Allister Smith

This is a reminder that I'm doing a talk this evening for Front-end Development South Africa (FEDSA) about an Introduction to Local-First. A new paradigm that is sweeping the developer community along with a demo of PowerSync. Find out more here https://lnkd.in/dabDdhJf #meetup #fedsa #localfirst #software #developer #newsoftware #softwareengineer #powersync

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The new EON AI Ready Metaverse is simply amazing. I’ve been dreaming for years of the day to come when anyone can create metaverse experiences on the fly for learning, training and performing. I must admit that the latest version of EON AI Ready Metaverse release by EON Reality Inc this week surpasses all my expectations see the video attached. The most amazing part about this video is that the 10 experiences consist of complete metaverse experience with several indoors outdoors 360 environments, 3-D assets, knowledge portals, assessments and artificial intelligence reports. 💯 % of this was generated by an AI agent. All I did was provided a wish list of the titles of the experiences I wanted to create and then I went for a cup of coffee. When I returned those Spatial AI METAVERSE experiences were created. Also anyone can experience these on a normal smart phone, tablet or a laptop, no need for expensive headsets although if you have them, they also are supported. I’m super proud with the EON’s teams work. With this we can accelerate our vision of making Spatial AI knowledge transfer available, accessible and affordable for everybody on the planet. 🌍 Knowledge is a human right, what are you waiting for? Join the knowledge revolution!

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The LinkedIn-Cape Town bubble annoys me. 🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️🙆🏽‍♂️ Cape Town is increasingly portrayed as an ideal tourist destination, especially by startup founders or people in need of a break or seeking self-discovery. As someone deeply rooted in this city - and born here, I lived in Cape Town for all my live - I would like to peel back a few layers of this glossy utopia: 🔥 The breathtaking hiking trails of Cape Town increasingly harbor dangers. Attacks on hikers, sometimes with tragic outcomes, are a bitter reality seldom mentioned in the glamorous travel reports. 🔥 Township tours may be educational for some, but it's questionable whether it's appropriate to observe people in poverty like animals in a zoo. Although some of the proceeds go to the communities, there are worthier ways to help. 🔥 In South Africa, so-called load shedding is implemented to shut off electricity for several hours due to the energy crisis. Power outages are a daily challenge for many locals. Tourists are hardly affected in their well-equipped accommodations. However, locals regularly struggle with the effects of the energy crisis. 🔥 The 2019 water crisis restricted Cape Town residents to 90-second showers per day and turned their lives upside down. However, many tourists ignored these drastic measures and acted wastefully. 🔥 Crime is a daily reality for residents. While tourists enjoy the waterfront, locals live in constant vigilance against burglaries and assaults. 🔥 A visit to the police station reveals a wall full of photos of missing children - a silent crisis that exists far from the tourist glitter world. 🔥 Poverty is so widespread that one is now confronted not only with the townships along the airport but also with shacks within the city. 🔥 Many South Africans try to emigrate to Europe due to high corruption, poverty, and crime. I am not writing this to spread fear or diminish the beauty of Cape Town or the warmth of its people but to bring a little reality into the LinkedIn-Cape Town bubble. When Cape Town is romanticized as a "second home," I wonder: What are you really doing for this home? Such a statement seems disrespectful if one does not recognize and address the underlying problems. It is important to experience and understand the city with open eyes. The real Cape Town is beautiful and complex. To truly appreciate it, one must be aware that it is a city with real people and real problems. So when you visit Cape Town, please take a close look. Perhaps you'll find ways to make a positive contribution instead of just consuming.

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'So how easy is it to steal someone's money via a phishing email with a link?' 'It is THIS easy'. You will be shocked. Hope FNB South Africa is watching. As a business you are liable if a payment transaction is being interfered with and the amount that is paid, ends up in a malicious bank account when the invoice is sent via email (Gauteng High Court, case Hawarden v Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc (13849/2020), 2023). Make sure your company and your customers are protected and start using a secure, cloud based client portal for 2-way file sharing. Talk to us 4S Business Cloud Software and Service for Visma | PinkWeb's leading solution from The Netherlands. #cloudcomputing #clientportal #hacking #phishing #attorneys #informationsecurity #documentsharing #ransomware #offline #assetmanagers #attorneys #accounting https://lnkd.in/djvepX29

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Just kicked off our first round of test users for Ai Tutors focusing on Matric Finals 🚀 If you're aware of anyone looking to give their children an additional advantage heading into their IEB final exams, this is the perfect opportunity for them! 📚 #AiTutors #MatricFinals #IEBExams

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🚚 People ask me, "What is AnyVan?" I explain it from the supply-side, "It's like Uber for van drivers." Of course, it's a two-sided marketplace, so there are many angles I could use. And it's that complexity that gives me so many intellectual challenges in my workday. It's that complexity that makes working with our DATA so challenging, and rewarding. And we're just beginning. There's so much work ahead to wrangle our immense data store into something meaningful for our many stakeholders. If you're a smart and ambitious data professional that enjoys a challenge and a good work/life balance, AnyVan's Data Team might just be for you. We're looking for data engineers and data scientists. Applying is free, you should do it 👇 Senior Data Engineer: https://lnkd.in/eqyq--FW Data Scientist: https://lnkd.in/eBZmhKaj Or DM me for more info 🎉

