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HBase vs Cassandra: A Comparative Look

Posted on 12/05/202102/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Selecting the best database management system is the key to ensure effective, streamlined app development process and a successful end outcome. However, choosing an ideal system for a project is not very easy for there are always a number of details to be considered at every turn. Especially when it impacts the performance of your project and the development process.

In this article, we will be taking an in-depth look into two such popular systems and look into how they stack up against each other: HBase vs Cassandra.

We will be exploring the essentials, architecture, performance, amongst other things.

What is HBase?
What is Apache Cassandra?
The Similarities Between HBase and Cassandra
HBase vs Cassandra: The Differentiating Factors
When to Use Which Database

Let us start with the overviews first.

What is HBase?

HBase is a distributed, scalable, column-based database with dynamic diagram for structured data. It enables efficient and reliable management of large data sets which are distributed among multiple servers.

HBase Architecture & Structure

It is a one of a kind database which works on multiple physical servers simultaneously, which ensures a smooth operation even though the servers are not operating together. HBase data model uses two primary processes for ensuring ongoing operations:

A. Region Server – It can support various regions. The region here stands for record array that corresponds to a specific range of consecutive RowKey. Every RowKey contains these elements –

Persistent Storage – It is a permanent storage data location in HBase. The files are used in the HDFS storage in HFile format. The RowKey sorts this data type and divides them in pairs, where each pair aligns with one HFile.
MemStore – It is a write buffer in which anything written to the HBase gets stored. When the MemStore reaches a specific size, the data gets written in a new HFile.
BlockCache – It is a read cache which enables you to save time on the data which is frequently read.
WAL – When the data is written into memstore, there is always a risk of losing it. WAL (Write Ahead Log) saves all the operations prior to its implementation. This way, the data can be recovered if something happens.

B. Master Server – It is the primary server of Apahe HBase. It manages regions distribution across Region Server, monitors regions, manages running of the ongoing tasks and performs a series of other necessary tasks.

To coordinate the action between services, it uses Apache ZooKeeper – a service for configuration and service sync management.

What is Apache Cassandra?

Cassandra belongs to the NoSQL-system class and is designed for creating reliable, scalable repositories of data arrays which are represented as hash. It works with key space, which aligns with the concept of database scheme in relational model. There can also be multiple column families that relate to the concept of relational table.

Apache Cassandra Architecture

The idea behind the Cassandra architecture is to have a P2P distributed system which is made of nodes cluster in which a node can accept the read or write requests. Every node in the cluster communicates the state information about itself and the other nodes through P2P gossip communication protocol. This together forms the basis of Cassandra data modeling and analysis.

At the center of the Apache Cassandra data model lies a Log Structured Merge storage engine. It comes with key elements like:

Memtable
Commit log
SSTables
Compaction

The overview of both HBase database management system and Cassandra must have given you an idea of how similar the features of HBase and cassandra can be.

The Similarities Between HBase and Cassandra

1. Database

Both HBase and Cassandra are NoSQL open-source databases (like Aerospike database). Both of them can handle large data sets and non-relational data, which includes images, audio, videos, etc.

2. Scalability

Both HBase and Cassandra have a high linear scalability feature. Under the feature, users who want to handle more data only need to increase the nodes number in cluster. This makes them both equally good choices for handling huge data.

3. Replication

In case of both HBase and Cassandra, there is a safeguard which prevents the loss of data even after it fails. This is done through the mode of replication. The data which is written on one node gets replicated on multiple nodes in a cluster. Because of this, if a node fails, a redundant node is always present for accessing data.

4. Coding

Both the databases are column-oriented which implement similar write paths. Columns are mainly the center storage unit in a database. Users can add columns according to their requirements. Additionally, the right path starts with logging a write operation to log file. It is basically done for ensuring durability.

Now that we have looked into what makes them similar, let us shift our attention to the difference between HBase and Cassandra.

HBase vs Cassandra: The Differentiating Factors

1. Data Models

While the terms of both the databases are more or less, there are some fundamental difference between HBase and Cassandra.

The column in Cassandra is like HBase’s cell. Its column family is also more like HBase table. On the other hand, HBase column qualifier is a lot like Cassandra’s super column.

One of the Cassandra key characteristics is that it only allows for a primary key to have multiple columns and HBase only comes with 1 column row keys and puts the responsibility of the row key design on the developers. Also, Cassandra’s primary key contains partition key and the clustering columns in which the partition key might contain different columns.

2. Architecture

HBase has a master-based architecture while Cassandra has a masterless one. It means that HBase comes with a single failure point, while Cassandra does not. The HBase client communicates directly with slave-server without contacting master, this gives a working time once the master is down.

Moreover, in the Cassandra and HBase comparison, the former supports both data storage and management, while in case of the latter, the architecture is only designed for data management while it relies on other systems/technologies for storage, server status management, and metadata.

3. Performance – Read & Write Capability

When the comparison is drawn between Apache Cassandra performance and Apache HBase performance, it is done on the front of read and write capability.

Write: Both HBase and Cassandra’s on-server write paths are fairly alike. There are some differences though which makes Cassandra better, like the difference in names for the data structure and the fact that HBase does not write to log and then cache simultaneously.

Read: If you are looking for consistent and fast reads, you should go with HBase. Since it writes on only one server, there is never the need of comparison between the various nodes’ data versions.

Even though Cassandra can handle over 129,000 reads in one second, the reads are targeted and there are high probability of them being inconsistent.

4. Security

Both HBase and Cassandra offer not only database-wide access control but also granualty of a certain level. Cassandra allows row-level access while HBase goes a step ahead and offers cell-level access. Cassandra sets the users roles and their condition, while HBase comes with an inverse move in which the administrators assign visibility label to the data sets and then informs user groups which labels they can view.

5. Infrastructure

HBase makes use of the Hadoop infrastructure which consists of moving parts such as HBase master, Zookeeper, Name and Data nodes.

Cassandra comes with several different operations and infrastructure. It also uses different DBMS in addition to the infrastructure. A number of Cassandra apps also use Storm or Hadoop. Additionally, its infrastructure is based on a single node type structure.

6. Support

The support specific Cassandra and HBase comparison looks like this – HBase doesn’t support the ordered partitioning, while Cassandra does. Ordered partitioning leads to making the row size in Cassandra to 10s of megabytes.

7. Nodes

In the case of Cassandra, the users have to identify nodes as seed nodes. These serve as the points for inter-cluster communications. In the case of HBase there are several master nodes. They monitor and coordinate actions of region servers.

8. Internode Communication

Both HBase and Cassandra have internode communication. While Cassandra uses the Gossip Protocol, HBase uses Zookeeper Protocol where a single node acts as boss through with the other nodes gets the necessary data.

9. Transactions

When it comes to HBase vs Cassandra comparison in terms of transactions, Cassandra comes with the feature of lightweight transactions. The mechanisms used here are Row-Level Write Isolation and Compare and Set. While, on the other hand, HBase works with two different mechanisms known as Check and Put and Read Check Delete.

10. Documentation

Cassandra’s documentation is a lot better than HBase’s documentation. Because of this, working on and learning Cassandra also becomes easier.

11. Query Language

Both HBase and Cassandra shell are based on the JRuby shell. Cassandra query language, is very specific. It is CQL (which is modeled in the line of SQL). Compared to HBase query language, the functions and features of CQL are far more rich.

The differences between HBase and Cassandra shows that there is no concrete answer to which database is better of the two. It all boils down to when to use which.

When to Use Which Database

The Cassandra and HBase use cases can be differentiated on the grounds of application type they are used in and the outcome expectation that an app development company has.

Use HBase if you need consistency in the large scale reads and if you work with a lot of batch processing and MapReduce for it has a direct relation with the HDFS.

