications were blowing up – I must be doing a good job. Ha ha ha. “Uhmm, I don’t expect this” As I opened those notifications, I geared up to respond to the enthusiastic comments from my beloved early adopters. But, surprise, surprise, by being a dedicated “advertiser,” I found myself banned from some of the biggest relevant subreddits. Not only that, but I received a barrage of downvotes for what seemed like explicit advertising! banned “No worries,” I reassured myself, “it's just some outliers.” However, as days passed, it dawned on me: the outlier was me. With early responses branding me as a scam, I couldn’t help but smile wryly and wonder, “Why do I have to go through this? Is it even worth it when you receive so much criticism?” When hundreds of people are downvoting your every move, such thoughts inevitably arise. I contemplated shifting focus to another channel, convincing myself that Reddit simply didn’t align with my product— “Focus on the Channel Product Fit,” I said The Change But fortunately, I didn’t take that route. Instead, I resolved to make it work. I delved deeper into what resonated with Reddit and what didn’t. I realized that to succeed in this channel would take blood, sweat, and tears. I then opted for a more subtle approach: subtle approach: Write an added post; mention your product only when allowed to. Instead of writing a post, find a post where people are looking for solutions that are relevant to you. DM people looking for those tools Write an added post; mention your product only when allowed to. Instead of writing a post, find a post where people are looking for solutions that are relevant to you. DM people looking for those tools And I was relentless. Every post, every person—I reached out to them all. Yes, I mean every single one. I still stored the hundreds of post links and the people I DM’d back then. It wasn’t a scalable approach, but it was what I needed to do to get the word out when I was just starting out. How to be good at this? I’m still learning, but the key is: How to be good at this? Don’t explicitly advertise unless permitted. When DM, instead of directly selling, ask about their problems to determine if your products are relevant. Relevancy is crucial; seek out relevant individuals, subreddits, and posts. How do I find them? I typed every relevant keyword in the chat and joined any relevant subs from the search. Don’t explicitly advertise unless permitted. When DM, instead of directly selling, ask about their problems to determine if your products are relevant. Relevancy is crucial; seek out relevant individuals, subreddits, and posts. How do I find them? I typed every relevant keyword in the chat and joined any relevant subs from the search. After putting in a lot of effort, I finally managed to make some headway for my product on Reddit. I accumulated hundreds of thousands of views, attracted initial users, and continue to receive a decent number of referrals from Reddit every day. So, there you have it – how I find customers via Reddit. Next up, LinkedIn – Hm, wait a second, was I just scolded? LinkedIn – Hm, wait a second, was I just scolded?

How Do You Acquire Customers as a Startup? Well, I Got My First 100 Via Reddit

আপনি কিভাবে একটি স্টার্টআপ হিসাবে গ্রাহকদের অর্জন করবেন? ঠিক আছে, আমি রেডডিটের মাধ্যমে আমার প্রথম 100 পেয়েছি

Wie gewinnt man als Startup Kunden? Meine ersten 100 habe ich über Reddit bekommen

¿Cómo se consiguen clientes como startup? Bueno, obtuve mis primeros 100 a través de Reddit

Comment acquérir des clients en tant que startup ? Eh bien, j'ai eu mes 100 premiers via Reddit

स्टार्टअप के तौर पर आप ग्राहक कैसे जुटाते हैं? खैर, मुझे रेडिट के ज़रिए अपने पहले 100 ग्राहक मिले

スタートアップとして顧客を獲得するにはどうすればいいでしょうか？私の場合、最初の100人の顧客はReddit経由で獲得しました

스타트업으로서 고객을 어떻게 확보하나요? 음, Reddit을 통해 처음으로 100개를 얻었습니다.

Como você conquista clientes como uma startup? Bem, consegui meus primeiros 100 via Reddit

Как привлечь клиентов в стартапе? Ну, я получил свои первые 100 через Reddit

Bir Startup Olarak Müşterileri Nasıl Kazanırsınız? İlk 100'ümü Reddit'ten Aldım

Làm thế nào để bạn có được khách hàng khi mới khởi nghiệp? Chà, tôi đã đạt được 100 đô la đầu tiên thông qua Reddit

作为一家初创公司，你如何获取客户？好吧，我通过 Reddit 获得了我的第一个 100 个客户

Decoding Success: Case Studies of 3 Successful Tech Enterprises

A Glimpse Into the Past The concept of smart contracts predates the inception of blockchains, having been delineated by Nick Szabo in 1994. The first practical application emerged years later in 2015 with the Ethereum platform. Fundamentally, smart contracts automate contractual obligations and eliminate intermediaries. Smart contracts have found extensive applications in finance, overshadowing their potential to automate processes across various domains. Decentralized Applications (DApps) extend beyond financial tools; they merely scratch the surface. While the DeFi market has soared in complexity and success, other sectors lag behind significantly. Challenges Facing DApps in Non-Financial Sectors: Development complexity and cost Blockchain’s slow performance Lack of robust integration tools (wallets, infrastructure, etc.) Attempts at broader application have made little headway. The State of Gaming in Decentralization CryptoKitties marked the first step towards decentralized gaming, though it was largely controlled by its developers. Axie Infinity, despite its success, faced significant challenges, including a $615 million hack, due to its proprietary blockchain. Moreover, its gameplay mechanics are private, challenging its decentralized nature. Other projects like Gods Unchained and Heroes of Mavia also fall short of full decentralization. The current trend involves separating gameplay from asset ownership (NFTs for characters and items), with gameplay largely centralized. However such projects omit that mere ownership of NFTs does not provide “full control over assets.” Assets only have value thanks to gameplay mechanics, which are 100% under the control of developers. A popular term describing current projects is . GameFi Low decentralization and emphasis on play to earn. Examples: Axie Infinity Illuvium Splinterlands Pixels League of Kingdoms Gods Unchained Heroes of Mavia Seraph Decentralized Games Truly decentralized games are currently few and far between. Existing games can be divided into the following groups: Focus on the Blockchain Component The gameplay consists of a basic set of actions or resembles very basic game mechanics. The characteristic of such projects is that tokenomics are central, with gameplay tacked on top. It’s hard to call these fully-fledged games. Examples include CryptoKitties, DefiKingdoms, Crypto Raiders, and Neon District. Community-Developed Ecosystems The main project develops only basic assets while the community ecosystem develops games for these assets. This sounds cool and could achieve full decentralization. The problem is that games tend to be boring and often have centralized gameplay. This approach could lead to some good games, but any successful project within such an ecosystem is likely to outgrow it and become its own entity (as happened with DOTA evolving from a map for Warcraft 3 into a standalone game). Examples are Aavegotchi and Axie Infinity (planned). SDK for Simplified Game Development This route allows for significantly fewer resources to be spent on blockchain, and in theory, the gameplay should be more refined. This approach is very promising, but there is a risk that all games will look alike and be quite formulaic. Nonetheless, studios that invest efforts in developing an SDK based on their contracts have every chance to make a good game as a “showcase” for their engine (similar to Unreal Tournament from the web2 era). Examples include MUD SDK and Paima Studios SDK. Effort to Combine Forces Creating quality gameplay and laying the foundation for full decentralization. This approach requires prioritizing the creation of a gameplay process where blockchain serves as an advantage rather than a checkbox feature. This direction is the most promising but also the most challenging. Examples are Primodium and Sacra: Falling of Myrd. Why Do We Need Decentralization for Games? To break the current trend, it’s necessary to focus on the question, and convey this to the users. “Why does a game need to be decentralized at all?” The simple answer to this question is the same as “Why is Bitcoin needed?” Real Ownership of Assets True ownership of an asset means control over its value. Only by providing decentralized gameplay can you guarantee real ownership of the asset. Security Open source is not just a whim of crypto maximalists. Only open source allows for a real security audit and identification of vulnerabilities. Moreover, immutable (or DAO-controlled mutable) code guarantees the preservation of assets and the gameplay mechanics that give value to the game’s main assets. Economy Building a complex economy capable of handling significant assets requires unprecedented quality and security of code in the gaming industry. Fortunately, years of DeFi existence have accumulated best practices in this area. For a game built on smart contracts, it’s easy to imagine an economy operating billions. Excluding the influence of third parties, whether intentional or unintentional, ensures confidence in the stability of the in-game economic model. Resistance to Censorship I think almost every gamer has faced being banned for unclear reasons or even denied access to a game altogether. A decentralized game is protected from this as much as the blockchain it runs on is protected. Even in the presence of a centralized company that supports the game’s UI, the original client code will always be available, allowing the game to be launched locally. Community and Governance The openness of the product attracts a genuinely interested community around the project. The ability to contribute and manage key issues through voting creates incredible long-term support. Integration of Real Assets into the Game Economy A game can be seen as a small state. Like any other state, to ensure a stable economy, it can own assets of other states. This is fully relevant for decentralized games. It’s easy to imagine assets locked in a game generating passive income and creating additional value for the project. All of this can be summarized in one word: DeGame. Technical Implementation Currently, various blockchains have their smart contracts, but EVM and Solidity are the de facto industrial standards. It’s not just that 90% of all developments are written in Solidity, but also the infrastructure built around EVM networks. RPC providers, The Graph protocol for the backend part, Dune analytics dashboards, and other tools solve many problems that are difficult to compensate for with other tech stacks. But is it really possible to “squeeze” game logic into Solidity given that the size of contracts is limited to 24KB and the block time in most blockchains does not exceed 2 seconds? Yes, it’s more than feasible. There are many design patterns for writing complex logic, such as The Diamond Standard (EIP-2335) and the use of libraries along with the ERC-7201 standard. These approaches allow us to almost completely bypass the limitation on the size of the smart contract code. The gas limit per transaction imposes serious restrictions on the number of actions a player can take in one go. However, the use of packed data and standard gas optimization methods allow for even complex logic such as pathfinding on terrain and determining lines of sight within a single transaction. Blockchain enables unique gameplay mechanics for multiplayer. In a standard MMO game, solving the problem of lag with 1000+ players online is practically impossible, but here, the mechanism of competition for gas comes into play. Moreover, gas payments can be tied to in-game currency through ERC-4337. This means you can control the online servers with in-game mechanics (pay more in-game currency to participate in a castle siege with other players, for example). At this stage, it’s too early to talk about a fully decentralized game with real-time action gameplay. However, game genres with turn-based gameplay fit perfectly with the concept of block finalization. Essentially, technical limitations encourage the creation of new genre combinations, such as turn-based MMO RPGs. Over time, a specific blockchain will be created to process on-chain actions of players sufficient even for real-time shooters. L2/L3 blockchains, which can now be deployed in minutes through a UI, have proven themselves well in this regard. It’s more than realistic to imagine a situation where a blockchain game can create its own temporary L3 for a specific game session. The Future of DeGame As always, games present a real challenge to the entire IT industry, pushing it towards more efficient solutions. Not only is there a need to develop complex logic on smart contracts, but the blockchain must also be capable of processing a huge number of transactions. Fortunately, there are now many blockchains capable of achieving the necessary throughput. A sufficiently large project could even develop its own blockchain to handle transactions specific to the game. A decentralized server part for the game with its validators and consensus. However, in the early stages, a standard universal blockchain is more than enough for games without real-time action. And as experience shows, it’s better to focus on one thing, whether it’s the game itself or the infrastructure in the form of a fast blockchain. In the future, we will see many projects that implement gameplay on smart contracts and open a new era in the gaming industry. This revolution goes hand in hand with the evolution of all crypto projects, and it’s only a matter of time before the old game development is displaced by new approaches.

