Zenoti is a leading cloud-based, business software used by spas, salons and medi-spas

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2020 has settled in and with the New Year has come a whole new decade! Now, looking back, SaaS companies have had quite a ride in the decade that passed by. The graph’s been rising up and as per studies conducted, by 2018, around 89% of the world’s business enterprises were already using SaaS solutions. The flexibility, accessibility, cost-effectiveness and the wide range of features offered by cloud-based SaaS enterprises are luring more and more organizations as each year passes by. According to Gartner, SaaS revenue is expected to hit a whopping , and if that’s the case the new decade is going to be a spectacular one for SaaS enterprises. Yes, of course, it’s also time to leverage the possibility that 2020 has brought in. 151 billion dollars by 2022 We have done our bit of research and predicted the top 5 SaaS trends that are expected to dominate the 2020s and if you are looking forward to making the 2020s the best decade for your SaaS solutions, you might as well glance through our list. Product-led Growth – Adopting Growth Strategy Centred Around Product The start of the millennium saw SaaS companies guided by sales-led growth which was then replaced by market-led growth in the years to follow. Here’s a small picture. During SaaS 1.0 (sales-led), you would have had your potential customers interact with a salesperson, who in turn would assist them to buy the best product to meet their exact needs. Saas 2.0 concentrated on marketing campaigns to procure customers and drive growth. Well, I know of certain that both the methodologies were driven by lagging, time-consuming procedures of convincing and educating the customers. But today, customers are well aware of the features and requirements a product should have to match their needs, thanks to the internet. Most of the consumers want to self-educate. In fact, a report by Forrester, states that 75% of customers prefer to buy a product via an app or website. They don’t need a salesperson or marketing campaigns. Well, when that’s the case, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when both sales-led and market-led growth started fading away with the last decade. And that’s when product-led growth came into the picture. In the last few years, companies like Zoom and Slack have brought about quite a disruption in the industry by featuring a product-led growth. Henceforth, Saas trends have been changing. Source: Product-Led Growth Customers can now experience the product before buying them. A bottom-up sales pattern is implemented. Customers can try out the product (through free trials and plans), understand how it works, keep track of the features offered and then choose to upgrade and engage in the sales process. Well, in short, the buyer acquisition, conversion, expansion and retention are all essentially facilitated by the product to help drive cost-efficient yet exponential growth. The product-led growth dominated Saas for the last few years and judging by the impressive revenue and popularity that the business methodology’s been garnering, it is here to slay the new decade! Vertical – Specific – Transitioning From a One-stop-Solution to a Dedicated Solution A major part of the last decade exhibited SaaS companies focusing on becoming a one-stop-shop for a broad range of business functions like sales, HR, accounting etc. The horizontal approach may have addressed a wide range of areas but it did seem a bit overwhelming for a section of the clients. Source: TrustRadius Customers needed software that addressed their specific needs so that they have a dedicated solution. Well, then that led to a new Saas trend in the later part of the decade. Companies started following a vertical-driven solution where software was created to address the specific needs of the industry. Firms like Zenoti and Veeva are the finest examples of the aforementioned. They delivered solutions to address the requirements of a particular vertical. Needless to say, the approach did decently well, procuring them more upselling opportunities, improved data governance, higher retention rates and low churn rates at lower customer acquisition costs. Moreover, this penetrative approach will aid in increasing flexibility and delivering personalized experiences to the clients. So, this is our next prediction for Saas trends 2020; enterprises are going to embrace the vertical-specific approach. AI & ML – The reason for movement from a System Of Record to System Of Intelligence Artificial Intelligence has fortified human capabilities to increase efficiency and productivity. Today, you don’t need to keep a record or manually perform repetitive tasks, AI has got it covered for you. AI-optimized Saas solutions of enterprises like Salesforce has brought about tremendous improvement in speed, responsiveness, automation and even security. AI-powered chatbots, which is now widely adopted by various Saas organizations have helped take customer service a notch higher, owing to its speed and personalization capabilities. Source: Salesforce The ascent of AI has powered a massive disruption in the industry since 2017 and without a shadow of a doubt, AI is going to prevail through this decade. The decade will give rise to AI-driven Saas enterprises rather than offering AI as a feature alone. And what’s more? Studies say that AI will prove to be the silver bullet of Saas solutions that can garner a 14% higher global GDP by the end of the decade! Hybrid Cloud Adoption –  Streamlining a Secure Business Most of the last decade saw software that was client/server dominated. The application would be run by the client and the server ran the database. Then the EU’s GDPR became a part of Saas trends. But as we neared 2020 more Saas companies started rooting for hybrid cloud delivery. Hybrid cloud is an integration of public and private cloud. Saas companies can now opt to place their data as per the security requisites, audit or policies thereby leveraging cost-effective public cloud and simultaneously store confidential data in a private cloud. Such a cloud trend has not only simplified business but also helped secure data efficiently. Bottom-Up Sales – Narrowing Down to End-Users Top-down was the conventional method followed by Saas companies until a few years back. In the top-down methodology, a model is sold to the C-level executives of an organization through a single sales process. Well, when it comes to such an approach, the buyer needn’t always be the user and the implementation process might take a while. But lately, we’ve seen a bottom-up trend in SaaS, wherein targeted groups of end-users are focused. There may be more than a single sales process involved but the entire cycle of each procedure is shorter. Here a user can be given a trial, and then converted to paid. Source: HowToSaaS With such a process in place, SaaS companies especially startups get a chance to AB test based on which the engineering, marketing or sales processes can be carried out. Companies have been able to better their product in the efforts to simplify the challenges reported by the users. Well, looks like the bottom-up trend is all set to lead the next ten years of SaaS. Conclusion The growth of SaaS is not expected to cease anytime soon. In fact, according to the Saas trends of 2019, we can expect Saas enterprises to flourish rapidly throughout this decade. Digitization is taking over the world and the need for Saas solutions has never been this high. There is no better time to tap the possibilities and to be ahead of the curve, which is exactly why you should be aware of the SaaS trends of 2020.