HBase’s use cases consist of online log analytics, write-heavy applications, and apps that need a large volume, such as Facebook posts, Tweets, etc. Additionally, there is a large set of use cases related to Cassandra Hadoop integration.

Use Cassandra if high availability of large scale reads are needed. Also, since it requires a very minimum setup with less administration overhead it is a lot easier to get the process started in. It also offers greater flexibility in CAP theorem tradeoffs.

Some examples of what is Cassandra used for can be seen in the development of messaging systems, e-commerce websites, and real-time sensor data.

In short, use HBase data model and implementations when you have to analyze for big data or have to perform aggregations. Use Cassandra if you have to emphasize on interactive data and real-time transaction processing.

Python-The Ultimate Choice For Startups, Why?

Posted on 12/05/202102/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Being in the market for over thirty years now, it is indubitable that Python has become the epitome of simplicity with effectiveness. The gradual increase in its popularity is something that raises the question of “why and how Python is becoming the most popular programming language?”.

Upon confronting any developer on this matter, one would come across responses such as – “It is highly readable”, “Building applications with Python is very easy because of the understandable code”, “It makes complex processes easy”, and so on and on.

However, today we will discuss the validity, feasibility, and scope of Python app development from the business front, i.e., from the vantage point of startups and establish why Python is the top programming language for your startup.

What Does a Startup Need from a Language?

To effectively deduce why Python poses as an absolute option for startups to go with, we should first discuss what are the factors that are prominent for a startup business.

High scope of scalability and the ability to add new features
Faster development of Minimum Viable Product
Quick yet efficacious iterations
Integration with other technologies and software
Time and cost-monitored development process

Now, when that is out of the way, we can positively move on to discussing whether Python actually fulfills all these needs of a startup to emerge as an exemplary choice.

Features of Python

1. Smooth integration

Unlike many programming languages out there, Python is pretty mellow when it comes to integration. You can easily integrate with other languages such as C, C++, Java, and so on.

2. Support TDD

Python is very popular for its test-driven development. It is quite easy for developers to create prototypes with it, and they can later convert them into fully-functioning applications by simply refactoring the code and testing it instantly.

3. Wide range of standard libraries

Though the list of why Python is quickly ascending the ladder of fame is tediously long, this is one of the primary reasons why. The easy availability of standard and robust libraries is what attracts developers and startups towards Python.

4. Ideal for ML and Big Data

Machine Learning and Big Data are two of the emerging technologies that have acquired eyeballs of many establishments globally. They both come blessed with tons of locked potential, something we are tapping into slowly. Among other kinds of applications written in Python, you can also develop apps integrated with these technologies, including a wide range of AI technologies as well, as they have many robust libraries to support the development.

Reasons Making Python An Ideal Choice For Startups

Let’s have a look at the reasons for why to choose Python for business and startups.

1. Remarkable choice for MVP

Being a startup, time is of the essence for you. You need to unleash your app in the market, targeting a certain niche before anyone else does it. Moreover, as a startup, you need to convince your investors that your app idea is something that is going to be a huge hit, and for that, you need to show them a working prototype of your soon-to-be-developed Python mobile app, hence an MVP.

Now, one of the best uses of Python is MVP development because of its expeditious nature. Python encourages robust and rapid development by allowing the software developers for startups to do quick iterations after getting the feedback. It is the pre-built modules and packages of Python that render it the ability to expedite the product completion process.

In fact, it has been observed that Python in comparison to languages like Java can provide a fully functioning MVP in weeks as compared to months; it is time-efficient, something that every startup requires.

2. Scalable

Scalability is one inevitable component that any startup cannot afford to overlook. As a business grows, its users grow too. Under such instances, it would become a priority for any business to have an application that has the scope of growth as well. This is what Python is good for. With the help of the Django framework, a series of wired-up and ready-to-go components, Python is able to provide highly scalable apps.

The components in the Django framework are decoupled, i.e., independent from each other so they can be replaced and unplugged as per the demands of the business. Moreover, with a wide range of libraries available for Python, it is a piece of cake to add new features to a product.

3. Versatile

Versatility is another great reason that makes Python an ideal choice for startups. This means if you need a code that works phenomenally across all platforms such as Windows, macOS, or even Linux, then Python should be the language of your choice.

Additionally, if you need to integrate technologies like Machine Learning and Data Science, then you need nothing but Python as the programming language to help you achieve the app you envisioned but better.

4. User-friendly

“Beautiful is better than ugly.

Explicit is better than implicit.

Simple is better than complex.

Complex is better than complicated.

Flat is better than nested.

Sparse is better than dense.

Readability counts.”

As you can see in the extract of Zen of Python philosophy, Python language works for of certain principles and guidelines that render it to be the most user-friendly language. This is one of the many reasons why developers love Python and have made it the second most popular language on Github beating even Java.

5. Community support

Community support becomes prominent when the team of developers faces problems during the product development process. Hiccups are unavoidable, but what matters is how active and capable is the community to provide possible solutions to certain issues that Python may face. Thankfully, the Python community is among the best ones out there as it strives towards curing all the issues the language may possess and improve its features and functions from time to time.

6. No need for extra developers

It is always good news for the startup mobile app company whenever they can save a few bucks. In comparison to other languages, Python offers a concise and rather easy code to app developers for startups, thereby eliminating the need for big teams for the same task while delivering the product of impeccable quality. This also helps developers to provide software development services for startups without any hassle. Let’s look at the example of the code in Java and Python which cater to the same function and purpose –

7. Security

Speaking of security, Python is evidently more secure than some other prominent languages, like PHP. It is because of frameworks such as Django that come loaded with built-in security features protecting the application from many security threats lurking on the internet.

This framework is capable of hiding the site’s source code from direct viewing by dynamically producing web pages and employing templates sending data to web browsers.

8. Helps combat complexity

As Python is very simple in nature and associates simplicity with effectiveness, it is a great medium to handle complexities. It is ideal for web solutions as it can overcome complexities related to the integration of different systems, among others. Qualities such as these are what together make Python ideal for a startup app development company as it is time-efficient, fast, and easy to work with.

9. Ubiquitous in nature

Do you know what makes sense? – Developing a solution that is based on ubiquitous technology. From Youtube to Dropbox to Reddit- all are avid users of Python language. It is something that is unprecedentedly proliferating as of now and will become a standard to which other languages will be assessed. So, if you want to develop an application that is going to perform just as remarkable as it would do in the present, then there is nothing better than Python for you.

Which Startups Use Python?

Look at the list of Python startups that opted for or are using Python as their choice and are now thriving in their particular niche. These use cases of Python are an ideal example of why Python is perfect for startups software development companies.

Ometria

Ometria is one of the perfect examples of startups using Python. This startup gives marketers the ability to create personalized experiences throughout the customer journey. They offer services such as cross-channel marketing, AI-enabled customer intelligence, and others.

Weglot

Weglot seamlessly integrates with your website, adapting to your technology, and delivering it in any language. It has solutions for e-commerce, marketing websites, and web agencies.

Paddle

It is a SaaS commerce platform for payment processing, billing, sales tax management, merchant of record. With Paddle, companies are finally able to transform their revenue delivery infrastructure into a strategic growth lever to respond faster and more precisely to every opportunity.

Stripe

It is a well-known American technology company that offers a platform for startups and big companies to accept payments, send payouts, and manage their businesses online. They also help companies to beat fraud, send invoices and manage business spend.

Virail

It is an online platform that provides the fastest way to choose the cheapest ticket or hotel. They also help to search for all routes and choose the best one for you. The platform works with 200 transportation companies and offers you the best travel solutions across the world.

