Learn the Art of Self-Publishing: Discover the Author in You

eventbrite: Learn the Art of Self-Publishing: Discover the Author in You

Why should you write a book? 

Society of Internet Professional is pleased to invite you to Introduction to Publishing workshop:

Learn the Art of Self-Publishing
Discover the Author in You

Date
Friday, December 20, 2019

Time
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Location
North York City Centre, Committee Room 2

Address
5100 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5V 5V7

Presenter
Max Haroon, a social entrepreneur, an educator and an author who is passionate about holistic health and digital technology. Max has authored seven books in the Life Learning Series including 7 Steps to Dental Health. He has architected many websites, guides for classic books and digital publications. Review his publications at www.maxharoon.org. As a social entrepreneur, he has founded the Life Transformation Institute, Authors Promotion Group (APG) and the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP).

Event Description
Why should you write a book? If you're a professional or an entrepreneur, then there is nothing better than writing a book to establish your credibility. If you believe in circulating your business card than the book is the best business card you can give to anyone.

In this interactive workshop we will discuss traditional publishing and self-publishing. Based on my personal experience in publishing and dealing with digital technology, I have broken down the process into seven phases, such as writing, pre-printing, printing, online presence, etc.

Each phase required a different set of skills and resources, we will build basic tasks for each phase, like a project. Then you can assess what tasks you can handle and what tasks to assign someone.


Registration Information
No-charge provided you pre-register
https://book-publishing.eventbrite.ca
and also join our Authors Promotion Group on the Facebook http://bit.ly/authorsgroup

Contact for more information
rsvp@sipgroup.org or phone 416-891-4937

meetup: Society of Internet Professionals

Learn and Share the Art of Self-Publishing

Put AI to Work: A Panel Discussion May 14

SIP Talks and Panel Discussion: Put AI to Work: 

Get Ready for Artificial Intelligence in Your Business
Toronto City Hall, May 14, 2019 at 6:30 pm

Society of Internet Professional in collaboration with Big Data and AI Toronto are very pleased to invite you to SIP Talks

Put AI to Work: Get Ready for AI in Your Business
A Panel Discussion

Date
Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Time
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Location
Toronto City Hall, Committee Room 2

Address
100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Registration: SIP2019May14.eventbrite.ca
Complimentary tickets to explore the benefits of becoming a member of SIP and SIPTalks.

Refreshments will be served

For more information, please contact
Kashif Iqbal | 647-618-3625 | SIPpost@sipgroup.org
Max Haroon | 416-891-4937 | rsvp@sipgroup.org

Description

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will touch every industry. Like the advent of the Internet which threw businesses into a Digital Revolution, AI has the potential to drastically change and upend our traditional ways of doing things.

Canada has played a major role in the early days of AI. Today, Toronto is a major AI hub, home to higher education and research labs dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence research. Businesses are applying AI in unique ways that will have an immense impact on business.

Organized in collaboration with Big Data and AI Toronto 2019, join us to hear thought provoking talks from three AI expert speakers about how Artificial Intelligence can be put to work in your business, and participate in the panel discussions.

Presenters:
• Helen Kontozopoulos: What is AI?
What is AI? A brief history of Artificial Intelligence and its Business Applications.
Helen Kontozopoulos, Co-founder and Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, ODAIA, an AI based algorithm developed at the U of T. Helen also co-founded U of T Innovation Lab.

• Kevin Ferreira: How, What and Why?
How, What and  Why? From research to reality. Kevin will discuss how teams like at the Bell AI Lab are about to make these technologies a reality. Learn about the roles necessary to make your team succeed.
Kevin D. Ferreira, Ph.D, Sr. Manager of AI Labs at Bell Canada, where he is developing a number machine learning applications.

• Yevgeniy Vahlis: The Future of AI
The Future of AI. There's a lot to learn when it comes to AI in this rapidly changing technology. What should traditional business be worried about.
Yevgeniy Vahlis, Head of Artificial Intelligence Technology at BMO Financial Group.

Panel Moderator:
• Olivia Kitevski, Producer of Big Data & AI Toronto, Canada's #1 Conference and Expo on Big Data, AI and Analytics, organised by Corp Agency, the event management agency for the consumer and business worlds. Olivia is a founding member of Young Women in Business Toronto (YWiB).

Network with our sponsors, your peers and industry leaders.

Looking forward to presenting May 14th at City Hall #Toronto #AI https://t.co/3YfOtydD60

— Helen Kontozopoulos (@helenissocial) May 5, 2019

Photo: SIP Panel Discussion: Put AI to Work

The Society of Internet Professionals (SIP) gathered top AI experts from a Bank to Bell: Helen Kontozopoulos, Cofounder and Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto; Yevgeniy Vahlis, Head of Artificial Intelligence Technology at BMO Financial; Kevin Ferreira, Ph. D, Sr. Manager of AI Labs at Bell Canada. The panel was moderated by Olivia Kitevski of Corp-Agency, conference Producer of Big Data & the AI Toronto Conference.

Credit: facebook.com: albums: SIP Panel Discussion: Put AI to Work

SIP Post Message Update:

Thank You for attending our biggest event of the year: A Panel discussion on AI in Your Business at the City Hall on May 14, 2019

We were thrilled to have three prominent speakers from the upcoming AI Conference (Detailed below).