How SaaS Evolved from the 2010s to the 2020s and What To Expect in the Future

HackerNoon Reporter: Please tell us briefly about your  background. I am passionate about using technology to solve hard problems in complex and highly regulated industries. I found the problem of U.S. dental insurance billing to be a perfect candidate for disruption. Currently, I am working as the Co-Founder and CEO at Zentist, where I set the direction and strategy for the company. Prior to founding Zentist, I spent more than 10 years in corporate financing and investments at various large international financial institutions. I served as the Chief Investment Officer of National Investment Corporation, a $100B sovereign wealth fund in Central Asia. Prior to that, I served as the Head of Corporate Finance at Samruk-Kazyna, an $80B sovereign wealth fund focused on regional investments in Central Asia. I graduated with a dual MBA from the London Business School and Columbia Business School. What's your startup called? And in a sentence or two, what does it do? Zentist. We are automating the insurance billing process and revenue cycle management for dental practices and dental groups in the US. What is the origin story? I co-founded Zentist with Manuchehr Kurbonali and Paulina Song in 2016 with the mission of bringing transparency and affordability to financial transactions in dental care. In the first few years, we discovered that the biggest impact area that serves our mission is insurance claim transactions. We built the Zentist platform with the goal of helping dental practices collect insurance claim reimbursements faster and more accurately by leveraging software and process automation. Prior to Zentist, Manuchehr and I built a large network of primary care and diagnostic centers in Central Asia that serves a population of 5M people across 4 cities. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem? What I love about our team: A very diverse group of people from different walks of life share the same mission, vision, and passion for overhauling how insurance transactions are handled. That we build real and friendly relationships with our customers and the market we serve. We are the right group of folks to solve this problem because: Many of us - families, and friends - are dentists and folks who have been part of the dental industry for quite a long time. We’re insiders to the problem. As consumers, we would like to have a better experience and significantly fewer headaches when trying to pay for our dental care. We would like to solve this problem for ourselves and everyone else. We’ve brought together a team of world-class software engineers, product managers, designers, and operations experts to share their expertise and experiences in solving the very specific problems found in dental insurance transactions. If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? Investing in social impact initiatives that leverage new and emerging technologies to make our lives better. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your core metrics? We align our success with the success of our customers by delivering efficient and effective insurance billing results including: The speed at which we are able to collect insurance revenue compared to industry averages. How accurately claims are processed the first time around so the system does not create excess operational work for our customers’ back-office operations. Whether we are collecting insurance revenue as close as to our estimate of collections, the collection ratios are best in the industry How much back-office work in dental practices we are able to eliminate, so that office staff can primarily focus on patient care and satisfaction. What’s most exciting about your traction to date? Today, we process more than $250M in insurance billings per year and have grown more than 20x in the past 2 years. Our average collection time cycle is less than 12 days when the industry average is more than 22-24 days. What technologies are you currently most excited about, and most worried about? And why? We’re excited about the application of AI and RPA to dental insurance transactions - and how they can be leveraged to increase automation of tedious, mundane, back-office tasks. We’re worried about the level of openness of insurance carriers to technology adoption that brings transparency. What drew you to get published on HackerNoon? What do you like most about our platform? We are bringing to dental care, which is a highly regulated and sophisticated industry, many technologies that are already in use and leveraged in other parts of our lives – like AI, RPA, automation, and the cloud. However, the problems in healthcare that we’re addressing don’t have the same visibility here as other industries. As such, we would like to get the attention of the great engineers, product builders, and designers that make up the HackerNoon community. What advice would you give to the 21-year-old version of yourself? Try many things before settling on your professional interests. Don’t forget that you will always have enough time ahead of you, so don’t rush trying to be successful. Have fun while spending your early professional years learning and solving hard problems with great people. What is something surprising you've learned this year that your contemporaries would benefit from knowing? Don’t underestimate the potential complexity in seemingly simple problems. LINK to City Award Page with your company listed. Startup of the Year

Startup Interview with Ato Kasymov, CEO & Co-founder of Zentist

Many people are familiar with zero-trust network security, which is the assumption of a default state suspicion until authenticated access is granted to network resources. Much less know about zero-time security. Zero-time is an approach to threat prevention facilitated by deep learning. This article explores how the progress made in the integration of deep learning in cybersecurity and how a zero-time/zero-trust approach helps organizations to achieve higher-level security. Modern-day cyber attackers now exploit AI, ML, and automation to scale malware infection and evade detection. These threats have more far-reaching outcomes for victims. For organizations to protect themselves from these advanced threats, they have to use superior tools and technologies. That's where deep learning comes in. Deep learning helps organizations to detect threats in 'zero-time', with far greater accuracy than previous approaches. Deep learning is a way to renew focus on 'prevention first' in a cyber world that focuses much on threat detection and incident response. More so is when it is combined with the Zero-Trust model, whereby the default state for every user is suspicion unless authenticated access is granted. To fight zero-day attacks, it is becoming apparent that we need a combination of technologies focused on stopping external attacks in zero-time and preventing internal threats using the zero-trust idea. Deep Learning in Cybersecurity (vs. AI, ML, etc.) Cybersecurity is a very complex space. Cybercrime becomes more sophisticated by the day and most times crime fighters have to play catch-up. This is largely due to the dynamism of malware. With new varieties emerging every day, the classification of malware (a necessary step to threat detection) becomes increasingly difficult. More so, through automation cybercriminals can (and have) replicate, modify, and scale existing malware to gargantuan proportions. Hence, the need for a model that can identify new variations of malware without human assistance. And that is deep learning. One of the limitations of machine learning is the high rate of false positives in threat detection. Unnecessary alarms can make the IT team overreact while missing some of the most dangerous threats. On the other hand, deep learning is a subfield of machine learning (which is a subfield of artificial intelligence) that replicates the function of the human brain using neural networks. Benefits of deep learning in cybersecurity real-time detection and prevention, real-time classification, prediction of unknown (future) threats, operation on any device or operating systems, and connectionless edge deployment. Deep learning, with its capability of , uses the variability of malware (which should naturally be a challenge) to improve its capacity to detect threats in zero-time. include unsupervised learning from raw unstructured data Zero-Time Explained Apparently, in the wake of advanced persistent threats (APTs), . The fact is that detection does not provide enough protection. Why? the prevention-first mindset has made a comeback in cybersecurity According to , the average time to detect a data breach is 207 days while containment takes a further 73 days. If the data breach is caused by a malicious attack (as against a system glitch or human error), the average detection time increases by 23 days. Basically, an organization can remain under an attack for over 6 months and not know it, despite having detection tools. IBM’s 2020 Cost of a Data Breach Report While (early) threat detection is important, adopting a prevention-first principle provides the best defense against attacks. Zero-Time threat prevention is unlike threat detection and incidence response technologies. Unlike the latter two that focus on eliminating the threats after it is noticed on the network, zero-time threat prevention will stop the threat before it enters the organizational network. Cyber attackers often use evasive techniques but deep learning has the capacity to not just train itself to recognize known threats, but also unknown threats. Hence, deep learning is useful for predicting threats with precise accuracy. The Intersection of Zero-Time and Zero-Trust Zero-time security does a good job protecting organizational networks from external cyberattacks, but it is limited in protecting endpoints. This is a gap that has been traditionally closed by legacy technologies such as firewalls and VPNs. Platforms like , and provide military-grade encryption. Express VPN Switcherry VPN Surfshark Legacy VPN platforms like Express VPN and Surfshark have been well-rated over the years as a result of their many security features which include fast speed, strict no logs policy, DNS leak protection and so on. Switcherry VPN on the other hand, which is a fast-growing next-gen VPN platform provides the above-mentioned security solutions and is also looking to configure next-gen technologies like Software-Defined Perimeter technology ( ) and Secure Web Gate ( ) into their system along with inbuilt ad blockers. SDP SWG These emerging next-gen techs, coupled with the already existing features of VPNs, will help for a more solid zero-trust framework for VPNs and it will go a long way in securing endpoints against next-gen cyber threats. Currently, the zero-trust standard for remote access authentication is the big thing in endpoint security. It is the basis of advanced technologies such as Software-Defined Parameters, Secure Web Gateways, Next-Generation Firewalls, etc. The convergence of these two principles (zero-trust and zero-time) provides solid and comprehensive security where zero-time ensures external protection while zero-trust ensures internal protection. This is the kind of relationship that births a balanced cybersecurity approach. Even with zero-trust, an organization is still at risk of (malware/ransomware). Hence, both principles of zero-time protection and zero-trust security must complement each other in the war against cyber attacks. 24% of data breaches caused by external threats Deep Learning and the Future of Cybersecurity The main edge that deep learning has over machine learning and AI is that it does not rely on human skills and is not limited by a person’s expertise. Deep learning does not eliminate every cybersecurity problem. But it does a good job of eliminating the current limitations of traditional AI and machine learning cybersecurity techniques. Deep learning in cybersecurity is still at the earliest stages of its development. claims to be the first company to apply deep learning to cybersecurity. But more are springing up (such as Sophos, Buguroo, etc.) In the coming years, one can expect the use of deep learning in cybersecurity to become mainstream. And of course, the technology will improve. Deep Instinct

Is a ZeroTime/Zero-Trust Approach the Perfect Cybersecurity Model?