Final Thoughts

According to many startup app development companies in USA, it is no contest that Python may become the programming language of the future. Every quality, feature, and function that we have discussed above is a clear indication that Python is the best language for startups.

In fact, besides startups, many fully grown organizations such as NASA, IBM, to name a few, are bending towards mobile app development using Python to fulfill their needs. Moreover, because of its ubiquity, it gains a little more edge over the other languages.

Zero-Knowledge Proof & its Role in the Blockchain World

Posted on 08/05/202102/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Over the past few years, we have become accustomed to the way large banks and other firms access and employ our personal information to deliver us an enhanced experience. We have over time given them a ‘green signal’ to the mechanisms that use our sensitive details to help us sustain in a certain way. But then entered the Blockchain technology and it totally changed everything.

The Blockchain technology brought various characteristics like transparency, immutability, decentralization, and distributed ledger into existence. It enabled users to act anonymously and perform transactions with high-end security.

[Before we look further, we strongly recommend taking the time to understand the basics of Blockchain.]

Blockchain, in simple terms, gave users control to their privacy and future back.

But, has Blockchain really succeeded in doing so?

In one word, the answer is NO.

Many blockchain networks use public databases. So, anyone having an internet connection can view the list of the network’s transaction history. They can see all the details associated with the transaction and your wallet details, but the name of the user will still be unknown to them. Instead, they will come across as a public key – the unique code representing the user on the blockchain network.

This way, the public key created via the cryptography technique safeguard your privacy to some extent. But, it is still possible for one to expose you via other techniques.

This put your anonymous cover blown; debunking the myth of Blockchain’s anonymity and privacy, and make you realize that –

The user’s sensitive information stored on a Blockchain network is only confidential, not anonymous.

Likewise, there are various blockchain networks governed by consensus algorithms to deliver high-end privacy and stability, but decentralization is considered as a second priority in such cases. In many such cases, the two parties do not trust each other. [To read about these consensus models in detail, check out this blockchain consensus algorithm guide.]

This, as a whole, gives a clear indication that Blockchain is not that anonymous and decentralized as many of its enthusiasts believe it to be. And even gives birth to various questions, such as –

Do Blockchain networks really need to be anonymous? How can Blockchain offer more anonymity and better privacy protection to their users?

In the present Blockchain networks, the transactions are recorded in the public ledger and are transparent in nature. Because of this, various reputed brands and markets like Wall Street are hesitating to adopt this technology as the confidentiality of client and transaction is a must for them. This, as a whole, is questioning if at all Blockchain web 3.0 will be able to impact businesses.

Coming to the second question, there are various concepts and methods like Coin mixing, Ringct, and Coin Join that are making transactions anonymous in Blockchain, but the one that is highly appreciated is Zero-Knowledge Proof.

The one will cover in detail in this article.

So, let’s begin with a simple definition of zero-knowledge proof.

What is Zero Knowledge Proof?

Zero-knowledge Proof is an encryption scheme proposed by MIT researchers Silvio Micali, Shafi Goldwasser, and Charles Rackoff in the 1980s. In this method, one party (Prover) can prove that a specific statement is true to the other party (Verifier) without disclosing any additional information.

With definition being cleared, let’s take an example to understand how zero knowledge proof works.

Example: Kids and Candy Bars

Suppose, two children – Bob and Alice, have received some candy bars from a party. Bob wants to know if Alice has got the same number of candy bars or not. But, at the same time, none of them is ready to reveal the exact number.

So, what they do is that Bob brings four lockable boxes in a room, assuming that the number of candy bars received will be 10, 20, 30, and 40. He labels each box with a value corresponding to the number of candy bars.

Then, Bob keeps the key to the box that defines the number of candy bars he received in his pocket (let’s say he got 30 candy bars) and throws away the keys of all other boxes. And he leaves the room.

Now, Alice enters the room with 4 small pieces of paper and writes ‘+’ on one of them while ‘-’ on every other. Here, ‘+’ denotes the number of candy bars she got, while ‘-’ represents every other value.

She slips the paper piece with ‘+’ sign in one box (let’s say in the one representing 20 candy bars) and ‘-’ in the rest of the boxes. And she leaves.

Now, Bob enters the room again and opens the box whose key is in his pocket. Then, he checks if the box has a piece of paper with ‘+’ sign or ‘-’ sign. If it’s a ‘+’ sign, he realizes that Alice has an equal number of candy bars. While, in the other case, she doesn’t.

As we know that Alice has 20 candy bars and Bob has 30 candy bars, it is clear that Bob will find a ‘-’ sign in the lockable box whose key he has. This will make him clear that they both do not have the same number of candy bars.

At the same moment, Alice will re-enter the room and find a ‘-’ sign in Bob’s hand and she will also come to know that they have a different number of candy bars.

Note: By this method, Bob will learn that they do not have an equal number of candy bars. But, he will still have no clue if Alice has more or less candy bars than him, and vice versa.

Thus, the zero-knowledge proof maintains the privacy of users’ sensitive information, while making a transaction (in this case, the transaction is finding if they have the same number of candy bars or not).

Although this example would have helped you in understanding what exactly is Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), let’s refresh the concept with an image-

Now, as the concept of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) is explained, it is the best time to look into what makes everyone prefer it over other available options.

Benefits of Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)

Simple – One of the prime advantages of zero-knowledge proof is that it does not involve any complex encryption method.
Secure – It does not require anyone to reveal any sort of information.

While these are the pros of Zero-knowledge proof, the concept has some disadvantages as well. A few of which are:-

Lengthy – In the zero-knowledge method, there around 2k computations, with each requiring a certain amount of time to process. This is the foremost con of going with zero-knowledge proof.
Imperfect – The messages delivered to verifier/prover might be destroyed or modified.
Limited – The zero-knowledge protocol demands the secret to be a numerical value. In other cases, a translation is required.

With this covered, let’s dig deeper into the technicalities before we evaluate when and how Zero-knowledge protocols can be introduced into the Blockchain ecosystem.

Starting with what are the core characteristics of a zero-knowledge proof.

Properties of Zero-Knowledge Proofs

1. Completeness

If the statement is true and both users follow the rules religiously, then the verifier would be convinced without any external help.

2. Soundness

If the statement is false, the verifier won’t be convinced in any scenario (even if the prover says that the statement is true for some small probability).

3. Zero-Knowledge

In both cases, verifier won’t be able to know any information beyond that the statement is true or false.

While the principles of Zero Knowledge Proof are covered, let’s talk about the different types of ZKPs a business enthusiast can invest in.

Types of Zero Knowledge Proofs

1. Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proof

In an interactive zero-knowledge proof, a prover performs a series of actions under the mechanism of mathematical probability to convince the verifier of a particular fact.

2. Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge Proof (NIZKP)

As depicted from the name, Non-interactive zero-knowledge proof does not require an interactive process. Meaning, the prover can generate all the challenges at once and the verifier(s) can later respond. This restricts the possibility of collusion. However, it requires additional machines and software to find out the sequence of experiments.

Note: It is possible to make a transition from non-interactive to interactive ZKP.

Where to Implement Zero-Knowledge Proof in Blockchain System?

1. Messaging

In messaging, end-to-end encryption is imperative so that no one can read your private message besides the one you are communicating with. To ensure security, messaging platforms ask users to verify their identity to the server and vice-versa.

But, with the advent of ZKP, they will be able to build end-to-end trust in the messaging world without leaking any extra information. This is one of the prime applications of zero-knowledge proof in the blockchain world.

2. Authentication

Zero-knowledge proof can also facilitate transmitting sensitive information like authentication information with better security. It can build a secure channel for the users to employ their information without revealing it. And this way, avoid data leakage in the worst scenarios.