It was a farewell party for Max Haroon, who is the Founder of SIP. Max revealed many personal plans, in the interview by Paul Litwack, who was the MC of the event. Max served SIP for more than 20+ years, thank you for your leadership.

Some pictures of the event are posted on the SIP’s Facebook page:
tinyurl.com/sip2019may14

Please let us know if you have posted any pictures or videos, you never know you may win a prize.

We invite you to participate in the upcoming Toronto AI Conference co-located with BigDATA conference at the Metro Convention Centre on June 12 and 13.

The exhibit Floor pass is Free for everyone
Get an exclusive SIP discount of 25% on a 2 day Conference pass (value$595), use the promo code BIGSIP.

How Can We Create A Smart City?

Society of Internet Professionals "How Can We Create A Smart City?"

This article, authored by Cory Popescu was first published on the blog of the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP). SIP is a not-for-profit, Toronto (Canada) based International organization to connect, learn and share. Our Vision is to provide the opportunity to leverage technology to have an inclusive future for everyone. Since 1997, SIP has spearheaded many initiatives, educational programs, and networking events.

Futuristic city might be closer to becoming a daily life sooner than we think. There have been a great number of projects calling for the creation of smart-city. Although plans have shown big and at first instance easy to handle, many ran behind the schedule, lower their initial designs and involved lots more resources than planned. None was created so far, leaving us to ask for a better living, desiring to spend our work and leisure time in more affordable and environmentally friendly urban areas.

One project on creating the smart city which seems to approach its goals faster is promoted by the New York company Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Alphabet. The project is aimed to reshape the Toronto Waterfront former industrial area to successfully integrate state-of-the-art digital technology with advanced urban design. This Quayside project will build the whole Toronto neighbourhood from the bottom up while rethinking the urban strategies of affordable and good living in the same time making use of the latest high-tech.

The Quayside was announced in October 2017 and work is aimed to start in 2019. This ingenious project targets their decisions about policy, design, and application of technology on information from a broad and comprehensive network of sensors. They are designed to intensively collect data from a variety of sources, including people’s activities, noise levels, air quality, public infrastructure.

Sidewalk Labs intends to open access to the software and its own systems and then other companies would build services based on their infrastructure. This seems similar to building apps for mobile phones.

The design of the smart city includes daunting ideas such as all vehicles shared and autonomous. Underground robots will do different routine jobs like delivering the mail.  One of the key components of the rebuilding this urban area using innovative high-tech represents close monitoring of public infrastructure. While this could be intruding in data and privacy, the concerns can be alleviated by open communication and public support.

Sidewalk Labs firmly supports communication and open cooperation with the community and the local government to seamlessly make the transition from the current low-tech old infrastructure area to a thriving community embracing a combination of latest digital technologies and leading metropolitan design.

Sidewalk Labs’ executives also bank on Quayside project sense of humility backing the urban-systems planning. They believe that this humility may help the success of this project compared to others that doomed past smart-city initiatives.

One successful project certainly opens incredible avenues for more developments regarding neighbourhoods which base their living on continuous and progressive yet enlightened sensing.

Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
Can Cloud-based AI Boost the Economy?
Is It Possible To Get 100% Privacy On The Internet?
Why Incorporate Blockchain in Your Business?

Related Video:

youtube video: Inside Sidewalk Labs' Toronto HQ
ITWC got a tour of Google's sister company Sidewalk Labs' Toronto headquarters.
Published by ITWC on Nov 7, 2018

Learn the Art of Public Speaking & Communication

Screenshot: SIPpost: October 25, 2018: Learn the Art of Public Speaking & Communication

SIPpost: October 25th 2018

In this issue: 
•    SIP&Toast conducts a course in the Art of Public Speaking
•    Article on Technology

Learn the Art of Public Speaking and Communication

Is Public Speaking only for Politicians?

No, Public Speaking is not only for Politicians, we all speak publicly and wish to communicate with others more efficiently, leaving a positive value and impression behind.

Here is as an opportunity for speakers and non-speakers to learn the Art of Public Speaking.

A group of advanced Toastmasters will conduct a Speech-craft course as six interactive workshops.

Dates: November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5, 12
Every Wednesday for six weeks, commencing on November 7, 2018

Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Venue: The Lounge, Richmond Green Sports Centre
1300 Elgin Mills Road E.,  Richmond Hill  ON   L4S 1M5

Details and Registration:
A special price for SIPpost subscribers: Only $80 for six workshops
https://speechcraft1.eventbrite.ca

Max Haroon  |  max@siptalks.org  |  416-891-4937

About SIP&Toast
SIP & Toast is a Richmond Hill, Ontario’s community based Toastmaster new club to foster leadership, boost speaking and communication skills by having weekly meetings.
Our members come from diverse background, such as Technology and health practitioners and everything in between of all adult ages.

Follow us on the Twitter
Join the community on the Facebook

= = = = = = = =

Is it Possible to Get a 100% Privacy?
The developers at Zcash consider that this method can become reality as they have been working and developing it. It's called zk-SNARK which stands for “zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive argument of knowledge”. The protocol allows users to execute transactions anonymously. Zcash are themselves crypto currency creators. They also create the zero-knowledge proof cryptographic protocol which can prove no doubt existence of something without revealing the actual information and thus keeping it private.