581 Stories To Learn About Non Fiction

Let's learn about via these 46 free stories. They are ordered by most time reading created on HackerNoon. Visit the to find the most read stories about any technology. Insurance /Learn Repo 1. Allstate Accused of Overcharging Loyal California Customers $1 Billion Allstate, the insurance company, has been accused of overcharging customers in California. 2. If You Do Not Report Your Gun Stolen or Missing You Can Held Liable For Crimes the Gun is Used For Crimes committed with stolen guns that were not reported remain liable for property damage etc. 3. The Insurers' Dilemma: Balancing Consumer Demands and Legacy Conventions In an era of rapidly changing technology, the greatest challenge facing the insurance industry is its ability to keep up with consumer demand. 4. Top 3 Benefits of Insurance Data Analytics The Importance of data analytics and data-driven decisions across the board and in this case insurance data. 5. "Insurers Miss Out On Millions Of Dollars In Business", Manuel San Miguel, Ignatica CEO Ignatica CEO and Co-Founder Manuel San Miguel discusses why he founded the company, AI and Machine Learning and why he should have gone to Japan sooner. 6. The Social Impact of Mixing Business and Medicine COVID-19 has been hitting the healthcare system pretty hard these last few weeks. In U.S. hospitals they are now facing critical shortages of equipment. As of the end of March, nearly 1 in 4 hospitals have fewer than 100 N95 masks on hand and 1 in 5 reports immediate need for more ventilators. Already back in February, the FDA reported shortages in drugs related to coronavirus. 7. A Guide to HIPAA Compliance in 2021 & Its Benefits Following HIPAA laws provides a higher level of safety for your corporation and its leaders. 8. The Perks and Obstacles of AI Adoption in Insurance Imagine that you are a leader at an insurance company. You know that artificial intelligence (AI) will give you a competitive edge and have decided to invest. 9. The Glorious Return of the Conference: Highlights from My First Tech Conference in 2 Years As the world reopens, it's becoming evident that the new Insuretechs don’t see what they are doing as disruption but as an evolution of their strategies. 10. What Are The Advantages Of Usage-Based Car Insurance? In recent years, Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) has become one of the most talked-about technologies in the automotive insurance industry - and for good reason. 11. A Digital-First Approach Could Take the Headaches Away from Buying Insurance A deep dive into major tech-driven changes within the legacy insurance industry. 12. Startup Interview with Ato Kasymov, CEO & Co-founder of Zentist 13. How To Be a Responsible Employer and a Leader in Times of Workplace Crisis Based on the type of work you are doing and the capacity in which your workers operate, any or more of the following occupational injuries can occur to your employees. 14. "All DeFi Applications Are Shooting For The Sky But no One is Wearing a Parachute" - Allan Henders There is a lot to take away from the price performance of the digital asset market in 2020. One of such is that the concept of bitcoin halving, as expected, is a major contributing factor to the success of the bitcoin market and has eventually delivered the level of price swings projected during the pre-halving days. Another is that DeFi is perhaps the most potent application of cryptocurrency technology, which makes it the most plausible instigator of the next wave of growth. In the months following the global market crash, the DeFi landscape has attracted around $14 billion worth of capital. Why is this so? 15. Can Robots Manage Health Benefits? In an attempt to manage soaring health care costs, some government officials and health care companies are turning to algorithms to determine how to allocate limited benefits, who to provide care to first, or whether a person should receive care at all. 16. Insurance for Digital Assets Can Help to Protect Users in the Crypto Space Cryptocurrency insurance can be instrumental in reducing the losses that come with engaging in the crypto market. 17. Fintech Is Dead: All Hail Insurtech Wall Street. Tokyo. London. Shanghai. Hong Kong. 18. How I can Save my Insurance Firm During Disaster? Natural disasters are unpredictable that has the ability to destruct the
globe entirely. It has so much force that even giant construction can
get into the ground in seconds, imagine where humans would go. In
such scenarios, one should stay full secure but preparedness is the
only way to combat a natural disaster. 19. What Does 2021 Hold For Insurance on The Blockchain? Blockchain has seen multiple use cases over the years, from simple payment coins to tokenizing art. But there is a class of projects aiming to build solutions to last over the years, with a level of complexity rivaling traditional business and financial structures. 20. Insure your Bitcoin with Options [A How-To Guide] 21. Technology Is Transforming The Auto Insurance Industry Faster Than We Know It Car insurance is about as dull as things can get, right? WRONG. In the dawn of artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics, just about every industry is undergoing huge transformation - and the insurance industry is no different. For instance, auto-reminders are now in place so clients can have a peace of mind - one of the many ways technology affords us more convenience. 22. Guide to Online Liability Insurance Application Thinking of applying for liability insurance for your business online? Congratulations, you have come to the right place! We will take you through each step of the process, so you know exactly what to expect when you apply online. 23. Cryptocurrency Insurance Can Protect You Against Hacks [Infographic] Crypto insurance is worth checking out in order to protect your cryptocurrency gains in the market. 24. Unlocking the Power of Artificial Intelligence in the Insurance Industry Today, artificial intelligence (AI) has barely begun to scratch the surface of the insurance sector. Here are a few of the most AI-friendly applications. 25. How Can Insurance Companies Pivot To A Digital-First Future With Technology? The future of the insurance industry looks bright with insurance technology trends such as AI, ML, cloud computing, hyper-automation and APIs on the rise. 26. A Buyer's Guide To Cyber Insurance, Cyber Liability, and Fraud Protection Cyber insurance can be a great way to protect your company against cybersecurity risks like fraud. But what are you liable for and what does insurance cover? 27. RPA in Insurance: Your Complete Guide 28. Unemployment Insurance Fraud Rose During the Pandemic A ProPublica investigation reveals that much of the fraud has been organized — both in the U.S. and abroad. 29. Did Insurance Companies Benefit From COVID-19? Lewis Carroll – author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – once wrote, “every story has a moral you just need to be clever enough to find it.” The Covid-19 pandemic, for example, has taught us that things can always take an unexpected turn. The question then emerges, how can one protect against this kind of event? The answer is very simple – insurance. 30. Providing Decentralized Insurance Services Worldwide with Hybrid Smart Contracts In this piece, the CTO of Etherisc discusses the central role that hybrid smart contracts and oracles play in enabling parametric insurance products on-chain 31. "Be ready to fire youself," advised Markus Wunsch, Executive Chairman at Mount Wish Mount Wish was nominated as one of the best startups in New York City in Startups of the Year hosted by HackerNoon. 32. 4 Challenges Of Implementing AI In The Insurance Industry and How To Overcome Them AI in insurance comes with its set of challenges that can be pivoted into opportunities. Read all about it here. 33. Implementing a Bridge Between Next-Gen Insurance Claims and Exceptional Customer Service In the insurance sector, customer service takes on multiple roles and features at various touchpoints. 34. Hacking Auto Insurance: Are Givebacks a Good Deal? COVID-19 has changed the way many of us live our lives as stores, restaurants, and more have begun closing up shop, causing many to lose their jobs or start working from home. With millions now stuck in their homes, people are driving much less. Less driving means fewer low-speed accidents, and fewer incidents of aggressive acceleration. Insurance companies have started to give back to their customers to help them financially through the pandemic. Insurance companies are offering financial assistance and more flexible payment programs, penalty-free grace period for late payments, to pause cancellation due to non-payment, and waive deductibles for commuting healthcare workers. In response to the sharp decrease in Americans’ driving mileage, some of the nation’s largest insurers have begun to refund auto insurance premiums. Companies such as Allstate, Geico, Progressive, and StateFarm have returned a total of $14 billion to policyholders. 35. Drones Will Change The Insurance Industry It is never too early to be thinking about the future. And if you are thinking about the future, think about drones. 36. How Self-Driving Cars Will Change the Auto Insurance Industry Welcome to the dawn of the self-driving car era, and a subsequent emerging challenge: how to insure them. 37. Startup Largo Coin Found a Solution to Reduce Investment Risks Largo Coin Limited has launched a blockchain-enabled warranty service targeted at securing private investors’ funds. This project looks to partner with startups and established firms by providing a trustless investment relations solution. 38. Founder Interviews: Lingke Wang of Ethos Lingke Wang and the Ethos team have recently raised over $46 million in order to simplify and modernize the archaic life insurance industry. 39. The Defi Ecosystem: Risk Reduction by Defi Insurance Everything you need to know about DeFi insurance 40. Hacking Better Solutions With AI Powered Insurance Verification A look at how improving the healthcare insurance data capture system will improve through OCR and AI card scan. 41. Research: Organizational AI Adoption in the Insurance Industry Executive Summary 42. Insurance and Blockchain: An A-Z Guide The insurance industry is a huge market. In the United States, in 2019, the volume of paid insurance premiums amounted to a trillion dollars. However, despite such volumes, the industry is experiencing great difficulties, because of which insurance companies are losing more than $100 billion every year. 43. 12 Years of Blockchain: Where Are The Applications? There were a lot of talking about where and how blockchain is suitable. Attempting to stick the blockchain everywhere and to everything is a parody. 44. Is Cyber Insurance Worthwhile? A cyber attack can cost a business everything. Cyber insurance isn’t a bulletproof shield, so is it worth it? 45. Allstate's Car Insurance Algorithm: How Insurance Algorithm Squeezes Big Spenders Seven years ago, Allstate Corporation told Maryland regulators it was time to update its auto insurance rates. The insurer said its new, sophisticated risk analysis showed it was charging nearly all of its 93,000 Maryland customers outdated premiums. Some of the old rates were off by miles. One 36-year-old man from Prince George’s County, Md., who Allstate said in public records should have been paying $3,750 every six months, was instead being charged twice that, more than $7,500. Other customers were paying hundreds or thousands of dollars less than they should have been, based on Allstate’s new calculation of the risk that they would file a claim. 46. Allstate's Car Insurance Algorithm: How Insurance Algorithm Was Analyzed State regulators and consumer advocacy groups have scrutinized Allstate Corporation’s use of big data and personalized pricing in the way it calculates how much the company charges its private auto insurance customers. Thank you for checking out the 46 most read stories about Insurance on HackerNoon. to find the most read stories about any technology. Visit the /Learn Repo

