Several ways that Information Technology could help build peace in the world

In IT programs or even in Information Technology education, not everyone knows that technology could help build peace. Tech innovations for conflict resolution and peace need not have a true social impact in order to succeed. Most people would only help change the world if it comes without true sacrifice and so it speaks to ongoing controversies. Conflict resolution and humanitarian development with technology-based approaches are admired by policymakers for their promise to quick-fix solutions. The traditional peacebuilding policy, which involve careful analysis for years or even decades is upended by ‘disruptive’ solutions that are gaining traction. Peace researchers who want to influence policy debates could not just release findings but should establish mechanisms to implement.

THE GOAL OF PEACE SCIENCE

The peace science’s goal is to comprehend ways to contribute better to peacebuilding. This implies that scholars should recognize how the new forms of knowledge and communication dissemination influence the policy world and be ready to react and act accordingly. New information technology systems could open up novel approaches to building peace. This was especially apparent in a lot of projects that use video games as a tool for attitude change. For instance, Peace Superheroes that is in development currently, offers players a chance to take on the role of peace builders as they transform violence.

TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE

There’s a lot to be excited about in using information technology to build peace. In comparison to traditional ways of shaping the peacebuilding policy, technology approaches are more bottom-up and designed to directly engage with citizens, in contrast to working via recalcitrant or cumbersome politicians. Solutions like electronic tracing applications for conflict minerals or crowdsourcing experiences of victims to create a knowledge base for reconciliation and truth committees could better assist those who need it most. However, often start-ups launch peacebuilding initiatives without engaging deeply with existing knowledge or even worse, do not think that this knowledge is needed. This could mean that they’re useless to local communities or much worse, could be repurposed by governments to target people that the technology was supposed to help.

USING TECHNOLOGY FOR BUILDING PEACE

One major reason of using technologies in building peace is that they could empower a bigger number of people to engage and to participate. There are a lot of ways that technology could be used for empowering different groups in both conflict and post-conflict contexts. For example, there are well-documented tensions between state uses of technologies for security implications and surveillance of some grassroots uses.
Another assumption that underlies the use of technologies for building peace is that it could help boost peacebuilding, with the caution that there are risks and ethical issues associated with it. It’s evident in the proliferation of innovative initiatives and a lot of discussions on the role of technologies in more traditional peacebuilding.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS AND PEACE BUILDERS

Tech developers and peace builders shared reasons for concern and hope about the future. But in one aspect, they were united in smaller or bigger ways. Build Peace is a conference for social entrepreneurs and activists who want to look for ways to harness technology for building peace. There was huge agreement that on its own technology would not be able to solve conflicts, in comparison to several of the more techno-utopian ideas that apparently had captured the imaginations of people a few years back. The acknowledgement that technology could only be truly effective when used by, or in coordination with peace builders with in-depth knowledge of societies and conflict being targeted.

ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEACE

The depth and variety of experience shared in the Peace Building conference demonstrated that the use of technology for building peace is on the rise. Nevertheless, there are also alternative infrastructures for peace that are the result of tech-enabled initiatives.

1. Making space for new visions. Digital media provides the tools for collaborative media creation and dissemination, including blogs, social media, citizen journalism, wikis and more. Local peace builders use these tools to bring new voices to the public.

2. Making digital trust networks. SMS and online platforms could be used not only for instant messages transmission, they could also be used to form longer term relationships and regular exchanges. Local peace builders use groups in mobile chat rooms, social media and dedicated networking platforms for nurturing exchanges between groups, which are divided by conflict lines.

3. Counteracting calls for chaos and violence. Technology tools, too often are used to solicit and organization violent actions actively. Peace makers use the same tools as violent groups to counter violence calls through mobilizing collective positive messaging expression.

Powerful technology tools are on the rise in the hands of local peace builders and results to the widespread use of innovative initiatives. The technology for peace is a series of tools, which enable local peace makers to communicate with more people in a lot of ways, gather better information and substation relationships on digital platforms.

Online and mobile technology boosts operational efficiency of microfinance

Information technology could cut the rates in the microfinance industry. Both online and mobile tech could boost the operational efficiency of microfinance companies and could result in lower rates of interest.