Read More

Art of Public Speaking: An Introduction

Introduction to Speech-craft: Learn the Art of Public Speaking
by Society Of Internet Professionals (SIP)

Join us for the Introduction to Speechcraft and learn the art of public speaking:

Introduction to Speechcraft
Learn the Art of Public Speaking

Date: Thursday, August 2, 2018
Time: 6 pm - 8:30 pm

Venue: Metro Hall
Location: Room 309, 55 John Street, Toronto, ON M5V 3C6

Event Description:

Do you think the content of your speech is King? Yes, only in your written communication. There is some truth in the old adage “It’s Not What You Say—it’s How You Say It! In fact, 80% of your presentation is not what you say, but the way you present it.

This seminar will make you aware of seven essentials of preparing and delivering speech, so that you will gain confidence in the art of giving presentations, either professionally or informally.

This workshop will be followed by a follow-up workshop where your speeches will be evaluated by a panel of credited toastmasters.

You Will Learn:

• Structuring your Speech
• Preparing Speech
• Planning for your audience
• Using your voice
• Using your body language
• Adding Vocal variety and words
• Listening to Your audience

Registration
This and its follow up workshops are only open for SIP members. Free for SIP members.
Become a member for $100 annually and attend most of the networking meetings and educational programs free.

http://www.sipgroup.org/become-a-member/

Register at: https://sipevent1.eventbrite.ca

Visit our website for details: http://sipgroup.org/
Email: SIPpost@sipgroup.org
Phone: 416-891-4937

SIP and Toast: Introduction to Speechcraft: Learn the Art of Public Speaking
by Society Of Internet Professionals (SIP)

Volunteer Appreciation Celebration

Society of Internet Professionals (SIP) wants to Thank all Volunteers for their time and energy in making the organization successful.

Volunteer Appreciation Celebration Summer Bash

Please join us for some great BBQ (Veg & Non-veg) along with (Non alcoholic) drinks by the beach.

When:
Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Where:
Woodbine Beach
1675 Lake Shore Blvd E, Toronto, ON M4L 3W6

Registration:
Like all our events, FREE for Volunteers and Members
Guests are welcome with a $5 contribution.
Must RSVP at events@sipgroup.org by June 26.

For more information send an email to Vikas Ramrakha, VP Events at events@sipgroup.org

Network with our sponsors, peers and some industry leaders.

Photos of  Summer BBQ to appreciate volunteering work of SIPpers on June 28, 2018
‎SIP & Toast‎ Society of Internet Professionals

 Summer BBQ to appreciate volunteering work of SIPpers on June 28, 2018
SIP & Toast added 6 photos to the album SIP Volunteers BBQ.

Why Incorporate Blockchain in Your Business?

Society of Internet Professionals Blockchain SIP Talks

Wake up and Touch Blockchain: March 22, 2018 at ThatChannel, Toronto

This article, authored by Cory Popescu was first published on the blog of the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP). SIP is a not-for-profit, Toronto (Canada) based International organization to connect, learn and share. Our Vision is to provide the opportunity to leverage technology to have an inclusive future for everyone. Since 1997, SIP has spearheaded many initiatives, educational programs, and networking events.

Blockchain, the database (underlying the bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies) transactions is shared by all nodes present in a system. During the transaction, every connected computer receives an instance or copy of this chain with data records.  They provide proof of every transaction which takes place at every network location and address with their corresponding costs and benefits.

So, why would a business incorporate blockchain? Since it presents several powerful features, as described below, this progressive technology opens extraordinary ways to develop new fields and solve current matters.

Simplifying Operations
Being a distributed database, blockchain operates as an open electronic ledger. It contains the records at each location allowing transaction transparency and ease of processes. Consequently, it leads to simplifying business operations for the parties involved in each transaction. Thus, one can evaluate the returns based on the values committed to every particular location of the blockchain database.

Abiding Transactions
When during the existence of a transaction many steps exist and data records prove necessary to synchronize with the company or industry business model, blockchain supports creating unchangeable and permanent records in the chain. They are easily viewable depending on the security access model used. They are not dependent upon a centralized hub and the blockchain permits the generation of immutable records for every transaction passing through different states within the database.

Problem Solving putting Business and Organizational change First
Due to its flexible, dynamic and powerful structure, blockchain allows change in your business and organizational models to successfully complete the expected goals.  By using the right approach to analyze and act first and foremost on the business and organizational structures in order to change aiming for improvement, this avant-garde technology can be engaged with outstanding results in resolving current industry issues.

Adding Value
In current economy one finds numerous business processes which carry the burden of costly intermediaries who provide no value. Blockchain technology provides fertile place for introducing and utilizing it eliminating steps which do not add meaningful value and which benefit the industries currently requiring intermediate channels.

With above-mentioned aspects suitably applied in various circumstances the blockchain technology that provides the base for cryptocurrencies transactions inaugurates and could successfully expand in all fields and industries while having a profound and prevalent impact.


References:
Techloyce LTD: Blockchain Technology Explained to Understand it
Fundera Inc.: Entrepreneurs: Here’s Blockchain Explained Just for You

Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
Blockchain: Unbelievable Transactions Blockchain Can Promote!
Blockchain: Growth and Limitations
Efficient Action Lists: Your Effective Time Management Tool

SIP Talks panel discussion Wake up and Touch the BlockChain!