3. Storage Protection

Another possible use case of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) is in the field of storage utility.

Zero-knowledge proof comes with a protocol that not only safeguards the storage unit, but also the information within it. Needless to say, the access channels are also protected to give a seamless and secure experience.

4. Sending Private Blockchain Transactions

When talking about sending private blockchain transactions, it is utterly important to keep it out of the reach of the third parties. Now, while the traditional methods are somewhat protective, they have some loopholes.

This is yet another area where ZKP comes into play. The concept, when integrated wisely, helps in making it nearly impossible to hack or intercept the private blockchain transactions.

5. Complex Documentation

Since zero-knowledge proof has the potential to encrypt data in chunks, it enables one to control certain blocks to provide access to a particular user, while restricting access for others. This way, the concept protects the complex documentation from those not authorized to see them.

6. File System Control

Another place where you can see an effective zero-knowledge proof implementation is the file system.

The concept adds different layers of security to the files, users, and even logins that makes it quite difficult for one to hack or manipulate the stored data.

7. Security for Sensitive Information

Last but not least, Zero-knowledge proof also refines the way blockchain technology is revamping transactions.

ZKP adds a high-end security level to every block containing sensitive banking information like your credit card details and history, such that banks need to manipulate only required blocks when a user requests for information. Other blocks remain untouched and thus, protected.

So, these were some of the use cases of zero-knowledge proof in the blockchain environment. To make your brand presence in the market by building one of these, hire a blockchain app development company.

And in case you are confused about its real-world implementation, check for the following existing projects operating with the convergence of two.

Real-Life Examples of Convergence of Zero Knowledge Proofs and Blockchain

1. ZCash

ZCash is an open-source and permissionless blockchain platform that offers the functionality to keep transactions ‘transparent’ and ‘shielded’ as per the requirement.

In the former case, the transactions are governed by a t-addr, just like bitcoin transactions. While in the latter case, a zero-knowledge proof called zk-SNARKs is used and the transactions are controlled by a z-addr.

2. ING

ING is a Netherlands based bank that has introduced its own zero-knowledge blockchain. However, they have modified their zero-knowledge system to make it a zero-knowledge knowledge range proof to lower down the need for computational power.

This way, they have prepared their zero-knowledge system to elevate the impact of blockchain in fintech.

3. ZCoin

The company uses Zerocoin protocol, which is based on zero-knowledge proof, to enhance security and anonymity in the transaction process. However, what makes it distinct from other projects working on this concept is that it offers scalability too.

Though various international actors have started showing an interest in implementing the concept of zero-knowledge proof into the blockchain, the adoption pace is too slow. And the prime reason behind is the following set of challenges associated with the addition of ZKP into the blockchain environment.

Challenges You Might Face While Integrating ZKP into Your Blockchain Project

1. Absence of Standards

Since blockchain technology itself is at its early adoption stage, there are no standards, system and homogeneous languages that enables app developers and business prospects to interact with the concept of ZKP and harness its potential in an efficient way.

2. Scalability

Another challenge that restricts the adoption of zero-knowledge proof in the blockchain environment is scalability, provided such algorithms require high computing capacity to operate on a high level.

Wrapping Up

Now that the concept of Zero Knowledge Proof and its scope in the Blockchain domain (along with real-life examples) is clear to you, we expect to find you investing in the broader application of the concept while stepping into the decentralized world. But, in case you still have any queries, connect with our Blockchain consultants.

Cross-Functional Teams Building Better Digital Product

Posted on 07/05/202102/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Did you ever feel like your organization is working in silos? Designers want to deliver meaningful experiences, the Marketing team is keen on entering a new vertical while sales are focussed on bringing in more and more leads, but all of this happens in isolation. Even though the roles of each of these departments are varying in nature, their priorities and end goals must be clear and consistent. Otherwise, it’s a sheer wastage of the business’s resources spent across different directions. Cross-functional teams foster cohesion within the company, reduce wastage of valuable resources and enable you to maximize your efforts in order to accomplish goals faster.

More often than not, the underlying reason why companies struggle with building better digital products is how they prioritize milestones and the linear approach, where work is passed from one team to another without fully channeling the skill and expertise of each discipline.

Building a digital product requires a team effort. Each discipline has a role to play and sometimes, these roles are overlapping. A great idea can come from any person and any team. Organizations looking to grow with agility and speed need to build cross-functional teams and bring them to the center stage. When the skill of each discipline is valued, their perspective is heard and every discipline is represented at the table, it results in quality solutions.

So, What is a Cross-functional Team, anyway?

A Cross-functional team brings people together from different functional expertise. By mutually exploring the prospects of a project and through shared expertise the team accomplishes a common goal.

There are so many crucial roles in digital product design and development– Designers, Product Managers, Business Analysts, Engineers, Quality Analysts, Marketing Specialists, and the list goes on.

The approach behind a cross-functional team is to gather a good mix of people from various disciplines to work on a project together. It is about brainstorming ideas, uncovering different and unique perspectives, and channeling an umbrella of expertise towards achieving one common goal – how to build a unique digital solution.

The idea behind cross-functional teams stems from agile methodology. Every discipline deserves a seat at the table regardless that their department’s primary phase is underway.

What’s the need for a Cross-functional Team?

When teams collaborate together in every phase and stage of creating a digital product, the result is impactful. In a cross-functional team, each person understands the role of other team members and views the product not only from the perspective of his/ her field but as an entire product and as a team effort.

Having a Cross-functional team is extremely crucial because every person brings so much value to the table. When a diverse set of people come together, a problem is approached in all possible ways and we are able to uncover unique perspectives.

For instance, when an Engineer has a seat at the table right when the project kicks off, identifying the best technology to build a product becomes easy. While others in the team may not be technically adept, an Engineer brings a different level of technical understanding to the front, especially when they have worked with cutting-edge technologies in the past.

As a full-cycle app development company, we believe in agile development with cross-functional teams. By building cross-functional teams, we were not only able to reduce the cycle time in new product development, but our teams also demonstrated flexibility in adapting to changing market needs and were able to develop innovative solutions at a faster pace.

While the number of Designers involved in a project will be more in the Design phase and the number of Engineers will rapidly increase in the Development phase, having representatives from each discipline throughout the app development process regardless of the phase adds a lot of value to the product.

The approach behind a cross-functional team resonates quite well with the practices of DevOps.

DevOps can be seen as a cultural perspective on how teams should be engaged in working the right way.

In today’s fast-paced world, with more advanced projects coming up, the need to move faster and be agile is ever-growing. DevOps addresses this concern – it makes development, operations, and other groups within an organization come together, collaborate closely on shared goals, and deliver software faster and more reliably.

Just like DevOps emphasizes close collaboration between software development and operations, having a cross-functional team for the entire product-development process improves collaboration across disciplines like Strategy, Design, Development, Testing and results in quality outcomes.

Benefits of Cross-functional Teams in Digital Product Development

The advantages of a cross-functional team in digital product development are manifold.

When all disciplines collaborate closely and everyone is invested in maximizing their contributions towards the project, it results in the best product possible.

1. Knowledge Sharing

The key idea behind accomplishing goals through interdisciplinary work is the exceptional variety of talent figuring out how to create something that is meaningful and brings value to end-users.

Confronting new perspectives, learning from others, and looking at things holistically impact the quality of solution and results in a robust product.

2. Alignment on Goals

In a cross-functional team, people look beyond their roles and responsibilities and are focused on accomplishing the common goal. There is total alignment on set milestones and people collaborate together to achieve them in the best way possible.

3. Less Handovers

When you collaborate across disciplines and everyone is present throughout the product development lifecycle, it minimizes handovers and speeds up the processes.