A general manager of Microsoft Services at the Development Bank of Jamaica or DBJ, Paul Chin state that information technology systems could cut the rates in microfinance. Furthermore, he stated that high administrative costs were the major actors in the soaring interest rates in the sector and the costs are high, as loans are smaller and require a similar management as bigger loans. Investments in IT services however could help boost efficiencies, which, in the long term could help lower interests and cut down on administrative expenses.

THE CONVENIENCE THAT SMART PHONES BRING

The rising usage of smart phones could help lenders in doing disbursements without having a borrower to into a bank branch and conversely, customers also could make payments and check the balances of their loans online. Thus, the use of online and mobile tech in the industry would lower operational costs and boost financial transactions cost. Furthermore, technology enables fast dissemination of best practices, thus strengthening the institutional capability of financing organizations and institutions. Chin further explained that adding micro-clients in general honored their loan commitments. Technology facilitated customers who wanted to make payments after business hours. There are also kiosks to facilitate clients who want to pay after office hours. The use of technology has helped gather relevant information about various services and products. Moreover, it also helps make businesses more efficient.

IT, A POWERFUL TOOL TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Information technology emerged as a powerful tool for boosting the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations, which make it viable for the microfinance industry to expand into a low-income rural area. IT value implementation became the main concern for the sector to boost organizational performance to have a competitive edge. Information technology value implementation should be at all times evaluated and improved is performance continuously to ensure that the IT app could result in the expected control, value and aligned with the strategy of the organization to have a competitive advantage, which focuses on achieving the company’s business objectives.

TECHNOLOGY RESHAPES EQUILIBRIUMS AMONG STAKEHOLDERS

To a great extent, technology, with access to social networks, the internet and cashless electronic payments reshapes the equilibriums among various stakeholders. Technology bridges the gap between the people in rural areas and the financial services sector. It could be used to improve efficiency of credit delivery and minimizing costs. IT is critical for microfinance companies because it provides opportunities to reduce delivery costs and process management, aside from bringing about operations transparency. It assumes more significance due to the manpower-intensive nature of the business. For microfinance firms to grow fast, operations should be supported by scalable and robust systems.

Information technology could be leveraged in order to achieve the following objectives:

1. Customer-centricity. Microfinance institutions no longer could adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, which restrict their offerings to a skeletal spread of microfinance for SHG or Self Help Groups as well as deposits and small loans. They should cater to the need of the market for an extensive range of insurance and banking products that arise from diverse customer groups, which range from agri-based sector, small scale and cottage industry and artisans. A main route wherein MFIS could address the requirements is to have an integrated back office environment. It provides an actionable and holistic view of the clientele, their accounts, transactions, interactions, and products from one integrated hub. This could enable microfinance companies to mine customer data and leverage information to give customers customized financial services, which fulfill their requirements. Capitalizing on currently existing data helps MFIS save money as well as take a hold of cross-sell opportunities.

2. Process-centricity. Microfinance firms should migrate to an IT environment, which comprises of an integrated suite of core function enabling systems, which make it easy for them to standardize processes for all of their services. This environment introduces the much required intelligence into the organization and empowers it to chart a sustainable and successful future road map that in turn could strengthen profitability.

3. Knowledge repository. The microfinance industry could leverage technology for building a knowledge repository through consolidating knowledge on customers, products, processes, systems, revenue and practices. This gives them a 360-degree, integrated view of the entity. The consolidated knowledge is an intellectual capital could be realized through sharing it proactively with all stakeholders, within and outside the microfinance organizations. Thus, employees would be empowered with the necessary knowledge to grow and sustain the business. Also, they would have a wide range of information to match clients with products and allow process mapping to business challenge. A data base tool provision captures rural data and technical specs of these rural data base and its architecture.

Information technology has undoubtedly transformed how microfinance entities operate. The industry has witnessed remarkable transformation with the adoption of information and communications technology.

Microsoft is helping companies and businesses track carbon emissions

The Microsoft update is all about helping companies track carbon emissions. Microsoft’s Azure solution gathers real-time carbon emissions data from the WattTime API or Application Programming Interface as well as from the global weather data. The software giant is doing its part to make the world pollution free through offering organizations a platform that is environment-friendly. It’s called the ‘Smart Energy Azure Demonstration’, which could help businesses track energy emissions almost on a real-time basis.