If you found this article of interest and would like to learn more, please consider attending SIP Talks panel discussion Wake up and Touch the BlockChain on March 22, 2018 to explore what is blockchain and how it will affect your life....very, very soon!
Read more and register here: https://sipgroup.blogspot.ca/2018/03/wake-up-and-touch-blockchain.html

Wake up and Taste Blockchain: Integrating Blockchain into Your Business: SIPTalks February 22

Society of Internet Professionals Blockchain SIP Talks

Wake up and Taste Blockchain: February 22, 2018 at ThatChannel, Toronto

Join us for the 2nd Blockchain event of #SIPTalks and explore what is Blockchain and how it will affect your life....very, very soon!

Wake up and Taste Blockchain
Integrating Blockchain in Your Business

Date: Thursday, February 22, 2018
Time: 6 pm - 8:30 pm
Registration, refreshments and meet SIP Team and Speakers at 5:30 pm

Venue: Internet TV Station - ThatChannel.com
Location: 600 Bay St, Suite 510, Toronto, ON M5G 1M6, Toronto

Event Description:
We are pleased to invite you to this second of three monthly sessions in our newly launched #SIPTalks. We began with a successful January session: “Wake up and smell the Blockchain” including three experts discussing how to harness Blockchain in your life.
For this Event, once again we have three experts who will simplify Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: wallets, tokens and mining in 20 minutes talk time each, followed by a panel discussion.

Come early, by 5:30 to Network and meet Peers and Industry Leaders.

Speakers:
• Jerry Qian, Founder, Open Bounty, Founding Organizer of The Bitcoin Bay, the largest and longest running Toronto Bitcoin meetup group.
Jerry is working on OpenBounty, a project management platform utilizing smart contract transactions and collaborative platforms.

• Aryan Nava, Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, Blockchain Mind Inc.
Aryan will help us understand the demand for Blockchain technologies and Cryptonomics – the economics protocols that govern the demand, production and consumption of Cryptocurrencies and helping clients to launch ICO (Initial Coin Offerings) on Ethereum and building smart parking using Blockchain and Hardware wallet.

• Scott Howard, CEO, ePIC Blockchain Technologies Inc.
The infrastructure required to mine cryptocurrencies. A massive business opportunity is waiting.
Scott connects tech companies with partnerships, channels, and capital to accelerate revenue growth. Converting business strategy into a predictable revenue engine that is multi-factor, not just sales.

Network with our sponsors, your peers and some industry leaders.

Registration Information:
$25. Early Registration, before February 18 is $20.
Free for SIP members, become a member (only $50/year) and also attend free next Blockchain event (Security concerns on March 22, 2018). Membership has many other perks.

Details and registration: https://SIPblockchain2.eventbrite.ca
SIP Membership Details: http://www.sipgroup.org/membership/

For more information or sponsoring opportunity, send an email to
Vikas Ramrakha, VP Events at events@sipgroup.org or phone 416-558-3061

Check out our SIPTalks First Blockchain series discussion Wake up and Smell the BlockChain!

Download of a Princeton University Book on Blockchain

There’s a lot of excitement about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Optimists claim that Bitcoin will fundamentally alter payments, economics, and even politics around the world. Pessimists claim Bitcoin is inherently broken and will suffer an inevitable and spectacular collapse. Underlying these differing views is significant confusion about what Bitcoin is and how it works. Princeton University, wrote this book to help cut through the hype and get to the core of what makes Bitcoin unique.

This book addresses the important questions about Bitcoin. How do Bitcoin and its block chain actually work? What makes it different? How secure are your bitcoins? How anonymous are Bitcoin users? What applications can we build using Bitcoin as a platform? Can cryptocurrencies be regulated? If we were designing a new cryptocurrency today, what would we change? What might the future hold?

Register for the above event and get a pre-publication draft of the book, a study conducted by the Princeton University https://SIPblockchain2.eventbrite.ca

Kudos to all of you for the success and your contribution to our 2nd #Blockchain event of #SIPTalks Wake up and Taste the Blockchain: a panel discussion by Jerry Qian, Aryan Nava and Scott Howard.
Photos > https://t.co/JCM7jquMbe#Toronto #blockchaintechnology 📸 pic.twitter.com/dIGlnUfIQa

— SIP Association (@sipgroup) February 26, 2018

Blockchain: Unbelievable Transactions Blockchain Can Promote!

youtube video: Introduction to Bitcoin
Presented at the Singularity University's Innovation Partnership Program (IPP), this is an entry level talk about bitcoin by Andreas Antonopoulos.
Published by aantonop on Sep 24, 2016

This article, authored by Cory Popescu was first published on the blog of the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP). SIP is a not-for-profit, Toronto (Canada) based International organization to connect, learn and share. Our Vision is to provide the opportunity to leverage technology to have an inclusive future for everyone.  Since 1997, SIP has spearheaded many initiatives, educational programs, and networking events.

Since cryptocurrencies' birth, flowing them across the markets have not been easy partly because of their volatility which does not make it suitable to pay for goods and services. Therefore, blockchain transaction and traditional financial economies keep separate ledgers without cooperation between these systems.

