#software topics

[ranjith11]

Avoid Burnout and Embrace Life | Essential Guide| Future Proof Accountants

Discover the transformative power of building a thriving offshore team for your business expansion and global talent acquisition. Unveil the key to effective collaboration and harmonious team dynamics through cross-cultural understanding within your remote workforce. In our latest YouTube video, we present insights into how Chat GPT, combined with AI technology, can empower accountants to navigate and appreciate diverse cultures within their offshore teams. Join us in exploring how AI fosters empathy, unity, and cultural cohesion in multinational team environments.

[pseudophan]

i know it would only be an unnecessary pain in the ass for him if i did but it does bother me not to respond like THANK YOU SO MUCH to my gp's messages to me through the healthcare online portal thing. he has a tendency to sit and answer messages and prescription refill requests late as hell in the evening because that's when he finally has the time and it feels so wrong to not reply even if it's entirely unnecessary and he neither expects nor wants that

[businesstiramisu]

unless their sourcing policies mean that their article on you falsely reports that you're still married and the only way to get this changed is to ask a sufficiently "proper" journalist to interview you

or unless a bunch of weebs decide that Hepburn romanization is "more correct" for an article title (on English Wikipedia) than actual common English usage

or whatever's going on with the Lydia and Sepharad pages. I'm not saying they *are* connected, but I've since talked to a few other people with interest in Ancient Anatolian history & linguistics who have heard of this theory, so if it's wrong it at least seems worth disproving on the page as a wide-spread myth! Instead, wikipedia editors prefer to remove all discussion of the issue. Wikipedia pro tip: if you add something to a wikipedia article you need to cite it, but if you remove something you can call it "misinformation" in your edit comment without citation!

EDIT: actually since typing most of this up I came across this essay by Mii Dash Geget, which demonstrates some really concerning issues. I actually do kind of doubt that wikipedia is more reliable than most textbooks, now (though I wonder how many textbooks have these same plagiarism and misattributed sourcing issues and no one's noticing).

[luvquadvolcanus]

I. LOVE. RSS.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A LIGHT-WEIGHT DEPENDABLE EASY TO IMPLEMENT AND USE WAY OF KEEPING TRACK OF THINGS ONLINE WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE AN ACCOUNT OR GETTING NOTIFICATIONS ON MY PHONE, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BIG WEBSITES.

for real, if you aren't on rss yet, this is your sign to hop on it. occasionally something won't have an rss feed or it'll be broken (or in twitter's case, it will have been broken on purpose), but so far only like 3 things I've tried to keep track of haven't worked. (also—tumblr blogs all have perfectly functioning feeds by default)

Standalone apps and browser extensions are both good, I use Feedbro for Firefox (other hydrazine software btw, highly recommended) and it works great.

[comradecowplant]

Firefox constantly begs and whines and cries to be updated every other week and never has there been an improved feature to make the long, lagging reloading of my tabs worth it. So irritating!

[emstargazer]

The toxic relationship between me and technology should be studied in history class for future generations.

[beerenjoyer69]

maybe a sidebar but this post made me think of this video. my friend and i were at the beach and she was talking about how she felt this need to revive old crafts and relating it to the idea of resistance... then this video got recommended to me! i shared it with her and she said she's so happy she wasn't being crazy lol and now she's going to teach a knitting course<333

these skills are important to humanity and we absolutely need to distribute this knowledge instead of continuting on the path of disconnection to the process of creation. many traditionally feminine crafts are things we can buy, but the quality of these things at the store has gone down so drastically. why do we buy clothes that fall apart while we wear them? sure it's because it's what we can afford, but it's also because we dont even know how to make them ourselves! that's a monopoly right there!!

Yo I feel like the idea that the only historical women who counted are the ones who defied society and took on the traditionally male roles is… not actually that feminist. It IS important that women throughout history were warriors and strategists and politicians and businesswomen, but so many of us were “lowly” weavers and bakers and wives and mothers and I feel like dismissing THOSE roles dismisses so many of our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers and the shit they did to support our civilization with so little thanks or recognition.