4. Teamwork

Working together facilitates teamwork. It brings people closer and improves communication. It is easy to talk through the issues and brainstorm great ideas. Collaborating closely builds respect and trust in teammates.

5. Identifying issues

When a project is handled by a cross-functional team, everyone is up to date with the project’s progress. When people work at the same time and don’t focus solely on their disciplines, it is easy to identify bugs and flag issues that may trouble the user.

6. Iteration

As mentioned above, cross-functional teams are up to date with all the issues within a project, which implies, making changes to the design or the code becomes easy. Testing and iteration can be done at the same time and it saves a lot of time, effort, and money.

7. Positive customer experience

While there are many different roles in an organization, each of these functions exists to serve the customer. By encouraging effective communication across teams, it becomes easy to provide a meaningful tailored customer experience.

8. Increased Innovation

When a group of people from different functional expertise comes together to solve a common problem, it is relatively easy to generate creative and overall solutions.

Companies that use cross-functional teams include marketing perceptions, sales conversations, product usage data, and other relevant sources of information into keen consideration when making product decisions which result in smarter decision making. The power of cross-functional teams is to drive better decision-making through business-wide learning.

Challenges faced by Cross-functional Teams

Effective cross-functional team collaboration is the key to tackle an organization’s biggest problems. However, there are certain problems with cross-functional teams and sometimes they can be difficult to manage.

Conflicting Goals

Each discipline comes with a set of roles and responsibilities. Oftentimes, when functional experts from different teams come together, they tend to give less priority to the project and are more focused on their own goals.

In such cases, it is essential for leaders to identify strategic goals to make sure there is clarity of purpose and the whole team is alined, on the goals of the team or the company.

Too much or too little Communication

With a cross-functional team, it is crucial to decide the right measure of communication. Too many unnecessary meetings lead to loss of time and can harm productivity while little communication regarding the project status and dulication can negatively impact a project.

Choosing Ideas

In a cross-functional team, you may give up on good ideas when others don’t like them.

While sometimes, it becomes easy to let go of complicated ideas and work more efficiently. This is where Discovery Workshop and operating in an agile manner comes into the picture. Scrum Methodology helps cross-functional teams encounter the biggest challenges and achieve great outcomes.

Leadership

In a self-organizing team with no clear leader, there is a possibility that the team may get lost and feel there is no clarity of purpose. It is essential to have a leader that can provide sufficient oversight so that small problems do not snowball into a bigger crisis and the team is able to collaborate efficiently.

Conclusion

Cross-functional teams often struggle because the organization lacks a structured approach. Teams are affected by insufficient oversight, conflicting goals, lack of accountability, and the organization’s failure to measure the impact of cross-functional collaboration.

Corporate structures are reorganizing themselves into cross-functional teams since the advantages are many. It may take time to adopt the cross-functional team approach to building products but it has nearly three times the success rates and is worth the rewards.

Making WFH Effective

Posted on 07/05/202118/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Last year, around this time, we were contemplating how to shift our office to remote work. It’s going to be a year soon and it’s unbelievable how comfortable we are now with this new setup. I remember some of my colleagues worrying about the new rules of remote working. They had never worked from home before, even for a day. They believed that with family around, home is a place of distractions. Most of them worried about how they would participate in distraction-free meetings, concentrate on their work, and be productive.

A few days back, I asked how are you dealing with the ‘new normal’. And I was surprised to hear that they have started liking this new way. They even expressed a little hesitation in coming back to the workplace.

I totally get it. As Robin Sharma says-

“All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and so gorgeous at the end.”

Last year, the work-from-home culture was barbaric for everyone. And now that all of us have adjusted to the humdrum of the WFH routine, going to the office seems like a hard task.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the coming days, office spaces become obsolete. Buffer and AngelList even released a State of Remote Work report where they shared insights on how the workplace of the future would look like.

Now that we know what the future of work looks like, shouldn’t we prepare ourselves for this new change? Absolutely. So in this blog, I’ll share what individuals and leaders can do to make WFH more effective and productive-

What can individuals do?

In the remote setup, one of the most important things is setting up a work desk for yourself. You don’t need an elaborate arrangement to make way for that. Just a table and a comfortable chair in a corner where you can work without any disturbance.

This and a robust internet connection. Now that remote work is going to stay, investing in this setup should be your first priority.

Next on your priority list should be– create a routine.

Why, you ask? Because the only thing we miss about the office is a routine. A routine of commuting to work, reaching our desk, participating in team rituals, working on individual tasks, taking breaks when we need them, and then wrapping up the day to come back home to family.

In the remote world, building a routine will help you wade through endless distractions (from home or mindless internet browsing) and the guilt of under-achieving your planned tasks. So create a To-Do list and plan your day in advance. Dress up as you would do for work and have a start and end time, just as before.

The next thing that you can do is make meetings interesting. Now that you can’t see your team in person, switch on video calls to maintain that human connection. In my team, we have this unsaid convention to be on video everytime we call each other. And we always start our team meetings with casual chit chat, asking questions about how everyone is doing. Even if we have nothing new to share, we just keep it casual for a few minutes before jumping on the agenda of the meeting.

Ask yourself– what did you do in the office that made it easy for you to go there everyday? When you have your answers, recreate the same atmosphere for yourself at home.

What can leaders do?

Get things in order: The remote work culture puts additional responsibility on the leaders. Now, you have to figure out the what, how and where of everything– what will be the new way of doing things? How will the communication happen? Where will the team collaborate? How to arrange for access to client networks on personal laptops? What would happen if someone’s laptop breaks down? How would your IT-support team interact with those facing software issues?

It would have been much better if we all had got the time to prepare for these infrastructure changes. But, as they say, problems don’t matter, solutions do. So, as a leader, your first responsibility is to get things in place for the remote setup.

Check on the mental health of your team members: The next thing that leaders have to make sure is that people are focused, committed, and happy in their work. Remote work can be harsh for people who live alone or who only have workplace colleagues as friends to keep them company. Help them wade through this time by guiding them on how they can take care of themselves. All they need is a caring and empathetic leader who understands their point of view.

Don’t let productivity take a dip: The biggest advantage of remote work is the time you cut down on commuting. With more time on hand, there is no reason for productivity to take a dip unless there are some serious issues. Of course, there will be some changes in the work-schedule. Afterall, your home is a makeshift workplace. But that shouldn’t affect productivity for the long-term.

So, constantly keep a check on the quality of deliverables and raise flags whenever anomalies appear. When you see someone doing extraordinary work, or someone slacking off, share your feedback immediately.

In case you have to do some intense conversations– be it work-related or behavioral– come prepared with incidents to back up your observations. Ask them what they need from you in order to succeed. There is a chance that your team members wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking up on video call. In that case, give them the freedom to share their feelings through email or voice call.

Communicate transparently: Share everything with the team even before they begin to realize something is amiss. It’s natural for your team members to feel intrigued about what’s going on in the organization– when would the office open up? How long will they be working remotely? When the office opens up would they all be required to join or can they continue to work remotely if they wish? How is the sales and hiring pipeline shaping up? Has pandemic affected revenue streams? If yes, how bad is it?

All of these questions and many more are bound to crop up in their mind. As their leader, you need to answer to everything so that they feel connected to the organization.

At times, all of this can be a little overwhelming for the leaders, especially the new ones. In that case, just hold on to your values and lend an empathetic ear to your team members. Give them the benefit of doubt. It’s a challenging time for everyone. The best you can do right now is trust them (not blindly) and ask them to trust you.

There is a lot that we can do as individuals, leaders and organizations to better deal with this pandemic. But if you want to continue with remote work even after the pandemic is over (is it ever going to be over, I wonder?), this is not the time to do everything in one go. It’s the time to take things slow, experiment and see how we can expand our capabilities.