In order to grow, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies need larger markets to carry out their transactions of goods and services. Unless used in large cryptocurrency markets, for example bitcoin, it would not be able to expand. And bitcoin cannot expand until it trades in its own currency markets. With this paradigm, we can think of expansion utilizing the cryptocurrencies in specific trade finance transactions, meaning buy and sell products between two companies in different countries and use a bank to guarantee, which for centuries are controlled and guided by traditional financial and banking system.

Having been presented in a previous blog post Blockchain: Growth and Limitations, some of blockchain features relates to the transactions' performance efficiency which take place with high security. The speed and simplicity of blockchain operations lure, and not only, top bankers to conclude trade finance exchanges which otherwise can last weeks or even months even using correct data. As an amazing medium of transfer, the cryptocurrencies can be used with small fees to conclude small – for instance, six figures - transactions in only a few hours.

This is the case of Barclay's facilitating a $100K deal – more info in the references – of cheese and butter between an Irish food company and a trading company. The transaction finalized in four hours and with a high level of security because of the following reasons:

• The blockchain made available from Barclay's consisted of digital ledger that is temper-proof, meaning that no party in the deal have the power alone to change the transaction books.
• Blockchain has a built-in transaction system and digital record-keeping.
• Secure network to transmit all documents between parties.

Using the traditional financial system, this considered small transaction would conclude in weeks with considerable higher costs including the intermediary costs. Using the new technology eliminates the need for the middlemen providing significantly more efficiency dealing in smaller transactions as there are no more steps added to the supply chain or long supply chains are irrelevant for the open, decentralized networks.

With such success in trade finance, new favourable opportunities manifest and are related to more efficient transactions between small companies from different countries regardless of the countries' levels of development.

References:

MIT Technology Review: Why America’s Biggest Bank Digs Anonymous Cryptocurrency

Casey Research: This One Trade Changed 400 Years of History in Just Four Hours

Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

You can also read this article here:

sipgroup.org: Blogs: Unbelievable Transactions Blockchain Can Promote!

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:

Blockchain: Growth and Limitations
Efficient Action Lists: Your Effective Time Management Tool
What are the Industries that Most Use Internet of Things?

Explore What Is Blockchain and How It Will Affect Your Life: January 25

Society of Internet Professionals Launch of SIP Talks

Wake up and Smell the BlockChain! January 25, 2018 at ThatChannel, Toronto

Society of Internet Professionals is
Launching SIP Talks, a new series like TED Talks with this first in the series:
"Block Chain: Technology, Applications and Implications”

Wake up and Smell the BlockChain!

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018
Time: 6 pm - 8:30 pm
Registration, refreshments and meet SIP Team and Speakers at 5:30 pm

Venue: Internet TV Station - ThatChannel.com
Location: 600 Bay St, Suite 510, Toronto, ON M5G 1M6, Toronto

Event Description:
Attend this premier panel discussion by three experts to explore what is Blockchain and how it will affect your life....very, very soon!

We will explore:

• Blockchain
• Bitcoin
• Cryptocurrencies
• Tokens
• Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)

We will also explore disruption impact of Blockchain on business models and wealth distribution.

Speakers:
Jenna Pilgrim, Director of Businesses Development, Blockchain Research Institute
The Blockchain Research Institute is a knowledge network organized to study the strategic implications of blockchain, headed by Don Tapscott.

Jenna's topic title will be "Blockchain - WTH is it? / Blockchain 101"

Alan Wunsche, CEO & Chief Token Officer, TokenFunder.io as well as Chair and Founder of Blockchain Canada
The Blockchain Canada is a federal not-for-profit that focuses on education, community-building, startup innovation, and government awareness of blockchain technologies.

Alan is a cryptofinance and blockchain technology expert passionate about the transformative impact of blockchain technologies across the financial services industry.

Marc Lijour, Co-Founder, ColliderX
The ColliderX is the world first crowdfunded R&D Hub focusing on Blockchain and Open source technologies (AI, AR/VR, IoT, Identity Management etc.).

Marc aims to provide funding to important Free Software projects aiming to securing and maturing the blockchain infrastructure.

Panel Moderator:
Joseph Iuso, Serial banking/eCommerce Entrepreneur, Business/IT architect, consultant, and compliance specialist;

Master of Ceremony:
Paul Litwack, Capability Improvement Coach®, Get UNstuck NOW

Network with our sponsors, your peers and some industry leaders.

Registration Information:
Early Registration is $20 on the Eventbrite: Wake Up and Smell The Blockchain
At the door $25.

Free for SIP members, become a member (only $50/year) and attend all three monthly Blockchain events, a value of $75.

Details and registration: https://SIPblockchain1.eventbrite.ca
SIP Membership Details: http://www.sipgroup.org/membership/

For more information or sponsoring opportunity, send an email to
Vikas Ramrakha, VP Events at events@sipgroup.org or phone 416-558-3061

Check out all the photos and a video from our first #SIPTalks event: Wake up and Smell the BlockChain!