[microlearningplatform]

Breaking Down Schell’s Four Pillars of Gamification: A Game-Changing Approach to Learning

Schell's Four Pillars of Gamification: A Comprehensive Guide to Transforming Learning

Gamification has revolutionized the way we approach learning, transforming mundane training modules into engaging experiences that captivate learners and enhance retention. At the heart of this transformation is Jesse Schell’s Four Pillars of Gamification, a framework that provides the blueprint for designing impactful gamified experiences. This article delves into these four pillars—story, mechanics, aesthetics, and technology—and explores how they can be effectively applied to learning and development.

The Foundation: What Are Schell’s Four Pillars of Gamification?

Jesse Schell, a renowned game designer and educator, introduced the concept of the four pillars to guide the creation of gamified experiences. These pillars—story, mechanics, aesthetics, and technology—serve as the essential components for building engaging and meaningful games. When applied to learning, they transform traditional methods into dynamic experiences that motivate and inspire learners.

Pillar 1: Story

The Power of Narrative in Learning

Stories are the backbone of human connection and understanding. In the context of gamification, narratives create a sense of purpose, making learning more relatable and memorable. A compelling story can:

Provide context for learning objectives.

Engage learners emotionally.

Encourage progression by framing challenges within a meaningful narrative arc.

How to Use Story in Gamified Learning

To integrate storytelling effectively, consider:

Role-playing scenarios: Learners assume characters with missions tied to learning goals.

Progressive narratives: As learners advance, they unlock new chapters of the story, reinforcing achievements.

Real-world relevance: Stories that mirror workplace scenarios make learning practical and applicable.

For instance, in a compliance training module, learners could be agents solving a corporate mystery, with each task linked to a compliance requirement.

Pillar 2: Mechanics

Designing the Rules of Engagement

Mechanics are the rules, challenges, and interactions that drive the gamified experience. They provide structure, ensuring that the game is engaging while maintaining alignment with learning objectives. Key mechanics include:

Points and rewards: Motivate learners by recognizing achievements.

Levels and progression: Offer a clear path for advancement.

Challenges and feedback: Keep learners engaged with tasks of appropriate difficulty and timely responses.

Applying Mechanics to Learning Platforms

When designing a gamified learning experience, ensure mechanics are:

Aligned with learning outcomes: For example, a sales training program might reward learners for correctly answering customer scenario questions.

Balanced for all learners: Mechanics should cater to varying skill levels, avoiding frustration or disengagement.

Iterative and adaptive: Allow for real-time adjustments based on learner feedback and performance.

MaxLearn’s microlearning platform exemplifies this by incorporating leaderboards, badges, and adaptive learning pathways that maintain engagement while meeting individual needs.

Pillar 3: Aesthetics

The Visual and Emotional Experience

Aesthetics in gamification encompass the visual design, sound effects, and overall atmosphere of the learning environment. They play a crucial role in shaping first impressions and sustaining interest.

Why Aesthetics Matter in Learning

Attract attention: Eye-catching designs draw learners in.

Evoke emotions: Engaging visuals and sounds create an emotional connection.

Enhance immersion: A well-designed environment helps learners feel part of the experience.

Best Practices for Aesthetics in Learning

To optimize aesthetics:

Align visuals with the narrative: Consistency between story and design creates a cohesive experience.

Prioritize usability: Intuitive layouts and clear navigation reduce cognitive load.

Use multimedia: Incorporate videos, animations, and interactive elements to enrich the learning process.

For instance, a gamified onboarding program might use vibrant, brand-aligned visuals and a welcoming soundtrack to make new employees feel at home.

Pillar 4: Technology

The Backbone of Gamification

Technology underpins the gamification experience, enabling the seamless integration of story, mechanics, and aesthetics. It determines the scalability, accessibility, and interactivity of the learning platform.

Key Technological Considerations

Platform capabilities: Ensure the LMS supports gamification features like leaderboards, real-time analytics, and adaptive pathways.

Integration: Compatibility with existing tools and systems enhances the user experience.