46 Stories To Learn About Insurance

213 Stories To Learn About Writing Prompts

240 Stories To Learn About Startups Of The Year

North and South by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER XLIX. here CHAPTER XLIX. BREATHING TRANQUILLITY. “And down the sunny beach she paces slowly, With many doubtful pauses by the way; Grief hath an influence so hushed and holy.” Hood. “Is not Margaret the heiress?” whispered Edith to her husband, as they were in their room alone at night after the sad journey to Oxford. She had pulled his tall head down, and stood upon tiptoe, and implored him not to be shocked, before she ventured to ask this question. Captain Lennox was, however, quite in the dark; if he had ever heard, he had forgotten; it could not be much that a Fellow of a small College had to leave; but he had never wanted her to pay for her board; and two hundred and fifty pounds a year was something ridiculous, considering that she did not take wine. Edith came down upon her feet a little bit sadder; with a romance blown to pieces. A week afterwards, she came prancing towards her husband, and made him a low curtsey: “I am right, and you are wrong, most noble Captain. Margaret has had a lawyer’s letter, and she is residuary legatee—the legacies being about two thousand pounds, and the remainder about forty thousand, at the present value of property in Milton.” “Indeed! and how does she take her good fortune?” “Oh, it seems she knew she was to have it all along; only she had no idea it was so much. She looks very white and pale, and says she’s afraid of it; but that’s nonsense, you know, and will soon go off. I left mamma pouring congratulations down her throat, and stole away to tell you.” It seemed to be supposed, by general consent, that the most natural thing was to consider Mr. Lennox henceforward as Margaret’s legal adviser. She was so entirely ignorant of all forms of business that in nearly everything she had to refer to him. He chose out her attorney; he came to her with papers to be signed. He was never so happy as when teaching her of what all these mysteries of the law were the signs and types. “Henry,” said Edith, one day, archly; “do you know what I hope and expect all these long conversations with Margaret will end in?” “No, I don’t,” said he, reddening. “And I desire you not to tell me.” “Oh, very well; then I need not tell Sholto not to ask Mr. Montagu so often to the house.” “Just as you choose,” said he with forced coolness. “What you are thinking of may or may not happen; but this time, before I commit myself, I will see my ground clear. Ask whom you choose. It may not be very civil, Edith, but if you meddle in it you will mar it. She has been very farouche with me for a long time; and is only just beginning to thaw a little from her Zenobia ways. She has the making of a Cleopatra in her, if only she were a little more pagan.” “For my part,” said Edith, a little maliciously, “I am very glad she is a Christian. I know so very few!” There was no Spain for Margaret that autumn; although to the last she hoped that some fortunate occasion would call Frederick to Paris, whither she could easily have met with a convoy. Instead of Cadiz, she had to content herself with Cromer. To that place her aunt Shaw and the Lennoxes were bound. They had all along wished her to accompany them, and, consequently, with their characters, they made but lazy efforts to forward her own separate wish. Perhaps Cromer was, in one sense of the expression, the best for her. She needed bodily strengthening and bracing as well as rest. Among other hopes that had vanished, was the hope, the trust she had had, that Mr. Bell would have given Mr. Thornton the simple facts of the family circumstances which had preceded the unfortunate accident that led to Leonards’ death. Whatever opinion—however changed it might be from what Mr. Thornton had once entertained, she had wished it to be based upon a true understanding of what she had done, and why she had done it. It would have been a pleasure to her: would have given her rest on a point on which she should now all her life be restless, unless she could resolve not to think upon it. It was now so long after the time of these occurrences, that there was no possible way of explaining them save the one which she had lost by Mr. Bell’s death. She might just submit, like many another, to be misunderstood; but, though reasoning herself into the belief that in this hers was no uncommon lot, her heart did not ache the less with longing that some time—years and years hence—before he died at any rate, he might know how much she had been tempted. She thought that she did not want to hear that all was explained to him, if only she could be sure that he would know. But this wish was vain, like so many others; and when she had schooled herself into this conviction, she turned with all her heart and strength to the life that lay immediately before her, and resolved to strive and make the best of that. She used to sit long hours upon the beach, gazing intently on the waves as they chafed with perpetual motion against the pebbly shore,—or she looked out upon the more distant heave, and sparkle against the sky, and heard, without being conscious of hearing, the eternal psalm, which went up continually. She was soothed without knowing how or why. Listlessly she sat there, on the ground, her hands clasped round her knees, while her aunt Shaw did small shoppings, and Edith and Captain Lennox rode far and wide on shore and inland. The nurses, sauntering on with their charges, would pass and repass her, and wonder in whispers what she could find to look at so long, day after day. And when the family gathered at dinner-time, Margaret was so silent and absorbed that Edith voted her moped, and hailed a proposal of her husband’s with great satisfaction, that Mr. Henry Lennox should be asked to take Cromer for a week, on his return from Scotland in October. But all this time for thought enabled Margaret to put events in their right places, as to origin and significance, both as regarded her past life and her future. Those hours by the seaside were not lost, as any one might have seen who had had the perception to read, or the care to understand, the look that Margaret’s face was gradually acquiring. Mr. Henry Lennox was excessively struck by the change. “The sea has done Miss Hale an immense deal of good, I should fancy,” said he, when she first left the room after his arrival in their family circle. “She looks ten years younger than she did in Harley Street.” “That’s the bonnet I got her!” said Edith, triumphantly. “I knew it would suit her the moment I saw it.” “I beg your pardon,” said Mr. Lennox, in the half-contemptuous, half-indulgent tone he generally used to Edith. “But I believe I know the difference between the charms of a dress and the charms of a woman. No mere bonnet would have made Miss Hale’s eyes so lustrous and yet so soft, or her lips so ripe and red—and her face altogether so full of peace and light.—She is like, and yet more,”—he dropped his voice,—“like the Margaret Hale of Helstone.” From this time the clever and ambitious man bent all his powers to gaining Margaret. He loved her sweet beauty. He saw the latent sweep of her mind, which could easily (he thought) be led to embrace all the objects on which he had set his heart. He looked upon her fortune only as a part of the complete and superb character of herself and her position; yet he was fully aware of the rise which it would immediately enable him, the poor barrister, to take. Eventually he would earn such success, and such honours, as would enable him to pay her back, with interest, that first advance in wealth which he should owe to her. He had been to Milton on business connected with her property, on his return from Scotland; and with the quick eye of a skilled lawyer, ready ever to take in and weigh contingencies, he had seen that much additional value was yearly accruing to the lands and tenements which she owned in that prosperous and increasing town. He was glad to find that the present relationship between Margaret and himself, of client and legal adviser, was gradually superseding the recollection of that unlucky, mismanaged day at Helstone. He had thus unusual opportunities of intimate intercourse with her, besides those that arose from the connection between the families. Margaret was only too willing to listen as long as he talked of Milton, though he had seen none of the people whom she more especially knew. It had been the tone with her aunt and cousin to speak of Milton with dislike and contempt; just such feelings as Margaret was ashamed to remember she had expressed and felt on first going to live there. But Mr. Lennox almost exceeded Margaret in his appreciation of the character of Milton and its inhabitants. Their energy, their power, their indomitable courage in struggling and fighting; their lurid vividness of existence, captivated and arrested his attention. He was never tired of talking about them; and had never perceived how selfish and material were too many of the ends they proposed to themselves as the result of all their mighty, untiring endeavour, till Margaret, even in the midst of her gratification, had the candour to point this out, as the tainting sin in so much that was noble and to be admired. Still, when other subjects palled upon her, and she gave but short answers to many questions, Henry Lennox found out that an enquiry as to some Darkshire peculiarity of character called back the light into her eye, the glow into her cheek. When they returned to town, Margaret fulfilled one of her sea-side resolves, and took her life into her own hands. Before they went to Cromer, she had been as docile to her aunt’s laws as if she were still the scared little stranger who cried herself to sleep that first night in the Harley Street nursery. But she had learnt, in those solemn hours of thought, that she herself must one day answer for her own life, and what she had done with it; and she tried to settle that most difficult problem for woman, how much was to be utterly merged in obedience to authority, and how much might be set apart for freedom in working. Mrs. Shaw was as good-tempered as could be; and Edith had inherited this charming domestic quality; Margaret herself had probably the worst temper of the three, for her quick perceptions and over-lively imagination made her hasty, and her early isolation from sympathy had made her proud: but she had an indescribable childlike sweetness of heart, which made her manners, even in her rarely wilful moods, irresistible of old; and now, chastened even by what the world called her good fortune, she charmed her reluctant aunt into acquiescence with her will. So Margaret gained the acknowledgment of her right to follow her own ideas of duty. “Only don’t be strong-minded,” pleaded Edith. “Mamma wants you to have a footman of your own; and I’m sure you’re very welcome, for they’re great plagues. Only to please me, darling, don’t go and have a strong mind; it’s the only thing I ask. Footman or no footman, don’t be strong-minded.” “Don’t be afraid, Edith. I’ll faint on your hands at the servants’ dinner-time, the very first opportunity; and then, what with Sholto playing with the fire, and the baby crying, you’ll begin to wish for a strong-minded woman, equal to any emergency.” “And you’ll not grow too good to joke and be merry?” “Not I. I shall be merrier than I have ever been, now I have got my own way.” “And you’ll not go a figure, but let me buy your dresses for you?” “Indeed I mean to buy them for myself. You shall come with me if you like; but no one can please me but myself.” “Oh! I was afraid you’d dress in brown and dust-colour, not to show the dirt you’ll pick up in all those places. I’m glad you’re going to keep one or two vanities, just by way of specimens of the old Adam.” “I am going to be just the same, Edith, if you and my aunt could but fancy so. Only as I have neither husband nor child to give me natural duties, I must make myself some, in addition to ordering my gowns.” In the family conclave, which was made up of Edith, her mother, and her husband, it was decided that perhaps all these plans of hers would only secure her the more for Henry Lennox. They kept her out of the way of other friends who might have been eligible sons or brothers; and it was also agreed that she never seemed to take much pleasure in the society of any one but Henry, out of their own family. The other admirers, attracted by her appearance or the reputation of her fortune, were swept away, by her unconscious smiling disdain, into the paths frequented by other beauties less fastidious, or other heiresses with a larger amount of gold. Henry and she grew slowly into closer intimacy; but neither he nor she were people to brook the slightest notice of their proceedings. 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. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (2003). North and South. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4276/pg4276-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

BREATHING TRANQUILLITY.