Photos: Society of Internet Professionals Launch of SIP Talks

Wake up and Smell the BlockChain! January 25, 2018 at ThatChannel, Toronto

Thank you to everyone who joined SIP Talks premier panel discussion on #blockchain #technology at @thatchannel. It was an amazing & informative evening. A special thank you to panelists @jennapilgrim, @AlanWunsche, @marclijour, our MC @PaulLitwack, and @jojomah for moderating. 📸 pic.twitter.com/LZbUKpVzv0

— SIP Association (@sipgroup) January 26, 2018

How to Efficiently Set Up Priorities

Image: Make priorities clear using colour-coding ideas

This article, authored by Cory Popescu was first published on the blog of the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP). SIP is a not-for-profit, Toronto (Canada) based International organization to connect, learn and share. Our Vision is to provide the opportunity to leverage technology to have an inclusive future for everyone.  Since 1997, SIP has spearheaded many initiatives, educational programs, and networking events.

Setting up priorities in a tasks list is crucial to organized work and to its completion in due time. Establishing correct priorities means that you are in control of your time and of the results of your projects. By organizing your plans and tasks lists appropriately, you gain more time and consequently can use it to grow your business, career or life.

In order to attain increased work efficiency, you would establish the priorities in the following way:

•    The action list for the next day is conceived and released the afternoon before you leave the office. This translates into an efficient start point for the next day.

•    Categorize your tasks by priorities, so you can act upon them accordingly:

     Priority #1: crucial and prompt, to be done immediately.
     Priority #2: to be done today, however not critical, may be delegated.
     Priority #3: important tasks, minor delays may be accepted.
     Priority #4: routine, not essential tasks which can be performed casually.

•    Respect firmly your action lists, their priorities and deadline. Defend them in front of your peers or bosses if necessary. The successful completion of your task lists lead to achieving your ultimate goals.

•    Be relentless about receiving un-planned extra tasks even for short term, as one day completion. Analyze thoroughly, communicate, if applicable with your co-workers, negotiate on deadlines and task approach before committing to additional work. If you think it is jeopardizing your current assignments and you do not get extended deadlines or more resources, just say nicely “it can wait” and recommend redirection to a less loaded team/person.

•    Watch you deadlines earnestly and observe them enthusiastically. Should you miss, use your failures to set up more realistic deadlines for new and urgent tasks. When you foresee that a deadline cannot be met, contact parties involved and explain the issues, attempt to establish together a new attainable deadline. Keep an electronic or any kind of agenda with you to monitor closely your tasks and especially your deadlines.

Keeping your tasks lists accurately and sharing them with your co-workers, managers and subordinates could also prepare you to prevent unexpected developments. When you are out of the office, things can still get accomplished due to your meticulous plan. Therefore, work stops chasing you, and you are in control of the events making stress a fact of the past.


Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
What are the Industries that Most Use Internet of Things?
The New Thought Process of Machine Learning 
Can IT Professionals Become Savvy Networkers?

Efficient Action Lists: Your Effective Time Management Tool

Image: Make priorities clear using colour-coding ideas

This article, authored by Cory Popescu was first published on the blog of the Society of Internet Professionals (SIP). SIP is a not-for-profit, Toronto (Canada) based International organization to connect, learn and share. Our Vision is to provide the opportunity to leverage technology to have an inclusive future for everyone.  Since 1997, SIP has spearheaded many initiatives, educational programs, and networking events.

Every day we receive lots of tasks to do, and sometimes they have insane deadlines. Tasks stack up in plan lists, action lists in all our “extended” memory tools, such as computers, iPhones, electronic calendars and hard-copy agendas. In order to not get swamped by them, and to fulfill them successfully we need to organize them to bring us the most efficient results.

Structuring these lists in an organized way implies performing the following:

•    Synchronize all tasks lists. If you have several lists, and they are not synchronized, it means that you would find tasks in a master list that are also part of another master list for the same objectives.
•    Define the priority for each task and create four different action lists reflecting the priorities for each task category, as per below.

1. Priority #1 list contains tasks which are “important and urgent” and require immediate attention and completion.
2. Priority #2 list contains tasks which are “urgent and not important”. You are compelled to work on these because they bear the “urgent” flag, however, if applicable and possible, you can delegate them to someone else. Nevertheless, they must be performed and completed immediately. Complete these tasks based on the order of priority and urgency.
3. Priority #3 list contains tasks which are “important and not urgent”. These tasks can be postponed for a few days. Beware with this list because endless postponement leads to glitches in project development and completion and it may lead to failure of the entire project.
4. Priority #4 list contains tasks which are “not important and not urgent” and which may be resolved in between the timing of other tasks or when you have spare time. These are the fittest to delegate.

•    Write all the tasks in your agenda and do NOT perform any task if it is not part of the list.
•    Combine performing tasks you like with tasks that you do not like. Start with one which you do not like and keep intertwining with pleasant tasks to keep your productivity up.
•    Define the best time to perform the tasks. For example, given that the task of prioritization into the four categories already took place, and there are priority #4 tasks to be done, it might be the best to perform them at the end of the working day when your attention is not the sharpest.
•    Keep an eye on the status of each task. Some tasks may “transform” status from “not urgent” to “urgent”. So, keep doing the tasks from all categories diligently not to find yourself in a time crisis.
•    When a new task appears, write it in your agenda and prioritize it with a deadline.

Prioritizing your tasks well gives you a good idea to start your projects efficiently.  Setting-up priorities and knowing how to combine the performance of different tasks will considerably reduce your stress levels and give you more control on the projects and on the management of all your resources to produce the desired results.

Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
What are the Industries that Most Use Internet of Things?
The New Thought Process of Machine Learning 
Can IT Professionals Become Savvy Networkers?
 