Accessibility: Mobile-first designs ensure learners can engage anytime, anywhere.

Innovations in Gamified Learning Technology

Emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR are pushing the boundaries of gamification. AI-powered adaptive learning systems personalize content delivery, while VR and AR create immersive scenarios that mimic real-world challenges.

For example, MaxLearn’s AI-powered authoring tools streamline course creation, making it easier to integrate gamification into training modules.

Bringing It All Together: The Synergy of the Four Pillars

The true power of Schell’s Four Pillars lies in their synergy. When combined effectively, they create a holistic experience that:

Engages learners emotionally through compelling stories.

Motivates and challenges them with well-designed mechanics.

Captivates their attention with appealing aesthetics.

Delivers seamless experiences powered by cutting-edge technology.

For instance, a customer service training program might integrate:

A narrative where learners play the role of problem-solving heroes.

Mechanics like points for resolving customer queries correctly.

A visually engaging dashboard with progress tracking.

AI-driven feedback to guide improvement.

Conclusion: Unlocking the Potential of Gamified Learning

Schell’s Four Pillars of Gamification offer a robust framework for transforming traditional training into engaging, impactful experiences. By leveraging story, mechanics, aesthetics, and technology, organizations can create learning solutions that not only educate but also inspire and retain employees.

In today’s fast-paced world, where attention spans are short and engagement is key, the integration of these pillars is more critical than ever. Platforms like MaxLearn, with their focus on microlearning and gamification, exemplify how these principles can be applied effectively to meet modern learning demands.

Whether you’re designing a corporate training program or an educational course, embracing Schell’s pillars will ensure your gamified learning initiatives achieve their full potential.

[ipasantosh]

Diploma in Taxation 

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

twst overblot boys survey

Over the years, I’ve noticed trends in behaviors and attitudes between fans of particular Twst characters and I’ve wanted to know if there was any evidence to back up these observations. In other words… Are individuals with certain traits more likely to gravitate to one Twst character (in this case, one of the overblot boys) over the others? And maybe if this survey is successful, I’ll ask the same of the rest of the cast—

And so I thought to collect this data, analyze the results, and share the final report with the public. This will be done with the help of a friend (Mod Jeido from twstgameplay) that was also curious about the topic. The analysis itself will be conducted using JMP, a statistical software.

If you’re interested too, then please fill out the following form and/or share it on socials. (I don’t have a Reddit or Tiktok and I’m not active on Twitter so I’s appreciate it a lot!!) The more responses collected, the stronger the conclusions we can make!

The form will close on July 15th, so please get your responses in before then!

[tea-with-eleni]

OKAY BUT EUROPA ACTUALLY DOES GET ECLIPSES

EUROPA, AS IN “THE OTHER WORLD THAT PROBABLY HAS LIFE”

GANYMEDE IS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE IN THE EUROPAN SKY TO CAUSE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FOR EUROPA

EARTH IS SUPER AWESOME AND SPECIAL BUT SO IS THE REST OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

NO OTHER PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM GETS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES!! THE SIZE AND DISTANCE OF OUR MOON FROM EARTH AND THE SUN MAKE THE PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET TOTALITY!!! THE EARTH AND MOON ARE SOOOO COOL AND OF COURSE OUR SUN!! I LOVE LIVING ON EARTH I LOVE YOU EARTH I LOVE YOUUUUU MOON I LOVE YOU SUN

[the960writers]

Do you think it's a good idea to try and get away from Google Docs when it comes to writing? I really can't afford any other fancy program to write my drafts in, and it honestly seems like the easiest - not to mention, most convenient - program to use to share my manuscript with beta readers. I could use advice on this matter because I keep seeing things across the net about it being a bad place to work on writing, but I have no idea what to turn to to make things easy for me and my future beta readers.

This is such a good question. Thank you.

So, a little backstory. Ever since Google removed their motto "do no evil" they have gone down the rather predictable path of all big players of the rot economy: putting profits over user experience.