402 Stories To Learn About History

331 Stories To Learn About Iot

123 Stories To Learn About Healthtech

As states rush to enact laws criminalizing abortion-related care in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning Roe v. Wade, health advocates and civil rights groups are warning that school surveillance software can be weaponized against teens who seek reproductive care. In tens of thousands of schools, every message students send or term they search on their computer is algorithmically monitored by software from companies like Bark, Gaggle, GoGuardian, and Securly. These tools monitor many students even outside of school hours and can send automatic alerts to school administrators, parents, or police when they detect dangerous behavior, which may range from imminent suicide threats to “sexual content.” By adding a few keywords to a watchlist, civil rights experts say, schools could easily instruct the programs to flag students looking for information about abortions or other . newly illegal health care services “School admin, staff, parents, or other adults who have access to the admin consoles are able to see everything,” said Daly Barnett, a staff technologist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “The way these applications can be deputized to specifically gather information around searches for reproductive health is alarming.” The way these applications can be deputized to specifically gather information around searches for reproductive health is alarming. Daly Barnett, Electronic Frontier Foundation Nicole, a high school student in Austin who asked that her full name not be used, told The Markup that much of her knowledge about abortion and reproductive health was self-taught online. “Regardless of whether or not I live in Texas, [the internet] gives me a little bit of access,” she said. Websites that discreetly ship medication are —albeit still illegal—ways to access abortion in the state, which has not only criminalized abortion but has also enacted a law that against anyone who helps another person end their pregnancy. one of the few allows private citizens to file civil lawsuits Nicole said her school gives a computer to each student who needs or wants one and that each device comes pre-installed with GoGuardian. The software allows teachers to view students’ screens in real time, access their search histories, and monitor their messages. GoGuardian sends email alerts to administrators when it detects content related to drugs, alcohol, or harassment, according to the . Other alerts, including those for “sexual content,” go directly to the district’s police department. Austin Independent School District’s policy The policy doesn’t define sexual content, and Anastasia Drabicky, a spokesperson for Austin ISD, said the district was closed for the week so staff could not respond to questions. Last year, the algorithmic filters used by the student monitoring company, Securly, were found to be as pornography, adult content, and hate speech. mislabeling sexual health resources Nicole told The Markup that she hadn’t known GoGuardian was sending alerts to the district’s police. Digital evidence trails were a concern for reproductive rights advocates even before the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In 2015, a jury convicted an Indiana woman of feticide through self-induced abortion, based in part on text messages she sent to a friend. Her conviction was on appeal. eventually overturned In 2017, prosecutors charged an Ohio woman with killing her stillborn baby, using her as evidence. A jury acquitted the woman of the most serious charges. internet browsing history And In 2018, a Mississippi grand jury indicted a woman for the murder of her stillborn baby after the her Google search history for abortion pills. Those charges were eventually dropped after civil rights groups rallied to the woman’s defense. prosecution presented But with states now free to enforce , the bar for securing convictions in future cases may be lower. punitive abortion laws Tech companies about how and when they’ll turn over user data to police in abortion cases, adding to to data from tools like period trackers. have been largely silent fears about who will be given access Kendra Albert, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic, said but that the greater legal threat is likely to come from surveillance systems that are already in place and can easily be adapted to the new laws—like student monitoring software. those fears are not baseless We have seen … school districts that consider it their mission to police and out students. Kendra Albert, Harvard Law’s Cyberlaw Clinic “I’m always more worried about times when you just add more keywords to the system compared to times when you have to build the whole system from scratch,” Albert said. “We have seen, especially in red states, school districts that consider it their mission to police and out students, and there can be school-to-prison-pipeline consequences to that.” The Markup reached out to popular student monitoring companies Bark, Gaggle, GoGuardian, and Securly with questions about how they monitor sexual health content and share information with law enforcement. Bark was the only company to respond. “Our AI flags and alerts the content then forwards it to the appropriate contact at the schools,” Adina Kalish, a spokesperson for the company, wrote in an email. “Bark serves to detect and alert only, and cases that require further involvement from law enforcement are handled by the schools directly.” “Bark does not supply student information to law enforcement,” Kalish added. “Schools handle this directly when an issue of concern is identified.” However, according to , the company reserves the right to turn over users’ data “if the information is provided to comply with the law, applicable regulations, governmental and quasi-governmental requests, court orders or subpoenas.” Bark’s privacy policy The fear is very much there that anything we do has to go through a legal lens. Z Zenobia, student organizer, URGE Z Zenobia, a student organizer with the nonprofit Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE), said young people are experienced at adapting to unsafe online spaces—using coded language and finding other ways to subvert technology. But they need to know they’re being surveilled in order to do that, and Zenobia said they fear that the sheer ubiquity of surveillance in schools will scare some people away from seeking health information entirely. “A lot of people don’t know that Plan B doesn’t work for people over 180 pounds,” Zenobia said, referencing the drug’s . effective weight limit “Anyone trying to access that who is being surveilled is basically in danger at this point. The fear is very much there that anything we do has to go through a legal lens.” Written by Todd Feathers Also published here Photo by on MChe Lee Unsplash

Could School Surveillance Tools Put Teens at Risk?

SEVEN CENTURIES IN ASIA (CIRCA 50 B.C. TO A.D. 650)

Meet the Winners of Startups in North and Central America

Thank you to the problem solvers who campaigned extra hard in the first-ever competition! HackerNoon Startups of the Year focuses on recognizing the passion and stamina of those willing to find and create effective tech solutions for their cities. HackerNoon’s Startups of the Year To see who is a winner in each respective city, visit and pick a city. The name at the top of the list is the winner. (Awards, where cheaters were caught, are under review.) startups.hackernoon.com From all of us at , thank YOU for your excellent campaign perseverance🥺! We look forward to seeing you again in the 2022 campaign (stay tuned 😉)! HackerNoon Without further adieu, let us kick off by sharing the cities with top votes per region for 2021 🎉 . our series of Best Startups of the Year Stay tuned for the rest of the winners per region to be over the course of this week (Feb 14, 2022). announced North and Central America America is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, the world’s capital of fashion, showbiz, business, major industry, etc., and surely, of Startups! Representing , we have: North and Central America (14,563 votes): Winner: Boulder Bury.com (10,521 votes) - Winner: New York City Hum Capital (7,987 votes) - Winner: San Francisco Zentist (7,713 votes) - Winner: Redwood City TigerGraph (469 votes) - Winner: Los Altos Stobox To see more awards in this region please click here. Europe Charming, sophisticated, cosmopolitan. There are many beautiful words used to describe this region. With its eccentric vibe, is also a place where new Startups thrive. Europe Representing Europe we have: (10, 010 votes) - Winner: Belfast Bob & Berts (5, 066 votes) - Winner: Ghent WeGroup (4, 712 votes) - Winner: Porto TAIKAI (3, 779 votes) - Winner: City of London Crypto Quantique To see more awards in this region please click here. Oceania The heat, the beaches, roaming kangaroos, or tarantulas? No. Startups! Representing the region of are: Oceania (1, 011 votes) - Winner: Sydney shotstack (430 votes) - Winner: Melbourne Doohly (118 votes) - Winner: Gold Coast Easil (76 votes) - Winner: Tauranga LawVu (40 votes) - Winner: Western Junction Today We Learned To see more awards in this region please click here. Asia Diverse in both ethnicity and culture, known for exotic sceneries as well as friendly people. Many Asian countries are on the verge of mass globalization and modernization. These fast-developing economies give way for many potential Startups. We present, for : Asia (12, 686 votes) - Winner: Singapore Cake DeFi (3,355 votes) - Winners: and (It’s a tie, we’re working on it!) Tel Aviv Applitools hyro (2, 402 votes) - Winner: Beirut Hovi Digital Lab (1.006 votes) - Winner: Hyderabad Quixy (756 votes) - Winner: Hanoi DeFi For You To see more city awards in this region please click here. Africa The second biggest continent in the world, home to many big animals, the longest river in the world AND the largest desert in the world. is known for many big things and sure enough, big Startups. Africa Representing Africa, we have: (884 votes) - Winner: Johannesburg MiBRAND (804 votes) - Winner: Lagos Goodtalent (526 votes) - Winner: Cape Town Revix (420 votes) - Winner: Lusaka ComGrow (224 votes) - Winner: Nairobi UTU To see more city awards in this region please click here. South America “South America is the land of the extreme.” - National Geographic Extremely beautiful people? Yes. Extremely worth-noticeable Startups? Hell yeah! We proudly present, Startups in : South America (217 votes ) - Winner: São Carlos Predify (193 votes) - Winner: Belo Horizonte CM Technologia (106 votes) - Winner: Porto Alegre Privacy Tools (82 votes) - Winner: Quito Agrodemanda (55 votes) -Winner: Rio De Janeiro Bybrand To see more city awards in this region please click here. Once again, and to all of the top Startups of each region this year! HUGE CONGRATULATIONS BIG PROPS The whole team at would like to thank you for your excellent campaign perseverance and we look forward to seeing you in the 2022 campaign. HackerNoon As part of honoring your participation, we will continue to host your company in this directory until further notice ( for legal reasons we hesitate to say ‘forever’..but pretty much forever).  As traffic is directed to the site, it will act as a promotional platform for your company. Have a great Valentine’s Day, HackerNoon loves y’all <3 More Information: If you’re a winner, please answer ! If you’re a reader, participant, just a curious individual, consider answering one of our interviews . this interview here Read the FAQs about or . Startups here here To see all of the winners you may visit , pick any city and view the name that appears at the top. this site If you’re interested in partnering with us, we invite you to look through some of these or reach out to our business department. unique sponsorship options Perhaps creating your very own tickles your fancy or maybe you have a whole new idea for how we can partner! writing contest Thank you to all of our sponsors! We truly appreciate your contribution to the tech world and thus the future! The Startups Awards are sponsored by: , , , , , , , , , , Blockster Brex FreeCodeCamp LaunchDarkly Coil Udacity Udemy Vercel Asia Pacific Transgender Network Bybit Everscale Network This post was written by Tuan Anh Vu. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to report a discrepancy please email ellen@hackernoon.com.