Netiquette for Writing Emails: The 7 Elements of a Good Email

Clip Art: Hotel Icon Email Access
Credit: clker.com: Hotel Icon Email Access Clip Art - Red/white clip art

Max Haroon, a social entrepreneur, a speaker and an author is a retired IT and e-Marketing specialist. He is the founder of the Society of Internet Professionals, established in 1997. He has hosted numerous events and conducted workshops in Entrepreneurship and Leveraging the Technology over the last twenty years. He can be reached at rsvp@sipgroup.org.

"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it."
~  Dale Carnegie

Email is still the core of business communication. I spend a great deal of my day dealing with emails. I get tons of emails (one dozen of email addresses - I know, yikes). It is appalling for me to see some emails with typos, embarrassing errors and poorly formatted. Such emails have the potential to sabotage your reputation both personally and professionally. I am writing this article to help SIP members write “good” emails.

Just like any other task email communication has rules and etiquettes. By not following them you are risking your professionalism image and the reputation of organisation you representing.

Below are seven elements of email for each we discuss some issues and some pragmatic solutions you should be mindful in writing or replying to an email:

1. Read Mindfully before Replying
2. Typos and Grammatical Errors
3. Subject and Salutation
4. Closings
5. Signature
6. Down-Edited Reply
7. Formatting and Style

1. Read Mindfully before Replying:
Your inner impulse may make you respond to an email without reading or understanding the intent fully. I have seen three replies from someone in the space of 1 minute (written around the midnight) which demonstrates that the reader was reading it bit by bit and replying to it bit by bit or didn’t review it before hitting “SEND” and then realizing more to add on!

2. Typos and Grammatical Mistakes:
Spelling and Grammatical mistakes show that you are lazy, inconsiderate or uneducated. Would you like to read newspaper with typos and mistakes? An example of a real email received   “I am deleted to introduce our ...” I think the sender meant ”I am delighted to introduce our ... ".

Use the Word for Windows to compose your reply or draft a new email. This has the added advantage of backup copy of your communication. The Word also provides Spelling and Grammar checker.

3. Subject and Salutation:
Subject Line: Make it the indicative of the content or to raise curiosity. People are more interested in the subject if it relates to them, such as their personal or professional issues. A good size of the subject line is 8 words.

Salutation: A highly overlooked area, this is where you are going to hurt someone‘s ego or relationship if you misspell their name or have not addressed properly. Some salutations like “Hey you guys or Hi folk” are laid-back and no-no for business or professional emails. In order of formality use “Dear .... , Hello . ., and Hi . .

4. Closings:
This comes just before signature. You have many choices, such as complimentary close or call to action (CTA). If you want response then say so in the closing. Some examples are: I’m looking forward to hearing from you; Kind thoughts; With many thanks.

5. Signature:
A signature consists of your name (full name), contact info, phone, email address, and website with a link.
If you sending the email on behalf of the organisation then make sure that your signature reflects the contact info, email address and the website of the organisation. If you wish to add any personal touch you can draw line underneath the signature and write follow me with icon and link to a LinkedIn and Facebook account. Do not go beyond six lines, it may be egocentric.

6. Down-Edited Reply:
Generally, people hit the reply button to an email and start the response from the top of the page then the sender do the same thing. If this cycle gets repeated the conversation becomes very lengthy. This approach is called Top-Edited Reply.

Use a more efficient approach called “Down-Edited Reply", explained below:

• Begin on the top with a salutation and introduction, indicating the response is given below.
• Eliminate lines and paragraphs of the sender’s email which have nothing to do with your response.
• Write your response below the point you are responding.

7. Formatting and Style:
Presentation is equally, if not more, important then the content. Follow the rules of formatting and styles, such as:

• Do not mix multiple sizes and multiple font types, use one size and the font easy to read on the computer/mobile.
• Avoid multiple colours of text, one dark colour throughout is better.
• Avoid a lot of exclamation marks. You can be excited about something once and not throughout the email.
• All UPPER CASE means you are shouting and all lower case means you are too lazy.

In conclusion:
Please review and proof read your email; better still read it aloud to sense the tone of your message. That is why I have recommended earlier compose your email in Word document to give you extra time and space. If you are still composing your email in the email program then follow my safety point, write the email (new or reply) leaving the TO: temporarily blank, until you are ready to send. In this way you will not hit “SEND” without being mindful.

So, keep your email short, simple, clear, mind your manner, proof read it and check your tone.

Max Haroon | President
Society of Internet Professionals (SIP)

Your comments are welcomed

New Certificate Workshops "Leveraging Technology for Entrepreneurs" 
Max Haroon is planning to conduct three workshops on Writing Tools and Management of Emails. This is part of a series of Certificate Workshops “Leveraging Technology for Entrepreneurs” for members of the Society of Internet Professionals - one of many benefits of becoming a member of the SIP.

Please visit SIP’s Resources website page for the details.

What are the Industries that Most Use Internet of Things?

youtube video: Marco Annunziata at TED@BCG San Francisco: Welcome to the age of the industrial internet

This article, authored by Cory Popescu, SIP Writers Forum, is for the IT / Internet professional, but it is equally applicable to anyone, as we use computer and mobile devices in all aspects of our lives regardless of our profession. 