A little while back, there was rumor that Google trains AI with the content of google docs, then they said they don't really, they only scan the content and do nothing with it, and then they started blocking access to documents with sexy images. Do we believe that Google has our own best interest at heart? That's something everyone has to decide for themselves.

Back then, I made a post with alternatives for Google Docs, you can find it here, also check the reblogs for more options:

Now, is it a good idea to switch from google docs? I think it is, but I'm also not consistent with it. As you mentioned, it seems to be the easiest to share writing with beta readers, and I also still often use it for fanfiction.

But there are alternatives, and they require very little adjustment in the process. Let me give you two free options.

Ellipsus is webbased, meaning you can write in it in the browser on any device. They have sharing, specifically for beta reading, and an export function for AO3.

Reedsy (marketplace around everything self-publishing) has an editor. It is webbased, and they also have an option for sharing with beta readers. This software is aimed at book type-setting and exporting but it works just fine for copying to web.

Personally, I'm currently switching everything to LibreOffice (also free!) files in some cloud connected folder. I used to do a lot of mobile writing on my phone with a bluetooth keyboard but currently, I'm taking my laptop everywhere so LibreOffice works great for me. If I have to use my phone or tablet for some lightweight mobile writing, on vacation for instance, I can still use something webbased.

So, I hope I gave you some interesting options. Do I think it's a good idea to make us less dependent on Google? Yes, I do. I don't trust them.

We have alternatives, and they cost us nothing more than a little adjustment.

~ barbex

[martin-james2121]

Uncover This Step-by-Step Guide For Creating Your Own Digital Signature

In a world where digital transactions and document signing have become the norm, having a digital signature is very important. Not only does it make paperwork easier, but also ensures security and authenticity.

Creating a digital signature empowers you to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and convenience. Always ensure to handle your digital signature with care, keeping security at the forefront of your digital interactions.

Check out these steps that you can take to create your digital signature hassle-free.  

Step 1: Choose Your Method

Digital signatures can be created in various ways, some of them are-

1. Drawing – Using a stylus or a mouse, draw your signature directly on a touch-enabled device or computer.

2. Scanning – Sign a piece of paper, scan it, and save the image as your digital signature.

3. Specialized Apps – Utilize software or apps designed especially for creating digital signatures, offering tools to draw, type, or upload a signature image.

To Read More Click here...

[el-ffej]

IMO: Absolutely, positively spot-on. Been a software engineer from 1980 to 2016, and this just nails the tech industry economics (and phases) that I saw then, and that I see now.

Must-read. Brilliantly written and on target. Kudos and applause, OP.

If anyone wants to know why every tech company in the world right now is clamoring for AI like drowned rats scrabbling to board a ship, I decided to make a post to explain what's happening.

(Disclaimer to start: I'm a software engineer who's been employed full time since 2018. I am not a historian nor an overconfident Youtube essayist, so this post is my working knowledge of what I see around me and the logical bridges between pieces.)

Okay anyway. The explanation starts further back than what's going on now. I'm gonna start with the year 2000. The Dot Com Bubble just spectacularly burst. The model of "we get the users first, we learn how to profit off them later" went out in a no-money-having bang (remember this, it will be relevant later). A lot of money was lost. A lot of people ended up out of a job. A lot of startup companies went under. Investors left with a sour taste in their mouth and, in general, investment in the internet stayed pretty cooled for that decade. This was, in my opinion, very good for the internet as it was an era not suffocating under the grip of mega-corporation oligarchs and was, instead, filled with Club Penguin and I Can Haz Cheezburger websites.

Then around the 2010-2012 years, a few things happened. Interest rates got low, and then lower. Facebook got huge. The iPhone took off. And suddenly there was a huge new potential market of internet users and phone-havers, and the cheap money was available to start backing new tech startup companies trying to hop on this opportunity. Companies like Uber, Netflix, and Amazon either started in this time, or hit their ramp-up in these years by shifting focus to the internet and apps.

Now, every start-up tech company dreaming of being the next big thing has one thing in common: they need to start off by getting themselves massively in debt. Because before you can turn a profit you need to first spend money on employees and spend money on equipment and spend money on data centers and spend money on advertising and spend money on scale and and and

But also, everyone wants to be on the ship for The Next Big Thing that takes off to the moon.