Opening gates to remote work gives opportunities to organizations to tap into the global talent pool. And if that’s what organizations are looking for, this is the right time to invest in creating practices and guidelines for the team members and set them up for success.

Colors in Health

Posted on 07/05/202117/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Do you know why doctors wear a green/blue surgical scrub while operating? Have you ever wondered why walls are muted in color at adult patient rooms and brightly colored at children recovery rooms? The reason is colors influence human behavior. They affect our mood and emotions. They can even alter our perceptions or modify our actions.

For instance, blue and green are cool and calming colors. They bring a sense of tranquility and put patients at ease while they are on the operation table. Similarly, white is a color associated with warmth and peace. Colors like white, beige, have a calming effect on patients under intensive care. Likewise, blue, green, yellow and pink are suited for pediatric units where children are recovering.

The choice of colors make an impact in physical spaces as well as digital products.

Colors evoke different emotions in people according to their age, environment and condition. Therefore, it’s important to consider color theory while designing healthcare products.

So, let’s see how we can use the right colors to heal and comfort our end users.

Prescription delivery apps

Amazon has changed the entire delivery gamut. Most people have a mindset of “why should I go out if I can order it from my mobile phone”. The basic feature of prescription delivery apps is to ensure easy access to medications on need-basis. Users may also need to consult with the staff remotely, or ask for a refill of their prescription.

For such kinds of apps, green and blue are the best choice of colors. They are refreshing, not too harsh on the senses and encourage concentration. These colors also work well for the pharmacists who are processing a lot of prescriptions by the hour. So, these colors help them concentrate on small details and deliver the right medication to intended recipients.

Informational and health communities apps

Mobile apps that share informative healthcare articles have just one aim- to make people more aware of diseases, medications, treatment methodology, and so on. They want to make users in charge of their own health by disseminating information on their portal.

In such applications, we need to give users a control over what content they want to consume. We also have to ensure that the app functions well for all age groups. Including too many colors might hinder readability for elderly users whose vision declines with age.

The primary color of such apps should be white, followed by blue and yellow. White is a color that denotes cleanliness, freshness, and simplicity. You can use shades of blue and yellow to convey depth and power. Yellow is associated with positivity and warmth. These colors add liveliness and encourage people to keep reading.

Patient-engagement apps

Patient engagement apps work at various levels- they connect patients with doctors, through online consultation. They remind patients when it’s time to take medications. They encourage patients to exercise regularly. They keep a track of insurance renewal, and so on.

These apps also store sensitive information and personal health data. Therefore, the app colors must invoke a feeling of security as well as encouragement. These patient engagement apps aim to make users accountable for their own health. Therefore, colors that are soft and neutral must be used.

Orange is a color that signifies health, happiness, and encouragement. Green is the color of nature and it denotes freshness, and progress. One can even use shades of pink as they represent kindness and affection. Darker shades of pink or orange can be used in designing medication reminders and pills tracker.

Personal wellness apps

A major shift has happened in the way we manage our health. With apps that can monitor sleep, calories, heartbeats, and even steps, personal wellness apps have an increasing consumer demand.

Personal wellness apps help in motivating people to track their vitals, self-monitor critical signs of illness, and stay fit. Therefore the colors in these apps should give a playful, cheerful and cool vibe. Shades of purple, blue, and pink are the right colors for these kinds of wellness apps.

Purple denotes ambition and devotion which fits well with the mindset to track and improve health. Blue and pink add the coolness and kindness quotient. Pink exudes the message of playfulness as well as tenderness.

Remote consultation and monitoring apps

Remote consultation and health monitoring apps help in keeping the patient connected with their doctors. They are especially useful for the elderly or disabled who can’t visit the doctor’s clinic regularly.

In such apps, one important thing to consider is the choice of colors for all age groups. Color perception changes with age and demographics. What works for middle-aged people wouldn’t necessarily work with elderly. So, during the user research phase, identify your user persona and decide who your target audience is. People in their 30’s or 40’s might prefer bright and vibrant colors that are playful and cheery. On the other hand, older people are likely to enjoy softer, soothing colors like beiges and whites.

EHR apps

Patients are more informed now than ever. Technology has changed the way healthcare data is accessed and inferred. The end users want to analyze their personal health data and take control of their health. They also want to keep their privacy intact.

This means that the color palette of the application should give a confident, trustworthy and cool vibe. So use neutral colors and a lot of white space so that the users can access important information in a hassle-free way. You can also use warm tones to show graphical information.

In conclusion, I would just say start by reading about the psychology of colors. Understand the color wheel. Deep dive into various factors that affect people’s perception. All this will help you in deciding the best color combinations for your app. Colors that are well thought out after doing research on the demographics of the app, are timeless. They always attract new users and keep them engaged, no matter which trend appears or disappears.

Digital Twin Technology in aircraft MRO

Posted on 06/05/202102/06/2021 by Blogs

Commercial air travel is safer than ever, according to a recent study published in Transportation Science. Data compiled by MIT professor Arnold Barnett shows that in 2017 only eight of more than 4 billion boarding air passengers around the world died in air accidents. The risk of death for boarding passengers fell by more than half from 2008 to 2017 compared to the prior decade.

Aerospace companies nonetheless remain under tremendous pressure to continually improve flight safety because any fatality is a human tragedy, say nothing of the damage accidents can do damage to business, brand, and shareholder value. Ensuring aircraft are safe begins with design and engineering and extends through the manufacturing, maintenance, and repair processes.

But airplanes aren’t like a fleet of taxis consistently housed in a common garage and maintained by a group of workers familiar with the vehicles and who have ready access to repair and performance records. Planes can be located almost anywhere, yet they still need daily maintenance. That’s just the beginning of the challenges. As Steve Roemerman writes in Aerospace Manufacturing and Design:

Maintenance needs of one plane can differ drastically from another identical model. No two planes are exposed to the same conditions or usage and therefore do not need the same support on the same schedule.

An aircraft’s location, for example, directly influences the time between maintenance. Other factors – such as incomplete maintenance logs, unexpected issues, fleet usage, age, and weather – also make it difficult to create accurate maintenance schedules. In many cases, unexpected issues are only evident after starting repairs, causing major delays or strain on expensive personnel.

Bottlenecks in production and repair can be caused if aerospace manufacturers or airline maintenance and repair organizations (MROs) are unable to coordinate the availability of parts for a specific plane with the availability of the right specialists and mechanics. The inevitable result of prolonged maintenance delays is elongated manufacturing lead times or in-service aircraft availability reductions.

In addition to safety and aircraft availability, proper maintenance is important to flight schedules. Passengers are familiar with the frustration of waiting onboard as a repair team tries to fix an unexpected equipment problem that is delaying takeoff. Such delays have a negative impact on an airline’s reputation, particularly in a world where disgruntled passengers can vent their dissatisfaction on social media in real time from the tarmac.

To improve aircraft safety and to increase the efficiency of manufacturing, maintenance, and repair, aircraft manufacturers and MROs are harnessing tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and predictive analytics. Though the aerospace industry has been using analytics and digital twins for at least two decades, the proliferation of data from connected devices combined with AI-powered analytics and high-performance computing (HPC) has allowed engine and aircraft manufacturers, along with MROs, to achieve even greater cost and time efficiencies while continuing to raise the bar on passenger safety and satisfaction.

Digital twins are virtual models of products, processes, systems, services, and devices. These digital replicas produce data for building prescriptive models that can pinpoint problems and solve them in the virtual state. Connecting and tying this maintenance data in with the initial manufacturing design phase and the volumes of data collected during operation allows aerospace manufacturers to optimize design and production processes, saving time and money and leading to better and safer aircraft.