The Future of Decentralized Gaming: A Comprehensive Outlook

Perhaps you’ve noticed that photos appearing on the news depicting war are being questioned much more frequently than before. In many instances, they’ve been identified as fakes by expert inspection, the consensus of a community of people, or tools such as fake photodetectors that analyze them. Whereas 2023 may be looked upon as the year where it became standard practice to question whether photos and, in many cases, videos and documents are real, 2024 is poised to be the year where it becomes standard practice to run every questionable photo, video, and document through AI systems to determine their authenticity. After years of experts warning about a potential scenario where deepfakes will have the power to skew reality, it only makes sense to ask a couple of questions: How did we so rapidly get into this situation? What can we do about it? GenAI Implications With the explosion of generative AI text tools such as ChatGPT in 2023, it was easy to lose track of text-to-photo offering, , making tremendous headway in the ability to create fake images. OpenAI’s Dall-E At the same time, many similar frameworks emerged from several vendors and open source, including , , , and , amongst many others. If your goal is to create fake photos, you no longer have to look very far. Stable Diffusion Midjourney Adobe Firefly Google Many of these frameworks have already undergone significant improvements in 2023 alone, and the outcome is very clear. The ability to generate fake or AI-altered photos is now in the hands of the masses, and the ability to generate fake videos and documents is also here and rapidly improving. So now that the proverbial cat has been let out of the bag, there are a number of efforts circulating to help resolve the issue of fakes, ranging from government policies and controls to standards to help identify fake photos, videos, and documents, to anti-AI frameworks you can begin using today. While government policies and controls may represent a valiant effort to save us from this impending doom, open-source frameworks tend to elude corporate-enforced controls, because they are not owned by any particular organization. Moreover, the effort would require governments from virtually all nations to act in tandem to help solve the problem that effectively has spread worldwide. Standards to identify fake photos are also a valiant effort to get the corporations developing generative AI to digitally watermark the photos and videos created, so, they can be identified as fakes. However, these corporations amount to the good actors of the potential information warfare that can ensue. What about the bad actors leveraging open source or finding ways to circumvent or remove the watermarking? The answer, if you haven’t guessed, is there is no way to get bad actors to play nice. That leaves anti-AI frameworks, or fake detectors, as the best available and most proactive tool, particularly for businesses who need to protect important data against the onslaught of fakes. Tools that identify what is real and what is fake are the best immediate defense, albeit there are a few caveats everyone should be aware of. Static tools will become obsolete very fast as a result of the advancement of generative AI technology. There needs to be constant improvement on the side of the detectors to keep up with the constantly improving fakes. While some may argue that this is a losing battle, it is the only battle for those who want to guard against fraud and potential reputation damage. The other caveat is that a detection framework needs to be analyzed rapidly and at scale to counter incoming threats. Thanks to GPU technology and cloud scale, this is all possible today. Ultimately, while a few choices are floating around how to thwart fakes, the best defense is a tangible strategy rather than hoping the problem goes away or that others resolve the problem for you. Those who take early action will benefit in the long term. Luckily, there are proactive steps you can take to protect yourself and your business against the growing threat of fakes.

The 2024 Inundation of Fake Photos, Videos and Documents: And Why 2023 Was Just the Beginning

Acknowledgments This post continues my exploration of concepts and techniques related to both the way so-called “Jewish times” (zmanim) are calculated; as well as the techniques needed to use the – a library of functions that let you easily calculate Jewish times. PHP Zmanim library Once again, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to several folks – including Eliyahu Hershfeld, creator of the , Zachary Weixelbaum (owner of the PHP Zmanim library, a port of Kosher Java), Elyahu Jacobi (who built with those tools and patiently explained so many concepts to me), and Maor Neim, who offered explanations that turned theory into practice. Kosher Java library RoyZmanim.com Introduction , I explored both the foundational concepts of Jewish time calculations (zmanim) and also the initial steps needed to install and use PHP Zmanim. We got as far as calculating sunrise with that library. In my last post By itself, this isn’t particularly impressive. The fact is that with the same information (latitude, longitude, time zone, and a specific date) you can get the same information using PHP’s built-in functions. In this post, we’re going to get into the types of calculations you CAN’T get with built-in PHP tools, not only because they require some “interesting” time manipulations, but because there are so many ways to calculate the same religiously significant moment, based on various Rabbinic opinions and traditions. The Answer to Every Jewish Question Starts With “Well, It Depends…” Let me take a minute to unpack that idea in a little more detail. In the last post, I started to get into this idea: Dawn is the moment when light (but not the sun) is visible over the horizon. Unfortunately, whether or not there is or isn’t “light” is highly subjective, and therefore the way it’s come to be calculated ranges all over the map. Some traditions use a fixed number of clock minutes before sunrise or after sunset. Others will use astronomy to identify the time when the sun is below the horizon by a specific number of degrees. Others will use a formula, such as taking the amount of daylight (from sunrise to sunset), dividing that into 10 equal parts, and then subtracting that amount from sunrise or adding it to sunset. Still others will take the time the sun is below the horizon on an “equal” day (meaning the spring or fall equinox, when the amount of sunshine and darkness are exactly the same), calculate the difference (in clock minutes) between that time and sunrise, normalize those minutes against “seasonal minutes” (“sha’ot zmaniyot”) for the specific day in question, and finally subtract that amount from sunrise (or add THAT to sunset) for the day in question. One moment of the day, but a wide variety of ways to determine it. It may be hard for those outside of mainstream orthodox Judaism to understand and is definitely the subject of a completely different type of blog post, but the answer is to embrace the understanding that all of the calculations above (and many others) are capital-T “True.” Not just in a “well, it’s how I feel about it so it’s true to me” kind of way, but as being absolutely, factually, empirically true even when one method stands in opposition to another (or several others). Like I said, THAT is the topic of a completely different blog post. For now, I mention this to explain why, in creating the , Eliyahu Hershfeld took the route of enabling the ability to easily calculate times using ANY of those methods, rather than trying to espouse a single method and coding exclusively for that. Kosher Java library And ports – such as Zachary Weixelbaum’s – simply continue with that ideal. PHP Zmanim library Which brings us back to the nitty-gritty of using the PHP Zmanim library. Making Time Pretty , we left off with this snippet of code: In the last post <?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';
use PhpZmanim\Zmanim;
use PhpZmanim\Calendar\ComplexZmanimCalendar;
use PhpZmanim\Geo\GeoLocation;


# Set variables:
#41.4939407, -81.516709;
$locname = "Beit Knesset Chochmat Shlomo, Beachwood, OH";
$lat = 41.4939407;
$long = -81.516709;
$elev = 0;
$tz = 'America/New_York';