So there is a mutual interest between new tech companies, and venture capitalists who are willing to invest $$$ into said new tech companies. Because if the venture capitalists can identify a prize pig and get in early, that money could come back to them 100-fold or 1,000-fold. In fact it hardly matters if they invest in 10 or 20 total bust projects along the way to find that unicorn.

But also, becoming profitable takes time. And that might mean being in debt for a long long time before that rocket ship takes off to make everyone onboard a gazzilionaire.

But luckily, for tech startup bros and venture capitalists, being in debt in the 2010's was cheap, and it only got cheaper between 2010 and 2020. If people could secure loans for ~3% or 4% annual interest, well then a $100,000 loan only really costs $3,000 of interest a year to keep afloat. And if inflation is higher than that or at least similar, you're still beating the system.

So from 2010 through early 2022, times were good for tech companies. Startups could take off with massive growth, showing massive potential for something, and venture capitalists would throw infinite money at them in the hopes of pegging just one winner who will take off. And supporting the struggling investments or the long-haulers remained pretty cheap to keep funding.

You hear constantly about "Such and such app has 10-bazillion users gained over the last 10 years and has never once been profitable", yet the thing keeps chugging along because the investors backing it aren't stressed about the immediate future, and are still banking on that "eventually" when it learns how to really monetize its users and turn that profit.

The pandemic in 2020 took a magnifying-glass-in-the-sun effect to this, as EVERYTHING was forcibly turned online which pumped a ton of money and workers into tech investment. Simultaneously, money got really REALLY cheap, bottoming out with historic lows for interest rates.

Then the tide changed with the massive inflation that struck late 2021. Because this all-gas no-brakes state of things was also contributing to off-the-rails inflation (along with your standard-fare greedflation and price gouging, given the extremely convenient excuses of pandemic hardships and supply chain issues). The federal reserve whipped out interest rate hikes to try to curb this huge inflation, which is like a fire extinguisher dousing and suffocating your really-cool, actively-on-fire party where everyone else is burning but you're in the pool. And then they did this more, and then more. And the financial climate followed suit. And suddenly money was not cheap anymore, and new loans became expensive, because loans that used to compound at 2% a year are now compounding at 7 or 8% which, in the language of compounding, is a HUGE difference. A $100,000 loan at a 2% interest rate, if not repaid a single cent in 10 years, accrues to $121,899. A $100,000 loan at an 8% interest rate, if not repaid a single cent in 10 years, more than doubles to $215,892.

Now it is scary and risky to throw money at "could eventually be profitable" tech companies. Now investors are watching companies burn through their current funding and, when the companies come back asking for more, investors are tightening their coin purses instead. The bill is coming due. The free money is drying up and companies are under compounding pressure to produce a profit for their waiting investors who are now done waiting.

You get enshittification. You get quality going down and price going up. You get "now that you're a captive audience here, we're forcing ads or we're forcing subscriptions on you." Don't get me wrong, the plan was ALWAYS to monetize the users. It's just that it's come earlier than expected, with way more feet-to-the-fire than these companies were expecting. ESPECIALLY with Wall Street as the other factor in funding (public) companies, where Wall Street exhibits roughly the same temperament as a baby screaming crying upset that it's soiled its own diaper (maybe that's too mean a comparison to babies), and now companies are being put through the wringer for anything LESS than infinite growth that Wall Street demands of them.

Internal to the tech industry, you get MASSIVE wide-spread layoffs. You get an industry that used to be easy to land multiple job offers shriveling up and leaving recent graduates in a desperately awful situation where no company is hiring and the market is flooded with laid-off workers trying to get back on their feet.

Because those coin-purse-clutching investors DO love virtue-signaling efforts from companies that say "See! We're not being frivolous with your money! We only spend on the essentials." And this is true even for MASSIVE, PROFITABLE companies, because those companies' value is based on the Rich Person Feeling Graph (their stock) rather than the literal profit money. A company making a genuine gazillion dollars a year still tears through layoffs and freezes hiring and removes the free batteries from the printer room (totally not speaking from experience, surely) because the investors LOVE when you cut costs and take away employee perks. The "beer on tap, ping pong table in the common area" era of tech is drying up. And we're still unionless.