MICROSOFT OFFERS A GREEN PLATFORM

The green platform is available on the Cloud Computing service Azure that uses tech from WattTime, which is a US-based organization that brings clean energy to IoT and buildings that users data from power grid operators all throughout the country and enable companies to keep tabs on their carbon emissions. The partnership of Microsoft office with WattTime provide power users the freedom to opt when and potentially to where they want electricity to come from. Customers for the first time could determine the carbon footprint of the power generator, which would be tapped when flipping on a switch. This enables customers to optimize where and when they use power to lower emissions. This visualizes data in time, demonstrating the ability of collecting related data pieces to one place to enable automation to act on the conclusions gathered from it.

USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO BOOST ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The environmental strategy of Microsoft is based on three themes, namely, using IT to boost energy efficiency, accelerate research breakthroughs and demonstrate responsible environmental leadership. Society these days has the opportunity of using software for eliminating more greenhouse gas emissions every year than released currently to hasten tech breakthroughs, which enable the transition to a more energy-efficient and cleaner economy. The investment focuses on reducing energy use from information technology.

With energy efficient gains, the IT landscape could significantly increase computing productivity with no need to increase the amount of energy consumed by computers. Microsoft would work with other leading firms to utilize software for driving considerable energy efficiency gains in everything, from transportation, buildings to energy grids and manufacturing. Furthermore, Microsoft is developing solutions that help organizations as well as governments track carbon emission easily.

RESEARCH BREAKTHROUGHS ACCELERATION

Microsoft works with leading scientists to widen the boundaries of the knowledge of the planet. Furthermore, they are also working to build technologies, tools and models to accelerate scientific comprehension on a worldwide scale. The efforts include:

1. Allowing fundamental science advances. Microsoft is working with a scientific community for monitoring environmental conditions and to develop computational tools and methods to aid scientists analyze and correlate data across research efforts.

2. Provide the scientific community access to computing power. The tech giant would work with leading scientists worldwide for access to research, facilities, collaboration tools and computing power to help advance the scientific research.

3. Model the impact of climate change. Microsoft helps create advanced modeling technologies, which help boost the understanding of local and global climate changes as well as the consequences on the environment of human activity on ecosystems and species.

Reportedly, Microsoft is testing the program in various regions in the United States, but provided Greenbiz with an example only from Princeton University. Princeton uses a combination of energy sources that include the Princeton Energy Plant to provide steam, electricity and chilled water for powering, heating and cooling the buildings on the campus. Furthermore, the university used to determine the energy requirements using information on supply, cost and data on carbon emission what was months old. Now, Princeton would be able to make better determinations of energy use with more updated information on their carbon dioxide emissions.

THE WATTTIME TECHNOLOGY

The technology of WattTime aims to make it easier even for an average person to better regulate and reduce carbon footprint. For organizations, information typically was available on a yearly average. Today, companies using Microsoft Azure can get updated emissions information every five minutes. A demo is available on GitHub, together with an explanation, which breaks down the workings of the technology. The demo solution showcases how data from various web-based APIs could be mined, visualized and acted on in an Azure solution. The solution gathers carbon emission in real time from the WattTime API, global weather data and weather forecasts coming from the Wunderground API. Then it visualizes data to enable a user to understand the relationship between the two.

Now, there are more windows wherein there are more opportunities for low-emissions, low-cost electricity. Organizations would know better when to target energy consumptions. Setup for the program needs help from software experts who are using Microsoft Azure. This is where the GitHub demonstration comes in.

Read more information: http://www.btvi.in/article/read/technology/28010/how-microsoft-cloud-helps-companies-track-carbon-emissions

Keeping up with Technology and the Information Technology environment

With the fast evolution of the Information Technology industry, some people lament that IT has become oversaturated. However, the truth is that technology is growing constantly. A non-profit group Engine Advocacy that advocates public policies that encourage growth of technology start-ups in California, United States, and the job growth in the IT sector is beating the rest of the economy of the United States by three-to-one. This is also supported by a study made by the MEI or Monster Employment Index in Malaysia that says IT online hiring, telecommunications and other business processes that are IT-based increased by 12 percent this year.