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Welcome to Feature Friday! In today's discussion, we take a look at  the often unseen drawbacks of relying on free instant messaging services for business communications, exploring why a shift to a paid service could be more beneficial than it appears. Understanding the Pitfalls of Free Messaging Services While the allure of free services is undeniable, the compromises often outweigh the savings: Data Privacy Concerns: Free messaging platforms make their money by selling your  data to advertisers. In a business environment this  can involve sharing your business communications with third parties. Compliance Challenges: These services may not adhere to stringent data protection regulations, posing a legal risk to businesses that handle sensitive information. Limited Functionalities: The lack of advanced features can hinder effective business communication, reducing overall productivity and operational efficiency. Security Risks: Beyond Data Privacy Another critical concern with free messaging services is their vulnerability to security threats such as phishing scams and fraudulent documents, including invoices. Businesses frequently exchange financial information and sensitive data through these platforms, and scammers can exploit security weaknesses to send fraudulent messages or altered documents, such as fake invoices or misleading banking details. The Advantages of Opting for a Paid Messaging Service Considering a paid messaging solution provides clear advantages, particularly for businesses that prioritize security and functionality: Robust Security Features: Paid services invest heavily in securing communication channels to prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, and mitigate the risk of email scams. Compliance: PageMe service is designed with compliance to global and local regulations in mind, endeavoring to safeguard your business against potential legal troubles. Superior Control and Customization: Unlike free platforms, paid services often offer extensive customisation options and more control over your data and communication practices. While free messaging services are tempting, the hidden cost is the potential  impact on your business. If you are  looking for a secure, compliant, and customisable communication solution, it's worth considering a paid alternative. For businesses seeking to enhance their communication infrastructure securely and efficiently, PageMe offers a robust platform designed with the needs of modern enterprises in mind. To learn more about how PageMe can help protect your business against common cyber threats like phishing and fraudulent communications, visit our website or send us a message directly on our page. (https://lnkd.in/dH_-TfEE) #FeatureFriday #BusinessCommunication #DataPrivacy #InvestInSecurity

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An insightful examination of South Africa's national AI plan sheds light on several critical issues: the lack of clarity and practicality, disconnection from key policies essential for meaningful AI utilization, and the absence of job-ready educational programs. Challenges are underlined by South Africa's low ranking in the Government AI Readiness Index, especially amongst the global push for AI regulation and policy development. The delay in formulating a national AI strategy risks portraying South Africa as disinterested or out of touch with global AI advancements, potentially causing it to fall behind other African nations and major global players. Proposed improvements aim to address these concerns extensively. Firstly, enhancing clarity and practicality in the revised draft is crucial for broader audience understanding. Integrating the plan with key policies, notably the draft national data and cloud policy, will ensure clarity and effectiveness in AI implementation. Additionally, strengthening collaboration between the AI initiative and the education sector thus is vital in addressing skill deficiencies and aligning with workforce demands. Accelerating implementation is critical to avoid further delays and maintain competitiveness in the evolving AI landscape. #AIstrategy #AIPolicy #SouthAfricaAI #AIReadiness #EducationForAI #CloudPolicy #TechPolicy #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #GlobalAI

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There's more to blockchain technology than just cryptocurrencies and NFTs. This innovation has the potential to make a positive impact in various industries and communities worldwide. Have you seen any real-world examples of blockchain being used for good ? Check out this inspiring story about an app transforming lives in South African fishing communities. #blockchainforpositivechange #realworldapplications #socialimpact

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It's a Wrap! Last Saturday, the Azure, AI/ML & Data Durban community group held the inaugural "Data & AI Community Day Durban" event in BETSoftware's astounding offices in Umhlanga. If I may say so myself, it was a huge success! We had 175+ attendees, and I believe they all went home happy! Certain sessions were standing-room only. Such a session was the keynote. In the keynote, the Reddy brothers, Theo Reddy and Lawrance Reddy, focused on using the same key readiness principles as another pair of famous brothers did in 1903, the Wright brothers and the first flight. Theo and Lawrance used the Wright brothers' principles to take one's first AI use case to flight simply and uncomplicated. As it was with the first flight, which lasted 12 seconds and 36 metres, the AI use case may not be that far the first time either. The important part is that you do it! "Ready, Set AI!"