$getyear = 2024;
$getday = 20;
$getmonth = 12;
$testzmanim = Zmanim::create($getyear, $getmonth, $getday, $locname, $lat, $long, $elev, $tz);
$sunrise = $testzmanim->sunrise;
echo "$sunrise\n";
?> Which produced a result that looked something like this: 2024-12-20 07:48:52 It works, but it’s not what I’d want to see on a page when I’m just expecting a simple “7:48 am”. Which brings me to the next interesting insight for the PHP Zmanim library: You can format the output using another function, rather than hammering through PHP’s built-in options. You’ll still use the but getting what you want is easier. PHP time/date formatting codes Let’s say I want to only display the hour, minute, and am/pm for the sunrise output. I’d add a line like this: $sunrise = $zmanim->sunrise;
$sunrise = $sunrise->format('g:i a'); Which would look like this when printed on the screen: 7:48 am Getting Your First Actual real-time – Mincha Gedola The problem with using sunrise/sunset as an example is that PHP has built-in options to do the exact same thing. So, let’s look at getting a time that is more relevant to Jewish religious times: the earliest time for afternoon prayers (Mincha Gedola). Once again, it’s somewhat anti-climactic in that it’s a single command: $gedolah = $zmanim->minchaGedola; Which outputs a time like this: 2024-12-20 12:46:55 HOWEVER, as I mentioned earlier in this post, there are several ways to calculate this time. Here are all the methods supported by the PHP Zmanim library: minchaGedola: Returns a time of 6.5 halachic hours (shaos zmaniyos) after sunrise. minchaGedola30Minutes: Returns the time 30 standard (clock) minutes after the half-day calculation (chatzot). minchaGedola72Minutes: Calculates according to the Magen Avraham (Abraham Abele Gombiner, 1635-1682) with the day starting 72 minutes before sunrise and ending 72 minutes after sunset. minchaGedola16Point1Degrees: Calculated according to the Magen Avraham with the day starting and ending when the sun is 16.1 degrees below the horizon. minchaGedolaAhavatShalom: Calculated based on the opinion of as half a seasonal hour (shaah) after mid-day (chatzos) with seasonal minutes (shaos zmaniyos) calculated based on a day starting 72 minutes before sunrise and ending 13.5 minutes after sunset. Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel minchaGedolaGreaterThan30: This is a convenience method that returns the later of the standard “minchaGedola” function or ‘minchaGedola30Minutes. In the winter when 1/2 of a seasonal hour (sha’ah) is less than 30 minutes, then minchaGedola30Minutes will be returned, otherwise, the regular minchaGedola will be returned. minchaGedolaAteretTorah: This method returns the time of according to the Magen Avraham with the day starting and ending when the sun is 16.1 degrees below the horizon. mincha ketana minchaGedolaBaalHatanya: This calculation is based on the opinion of the . Baal Hatanya minchaGedolaBaalHatanyaGreaterThan30: This is a convenience method that returns the later of either minchaGedolaBaalHatanya or minchaGedola30Minutes. In the winter when 1/2 of a seasonal hour (sha’ah) is less than 30 minutes, then minchaGedola30Minutes will be returned, otherwise minchaGedolaBaalHatanya will be returned. minchaGedolaGRAFixedLocalChatzos30Minutes: This method returns a time based on opinion. Rav Moshe Feinstein’s As you can see, there are a number of opinions. Determining which one you want/need to use is outside the scope of this blog post and will likely require some conversations with the users of the app or website, as well as a Rabbi. Or two. Or several. But the good news is that to use any of them, it’s as simple as: $gedolah = $zmanim->minchaGedola16Point1Degrees;
$gedolah = $gedolah->format('g:i a'); Getting Something Complicated – Nightfall (Tzais Hakochavim) Now that you’ve seen how we get one time, you should understand that even times that my previous post labeled as “complicated” aren’t that complicated. Furthermore, it should reinforce your understanding of just how powerful a tool like PHP Zmanim is because of what it enables you to do in such a short time. Calculating nightfall (tzais hakochavim) is as simple as the command $tzais = $zmanim->tzais; If there is any challenge at all, it’s the sheer number of variations to consider. I’m listing them here without explanation, just so you have a sense of how many there are. That’s right, there are 32 different options for calculating this one time. I list them here without detailed explanation simply to underscore my point: tzais tzais72 tzaisGeonim3Point7Degrees tzaisGeonim3Point8Degrees tzaisGeonim5Point95Degrees tzaisGeonim3Point65Degrees tzaisGeonim3Point676Degrees tzaisGeonim4Point61Degrees tzaisGeonim4Point37Degrees tzaisGeonim5Point88Degrees tzaisGeonim4Point8Degrees tzaisGeonim6Point45Degrees tzaisGeonim7Point083Degrees tzaisGeonim7Point67Degrees tzaisGeonim8Point5Degrees tzaisGeonim9Point3Degrees tzaisGeonim9Point75Degrees tzais60 tzaisAteretTorah tzais72Zmanis tzais90Zmanis tzais96Zmanis tzais90 tzais120 tzais120Zmanis tzais16Point1Degrees tzais26Degrees tzais18Degrees tzais19Point8Degrees tzais96 tzaisBaalHatanya tzais50 Time (and This Blog Series) Marches On Armed with the information in this post, you could probably make decent headway simply by looking through the main README on Zachary’s page itself, and selecting the best (for your purposes) calculations for: PHP Zmanim Sunrise and Sunset (no, do not sing ) That Song A “seasonal” hour (Sha’ah Zmanim) Dawn (alos hashachar) The earliest time to put on tallit and tefillin (misheyakir) The latest time to say Shema (sof zman kria shema) The latest time for morning prayers (sof zman tefillah) When Passover begins Halfway through the day (chatzos) The earliest time for afternoon prayers (mincha gedola) The “best” time for afternoon prayers (mincha ketana) The latest time for afternoon prayers (plag hamincha) The time to light Shabbat candles Dusk – the time between sunset and night (bain hashmashot) Night (tzais hakochavim) Halfway through the night (chatozs halayla) But there is still more to cover. In upcoming articles, I’ll talk about: Taking these standard times and adjusting them for synagogue specific needs (“Mincha starts 25 minutes before Shkia each day”). Using the PHP Zmanim library to display non-time calculations such as the weekly Torah Portion, Rosh Chodesh, and the Molad. Leveraging the build-in astronomy functions for time calculations that aren’t built into the library itself. I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me. As always if you have questions, comments, or kudos, please leave them in the comments.

Time Data Series: How to Work With PHP Zmanim

2024 promises to be a pivotal year for the crypto industry, with a series of significant events and trends poised to shape its future. From the highly anticipated Bitcoin halving to the rise of NFTs in gaming, the emergence of tokenized finance, and the growing adoption of crypto in Asia, this year is set to witness a surge of innovation and disruption. As I work with crypto and AI projects, each year, we compile a list of trends that we see on the market. And here’s a 2024 edition. This year is going to be a very interesting one! Also, you can check my . Top 10 AI Trends of 2024 And Now, Onto Key Trends to Watch in 2024: 1. Upcoming Bitcoin Halving Event: Preparing for the Next Chapter in Bitcoin's Journey The highly anticipated Bitcoin halving event is just around the corner, poised to shake up the market dynamics and redefine the future of this pioneering cryptocurrency. Scheduled for April 2024, this pre-programmed event will slice the block reward from 6.25 to 3.125 bitcoins, ushering in a new era of scarcity and potential price surges. With the exact date yet to be determined, the countdown begins as Bitcoin enthusiasts brace themselves for an event that promises to slow down inflation and reshape the market landscape. 2. NFTs in Gaming: Unleashing the Power of True Ownership and Digital Economies The gaming industry is undergoing a seismic shift as NFTs emerge as the game-changers of the decade. Games like Nifty Island, built on Ethereum's robust network, are paving the way for a revolution in virtual economies. With NFTs, players can finally lay claim to their in-game assets, blurring the lines between the virtual and the real. As gaming transforms into a profession and a transparent ecosystem takes shape, NFTs are democratizing the industry and empowering gamers like never before. 3. NFT-based Brand Building: Pioneering the Web3 Revolution In 2024, NFT-based brand building is set to drive the adoption of Web3 as recognized brands embrace this groundbreaking technology. Companies, both established and emerging, are leveraging NFTs to tap into the decentralized value creation paradigm. By leveraging NFTs as assets, brands establish networks that connect holders to the brand and to each other, encouraging consumers to share and promote the brand organically. This innovative approach promises to reshape marketing strategies and strengthen customer engagement through tokenized brand experiences. 4. Tokenized Finance: Unlocking Efficiency and New Revenue Streams The financial world is undergoing a revolution thanks to the power of tokenization. By transforming traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and carbon credits into digital tokens, tokenization is reshaping how institutions fund, trade, and manage financial assets. The benefits are clear: enhanced efficiency, reduced transaction costs, and the creation of novel revenue streams. As tokenization gains momentum, the future of finance and investment is being rewritten, signaling a seismic shift in the global economic landscape. 5. Real-world Asset Tokenization: Fueling DeFi's Meteoric Rise DeFi is on the brink of a major breakthrough fueled by the tokenization of real-world assets. From stocks to real estate and everything in between, the potential for tokenization to enhance liquidity, streamline transactions, and unlock new opportunities in DeFi protocols is immense. As the market braces for a potential 10x growth in specific sectors, the stage is set for a transformative journey that will redefine how we perceive and interact with traditional assets in the digital realm. 6. Crypto Adoption in Asia: Unleashing the Dragon’s Influence Asia has emerged as a pivotal player in the global cryptocurrency landscape, with countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan exerting substantial influence over crypto trends and technologies. Boasting a remarkable level of digital literacy and robust technological infrastructure, the region provides fertile ground for the adoption of cryptocurrencies. However, regulatory environments play a crucial role in shaping the pace and extent of crypto adoption across different Asian nations, making them key factors to monitor in the coming years. 7. Layer 2 Scaling Solutions: Unleashing Ethereum's Potential Ethereum, the backbone of decentralized applications, is on the cusp of a major scalability overhaul with the full deployment of Ethereum 2.0. Layer 2 scaling solutions like Optimistic Rollups and zk-Rollups are poised to take center stage, addressing the long-standing issues of congestion and high transaction costs. By improving scalability and enhancing user experiences, these groundbreaking solutions aim to overcome the limitations that have hindered broader blockchain adoption, propelling the Ethereum ecosystem into a new era of efficiency and usability. 8. AI Integration with Blockchain: Pioneering the Era of Intelligent Decentralization The convergence of AI and blockchain technology promises to revolutionize the Web 3 user experience. AI's integration into blockchain networks is enabling the creation of vast metaverses and driving significant advancements within the sector. Notably, AI-related tokens have exhibited robust performance, indicating growing public interest and technological advancements in the realm of artificial intelligence. The fusion of AI and blockchain holds tremendous potential for shaping the future of decentralized applications and transforming various industries. 9. Regulatory Developments: Toward a Balanced Framework After a year marked by conflicts between crypto companies and regulatory agencies such as the SEC and CFTC, 2024 is expected to bring greater dialogue and progress on the regulatory front. While a comprehensive regulatory regime may not be fully established before 2025, stakeholders anticipate significant headway in creating a balanced framework that fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection and market integrity. Collaborative efforts between industry participants and regulators are crucial to navigating this evolving landscape responsibly. 10. Speculation on Crypto ETFs: Ethereum's Turn in the Spotlight Following the approval of Bitcoin ETFs, all eyes are now on the prospects of Ethereum's cryptocurrency, ether, securing its own exchange-traded fund (ETF). The price of ether experienced a surge as the market anticipated the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) potentially approving ETH ETFs. Decisions regarding spot ETH ETF applications are expected to be announced starting in May 2024. While some industry participants and analysts are optimistic about the approval of ETH ETFs, citing a 70% chance of approval by May, others maintain a more cautious stance, suggesting that the SEC may not greenlight spot Ethereum ETFs in the near future. The outcome of these deliberations will undoubtedly have substantial implications for the crypto industry and the broader financial market. As we embark on the journey into 2024, there is a metamorphic period that awaits for the crypto domain, brimming with transformative trends that will define its subsequent destiny. With the Bitcoin halving on the horizon, the rise of NFTs, and tokenized finance, this year holds the promise of upheaval and will witness a surge of innovation and disruption, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology. P.S. Check out my previous articles on AI at HackerNoon: Top 10 AI Trends of 2024: How AI Transforms Everything How to Build Your Personal GPTs: From Zero to AI Hero GPT-4 Turbo: The Most Monumental Update Since ChatGPT's Debut! Essential Insights from 'State of AI 2023' GPT-4V Unveiled: From Detecting Emotions to Ordering Food - You Won't Believe What Else It Can Do! ChatGPT Now Speaks, Listens, and Understands: All You Need to Know Fine-Tuning for GPT-3.5 Turbo: AI Game Changer The Rise of AI-Generated Films: Lights, Camera, Algorithm! NFT Marketing Guide - The Most Complete and Detailed Playbook 2023