IT PROGRAMS OFFERED IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS

In many colleges and universities these days, administrators are more and more aware of the relevance of technology. These institutions are offering degrees and programs to produce work-ready, competent graduates who could meet the demands and needs of the information technology industry. The programs and courses offered ensure that students possess the skills necessary for designing, developing and delivering software or technology in their future jobs. Students, for instance who are pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology could choose among three specializations, which include Software Engineering, Business Systems Design and Computer Networks. Students could select from a wide range of IT programs.

STEPS AND RESOURCES FOR KEEPING UPDATED WITH TECHNOLOGY

The evolution of information technology in business could not be denied. With the rapid changes happening in the industry, there are things to take into account in order to keep up with technology. Some include the following.

1. Determine the needs. A business has to determine the needs from the kind of technology it lives and work with, the existing knowledge base, as well as the learning style. Whatever the technology is, it requires better handle on fundamentals, such as magnetism, electricity, sound, light, fluid behavior and other fundamentals as needed. All these are building blocks. Learn more on the specific devices used, this could truly help.

2. Assess the available resources. From books, magazines to formal training sessions on the internet, there are various sources for technology-related information. Explore the options and determine which resource work best.

3. Rank resources in order of usefulness. The great thing about technology is that there are many resources. Weed them out and choose the resources that have even a small chance of working for the business and rank them in terms of importance or matter, lifestyle and learning style.

4. Make time to use resources. Some resources are for keeps. Integrating technology education into day-to-day routine only takes a few minutes a day.

KEEPING UPDATED WITH TECHNOLOGY IS CRUCIAL FOR BUSINESS

Keeping updated with technology is vital for every business, even those businesses that are not considered ‘technology’ organizations. An organization or business deals with technology in the security system, office productivity software, computers and networks, air conditioning, phone systems and more. Regardless if it is a simple cash register program that keep tabs on daily purchases or inventory or a sophisticated network linking places and people all over the world, technology helps enterprises maintain a competitive advantage and create a robust presence in the business world nowadays.

To compete in the business world today, it’s necessary to keep updated with technology to get the most of it, to keep abreast of new and emerging technology and to find information to make the right decisions when it comes to buying.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Internet
Check out a good search engine and learn to use it particularly the advanced search features. This allows the staff to find user’s groups, manufacturer’s websites, purchasing guides, bulletin boards and online magazines.

Radio/Technology
Both have several shows dedicated to technology, including regular series, documentaries, news items, Q&A shows and more. Look for programs that deliver the best information to integrate into the daily schedule and to stay informed.

Magazines
Several magazines cater to the technology industry. Browse through these to find out which ones meet the needs of the organization. Subscribe to some that offer the most useful resources to read every month. Another option is to visit the local library every now and then to skim back issues.

Newspapers
All major newspapers cover technology topics in some way. Newspapers have listings of Q&A columns, useful websites, product reviews and user tips. Such features allow people to learn more at a glance. Make a habit of checking them out and cut out useful item to post on the company bulletin board.

Books
There are many ‘tech’ books today. They definitely are worth the time and effort. Buy a few for general reference and make them accessible to employees. The books tell how different technologies work, but most have useful appendices and glossaries, which explain the basic principles.

People
Seminars are great in getting updated on technology fast. Also, look for super users in the organization and consider them as resource.

Keeping updated with technology is crucial due to its central role in people’s lives. Keeping up to date with technology is possible due to the vast resources made available.

IT outsourcing myths busted

When it comes to outsourcing IT, naturally there are myths about the process. Some enterprises are dependent deeply on outsourcing. However, there are other enterprises that thrive through limiting their outsourcing to a minor part of their overall IT operations, and manage their core activities themselves.

Then there are those enterprises, which do not outsource at all, achieve efficiency as well as cost-effectiveness by doing everything in-house. Various types of outsourcing models work for various businesses. What type of outsourcing would be beneficial for a business would depend on the business’ exact requirements. A lot of entrepreneurs are not willing to make outsourcing as part of the business strategy due to the misconceptions and myths associated with outsourcing.

Below are the IT outsourcing myths busted.

Myth No. 1: Outsourced activities are out of your control. In outsourcing, it is important to work with people stationed at remote places and do not get to meet personally. Yet, this does not mean that one is not in control of the project. The truth is, the IT partner’s business model revolves around performing a good job for the client. If the service provider fails to deliver, the customer will not renew the contract. To succeed in the business, he should do a perfect job for the client. While a client will not get to meet the outsourcing partner regularly, but the service provider would do his best in delivering the best quality service or product since doing so is his self-interest.