The benefits of digital twin extend beyond the manufacturing process. Aerospace manufacturers are continually seeking ways to anticipate and address longevity requirements. These also encompass maintenance efforts. Building resilience into an aircraft benefits everyone. “When an aircraft engine manufacturer uses digital twin technology, the resulting data is used to predict exactly when to bring the aircraft in for inspection, “They can ingest engine usage for every flight, including the physics of the engine blades to see and measure how the engine is operating … virtually.”

While MROs have been slow to implement data-driven solutions, the projected increase in the world airline fleet along with the need to support both aging aircraft equipment and newer aircraft and systems – is forcing these companies to adopt smart technologies to take full advantage of growing volumes of sensor data, as well as data trapped in silos.

AI and predictive analytics can be deployed by MROs to leverage data created by connected aircraft engines and devices, allowing them to accurately forecast when parts can be expected to fail. Using prescriptive analytics, potential outcomes to a parts failure can be analyzed to determine the best solution.

“Robust analytics can drive streamlined material staging, more efficient labor planning, and more effective equipment check programs,” according to a white paper on how MROs can use data to drive actionable analytics. “When data and analytics streamline engine and component service, carriers can reduce AOG (aircraft on ground) times, minimizing the revenue impact of flight delays, and therefore maximizing uptime for crucial revenue-producing assets.”

By embracing AI, digital twins, and advanced, actionable analytics, players in the aerospace industry can position themselves to take full advantage of their data, technologies, workforces, and processes. This will enable an airline’s MRO to be more resilient.

Human-Centered AI

Posted on 06/05/202102/06/2021 by Blogs

For all the hype and excitement surrounding artificial intelligence right now, the AI movement is still in its infancy. The public perceptions of its capabilities are painted as much by science fiction as by real innovation. This youth is a good thing, because it means we can still affect the course of AI’s impact. If we pursue AI purely with the goal of automating our lives, we risk pushing people aside. We would end up marginalizing human contributions, instead of optimizing them. Instead, we should pursue AI with the goal of augmenting our lives — as a means of benefiting humanity rather than devaluing it. Think of this path as human-centered AI, which seeks to free up people for more creative and innovative work. The technology is the same, but the goals of the systems we build are different. There’s a fine line between automation and augmentation. So, how can you ensure you’re pursuing human-centered AI? Start with how AI is built.

AI development models: The factory vs. the garage

When I was a kid, my dad’s hobby was woodworking, specifically building furniture, and he did it in our garage. What I remember was how he used the most of his space. My mom insisted that she be able to park her car in the garage, and that his tools should have homes when he wasn’t in the middle of a project. When he was in the middle of something, the garage could look a little chaotic, but it was never cluttered. Everything had a purpose and a home. The garage was designed to fit the needs and constraints of his environment.

Unfortunately, when creating AI we too often think of factories rather than garages. In any factory the goal is efficiency at scale. To achieve efficiency, design is separated from production, and then production is tuned for peak performance. This performance tuning makes many humans in factories simply extensions of tools. To judge whether a factory is set up well, the key metric of production is velocity.

A factory approach doesn’t make sense for something as abstract and virtual as AI development. Compared to a physical factory, software production is cheap to change over and doesn’t require capital investment to be ripped out and replaced. And turning developers into high velocity code assembly lines wastes a huge opportunity to cultivate highly trained, creative, innovative people.

An alternative is to approach AI development similar to the way my dad approached woodworking in his garage. A developer is not an executor of code but a creator. Tools exist to affect the creator’s vision, and the vision adapts based on the productive experience. Design and production work in tandem. The goal isn’t peak performance; it is innovation. The key metric is achievement.

You can recognize this “garage model” when you see people creatively building toward a project or goal. we invest time upfront making sure we all understand and can articulate the goal of project — the thing we are going to build. AI is more than code and technologies; it is an approach to problem solving. It’s a good approach that we think more people should use, but it’s still just a means to an end. The goal is what matters. When my dad started projects in his garage, he didn’t incrementally explore his way to a finished piece of furniture. He had a piece of furniture in mind and an initial plan of how he was going to make it.

The Applied AI Center of Excellence

When it comes to AI, a garage isn’t only a physical place. In the Applied AI CoE we run garages with teams of people sitting all over the world. A small AI garage will have a leader and a team of three to eight people. Larger garages will see that pattern fractal or reorganize outward to handle greater complexity. A key thing I have had to remember as an AI garage leader is that my role is not to direct work or control the ideas. This would create a factory and stymie innovation. Instead, my role is to set the initial vision or goal of a project and then prune ideas to maintain focus — in other words, my biggest contribution is to keep the garage clean. For me and other garage leaders, this can be difficult — especially if the leader was the one who originated the idea, but even when that was not the case, it can be hard to let go. Success belongs to the team; failure belongs to the leader. It’s natural to want to control away failure, but then the garage model would be lost.

This distinction between the factory and the garage is critical — performance vs. innovation. In a garage model, the people developing AI are centered in the process, and this creates a foundation for a system that reinforces human-centered AI. By increasing the number of people who have a personal stake in how AI is developed, we create an AI that has a stake in the people who use it.

What can a garage do for human-centered AI?

We have used AI garages to do such things as create apps that help people fight decision fatigue, recognize when someone is paying attention or is distracted, use the weaker constraints of the virtual world to reconnect people to the physical world, and create AI Starter libraries to share what we’ve learned.

These examples show that we believe effective AI capabilities don’t push people to the side. Instead, they place humans at the center, augmenting what people can do and how well they can do it. We achieve these things because our AI development model, the “garage model,” is similarly human-centered.

User Research Methods via Phases of Product Development

Posted on 05/05/202117/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

User research is one of the best ways to know what users want and how they interact with your product. It’s performed in order to improve the product as per the feedback gathered at different stages of product development. One of the mistakes that designers and PMs make is that they assume user research needs to be done only in the beginning. However, if you want to build a product that conforms to the needs of the user, research must be a continuous process. At the onset of the product development, user research is required to validate the idea. But when a product is out in the market, user research is needed to understand if users are liking it or not. It’s important to understand users’ needs and their pain points. It’s important to know how they interact and use your products/services, and what kind of challenges they experience while using them.

For this reason, different user research methods are used at different stages of product development. In this blog, I’ll talk about the research methods in detail. But first, let’s see the various stages of product development-

Discovery stage (from an idea to an MVP)

Discovery stage starts with an idea. You have a picture in mind about what you want, and the problems you want to solve. But you need to validate your hypothesis.

You need to collect and analyze information about your end users, and their problem areas. You need to get an in-depth understanding of their goals, and challenges that might arise in implementation.

User research in this phase is required to validate those product ideas/hypotheses. When user research is done right, it helps in gathering valuable feedback on the ideas and saves precious time from building unwanted features.

Growth and maturity stage (from MVP to a full-fledged product)

The growth/maturity stage of the product is when the MVP is already launched in the market and people have already started using the product. The product/service has got enough traction and is on the verge of getting popular.

At this stage, user research is required to understand how users are interacting with the product– are they satisfied with the product, what more would they like to be included, how would they rate the product, where do they feel stuck while using the product, etc.

Good user research helps in iterating over the existing product to build new features, improve existing ones or remove unpopular features. It also helps in getting feedback on the existing features on the product.

Implementing user research in the discovery stage, one can visualize the real pain points of users and build a product that solves users’ problems.

In post-launch user research, one can see how users use a product and what are the gaps that prevent them from accomplishing their goals.

There are different user research methods for each stage. So, first, let’s see the whole spectrum of methods that are available.

A landscape of user research methods

Nielsen Norman Group has conceptualized a variety of user research methods. I’ll be talking about the most common ones used by Product Managers/Design Leaders.