Crypto's Next Chapter: 2024's Game-Changing Predictions

The tokenization of tangible assets, otherwise known as is one of the most promising trends in blockchain technology. The key reason why it is so is that it has the potential to unlock the future of finance. real-world assets(RWA), According to a popular analytics platform, the tokenized asset industry has reached a market capitalization of $700 million. RWA.xyz, From the US tokenizing its short-term treasuries and bank deposits to Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Funds signing a partnership agreement with Agile Dynamics Tech, the vast potential of blockchain technology to redefine global investment opportunities is indubitably present. In this article, we explore how the tokenization of real-world assets can usher in foreign direct investment(FDI). In the last two years, RWA has gone from a front-page newspaper story to a much bigger investment vehicle with RWA-focused companies like Stobox, Tokeny, Agile Dynamics Tech, etc, pushing its boundaries.  The growing popularity of RWA in the world of finance therefore underscores the importance of leveraging blockchain for economic growth. RWA: A Game Changer While some forward-looking nations are exploring the economic potential of the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), others might just be sleeping on a viable opportunity to allure and expedite foreign investments. But as the competition for foreign capital increases, real-world tokenization is bound to open up access to foreign direct investments, thereby accelerating economic growth and creating job opportunities. As it stands, not only is RWA tokenization attracting so much attention in the US Treasuries department, but it is also beginning to dominate the conversation in Africa’s largest economy, highlighting the growing importance of leveraging blockchain technology in the world. With Nigeria, a country known for its abundant natural resources, signing a Letter of Intent(LOI)a partnership agreement with Agile Dynamics Tech, a Dubai-based Web3 consulting firm, it is evident that the West African country is bound and determined to make headway in attracting foreign capital through the tokenization of tangible assets. This partnership agreement was signed at the Future Minerals Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Nigeria was represented by the CEO of Solid Minerals Development Funds, Fatima Umaru Shinkafi. Understanding The Importance of Real World Asset(RWA) Tokenization At its core, real-world asset tokenization represents an investment vehicle backed by blockchain technology. It can be anything from real estate to gold deposits to tokenized bonds, and its fundamental criterion is that it must exist in physical form to be fractionalised, traded and stored on the blockchain. The following are some of the benefits accruing from the tokenization of tangible assets that exist in the physical world: Fractionalized Ownership Tokenization makes tangible assets more accessible. Through this means, fractional ownership of tokenized assets has become an avenue for investors to invest in a spectrum of assets and different industries as well as countries. Secure Ownership of Digital Assets Blockchain is the underlying technology of digital assets offering transparency and security. This enables investors to rely on the protection that its immutable ledger guarantees. Enhanced Liquidity The availability of liquidity and the ease of converting tangible assets makes tokenization all the more attractive, as the mechanism for liquidating or swiftly exchanging them exists on the blockchain. Cross-Border Accessibility One of the advantages of RWA tokenization is that it transcends borders. This tears down barriers to investing in other countries and it facilitates foreign direct investment(FDI)with unhindered access to foreign capital across the world. Regulation And Compliance As investors are particular about the safety of their holdings, RWA tokenization is often carried out in a manner that is consistent with the laws and directives of local agencies. Across the world, a growing number of crypto regulatory agencies like the FCA(Financial Conduct Authority), SEC, etc are charged with the mandate to protect investors against financial irresponsibility and recklessness. Foreign Market The growing presence of RWA tokenization is enabling investors across the world to have access to untapped markets, or emerging markets if you like. There are boundless economic opportunities that this facilitates. An example could be a US citizen securing investment opportunities in Nigeria’s tin industry by buying tokenized fractions of its assets. Lower Transaction Cost Investing in tokenized assets usually attracts a small amount of transaction fee, otherwise known as a gas fee. This effective mechanism removes third-party tendencies and enables investors to save on such expenses. Portfolio Diversification With access to fractionalised assets, investors across the globe are offered a unique opportunity to diversify their holdings across a spectrum of assets and in different parts of the world. Risk Management When you combine blockchain technology as an immutable ledger and treasury management with regulation, you will have a perfect recipe for efficient risk management. Tokenisation of RWA therefore encourages a routine check on the financial standing of digital assets companies and their scrutiny by regulating authorities worldwide. Conclusion There has always been a bullish outlook on the tokenization of real world-assets(RWA) with many observers touting it to be the next big thing in the world of finance. After all, countries like the US and Nigeria are making a little headway in attracting foreign capital through this means.  RWA tokenization offers a lot of investment opportunities for investors across the globe, and it opens up access to foreign direct investment(FDI), which can propel economic growth. My previous highlighted Nigeria’s growing interest in the tokenization of real-world assets(RWA). At the recently held Future Minerals Forum, the country was represented by Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, CEO of the Solid Minerals Development Funds, and a partnership agreement was signed between Nigeria and Agile Dynamics Tech, a Dubai-based Web3 consulting agency. write-up This article(Beyond The Stock Market: The Link Between Real World Assets And Foreign Direct Investment)was authored by Paul Lalovich partner at Agile Dynamics Tech. I hereby disclose that I was duly granted permission to edit and publish it on HackerNoon as an addition to the body of work on RWA.

Beyond The Stock Market: The Link Between Real World Assets And Foreign Direct Investment

Barely a month ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a that ended a two-year crackdown on cryptocurrency within the country’s banking sector, raising the hopes and aspirations of its vibrant crypto community. circular For two years, the repressive CBN ban on cryptocurrencies and digital assets shut the doors in the face of potential investors and robbed the West African country of millions of dollars in web3 funding. While the CBN ban lasted, the rest of the world, however, acknowledged how Nigeria still maintained its position in the crypto race, setting a record as one of the world’s biggest destinations for crypto investments, especially as the biggest crypto market in Africa. In 2023, ranked Nigeria as the 7th country with the highest number of crypto holders in the world boasting a large trading database. In other words, a little over 22 million people own cryptocurrencies in the country. Binance The effects of the prolonged ban sapped the enthusiasm of crypto investors who were eyeing the Nigeria booming market, and it was in the heat of the moment that some of its homegrown crypto companies like Patricia left the country, while other less known companies went out of business altogether. Now that the ominous ban on cryptocurrency has been lifted by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), how is Nigeria making headway in turning its losses to gains and repositioning itself for the next crypto bull run? A New Era Beckons The new CBN circular that ended the two-year ban reversed the prohibition that was placed on the country’s Money Deposit Banks(DMBs). Prior to the ban in 2021, local DMBs were directly involved in the crypto services by serving as the payment gateway for crypto traders on various exchanges. The latest CBN circular, however, now allows them to deal directly with Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASP) in a manner that is consistent with due diligence and crypto compliance. As a result of this, web3 companies like Agile Dynamics, Blockstation, and FireBlocks have entered the Nigerian market, with a considerable interest and investment in the tokenization of Real World Assets(RWA) in the country. Tokenization of Real World Asset(RWA): Nigeria’s Biggest Web3 Opportunity Dubai-based web3 consulting company Agile Dynamics Tech recently announced the signing of Letter of Intent (LOIs) and partnership agreements with Nigeria and two other African countries, signaling its interest in entering the country’s emerging crypto market. "These agreements represent a significant step forward in our mission to foster meaningful change through technology and strategic partnerships," said Paul Lalovich, cofounder of Agile Dynamics tech. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Nigeria, South Sudan, and Mali in leveraging digital solutions to drive economic development and strengthen their positions in the global market." “The signed LOIs and partnership agreements exemplify Agile Dynamics tech's commitment to promoting technological innovation and progress in the mining and minerals sector across diverse international landscapes. By facilitating the tokenization of Real World Assets and securing Direct Foreign Investments, the company aims to catalyze sustainable growth and prosperity in these regions”. Nigeria’s SEC Says YES to Innovation Since the CBN ban was lifted in December 2023, Nigeria’s crypto community has come to terms with the fact that cryptocurrencies are no longer banned in the country, and the government is willing to use this medium to usher in technological innovation and economic growth. In a groundbreaking move, Nigeria's Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC Nigeria) authorized the National Association of Securities Dealers(NASD plc) to launch the Digital Securities Platform (N-DSP), an electronic platform where cryptocurrencies and other digital assets can be listed and offered to the investing public. When it is launched, the Digital Securities Platform (N-DSP) is going to be the first Over-The-Counter Service (OTC) for cryptocurrencies and digital assets in the country and the first crypto-based digital platform to be regulated by the Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC)in a compliant fashion. Eguarekhide Longe, the Managing Director of the NSDP, in his words, stated that : “Our objective is to empower millions of young crypto investors with access to promising digital assets, ensuring they can confidently purchase in a completely compliant and secure investment environment”. Furthermore, the innovative spirit of Nigeria’s NASD can be seen in its partnership with Blockstation, a leading blockchain development company. This partnership underscores the vision to make Nigeria a leading web3 hub in the world. It also goes to show that blockchain technology can play a vital role in boosting the country’s GDP. Commenting on the recent SEC approval, Blockstation founder and CEO Jai Waterman stated that: “The integration of cutting-edge technology to address the needs of, and captivate the substantially large youthful population, is set to unlock previously untapped markets. We are confident that this platform will play a pivotal role in propelling Nigeria into a new era of economic growth”. Conclusion The 2021 CBN ban on crypto transactions was reversed on the 22nd of December, 2023, through a circular allowing Virtual Assets Service Providers(VASP)to operate in the country. The ban, which lasted for two years, created a roadblock to potential crypto investments and lowered the bar of web3 innovation. However, the new policy is touted to be a game-changer as Nigeria continues to attract foreign investment and as it continues to show its commitment to web3 innovation.