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Ever dream of snagging a top-of-the-line laptop for R55? Well, that dream almost became reality for some lucky Makro app users this weekend! 🤑 😍 I'm sure we all saw the news about Makro's recent pricing error on their online and mobile shopping apps. While some might see it as a funny story of unreal discounts (R55 for Laptops and Coffee machines), it highlights a critical issue in eCommerce: the importance of robust Software Quality Assurance practices. As not to not stir up any godship or slander, not much is shared with the public when incidents like this happen, so we can't debate on exactly how to prevent the cause of this "Glitch", as they describe it, regardless here's what concerns me from a QA perspective: ☕️Testing Procedures: Were there thorough regression tests conducted after the implementation of a new system? Utilizing automated testing tools for various scenarios, including pricing validation, can significantly reduce the risk of errors. 📅 Data Integrity: Pricing is a core component of any online store. A glitch causing such a massive price drop suggests potential issues with data integrity or validation. 🔢 What can we do as testers to prevent such embarrassing situations for our clients? ✅ Data Mocking: Data mocking allows us to simulate various pricing scenarios during testing. Developing comprehensive test cases that specifically cover pricing logic and data integrity is crucial. This includes testing different pricing rules, promotions, and scenarios where pricing data might be manipulated. ✅ Real-time Monitoring: Implementing automated monitoring systems can provide real-time alerts to pricing anomalies. This allows testers to quickly investigate and address any potential issues before they impact customers. While Makro's terms of use and the CPA ultimately protect them in such situations, wouldn't it be better to avoid these glitches altogether? What other preventative measures could testers implement to ensure data integrity and prevent pricing errors? Let's discuss! 🤝 Here are some users discussing and sharing their thoughts on the glitch from twitter: https://lnkd.in/dZZATBRP #QualityAssurance #SoftwareTesting #DataIntegrity #eCommerce #QA #SoftwareQuality #PreventiveMeasures #PricingErrors #RealTimeMonitoring #DataMocking

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I went out in Stellenbosch to 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑150 in my pocket and had to borrow money from a friend to pay for petrol. Now, at 22, I just bought my first sports car and work fully remote. This isn't about bragging; it's about taking responsibility for my circumstances and striving for continuous improvement, despite others telling me to slow down. The single biggest thing that changed my life was: 🔍 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭: Surround yourself with people who are much better than you. Funnily enough, by frequenting upper-class clubs and restaurants in Cape Town, where meals cost R600 and drinks are R125, I observed people earning much more than me. This made me realize I was climbing the wrong mountain. I admit, I'm not nearly as successful as the people I compare myself to. However, I have managed to achieve the minimum to live comfortably. I've not only achieved this myself but also helped others follow a similar path. It requires hard work, but anyone can make progress with the right mindset and effort. 💡 𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬: Based on popular demand, I'm putting together workshops on web development, full-stack, and mobile development. These sessions will cover everything from fundamentals and theory to practical projects, how to get paid for building, and how to get hired. I'm figuring out 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 to achieve the same progression as I did and put that into actionable steps. The goal is to: 1. Teach them to build and learn on their own. 2. Help them land their first job in the industry, making R10k-R20k. 3. Quickly get them to an intermediate level within 1-2 years, aiming for R30k+ jobs. 4. Connect them with recruiters and big companies. 5. Enable them to pass on their knowledge and help others succeed too. This way, we help all parties involved. I'm finalizing the details for these workshops and the community, but you'll be the first to know when it's ready. ✨

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the future is here

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In last week's episode of How to Lend Money to Strangers, Alex Forsyth-Thompson, CFA, CFP® told me the story of Float and South Africa's most flexible, frictionless, and financially responsible interest-free instalment payment option. It's a lesson in entrepreneurship and product innovation, and you can listen to the full conversation via the links in the comments below, but first, a little teaser.

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Some exciting things have been happening behind closed doors, but I am so happy to finally be able to tell you a little bit about the business the team and I have been building. Who Is PageMe? PageMe is a proudly South African messaging platform, based in Kloof in the KZN province. We are a group of forward thinkers, on a mission to create a private and secure platform for businesses and families to correspond with confidence. PageMe knows that supplying a messaging platform that is secure against hackers is only the first step in creating peace of mind for our clients. We believe in education and communication! Clients should be educated about how their information is used and why. PageMe uses state of the art and market leading technology, but we still employ good old-fashioned customer service. No bots or call centres, if you have any questions we are happy to chat person to person. What is PageMe? PageMe is an instant messaging application for your mobile phone, tablet, PC or laptop. It is a brand new way to stay in touch with colleagues, customers and even your loved ones; without running the risk of hackers or other scammers having access to any of your information. We keep your information secure with legislation compliant encryption keys. All data is stored in South Africa, but cannot be viewed without your own encryption key, by anyone, including us! Unlike the majority of the instant messaging applications, PageMe does not use your phone number to function. So great news, the chances of tele sales marketers and scammers are eliminated. Why PageMe? At PageMe we believe in a combination of style and professionalism, with a bit of fun. That is why we have a minimalist look to the application and our focus is the client’s experience. The use of instant messaging as a primary form of communication is rising daily, as it is efficient and convenient. PageMe wants to make sure that your convenience does not turn into a potential data leak. When you are in an industry that requires the strictest confidentiality and information which aligns with various legislations, you cannot risk your internal or external communication falling into the wrong hands. Is PageMe the right choice for you? If you need to keep your information private and secure, then YES. Do you need to manage and control your user’s communications? If Yes then PageMe. If you are concerned about being compliant with the POPI Act, then YES. PageMe is the right choice for you to keep your information secure and confidential.

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