Never mind that last part.

And then in early 2023, AI (more specifically, Chat-GPT which is OpenAI's Large Language Model creation) tears its way into the tech scene with a meteor's amount of momentum. Here's Microsoft's prize pig, which it invested heavily in and is galivanting around the pig-show with, to the desperate jealousy and rapture of every other tech company and investor wishing it had that pig. And for the first time since the interest rate hikes, investors have dollar signs in their eyes, both venture capital and Wall Street alike. They're willing to restart the hose of money (even with the new risk) because this feels big enough for them to take the risk.

Now all these companies, who were in varying stages of sweating as their bill came due, or wringing their hands as their stock prices tanked, see a single glorious gold-plated rocket up out of here, the likes of which haven't been seen since the free money days. It's their ticket to buy time, and buy investors, and say "see THIS is what will wring money forth, finally, we promise, just let us show you."

To be clear, AI is NOT profitable yet. It's a money-sink. Perhaps a money-black-hole. But everyone in the space is so wowed by it that there is a wide-spread and powerful conviction that it will become profitable and earn its keep. (Let's be real, half of that profit "potential" is the promise of automating away jobs of pesky employees who peskily cost money.) It's a tech-space industrial revolution that will automate away skilled jobs, and getting in on the ground floor is the absolute best thing you can do to get your pie slice's worth.

It's the thing that will win investors back. It's the thing that will get the investment money coming in again (or, get it second-hand if the company can be the PROVIDER of something needed for AI, which other companies with venture-back will pay handsomely for). It's the thing companies are terrified of missing out on, lest it leave them utterly irrelevant in a future where not having AI-integration is like not having a mobile phone app for your company or not having a website.

So I guess to reiterate on my earlier point:

Drowned rats. Swimming to the one ship in sight.

[notchainedtotrauma]

On The Subject Of Bots: A Former Bot Farm Operator Speaks On The Process (Also spread this video all over this website. I mean it. Spread it. For a whole set of reasons-one of them being antiblackness)

ID [ Close up of a woman in a car wearing a green shirt. She has a dark brown ponytail. She says: 'I'm a a former tech employee that created and sustained a bot farm between 2015 and 2018 in California USA.

Wanna give you guys some information because American bot farm operators are pretty rare. Most bot farms operate oversea. I don't know if there's anyone like me in the US that can tell you this stuff is what I'm saying.

I'm typically way secretive about this but it's gotten so bad I need to talk about it

So what is a bot farm ? Something that an individual or a company purchases. You get a set amount of bots that look like normal people, go out, and spread your message. And here's the work that goes ino that:

I as a operator have to create each individual fake person. I have to create a bio. I have to create a username, a real name, then I have to generate content that has to be supportive of the message the client is paying for.

Positive opinion of the company or the individual. If anyone has ever tried to create content (you know that) that takes time and also that takes ideas; it's not easy.

Finally you need to program these bots based on activity. Bots respond to what you do.

You think that you going around and liking things is invisible. It's not. You're leaving a footprint across the app. That footprint is tracked by people like me. So based on what other people like or comment on, I program my bot to go and search for those people, find them, and then interact with them with my content that supports the message that I created.

This programming also includes research to find the people that are the most susceptible to believing the message that you're selling, and targeting those people. This is just a scratch on the surface of what it takes to program one of these. And people are buying hundreds of them.

Now here's the interesting part. The software to run all these bots is not free. And the time that it takes to create all the things that I just told you about also not free. All of this stuff costs money.

And it represents money when you see it. If you're seeing non stop videos posted with a certain agenda, someone's paying for that. So when you see a dump/ a ton of media that's telling you all the same message, do not say wow what a thing happening right now.

Please instead say wow who's trying to buy my opinion on this topic ?

End of the video ] End of ID