To the Winners of #Startups2021, With Love:

An explanation of benefits (EOB) details a patient’s coverage, the treatment they have received, what the payer covered and did not cover, as well as other pertinent details. While it is not a bill, it is similar to an itemized invoice. With different patients utilizing different insurance companies, larger dental practices, in particular, can become quickly consumed in wrangling data. Traditionally, specialists manually gather and compile this information from each individual insurance portal. It must be done daily and requires managing multiple secure log-ins in addition to the data being downloaded. After each piece of the EOB puzzle is gathered, it then must be read and sorted, and formats converted where necessary – this may include scanning and uploading digital versions of hard copy documents. The specialist then needs to account for full and partial payments, and appropriately credit patient accounts - all manually. The process then begins again for the next patient.** ** AI can provide an automated solution to this time-consuming and inefficient process. It would parse EOB continuously and securely, accessing individual insurance portals, pulling EOBs, and recreating them in one, standard, user-friendly format. Specialists could then access it at any time via a dashboard. ** ** Full payments, partial payments, and denials could be clearly delineated with the sum of total daily reports available to specialists for tracking. When access to practice management software is provided, AI that parses EOB might even automatically write-back payment postings to patient accounts. For high-volume organizations, EOB data could also be provided in JSON and CSV formats, expanding automation possibilities.** ** The key is in utilizing artificial intelligence to identify the appropriate data from the top 25 insurance payor EOBs with a suitably high degree of confidence. Offering documents in multiple format options would also speed optimization.** ** The benefits of AI replacing manual work include reducing the associated effort, handling time, and cost while increasing work quality ** ** (Pragya Jain, American University, February 18, 2021, AI and the Future of Work in the United States). Additionally, exposure of confidential patient information would be significantly reduced, making it easier for a practice to maintain compliance with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Streamlining complex administrative tasks has profound implications for patient care. Technologies like AI, RPA (Robotic Process Automation) could parse EOB for dental practices and reduce the time spent on clerical tasks, freeing practice staff from an endless cycle of paperwork. By Ato Kasymov, CEO of Zentist ** **

AI-Driven EOB (Explanation of Benefits) in Healthcare To Declutter Clerical Work: An Introduction

Despite major technological advancements in the healthcare sector, dentistry is still largely a manual practice with crucial administrative functions relying heavily on human interaction and input. This aspect will continue to change drastically as technology advances. One area that will significantly impact how practices function is Robotic Process Automation (RPA). RPA uses artificial intelligence to automate tasks that are repetitive and rule-based. RPA can perform these processes at high speeds with an extremely low rate of errors, making it popular in the business world. While treating patients is the core of any dental practice, many dentists are also business owners and responsible for the administrative side of their offices. Dentists and staff must devote precious time and resources to creating, tracking, and managing patient records. This is in addition to setting and managing appointments, billing, insurance authorizations, and more. Many of these tasks are ideally suited for RPA technology. RPA is designed to address the labor-intensive and repetitive aspects of those jobs. By eliminating repetitive tasks through automation (i.e., RPA bots), dental practices can: • reduce manual effort • increase efficiency • ultimately improve patient care by freeing clinical providers from administrative distractions With RPA software solutions from emerging tech startups, large amounts of manual back-office work can be automated quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. This means dentists can focus on patients instead of paperwork, increasing efficiency and productivity while minimizing errors. RPA is poised to make a major impact on the dental industry. It will not only improve productivity but also increase the quality of services, and provide companies with greater data management capabilities without affecting care. If you are in the dental industry, now is the time to consider RPA technologies. Manuchehr Kurbonali, Co-Founder Zentist