Crypto Crackdown Ends: Nigeria's New Policy Unlocks Web3 Innovation

Feedback is a crucial part of growth. If you don’t know how you’re doing, it’s impossible to take corrective actions and improve. Many leaders fail at this. They either do not explicitly seek feedback or the way they ask for it only boosts their ego by getting feel-good praise about what they’re doing well without surfacing the actual areas where they’re falling short. There are lurking gaps in how leaders view their actions and how others perceive them leading to inadvertent blind spots. Without getting the criticism they need, they keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Not taking the time to reconcile reality perpetuates disconnect and dissonance. As a leader, making your employees comfortable to criticize you isn’t easy. Don’t expect them to walk over to you and give you the feedback unless you take the first few steps in seeking it. Done right, feedback can be a great tool to get rid of behaviors that are damaging to yourself and the success of your organization and its people. The real leverage is creating pull. Creating pull is about mastering the skills required to drive our own learning; it’s about how to recognize and manage our resistance, how to engage in feedback conversations with confidence and curiosity, and even when the feedback seems wrong, how to find insight that might help us grow. — Douglas Stone To get clear and actionable feedback, follow these practices: Setup expectations and clarify intent The biggest mistake all leaders make when getting feedback is this: they do not openly acknowledge their imperfections and flaws. Many employees have this false image of a leader—someone who does all the right things, says all the right things and has all the answers. This makes it hard for them to digest that leaders aren’t perfect—they also have room for improvement just like others. People aren’t able to muster up the courage to speak the truth because of this cognitive dissonance—their mind portrays the perfect image of the leader which conflicts with their experience. To enable your people to speak freely, first break this misconception. To do this: Whenever you make a mistake, acknowledge it openly. When you don’t know something, don’t pretend. Show curiosity to understand. Don’t hold feedback. Give it as you see it. Showing vulnerability resets their expectations. Now when you ask for feedback, they won’t be taken aback. They won’t be surprised and shocked at the same time that you as a leader need their feedback. But sometimes, setting expectations isn't enough. They need to hear you say it. Stating your intent before asking for feedback is a powerful way to encourage them to say things as you need to hear them. Even with the best intentions at heart, I don’t always make the right decisions, do the right thing or act in a way that’s in the best interest of my organization and its people. I understand and acknowledge it. But I also know that with the right feedback, I can do better. I am hoping you’ll help me on this journey with transparency and honesty. Start like this: Ask open ended questions You got started on the right note, but that does not guarantee you’ll get the feedback you need. How you frame the question also determines what response you get. Most people will avoid giving feedback. It’s uncomfortable to criticize others and it’s natural to avoid discomfort as much as possible. When you ask a question that elicits a yes or no response—“Do you have any feedback for me?”—the most common response is “No, You’re doing great.” It’s also hard to answer such questions. They may not know where to start or what to say. Instead of keeping quiet, it feels safer to say no. To get actionable feedback, ask a question that cannot be answered with a yes or no response—a specific question that makes them think in a certain direction without feeling lost. For example: What one thing can I do to communicate better? What one thing should I stop doing in meetings to make them more effective? What one thing can I do to be more supportive? What one thing can I do to encourage more ideas from the team? What one thing should I stop doing that impacts your productivity? Open-ended questions like these are a great way to prompt them to think. They get a chance to express their thoughts and concerns, which makes them feel valued and supported. You get an opportunity to take corrective action. A true win-win. To seek truth requires one to ask the right questions. Those void of truth never ask about anything because their ego and arrogance prevent them from doing so. Therefore, they will always remain ignorant. Those on the right path to Truth are extremely heart-driven and childlike in their quest, always asking questions, always wanting to understand and know everything — and are not afraid to admit they don't know something. However, every truth seeker does need to breakdown their ego first to see Truth. If the mind is in the way, the heart won't see anything. — Suzy Kassem Be comfortable with discomfort Seeking criticism is uncomfortable, and if you’re nervous about it, it will show up in your voice and your body language. Now, think about the person at the other end of the table. If you’re so nervous about getting this feedback, how nervous might they be in giving it? Learn to embrace discomfort. Be calm and composed to make the feedback giver feel at ease, too. And don’t forget this most important thing: once you ask the question, don’t fill silence with words. It’s tempting to keep speaking assuming it will make the conversation easier, but the more words you stuff into the question, the harder it gets to comprehend and respond back. Give them a few seconds to think through your question. Embrace the uncomfortable silence. Count to 10 in your head if you find it really hard to do at first. Most people, in these few seconds, will find something useful to share. Others may need more time. Don’t pressure them to respond instantly. Request them to think through your question and share inputs later. Here’s what you can say: I might have put you on the spot with this question. I understand if you need more time to give me feedback. I’d appreciate it if you could think through this question and help me with useful input next time. I am trying to do better as a leader, and every feedback counts. Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing. — William S. Burroughs To become comfortable with discomfort, follow these practices: Step out of your comfort zone regularly. Challenge yourself to engage in activities that are hard to do at first. Explore new experiences than you’re used to. Challenge the status quo and take calculated risks. Be ok with the awkwardness when you try something new. Embrace the emotions you feel when doing something difficult and reframe them in a positive light. Continuously stepping out of your comfort zone will make such conversations easier. When your mind and body are tuned to consider discomfort as an essential part of growth, seeking criticism won’t feel so unnatural. Demonstrate it in your actions Asking for feedback from your team is definitely a positive step. It demonstrates that you’re invested in learning and growing as a leader. However, what you do with that feedback matters as much. If you keep collecting feedback but never act on it, or your team sees no change in your behaviors and actions, they will assume that their suggestions don’t matter much. They’ll stop sharing feedback proactively, and even when you ask for it, they won’t see a point in sharing it. If you want to make sure that receiving feedback is not a one-time affair, follow up and close the loop on their feedback. To do this: Tell them what you plan to do with their suggestions or concerns. When you act on their feedback, share your progress irrespective of the outcome. If the feedback involves changing your behavior, keep seeking feedback on how you’re doing—are you staying the same, getting worse or making progress and becoming better? If their suggestion or concern can’t be addressed, don’t go mum. Setup the right expectations and clarify why you chose to keep it this way. Habit changes don’t happen overnight. However, holding yourself accountable to put in the effort and seeking continuous feedback can help you stay on track. The only thing worse than not requesting feedback is not acting on it. — Frank Sonnenberg Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Leaders aren’t born, they are made." Leaders who bury their heads in the sand by avoiding difficult feedback stay ignorant of the harmful effects their behaviors and actions have on people. Those who embrace it take their teams to great heights. If you’re a leader, ignoring your ignorance is not an option. Be courageous. Face your fears. Get the feedback you need. Summary Getting actionable feedback from your employees is important to lead. The only way to know what your employees feel about you is to go and ask for it. Getting honest feedback is difficult as a leader. Unless you explicitly ask for it, you’re most likely going to get none. Don’t create the faulty image of a perfect leader without flaws. Set real expectations that you are learning and growing much like everyone else. Frame your questions in a way that makes it easy for the feedback giver to share useful inputs. Practice stepping out of your comfort zone regularly. It will make your feedback conversations less scary. Most importantly, don’t seek feedback if you’re not willing to put it into action. Follow me here or on . This article was previously published . LinkedIn here

