Zoom follow-up, Hacks and Scams in the age of COVID-19, the death of cash and a history lesson in Data Visualisation

A mixed bag today. In this issue, I highlight a few things that have been on my mind, starting with a follow-up to Zoom’s trials and tribulations in securing its product.

I hope you enjoy this. Feel free to share, er …virally.

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Zoom follow-up

Following a worldwide backlash and the possibility of being investigated by the authorities in several countries, Zoom CEO, Eric Yuan, stated on the Zoom blog on April 1st (and no, it is not an April Fool’s Joke): 

China, Taiwan and your favourite video chat apps

One of the things that us in the western hemisphere hold dear is freedom. In some countries, it is taken to an extreme by its defenders who fight for their right to do stupid and dangerous things. But that’s beside the point.

When we talk about freedom in a digital context, clearly the very definition of freedom is something that hasn’t quite been entirely resolved. More confusingly, is the fact that freedom is often grouped, incorrectly, with privacy. Your right to do something does not necessarily translate to a right to be private about what you do —depending on the country in which you live, notwithstanding.

Caribbean Businesses need to adapt quickly and permanently

 I didn’t once mention Covid-19 … damn it… 🤦‍♂️

Don’t infect anyone. Stay indoors.

🎙Podcast version will publish tomorrow🎙

The crisis will affect the region more deeply and for longer than we realise

Like most of us, you may find you have more time on your hands than before… for all the wrong reasons. If you own or work in a Business that is not recognised as a necessity of the state —think, medical or food-related companies — you may find your Company is at a complete stand-still.

There is only one topic at the moment, its effects are so wide-reaching that discussion about almost anything else will have some relation to the virus SARS-COV-2 which causes Covid-19. That’s why this week’s issue is not exclusively about Digital Transformation. Let me just start by saying, that the seriousness of this pandemic is not to be taken lightly. I’m not a scientist, nor an epidemiologist, so I have no comment on what is right or wrong

Winners and losers, the mother of invention and virtual social distancing

There is only one topic at the moment, its effects are so wide-reaching that discussion about almost anything else will have some relation to the virus SARS-COV-2 which causes Covid-19. That’s why this week’s issue is not exclusively about Digital Transformation. Let me just start by saying, that the seriousness of this pandemic is not to be taken lightly. I’m not a scientist, nor an epidemiologist, so I have no comment on what is right or wrong

Good morning. I was trying to get up and running with the narrated version of this newsletter, and it took a little more time than expected which is why there was no issue last week. It is now available through Apple’s Podcast Library so you can subscribe directly through your podcast player of choice. That’s the good news.

The bad news (for me) was that I’d started this article quite some time ago, but recent events, namely the impact of COVID-19, have forced me to rewrite significant portions of it. So much for pre-planning!

The opportunity that COVID-19 provides

Good morning. I was trying to get up and running with the narrated version of this newsletter, and it took a little more time than expected which is why there was no issue last week. It is now available through Apple’s Podcast Library so you can subscribe directly through your podcast player of choice. That’s the good news.

The bad news (for me) was that I’d started this article quite some time ago, but recent events, namely the impact of COVID-19, have forced me to rewrite significant portions of it. So much for pre-planning!

One of the most requested things, when I started this newsletter, was an audio version, for those that don’t enjoy reading long articles like those I write, or those who simply prefer to listen along during their commute. I’m pleased to announce that this is exactly what I’m doing.

This is the narrated version of the text-based newsletter. Press play at the top of this email or subscribe through your podcast app of choice.

Newsletters as a Podcast = More Choice

One of the most requested things, when I started this newsletter, was an audio version for those that don’t enjoy reading long articles like those I write, or those who simply prefer to listen along during their commute. I’m pleased to announce that this is exactly what I’m doing.

Substack, the platform that hosts this newsletter, has provided essential tools for podcasting since April of 2019, and it was something I’d intended a long time ago. It was part of the initial brief for the newsletter. However, at the time was not possible without a significant technical and/or financial investment. I’d hinted about this coming in the 2019 review issue:

A Show Report

A slightly different tack to the issue today. A quick report back on the Microsoft Ignite The Tour London conference.

On to the update.

Image: Microsoft