Brief Thoughts on the Benefits of RPA in Dentistry

In light of the recent initiatives to implement changes to Bitcoin’s protocol, the present signatories — representing the main exchanges, companies, service providers, and hundreds of thousands of users in the region, hereby collectively denominated as the “Brazilian and Argentinian communities” — wish to voice their deepest concerns over the upcoming November hardfork as mandated by the so-called New York Agreement (“NYA”), also known as SegWit2x (“S2X”). As enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, developers, businessmen, it is our belief we all share the same goal of making Bitcoin succeed and fulfill its huge potential as a disruptive technology, allowing for greater financial freedom, monetary sovereignty and empowerment to each and every individual around the world. We also value Bitcoin’s technological breakthrough for applications well beyond money and borderless payments. But regardless of the use cases, a secure and reliable is paramount. blockchain We do believe the NYA signatories have the best of intentions in attempting to improve Bitcoin’s protocol, and we also recognize the invaluable service historically provided by the companies and the talented individuals associated with S2X. We profoundly disagree, however, with the means chosen to carry out such a plan. And therein lie all the discord, controversy, feverish debates, and even resentment for some actors. What follows is a non-exhaustive list of the main reasons why the Brazilian and Argentinian communities deem SegWit2x an ill-advised and unwarranted pursuit: the NYA narrative framed the situation as a scaling gridlock that needed be solved, thus an agreement between relevant actors (developers, miners, exchanges, payment processors) was sought after. But the very nature of an “agreement” between a few parties in a decentralized consensus protocol can be interpreted as an aggression against the network. Bitcoin’s governance model is certainly not perfect, nonetheless it is far from dysfunctional. If a proposed change lacks adherence, status quo remains. That is a strength. Difficulty in changing the protocol — especially when affecting the consensus layer — really is a feature to be commended. BIP stands for Bitcoin Improvement Proposal, there is no Bitcoin Improvement Agreement for the simple reason that users cannot and should not be coerced into adopting unwanted changes to the protocol. As a community, we should strive to propose, educate, and convince. Overriding the governance mechanisms through closed agreements does not foster unity. 1) An agreement, instead of a proposal: from the onset, there was a clear deficiency of transparency and clarity from the leading S2X’s developers. Countless cases of interested parties being barred from freely subscribing to the mailing list, or accessing the slack channel, were verified. That cannot be considered open participation. Although this has somewhat been resolved, it contributed to confusion and suspicion**,** resulting in many parties simply distrusting or not believing SegWit2x true intentions. In the end, we are left wondering if NYA is genuinely about Bitcoin scaling or simply a subterfuge for a “governance takeover”, if the latter was even possible. Moreover, participation was encouraged only on the basis of obedience to a pre-agreed upon decision. If the technical and security merits of a “2mb hardfork in 3 months” are not permitted to be discussed, participating seems a sterile exercise. 2) Lack of development and objective transparency: : it has been frequently stated that SegWit2x represented a compromise. Immediate activation of SegWit (BIP141), as many users desired (by conservative measures over 70% of full nodes were already running SegWit ready software by then), and an increase in base blocksize limit to 2mb, as desired by miners and in accordance with an alleged agreement made during the Hong Kong Scaling Conference — though such an agreement was nothing more than a few developers promising to do research and make an open code proposal. A compromise in a decentralized consensus protocol poses a grave problem as it shows little regard for the technical consequences on the whole network. Changes impacting the consensus layer should not be adopted based on accords simply because some participants (be it miners, or merchants, or developers) are insisting on them. It is immensely difficult to make the case this isn’t a politically motivated change, one which has little to do with enhancements of the network. If Bitcoin’s protocol can be altered by the sheer pressure of select participants, it means decentralized consensus has failed. It means Bitcoin cannot and will not withstand even greater attacks in the future. To assert that S2X, if successful, sets a bad precedent is a gross understatement. 3) Political compromise, instead of technical upgrade technological as a decentralized free open-source software, changes to bitcoin’s protocol cannot be forced upon users of the network. As previously argued, had the proponents of S2X merely proposed a change, engaged in open and truthful debate, the divisive situation could have been avoided in its entirety. If upgrades are in fact needed, let us build consensus around them. 4) Consensus imposition, instead of consensus building: this was perhaps one of the most controversial stances by the S2X developing team. The outright refusal, followed by persistent reluctance, to implement strong replay protection gave a sense of recklessness to the entire community. It seems, at times, that S2X aims at deliberately causing disruption in the expectation users will capitulate and end up upgrading to its incompatible implementation. This posture undermines S2X’s own credibility as a legitimate attempt to improve the protocol. 5) Replay protection and unnecessary disruption: trust is an emergent property where multiple parties must act in strict conformity to the rules or risk consensus failure. Consensus is achieved by: i) full nodes independently validating transactions, ii) miners aggregating transactions into a block and producing a proof of work, iii) full nodes verifying miners’ blocks, and iv) full nodes selecting the longest valid chain. Seeking majority hashpower as a means to demonstrate consensus is pointless. Miners provide an essential service to the network, but they do not determine consensus. Mining does not define what the rules are. Full nodes enforce rules and defend the network against arbitrary changes by rejecting invalid transactions or blocks. If miners did have the sole power of affecting protocol changes at their own discretion, Bitcoin wouldn’t be a robust and secure network. 