Why Leaders Fail to Get the Actionable Feedback They Need to Grow

Let's learn about via these 31 free stories. They are ordered by most time reading created on HackerNoon. Visit the to find the most read stories about any technology. Spotify /Learn Repo 1. Write Code to Build Your Own Playlist and Throw Away Spotify You don't need a whole music cloud service to get music recommendations 2. What is Spotify And How Does It Work? Are you a person who likes to play different music based on various events or simply your mood? If yes, then Spotify is there to bring the best soundtracks in your life. 3. What Apple And Spotify Know About Me Unsurprisingly, the data that our apps have collected about us is both impressive and concerning, though it can be very interesting to review and explore it. 4. 🎉 Introducing Spottr - Your Spotify Stats Year-Round Spottr is a PWA built to view your Spotify listening stats year-round. 5. Improving Focus and Productivity Using the Pomodoro Technique Have you ever gotten to the end of your day and while you've completed tasks, you don't feel you accomplished what you set out to do? Are you're working hard at a list of tasks that you're trying to finish but you're not able to give 100%? Do you have no idea where time has gone and you have nothing to showcase your work? Do you procrastinate? Do you lose time in your day scrolling social media feeds, your inbox or YouTube? There may be a solution that could help you. The Pomodoro Technique and it could transform your life. 6. Spotify Audio Features Time Series in Additive Spotify Analyzer There are many articles on analyzing Spotify data and many applications as well. Some are a one-time analysis on individual's music library and some are an app for a specific purpose. This app is different in that it does not do one thing. It is meant to grow and provide a place to add more analysis. This article is about how the audio features time series was created. 7. Why Spotify Migrated From Its Homegrown Orchestration Tool (Helios) to Kubernetes? Kubernetes optimizes audio streaming on Spotify. There's a story behind why it migrated from innate Helios to Kubernetes for container orchestration. Read on. 8. Why Streaming Has Not Conquered the World Read this post to understand how the trials of Netflix and Spotify have underlined a reality about the fragility of the streaming industry. 9. Visualizing The Data: Spotify Data for Favorite Artists Over Time How do your favorite artists change over time? This is the story of how I visualized my favorite artists from Spotify in a Plotly chart using Python. 10. TODAY: Spotify 💚 Social · Y FB 💸 $400M on Giphy · Uber & Ryanair Cut Jobs I read the news so you don't have to: Spotify has launched a co-listening product stream so that you can listen to the same song with anyone, anywhere, in-sync; big surprise: Facebook bought Giphy for the data; both Europe's budget airline Ryanair and Uber are laying off a bunch of people; and France and Germany are pushing for a $545bn coronavirus relief fund. 11. How we built an A.I Radio Presenter "Radio, we still love you." 12. The Freemium Model's Reciprocation Effect Spotify is a music app, Adobe provides apps for creatives to draw and design, Fortnite is a game. These three products are completely different when it comes to what service they provide. But they all have same revenue model: a  subscription model. To be precise: The Freemium Subscription Model. 13. How I Got a Job at Spotify via my GitHub Profile How my GitHub profile got me a job at Spotify. It doesn't have to be a good profile, but having one can be a difference-maker. 14. Why Spotify’s “Wrapped“ Feature is the Growth Hack of this Decade By Nikolas Vogt
Founder, Growth Academy | Ex-Growth Lead, Google Assistant | Guest speaker, Santa Clara University 15. Streaming Revenue Growth Slowed by 19.1% Year-Over-Year in 2019 What Do the Music Industry and Netflix Have in Common? The Slowing Streaming Growth 16. Web3 and Metaverse are Overcomplicating the Music Industry Web3 is overcomplicating solutions in the entertainment industry by trying to shoehorn crypto and NFTs into everything and I don’t think it’s necessary. 17. On the Decentralization of Spotify and Similar Platforms Music streaming services should embrace Blockchain Technology and leverage their accumulated knowledge to launch new types of marketplaces. 18. How to Choose the Right Type of MVP for Your Startup Idea MVPs can come in a thousand shapes and forms. So, in this article, we will focus on the most popular ones. 19. The Only 15 Apps I Downloaded and Keep on My MacBook 👨‍💻 Today we'll be looking at my personal top 15 Mac apps. I'm actually quite a minimalist in installing and keeping apps, so these 15 are the only "extra" apps I'm using on my device. 20. Spotify's VP of Marketing Explains How To Get Your Music on Discover Weekly Adam Gonzalez’s experience in the music industry comes from his early days of opening shows for artists like Drake, Trey Songz, YG, Tyga, and various others. 21. Spotify Hits Windows Software That Downloads Tracks & Removes DRM A law firm acting for Spotify has taken down a piece of Windows software that allows users to download and remove DRM from music tracks while skipping ads. XSpotify, which also carries an ad-blocking feature, is described as a tool that "steals" Spotify encryption keys in contravention of the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA. 22. How AI Helps DJs, Artists Work with Sound (Beyond Spotify Algos) Machines now possess basic human skills: speak, write, see. Logically, the next evolving step is the process of creation. 23. These People Bought and Scammed Their Way to Get Instagram Verification Checkmarks A ProPublica investigation determined that Jugenburg’s dubious alter ego was created as part of what appears to be an Instagram account verification scam. 24. 6 Ways Spotify Devalues Music All Is Not Well In Music-Land 25. Top 10 Music Streaming Apps to Explore in 2020 The music streaming world has experienced a drastic shift in recent years. Due to advancements in technology, the way of leveraging the music service has changed drastically. People these days prefer to opt for the best ways of helping them to enjoy their favorite songs utterly free of cost. This has helped the curb to cater to their needs and proved to be beneficial for artists helping them to earn more for their work. 26. Spotify’s Joe Rogan Problem isn’t Going Away This slogging thread discusses Joe Rogan's case and misinformation online, particularly through Spotify. 27. When AI Algorithms Recommend Other Algorithms What do AI algorithms know of each other? And how ethical is it for them to recommend each other? Including a Hilarious RAP courtesy of ChatGPT 28. GTFO of Your Spotify Echo Chamber: Best New Artists From Eurosonic 2020 Exactly one week ago today, I boarded a train heading North from Amsterdam to a town called Groningen, to attend the Eurosonic Music Festival (ESNS). 29. Spotify's Backdoor: How Podcasts Could be the Platform's Downfall The podcast market has been more consumed than ever, and the unpreparedness of music platforms, may lead to piracy within them 30. Building the Klio Infrastructure to Support Audio Research at Spotify We just open-sourced Klio — our framework for building smarter data pipelines for audio and other media processing. 31. Creating a Spotify Like Music Streaming App, Service or Website That Actually Boost Your Revenue Build your own music streaming app/website like Spotify with complete headway technologies, features, and monetization models to maximize your revenue. Thank you for checking out the 31 most read stories about Spotify on HackerNoon. to find the most read stories about any technology. Visit the /Learn Repo

31 Stories To Learn About Spotify

QUARTZ FIBERS

Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889, by Various, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TESTS ON THE NEW YORK ELEVATED RAILROAD. here THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TESTS ON THE NEW YORK ELEVATED RAILROAD. The American Institute of Electrical Engineers at its last meeting of the season, held June 25, again considered the subject of electrical traction, the paper presented by Mr. Leo Daft being based upon some recent electrical work on the elevated railroads and its bearing on the rapid transit problem. The gives the following abstract: Railroad Gazette He introduced the subject with a tribute to the efficiency of the elevated railroad system as it is now operated by steam, with special reference to that section of it known as the Ninth Avenue line, upon which his experiments with the electric motor have been conducted, over which passengers are now conveyed a distance of five miles in 26 minutes for five cents, which he considered the best and cheapest municipal rapid transit in the world, and which is operated with a higher degree of safety than any other railroad in the world making an equal number of stops per 100 miles. On a recent holiday, April 30 last, 835,720 passengers were carried upon the entire system without noticeable detention or accident. The rapidly increasing traffic makes the demand for better facilities a pressing one, and as the average half million now carried daily will soon become a million, it appears doubtful if any method can be devised of providing for the growth by the use of steam motors on the present structures, which are now taxed to their utmost. To the mind of the mechanical engineer, having in view the ordinary coefficients of tractive ability, there is no remedy for this. The speaker stated that these coefficients were not entirely trustworthy. He reiterated his previously expressed opinion, based on frequent experiments, that there is a decided increase in traction gained by the passage of the electric current from the wheels to the rails, giving the details of one test where a motor with a load making a total of 600 lb. climbed a gradient of 2,900 ft. per mile, starting from a state of rest. He stated that some of those people who had ridiculed his statements had finally admitted that they were true. The motor Ben Franklin, which had been used in making these tests on the elevated roads, weighed 10 tons, and performed service nearly equal to the steam motors weighing 18 tons. The object of these tests was the determination of coal economy. Tests with a Prony brake showed that the motor developed 128 H.P. The piece of track on which the experiments were conducted embraced 2,200 ft. of level track and 1-8/10 miles of gradients, varying from 11-3/10 to 98-7/10 ft. per mile, while at Thirtieth street the station is at the foot of the steepest grade, thus testing to the utmost the tractive capacity of the motor. The experiments were begun in October, 1888, and carried on between the hours of 9 P.M. and 4 A.M., beginning with one or two cars, the load being increased nightly until it was finally made up of eight coaches of 12 tons each, which were hauled up the 98 ft. grade at a speed of 7½ miles per hour, the entire distance being covered at the rate of 14-6/10 miles per hour. The maximum speed obtained on level with that train was 16.36 miles per hour. Seventy trips were subsequently made with a 70 ton train operated between the steam trains under 3 minutes headway, but the work was considered too critical on account of the absence of suitable brakes. A number of experiments made about this time showed that the mean speed with a three-car train running express on the up-town track was about 24 miles per hour, although the ability of the motor on a level with a similar train was nearly 28 miles per hour. This, however, was not the maximum speed, as the level track was not long enough to permit of its attaining the highest rate. It was the opinion of the speaker, however, that the speed attained could not be exceeded with prudence on the elevated structure. The measurements of speed were made by dividing the track into 19 sections of 500 ft., each section being provided with a circuit-closing plate connected with a chronograph which was carefully tested. The indicator cards were taken at the central station by Mr. Idell and his assistants, and the dynamometer used was of the liquid type made by Mr. Shaw, of Philadelphia. The diagrams prepared from the data obtained were then explained by the speaker, who stated that there was not a marked difference between the 10 ton motor and the 18 ton locomotive in the initial effort on the level, as will be seen by comparing a run observed by a railroad officer on March 9 with a steam motor and a load of about 57½ tons. The steam motor required 1 min. and 29 sec. to make the distance from 14th to 23d streets, while the electric motor with a train of 70 tons made the same trip in 1 min. and 50 sec.; the absence of power brakes compelled the current to be taken off at 19th street, while it was probable that the throttle of the steam locomotive was not closed until it reached 23d street, this being the usual practice. The data obtained in these experiments shows that 29,940 h.p. is required to operate the Ninth avenue railroad for the 16 hours' service, or an average of 1,871 h.p. per hour, or 2,181 h.p., adding station friction. The varying requirements of the traffic during the day shows that the service could be advantageously divided up between four stationary engines of 800 h.p. each, there being but five hours of the day when all of them would be required. The fuel consumption per day, allowing 22 lb. of coal per h.p. per hour at $2.25 per ton, would make a total of $92.25 per diem for fuel, the coal being a mixture deliverable at the dock for about $1.80 per ton. The weight of coal used for the present locomotives is about the same, viz., 40 tons per day, but practice has shown it to be most economical to use coal of the best quality, costing $5 per ton, making the cost of fuel about double that required for the electric system. Without entering into other economies which the speaker claimed were in favor of electricity, and ignoring the plan suggested by Sir William Siemens of braking the train by converting the motor into a dynamo and thus utilizing the energy of momentum, he believed that the economy in fuel alone was sufficient to prove that the application of power by electricity was preferable to direct steam propulsion for the elevated railroad service. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Various (2004). Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/16972/pg16972-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TESTS ON THE NEW YORK ELEVATED RAILROAD