Myth No. 2: Outsourcing only works for big players. A lot of small and middle businesses do not go for outsourcing since they think that they’re too small to take advantage of an outsourced model. In the model, the size of a business do not really matter. Anyway, a business will only outsource a small part of their whole business pattern. For example, if one wants an application developed, one has to outsource the making of an application to any app development company.

Myth No. 3: Outsourcing stands for low quality and prices. Companies outsource obviously to save cost. An outsourcing partner which delivers lower quality would not be able to survive in the marketplace that is competitive. A successful Information Technology partner is one which charges lower rates and continues to deliver better quality. They’re able to do this as they use better technology for doing the work and at instances their development centers are situated in places such as India, wherein the cost is very well-trained professionals is lower.

Myth No. 4: Outsourcing means cultural and language barriers. The myth automatically gets busted when taking into account the fact that English is the universal language as well as cultural barriers have melted away under the light of Internet and global TV. The companies taking outsourced tasks employ professionals well-versed in the culture and language of the country wherein they get their projects.

Myth No. 5: Outsourcing drags times and could cause overpays. When a client and outsourcing partner are clear about the kind of work to be done and the contract carefully negotiated, there is hardly any scope for cost overruns and delays. The partnerships between software development firms and mobile startups is common. Most of the partnerships go further on one project. The firms that take up the projects outsourced try their best to accomplish the project on a timely manner since they value their own reputation.

Myth No. 6: You don’t know that you will get. When a client is clear on the kind of final product needed and the service provider has understand the project, then there hardly is any scope for a mismatch in a final product. Before initiating a project, a customer should ask the development firm to show a rough template of what the final product would appear. This ensures that there’s more clarity regarding work that the outsourcing company is expected to do and that there are no last minute surprises.

Myth No. 7: Outsourcing could steal intellectual property. The easy solution for this fear is a watertight NDA with the IT outsourcing provider. Once the NDA is in place, there’s no reason to fear on any intellectual property loss.

Myth No. 8: You spend less time on communication. Once a project is outsourced, it is imperative to keep in touch with the service provider. Make sure to keep tabs on the way the project progresses, or if there’s any scope for more project improvement. Such coordination ensures that the outcome of the project is better than the customer expectations.

Microsoft Paint isn’t dead, instead it has a new home

Good news Guys! Microsoft Paint isn’t going away, it’s here to stay but somewhere else. The company said the app will soon land in the Windows Store for free. Microsoft’s spokesperson revealed in an email that “Available with the Windows 10 Creators Update, the app will feature an array of new 3D capabilities, photo editing, line and curve tools. So that people can enjoy the best creative tools all in one place.”

It was previously reported that paint was on the Microsoft’s list “deprecated” features for future releases. Which means it won’t be active in development and could be removed anytime soon. But the incredible outpouring of support and nostalgia around MS Paint enforced the software to stay. The program initially released in 1985 with the first version of windows 1.0 and has been installed with each and every version since. It has been 32 years, and today MS Paint has a lot of fans who took to social media to express their grief and love for the iconic feature. The hashtag “RIPMSPaint” was also trending throughout the day.

I guess I need to learn photoshop now

— Mel Eshaghbeigi (@eshaghbeigi) July 24, 2017

To everyone’s relief, makers decided to revoke their decision and stated that the paint will now have a new home soon in the windows store. Last year, Microsoft unveiled Paint 3D, a new version of the classic software. It is much more advanced, allowing users to create three-dimensional images. This is currently part of Windows 10.

The best art made using Microsoft Paint 

The image seems to be pretty recognizable, isn’t it? It is the scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows created by a renowned paint artist Pat Hines. 

This drawing from Hines shows Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates holding the same picture of himself on a tablet screen.

The artist Bruno Sousa captures a Melancholic looking Pikachu using a simple airbrush tool. It took a while to complete and he further describes that paint isn’t as easy as any other drawing program.

 It nearly took 50 hours to draw this realistic looking picture of Santa Clause on MS Paint.

The incredibly crisp painting of a city looks like Venice was created by Deviant Art Diamonster whose teacher spotted his artistic talent while he was just five.