6) Emphasis on mining to the detriment of users: hardforking, by definition, means breaking backwards compatibility. Hardforking without consensus guarantees a chain split. For a network worth billions of dollars being used by millions of users, allowing for sufficient planning, testing, and preparation should be a self-imposed best practice. Unfortunately, S2X’s implementation (btc1 core) adopted a hasty timeline for activating a hardfork, risking leaving a significant portion of users adrift. Additionally, the so-called “quiet period” before the date of activation makes S2X all the more worrying. We would have preferred to see the risk of a chain split being mitigated by open and intensive testing instead. Downplaying backwards compatibility and security issues makes us extremely uneasy about running btc1 core software. 7) Impatience over prudence: we obviously prefer low fees to high fees, faster confirmations than longer confirmations, but simply raising base blocksize limit to 2mb now is a partial solution at best. As acknowledged by the very proponents of S2X, even 2mb is considered already insufficient and further increases should be implemented soon. If that is the case, does S2X plan on hardforking every 3 or 6 or 12 months? Congestion in the network is not a fundamentally technical problem to Bitcoin’s protocol. It certainly prevents some use cases in the short term, but does not imperil the network’s functionality and utility. We believe preserving Bitcoin’s censorship-resistant properties should be a top priority in protocol development. 8) A non-solution to a perceived problem: the chances of a chain split overburden exchanges, payment processors, and wallet services that must plan, prepare, and support a new coin in the event of a permanent split, encumbering these third-parties with potential liabilities should they refrain from doing so. Furthermore, it causes network turmoil by requiring participants to take extra precautions prior to the fork to safeguard wallets and by exposing users to possible loss of funds. Averting disorder in the network should be a prime concern in protocol upgrades, it is unfortunate to realize S2X might accomplish the very opposite. Lastly, uncertainty originated from S2X tends to reverberate negatively in the markets affecting asset prices across cryptocurrencies in general. 9) Externalizing risks, network and market turmoil and potential liabilities: it seems that miners have been misled into signing to a promise that overwhelming agreement in the network would be achieved. But since this is clearly not the case, if miners do run btc1 core, they endanger their operations by mining a chain the majority of users will invalidate. A more prudent approach would have been to recommend miners to “execute a hardfork if the signs of consensus in the network are unequivocal”, but never “do hardfork at all costs”. 10) Misleading miners: unfortunately, companies we do admire and have business with have released misleading statements regarding S2X inadvertently withholding crucial information from its users about what is really at play in the network. Everyone is free to choose the software they want to run, but customers should be rightfully informed if its service provider is adopting an incompatible implementation and what the risks are. 11) Misleading statements by some proponents: We believe sooner or later upgrades to the protocol will necessitate a hardfork. With due planning and preparation the network can smoothly coordinate to effectuate such changes with minimal chances of chain split and disruption. That, however, requires time, education and testing. Governance in a free open-source software is a complex business and some parties become frustrated by the lack of agility or ability to upgrade the protocol. Roadmaps, promises, and compromises are innocuous in a decentralized consensus network where no entity or group of actors can unilaterally dictate and enforce rules at will. We are all part of consensus. For all the reasons above, the Brazilian and Argentinian Bitcoin communities stand in opposition to SegWit2x. We consider any potential benefit arising from a hardfork as per the NYA is not worth the risks. Therefore, we urge its proponents to discontinue this endeavor and reengage the community towards a healthy and collaborative process for improving Bitcoin’s protocol. Signatories From Brazil: Bitcoin Brasil (Facebook group with 65K members, public poll shows results of more than 97% support in 720 respondents) Bit.One Bitsendal (Bitwage in Brazil) Blinktrade Blockchain Hub Braziliex CoinBR Coinkite, Opendime Criptomoedasfacil.com FoxBit ITS Rio MercadoBitcoin NegocieCoins OriginalMy Star Labs SuM Law TradeBit Walltime From Argentina: laBITconf (Latin American Bitcoin & Blockchain Conference) ONG Bitcoin Argentina Bitcoin Argentina Meetup group Bitcoin Argentina forum (public poll shows results of more than 99% support in ~350 respondents) EspacioBitcoin From Spain: Meetup Bitcoin Madrid Individual Signatories (many more to be included soon): Alex Bráz Alexandre Ferraz Alexandre Leite André Baptista André Ramos Arthur Campos Edilson Osorio Jr. Fabiano Dias Fabro Steibel (Diretor Executivo do ITS Rio) Felipe D’avila Felipe Micaroni Lalli Fernando Cesar Fernando Ulrich Gabriel Aleixo Geraldo Bastos Helena Margarido Hygoor Jorge Cruz Freire Jéssica Lima Jhonatas Wesly Joana Santos João Dias João Paulo Mayall Joeldo Holanda José Wilker Marco Agner Marcelo Henrique Sáez Quiñónez Marcelo Zola Zanotim Mathias Negrão Kux Murilo Valadares Nelson Lowenhaupt Junior Paulo Aragão Rafael Motta Rafael Nogueirol Renan Kruger Renato Nunes Renato Oliveira Santos Rocelo Lopes Rodini Netto Rodolfo Novak Rodrigo Cassio Rodrigo Saraiva Marinho Rodrigo Souza Rubens Neistein Safiri Felix Thiago Cesar Úrsula Vergilio Victor Hugo Guimarães Costa Vitor Augusto Pedrozo Dias Wendel Smith

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