88 Stories To Learn About Music

I was sipping my coffee this morning when an email notification popped up. It was from an old friend, Mitja Goroshevsky. The last time we sat down, he shared grand visions of a future while debating the fiasco of Tornado Cash, Solana, and Julian Assange’s cat. Today was a little more serious than that, though; GOSH has another game-changer in the works: becoming the world’s first ‘Freemium’ L2 solution. blockchain In other words, they now offer an Ethereum Layer 2 alternative (much like Matic or Optimism), but the gas for your smart contracts is free. You heard me, free. Set fire to the beacons, fellas; the watercoolers of the are abuzz. metaverse digital community Now, before you roll your eyes at yet another blockchain headline, hear me out. This isn't your typical Ethereum product launch news. GOSH is crafting an Ethereum Layer 2 that's different. Why? Well, for starters, GOSH isn’t actually primarily an L2 solution. It’s a decentralized, fully on-chain, and open-source version of Github, or ‘Git On Chain DAO Platform’ if you prefer. And while I’m not a developer or even much of a techie, even I can tell the potential implications and uses for this are huge. But, back to Mitja. He, confidently as ever, stated, “Any on GOSH can transform into Ethereum Layer 2 with just a click." Simplified, perhaps overly so, but the essence of it was groundbreaking. In a world cluttered with promises of decentralization, GOSH seems to be one of the few making headway. DAO Now, in our previous interviews, Mitja had hinted at some big partnerships. Today’s email confirmed those suspicions. Twelve of them, in fact, from GBA to Viete. Not just names but innovators. They're not just jumping on a bandwagon; they're actively building the road ahead. And the folks I've spoken to are buzzing. Gerard Daché of GBA sees GOSH as a torchbearer in the blockchain realm. And Joshua Bate, the mind behind DeSciWorld, views GOSH as a pivotal force in decentralized science. But it's not all praise and no critique. Like any early-stage venture, GOSH has its skeptics. Some see it as the next big thing, while others are hedging their bets. Time will tell. So, if your interest is piqued, and you're willing to navigate the cutting edge of blockchain tech, drop by . Peer into this world with a healthy dose of skepticism and curiosity. gosh.sh For those keen on getting an insider perspective (and perhaps a story or two about Mitja's coffee preferences), you might want to ping Luca at . Luca@gosh.sh To the untrained ear, GOSH stands for Git Open Source Hodler. But to those in the know, it’s a beacon in the expansive sea of blockchain.

GOSH!: Another Fancy Crypto Toy, or a Revolution?

United States Of America. v. Microsoft Corporation Court Filing by Thomas Penfield Jackson, November 5, 1999 is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This is part 52 of 58. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here In late 1995 and early 1996, Navigator seemed well on its way to becoming the standard software for browsing the Web. Within three years, however, Microsoft had successfully denied Navigator that status, and had thereby forestalled a serious potential threat to the applications barrier to entry. Indeed, Microsoft’s Kumar Mehta felt comfortable expressing to Brad Chase in February 1998 his “PERSONAL opinion” that “the browser battle is close to over.” Mehta continued: “We set out on this mission 2 years ago to not let netscape dictate standards and control the browser api’s [sic]. All evidence today says they don’t.” The population of browser users is expanding so quickly that Navigator’s installed base has grown even as its usage share has fallen. In fact, AOL credited an estimate stating that Navigator’s installed base in the United States alone grew from fifteen million in 1996 to thirtythree million in December 1998. By all indications, Navigator’s installed base will continue to grow. This does not mean, however, that Navigator is — or will be — an attractive enough platform for the development of network-centric applications to weaken the applications barrier to entry. As discussed above, the APIs that Navigator exposes could only attract enough developer attention to threaten the applications barrier to entry if Navigator became — or appeared destined to become — the standard software used to browse the Web. Navigator’s installed base may continue to grow, but Internet Explorer’s installed base is now larger and growing faster. Consequently, the APIs that Navigator exposes will not attract enough developer attention to spawn a body of cross-platform, network-centric applications large enough to dismantle the applications barrier to entry. Not only did Microsoft prevent Navigator from undermining the applications barrier to entry, it inflicted considerable harm on Netscape’s business in the process. By ensuring that the firms comprising the channels that lead most efficiently to browser usage distributed and promoted Internet Explorer to the virtual exclusion of Navigator, Microsoft relegated Netscape to more costly and less effective methods of distributing and promoting its browsing software. After Microsoft started licensing Internet Explorer at no charge, not only to OEMs and consumers, but also to IAPs, ISVs, ICPs, and even Apple, Netscape was forced to follow suit. Despite the fact that it did not charge for Internet Explorer, Microsoft could still defray the massive costs it was undertaking to maximize usage share with the vast profits earned licensing Windows. Because Netscape did not have that luxury, it could ill afford the dramatic drop in revenues from Navigator, much less to pay for the inefficient modes of distribution to which Microsoft had consigned it. The financial constraints also deterred Netscape from undertaking technical innovations that it might otherwise have implemented in Navigator. Microsoft was not altogether surprised, then, when it learned in November 1998 that Netscape had surrendered itself to acquisition by another company. Were AOL ever to attempt to revive Navigator’s usage share with the intention of building it into a significant platform for the development of network-centric applications, that effort would not make any headway before January 1, 2001, when AOL’s obligation to distribute Internet Explorer on a preferential basis expires. In fact, there is presently no indication that AOL will try even after that date to raise Navigator’s usage share substantially. First of all, as explained above, AOL need not revive Navigator’s usage share in order to achieve an adequate return on its investment in Netscape. Secondly, while the due-diligence summary and board-ofdirectors presentation that preceded the Netscape acquisition discuss AOL’s commitment to invest marketing resources in an effort to stem the slide in Navigator’s share, neither report indicates any intention on AOL’s part to invest in actually raising Navigator’s share. Also detracting from the notion that AOL is committed to reviving the middleware threat through Navigator is the fact that AOL included in the November 1998 agreement with Sun a provision making clear that the new partnership with Sun in no way obligated AOL to drop Internet Explorer from its client software in favor of Navigator. The provision states that “AOL has no present intention to make any such replacement or use and shall have no obligation to make any such replacement or use, and that it is AOL’s present expectation that it . . . may seek to renew and/or extend and expand its present agreement with Microsoft Corporation to continue to distribute Internet Explorer.” Bill Gates himself, who is not one to underestimate threats to Microsoft’s business, apparently concluded after reviewing the November 1998 transactions that AOL would not seek to develop a platform that would compete with Microsoft’s network-centric interfaces. In December 1998, during a meeting convened to analyze the implications of the AOL/Netscape/Sun transactions, Gates declared to the assembled Microsoft executives, “AOL doesn’t have it in their genes to attack us in the platform space.” Finally, if its coveted placement in the Online Services Folder fails to entice AOL into extending its agreement with Microsoft past January 2001, Microsoft assuredly has the wherewithal to offer AOL additional inducements in exchange for yet more commitments that will preclude a resurgence of Navigator’s usage share. Even if, despite the absence of signs to that effect, AOL drops Internet Explorer and adopts Navigator with a mind to reviving Navigator’s usage share after January 1, 2001, Navigator’s transformation into a platform attractive enough to threaten the applications barrier would be a chimerical aspiration, especially considering Microsoft’s increasing influence over network-centric standards. In any event, nothing that happens after January 1, 2001 will change the fact that Microsoft has succeeded in forestalling for several years Navigator’s evolution in that direction. Although the suspicion lingers, the evidence is insufficient to find that Microsoft’s ambition is a future in which most or all of the content available on the Web would be accessible only through its own browsing software. The evidence does, however, reveal an intent to ensure that if and when full-featured, server-based applications begin appearing in large numbers on the Web, the number of them relying solely on middleware APIs (such as those exposed by Navigator) will be too few to attenuate the applications barrier to entry. At least partly because of Navigator’s substantial usage share, most developers continue to insist that their Web content be more-or-less as attractive when accessed with Navigator as it is when accessed with Internet Explorer. Navigator will retain an appreciable usage share through the end of 2000. After that point, AOL may be able and willing to prevent Internet Explorer’s share from achieving such dominance that a critical mass of developers will cease to concern themselves with ensuring that their Web content at least be accessible through non-Microsoft browsing software. So, as matters stand at present, while Microsoft has succeeded in forestalling the development of enough full-featured, cross-platform, networkcentric applications to render the applications barrier penetrable, it is not likely to drive non- Microsoft PC Web browsing software from the marketplace altogether. Continue reading . here About We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: This court case Civil Action No. 98-1232 (TPJ) retrieved on 2-13-2023, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. justice.gov

Microsoft Declared That The Browser Battle Was Close to Over: And They Were Absolutely Right