Internet of Things (IoT) using machine learning as a powerful tool has spread in various industries to observe and predict behaviour patterns. This helps organizations to increase their revenues, improve utilizing their resources including their workforce, help them become more proactive to market dynamism.

IoT applications are used in a variety of industries and they started being developed and implemented over 15 years ago and earlier. Some of these applications are mentioned below.

Healthcare
The power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is harnessed in a field of paramount importance for humans: healthcare. Devices which incorporate new technology remind the patients to get important diagnostic tests to take their medication at prescribed time, to eat properly, and to keep them in reasonable health by not needing hospital services. Other devices can be used to predict infection and provide health analysis.  Predicting the probability of contracting a disease through sequencing of genomes and making comparisons with elements of large databases represent other important applications in medical services. This allows doctors to use optimum treatments for those diseases. 

Manufacturing
In the early days of AI, industrial robots have been introduced to assemble and ship products in manufacturing. Nowadays, new versions of robots perform more complex tasks in the electronics, automotive and home industry. Preventative maintenance in operations management is increasing the number devices which use machine learning. These devices are used to predict which parts become faulty so that they can be replaced with minimum downtime and costs.

Marketing
Customers are already used for quite some time to receiving reports and alerts about “what else” they might like after their online purchases. To understand customers better, organizations use IoT to scan customers preferences based on their transactions and offer them the “next best” product or service.  Monitoring the historical purchases for segments of customers, the machines learn how to respond to customers' demands in order to up-sell or cross-sell. Customers can make informed purchase decisions based on the IoT devices recommendations.

Customer Service
Developments in IoT devices help personalize machine and human interaction, making AI more efficient in customer service. Through digital devices, IoT applications generate questions and text response messages to accommodate chats with customers. The automation of the personalized interactions with customers and prospects significantly contributes to reducing administration costs and improves the net efficiency of the organizations.

Essential IoT machine learning developments manifest among others, in the fields of: transportation, network security, financials. Readers are welcome to provide comments of additional IoT applications that they know about, with proven capabilities as the industry of developing intelligent devices based on machine learning is continuously evolving.

References:
The FOW Community blog: Future Of Work: 5 Industries Being Most Affected By Artificial Intelligence by Connie Chan

Forbes: Tech: 3 Industries That Will Be Transformed By AI, Machine Learning And Big Data In The Next Decade by Bernard Marr

EngineersGarage: Top 10 Industrial Applications of Artificial Intelligence by Neha Rastogi

MIT Technology Review: Business Report: AI Hits the Mainstream by Nanette Byrnes

Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
The New Thought Process of Machine Learning 
How Internet Helps Machine Learning
Can IT Professionals Become Savvy Networkers?
 

The New Thought Process of Machine Learning

Photo: @artjunctionto: What would you like to make?

This article, authored by Cory Popescu, SIP Writers Forum, is for the IT / Internet professional, but it is equally applicable to anyone, as we use computer and mobile devices in all aspects of our lives regardless of our profession. 

For some time, businesses have been looking to build tools to understand their customers better, to improve operational processes, to provide higher quality deliveries. To accomplish this, businesses start using the services of data scientists mining into large databases, and seek upgrades to insight analysts' skills.

The labour dedicated to building business intelligence (BI) mechanisms to incorporate in current businesses is involved at higher degree while creating those tools and to a much lower extent when these devices become functional as expected. When employing the newly built devices embedding machine learning, the organizations gain awareness and powerful observations while decreasing time to respond to change.

Developing intelligent devices require an unconventional thought process to obtain enhanced results since the outcomes of data processing are not known or may only be vaguely imagined at the time of starting the application software. Some of the thought process aspects described below show significant differences between approaching development for traditional versus predictive BI.

A crucial aspect of the thought processes used to create applications involving machine learning is represented by building models with a proactive mindset. The modeller asks questions based on predictive thinking which relate to various business facets, for instance: what benefits emerge from using this data, how to quantify them, how to resolve frequent business issues, such as manufacturing faulty parts.

A predictive approach to modelling also formulates questions regarding the requirement for and the degree of technical skills involved when using the applications based on machine learning, how to present outcome in clear format, how to create groups of users who participate in building the models and what flexibility the predictive models have to generate and validate new models on demand.

Another aspect related to the thought process involved in machine learning refers to calculating for example the number of product offerings versus deriving a solution which predicts the payback on each product offering. Supplying a better view of the customer base, the predicted dollar payback along with tracking key financial variables provide opportunity for increasing company's efficiency and improving their bottom line.

Predicting events and trends become a necessity of the economy with large, expanded datasets which contain relationships and patterns extremely difficult to categorize and make assumptions based on the data. The use of hypothesis and predefined routes represent the foundation of conventional application software development and requires excessive efforts to apply to existing elaborated and complex databases. Leaving this data untapped by the machine learning applications built on the new thought processes would be a total oversight. 

References:
University of California, Berkeley: Department of Statistics: Statistical Science: To Explain or to Predict? by Galit Shmueli

Smart Vision Europe: Top ten predictive analytics questions by Rachel Clinton


Cory Popescu

Your comments are welcomed

Click on the links below to read the other articles by Cory Popescu:
Health Concerns of IT Professionals
How Internet Helps Machine Learning
Can IT Professionals Become Savvy Networkers?