In an era when memes often dictate internet culture, Ukrainian maritime drones continue to make the rounds. Yet, these drones aren’t just fodder for online humor; their continued appearance in the Russo-Ukrainian war is showing that Russia’s navy, once dominant, has found itself outmaneuvered and pushed into retreat by a country with no navy. At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in early March 2022, the Ukrainian Navy sank their flagship frigate, the seasoned , to prevent Russian possession. Scuttling this ship left Ukraine with only a handful of riverine patrol boats and limited capability to engage Russia on the open sea. Hetman Sahaidachny Meanwhile, Russia had its full Black Sea Fleet at its disposal, including ships captured and reflagged from the Ukrainian Navy when Russia invaded and illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. As a result, Ukraine lost over 80% of its after Russia’s invasion of Crimea. naval capabilities Russia’s navy dominated the Black Sea, until now However, over the past year, Russia, boasting the world’s second-largest navy, has been forced to relocate a significant portion of its Black Sea Fleet, including all its submarines, from Sevastopol in occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk farther east on the Black Sea coast in Russia – more than 570 kilometers away from Odesa and other targets in Ukraine. Kilo-class In May 2023, a Ukrainian maritime drone struck the Russian reconnaissance vessel in the Black Sea. Initially, Moscow asserted they had successfully repelled the attack. However, by June 2023, Ukraine intensified its offensive, deploying six remote-controlled maritime drones to target the Russian intelligence vessel , approximately 300 kilometers from Sevastopol, challenging Russian naval dominance beyond Crimea. Ivan Khuprirs Priazovye Ukraine’s growing maritime abilities were once again underlined when their drones in early August. incapacitated a Russian warship and an oil tanker Following the attacks, Former United States Navy Admiral James George Stavridis , “We’re at a juncture in military evolution akin to the game-changers like Agincourt or Pearl Harbor. Expensive manned surface warships now face existential threats from affordable drones.” remarked , the secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council, pointed out that “With each new combat mission, Ukrainian combat UAVs and maritime drones become more accurate, operators more experienced, combat coordination more effective, and manufacturers get the opportunity to improve tactical and technical characteristics.” Oleksiy Danilov During this attack, the Russian oil tanker “ ,” built in 2014 with a 5,000-ton capacity, was targeted with 450 kilograms of TNT while ferrying fuel for the Russian military. This tanker was integral to fueling Russian operations in and was under US sanctions. SIG Syria The maritime drones could change the complexion of the war by forcing Russia to commit more resources to protecting its ports, warships, and cargo ships that it uses to transport weapons, fuel, and other supplies for its military. Ukraine further issued a stern , deeming six Russian Black Sea ports, Taman, Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, and Sochi in a “war risk area.” On August 5th, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said, “There are no more safe waters or peaceful harbors for you in the Black and Azov Seas.” warning Kyrylo Budanov, chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence, emphasized that domestically-produced sea drones have paralyzed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and are now being mass-produced. He that approximately 30-40% of these drones successfully strike their targets, causing Russian ships to avoid venturing north of Sevastopol due to the risk of drone attacks. noted Nearly two months into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine sank the – flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, using anti-ship missiles. While a morale boost for Ukraine, it didn’t shift the power dynamics in the Black Sea. That shift would begin as Ukraine introduced maritime drones later on. Moskva Neptune On 17 July 2023, the Crimean Bridge, a prime symbol of Putin’s imperial ambitions in the Black Sea region, in a drone assault. This marks the second such attack on this crucial bridge after Ukraine’s in October 2022, underscoring the challenges Russia faces in protecting the bridge against cheap Ukrainian drones. sustained significant damage first strike Apart from its important symbolism for Putin, the bridge is a vital resupply route for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), , highlighted that the drone used in the recent attack against the bridge is called “Sea Baby.” Maliuk proudly emphasized, “These sea drones are a groundbreaking innovation by the Security Service of Ukraine. They’re exclusively ours, with no private entities involved.” Vasyl Maliuk He also explains how these drones were recently deployed to target the Crimean bridge with a massive 850 kilograms of explosives to deliver maximum impact against the bridge’s support pillars. Additionally, the drones were utilized to strike a Russian warship, the , as well as the tanker. Olengorsky Gornyak SIG Ukraine’s Western allies have paid close attention to how Ukraine has been successfully conducting these maritime drone attacks and wants to learn from Ukraine’s experience. Despite that Western interest, Maliuk , “They do not participate in our operations or provide us with any equipment or anything else. These drones are produced at an underground production facility in the territory of Ukraine. The targets I’ve mentioned are legitimate targets according to the Ukrainian and international laws.” stated , an advisor to President Zelenskyy, also commented on the situation, asking, “What is happening in the Black Sea? are changing the rules of the game, returning the waters to full-fledged foreign jurisdiction, and ultimately destroying the value of the Russian fleet. In fact, they are returning everyone to the international law of the sea…” Mykhailo Podoliak #Drones Scrappy tech development that rewrites naval warfare playbook Ukraine’s rapid development of maritime drones, technically termed “uncrewed surface vessels” (USVs), has resulted in vessels replete with state-of-the-art features like integrated explosives and real-time cameras. These subaquatic drones are designed to broadcast riveting visuals straight to their human handlers. The Ukrainian government recently revealed the cost of a maritime drone with an economical of $250,000. For reference, the cost of each S long-range missile is $150,000, and a full launch costs $1,000,000. price tag HIMAR Yet, the drones’ capabilities don’t stop at being cost-effective. These drone marvels can blaze across the ocean at of 80 km/h and boast a remarkable travel range of over 800 km. Enhanced with infrared vision, these drones carry a formidable 350 kilogram warhead (in some cases, up to ) and can sustain operations for a whopping 60 hours. versions, armed with day-night vision cameras and explosive fuses, make for silent yet potent surface water assassins. speeds 850 kilograms Satellite-controlled , a senior engineer from the US think-tank Rand Corp, pointed out the inherent challenge in countering these drones, especially when deployed in swarms. The low profiles of small drones make them elusive targets. Multiply their presence, and the challenge to stop them only grows. Scott Savitz Such rapid advancements haven’t gone unnoticed. The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer, , has pointed out Ukraine’s effective use of technology in the war as a “wake-up call.” Bill LaPlante Former Google CEO is optimistic about Ukraine’s homegrown drone industry. Along with other investors, he has pledged $10 million to D3, a Ukrainian accelerator focusing on drones and related defense tech, as he believes that Ukraine has consistently demonstrated superior innovation against adversaries. Schmidt wrote in the Wall Street Journal that “The future of war will be dictated and waged by drones.” Eric Schmidt Ukraine is on the pathway to becoming a leader in global drone production, according to Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister . Fedorov also pointed out that “we have removed the majority of industry blockers to ease the running of a business. We help Ukrainian UAV manufacturers to receive all kinds of required approvals; we contract their developments and supply them directly to the frontline.” Mykhailo Fedorov Through the “ ” initiative, initially bolstered by President Zelensky’s fundraising drive, Ukraine has electrified its native unmanned weapons industry, also leading to the creation of unmanned maritime drones that continue to wreak havoc on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Army of Drones UNITED24 Ukraine is also making headway with uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV). The newly-revealed is an underwater drone smaller in size compared to previous generations of Ukrainian naval kamikaze drones used against Russian ships in Crimea. It can also remain in mode for up to 3 months. The drone doesn’t go deep but swims near the surface. Toloka TLK-150 standby The innovation behind this drone is being driven by , a key Ukrainian defense tech initiative, and the Toloka is set to be production-ready soon. BRAVE1, established in 2023, streamlines collaboration between the government, military, and private tech firms. This type of public-private partnership represents the scrappy tech development that Ukraine has so successfully employed in the war. This has sped up the process for tech companies to work with the military, wait times from two years to just six weeks. BRAVE1 reducing Ukraine’s scrappiness in tech development also extends to its fundraising efforts. For instance, through United24, the official fundraising platform of the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian government turned to crowdfunding to help fund the development of more drones. The online community of “NAFO ” pooled together $250,000 to purchase a drone, cheekily dubbing it “Raccoon’s Revenge” – a nod to the raccoon Russian soldiers stole during their retreat from Kherson. Fellas How naval warfare is changing Vice-Admiral , Ukraine’s navy chief, stated that after the war, Ukraine will write a textbook on naval warfare and distribute it to NATO military academies. He remarked that “The warfare of the future is a warfare of drones,” and no other country can match Ukraine’s experience with naval drones. Oleksiy Neizhpapa In August 2023, for the first time in its history, the established a specialized brigade dedicated to . Ukrainian Navy unmanned maritime drones Ukraine’s effectiveness and the scaled use of swift and nimble boats is influencing the landscape of naval warfare. However, using small boats to detonate bombs is not a new strategy. According to the , the United States tried using drone boats as far back as the 1940s. But in October 2000, Al-Qaeda suicide bombers maneuvered explosive-laden boats into the , which resulted in the deaths of 17 American sailors in Yemen’s Aden port. Economist USS Cole Yemen’s Houthi rebels also weaponized what seemed to be uncrewed vessels. In 2017, they successfully a Saudi warship by using a boat filled with explosives, killing two Saudi sailors. attacked Nations like China and Taiwan are undoubtedly monitoring the situation in Ukraine closely. Considering Ukraine’s ability to develop and deploy these drones to traverse the vast expanse of the Black Sea, has already been looking to invest in similar technology to disrupt any maritime aggression from its more powerful neighbor, the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan Cheap naval drones, being cost-effective and efficiently mass-produced, have proven their mettle against Russia, offering a hint of what might be an effective counter-strategy by Taiwan against China’s navy. Ukrainian drones’ cost-effectiveness combined with their stealthy nature — low water-level cruising and reduced noise emissions — makes them a formidable asset. Despite lacking a significant naval fleet, Ukraine’s use of these drones has been instrumental in preventing Russia from dominating the maritime battlespace and achieving naval supremacy in the Black Sea. Also published . here

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