If you want to understand user’s attitude or what users say, then most common methods are-

Surveys :- They consist of a series of questions which give you quantitative information from a large sample set. It can be used for both validating a hypothesis or gathering feedback from users. Therefore, surveys can be used in both discovery and post launch stages.

User interviews:- They are one-on-one discussions with users to gather qualitative information. Interviews are usually conducted in a small sample set.

They can be used in various ways – exploration to discover the pain points of the users, discovering new ideas for products/features, to test a hypothesis or to know the likes or dislikes of a user.

User interviews can also be used in both discovery and post launch stages.

Contextual inquiries:- In these sessions, users are observed as they perform tasks in their natural environment. This is a method to gather first hand information from the users. In other methods, you only listen as the user tells how he/she performs a certain task. In this, you can observe the user doing these tasks.

This method can also be used in both discovery and post launch stages.

In the discovery phase, one can observe the end users of the product in their environment while they work. This could give insights on what is repetitive in nature and how technology can remove those brainless iterations.

In the post launch stage, we can observe the end user using the MVP and observe where users get stuck or what are the blockers for them. Is there something which is manual and can be easily automated to make users’ life easy?

User feedback:- In user feedback, users give their opinion on the product. This is typically gathered through a link, feedback form, recommend button, etc. One example of gathering user feedback is through Net Promoter Score (NPS) which is a form of user feedback used to know whether a user would want to recommend the product to others.

This is done in the post launch stage of the product in order to improve the existing features.

All of the above methods help build empathy with the users and understand their attitude, likes/dislikes towards product usage.

If you want to understand what people do or how people use your product (also called as usability of the product), then most common research methods are-

A/B Testing :- It’s a quantitative method that allows you to compare two versions of a product and figure out which one works better. It’s used in making incremental changes in a product. There are tools available that allow you to run 2 versions of the same thing. 50% of the users will see one version and another 50% will see another version. Therefore, with A/B testing you could experiment with headlines, button texts or two layouts of the same page.

A/B testing can be used only in the post launch stage of the product.

Eye tracking/Heat maps:- Heat maps allow you to evaluate which sections of the website or app users engage with the most. There are many tools available that allow you to track how users engage with a hyperlink, button, or in what pattern they read the content. This kind of study is very critical to understand what users really care about and what attracts their attention.

It can also be used for the post launch stage of the product.

A case study

To help you understand how research methods vary in different product development stages, let’s take an example of a hypothetical product.

We want to build a virtual mental-health helpline that would help people seek support for disorders like anxiety, depression, etc. This helpline is especially targeted for those who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic and are unable to go out and seek clinical help. Let’s call our hypothetical product – “Lumos Solem”. (Lumos Solem is the incantation of a Harry Potter spell that produces a blinding flash of sunlight)

In the discovery stage

As a product owner/manager, we would first need answers to some basic questions to validate the idea.

Would users be comfortable in using SMS/video to share their problems?
How comfortable would the users be in a virtual setup?
Who would be my target audience? What age, demographics?
What are the most common mental health problems that the helpline would address?
Should we get experts on onboard? Who would talk to the people seeking help?
Would people get a choice on who they want to talk to? Or will there be an automatic redirection to the first available person?

At this stage the user research methods that one can use to get answers to above questions can be–

Surveys
Interviews

For conducting the survey–

Define the objective of the survey
- In our case, it could be “To understand the user behaviour towards a virtual mental health platform”
Identify the target audience and the sample size you need
- In our case, an example of the target audience could be the most vulnerable age group – 30- 80 age group and living in metro cities. Sample size can be a mix of middle aged and senior citizens.
Frame the questions in an open and non-leading manner to gather the maximum insights without bias. Questions for Lumos Solem could be –
- What does mental and emotional health mean to you in your everyday dialogue?
- Do you feel the urge to talk to someone and just blurt things out to lighten your head? If yes, then what kind of communication could help you in expressing your thoughts?
- What kind of answers do you seek in your daily routine which affects your mental or emotional wellbeing?Make the answers as multi-choice so that analysis is easier.

After that carry out the survey using any available tool like Google Forms and analyze the data to derive insights. This will help validate the hypothesis we assumed.

For interviews, follow the same steps as above. The only difference here would be to make a rough script, inform the participants the purpose of the discussion.

In growth and maturity stage

Let’s suppose Lumos Solem is in the market and we’ve started getting our innovators & early adopters on the platform.

Now it’s the time to build/remove features and collect analytical data using usability tests. In the post-MVP stage you can ask questions like-

Analytics shows that users are dropping at the onboarding. Why?
Those users who get past user-onboarding, drop off at the payment link. What can we do to retain them?

The user research methods that one can use to get answers to above questions can be–

Feedback form:- Feedback form after every virtual session can help you collect useful information about the quality of interaction. It can be for both mental-health experts as well as the users. This will give users a chance to share what they like or dislike about the service. You are also likely to discover blind spots like technical glitches hampering the quality of conversations, etc.

A/B testing:- If consultation with health experts is paid, you can experiment with the wording of the payment link. The idea is to make users trust in the process. If users are dropping off at the payment link, then you can A/B test the features of Pay now/Pay Later and see if they stay when given an option to pay later.

Heatmaps:- Heatmaps can be used to see what common problems people look for in FAQs. The area where heatmap is densely colored will indicate that users are most interested in reading about a particular topic. This data will help you refine your features so that users can find it easier to accomplish their tasks.

User interviews:- Conducting 1:1 user interviews with experts and users can also help in understanding the problems they are facing in a virtual helpline. At times, people hesitate in sharing their opinion in written format but are more vocal about sharing it in person. In such cases, user interviews come handy.

To conclude, each user research method has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice of the method will be based on the nature of the product, stage of the product, the users and the answers you’re looking for.

There is a difference between what users say/think and what users do. If you want to know what users say then surveys, interviews and contextual inquiries are suitable to get the information. But if you want to know what users actually do then methods like A/B testing and heat maps are helpful.

I hope I was able to pass on some clarity of which methods to use during a particular product development stage.

AI’s Possibilities in Healthcare: A Journey into the Future

Posted on 04/05/202104/06/2021 by Blogs

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep learning have become entrenched in the professional world. AI-style capabilities are being embraced and developed globally (over 26 countries/regions have or are working on a national AI strategy) for many different purposes — from ethics, policies and education to security, technology and industry, the scope is broad and multi-faceted. If, like many others, you are unclear as to what this new terminology means, below is a diagram depicting the hierarchy of AI, machine learning and deep learning for you to consider. In healthcare, the opportunities are vast and significant. Just from a financial point of view, AI has the potential to bring material cost savings to the industry.

But where should you start, and where do the opportunities lie?

Where to start with AI

First, look at where money is invested — in other words, which start-ups are attracting investors and what is their focus. Rock Health (the first venture fund dedicated to digital health) shows that the top four areas for venture capital investment between 2011 and 2017 were research and development, population health management, clinical workflow and health benefits administration. More than $2.7 billion was invested over 6 years, across 206 start-ups.

Another venture capital and digital health community, Startup Health, which also keeps track of global investments, found that funding is doubling every year for companies which use machine learning technology to enhance health solutions. The companies that focused on diagnostics or screening, clinical decision support and drug discovery tools received the largest share of funding for machine learning in 2018 — i.e., $940 million.

Delving into AI’s opportunities

Perhaps the biggest opportunity lies in assisted robotic surgery, with a potential cost saving of US$40 billion per year. AI-enabled robots can assist surgical procedures by analyzing data from pre-op medical records and past operations to guide a surgeon’s instrument during surgery and to highlight new surgical procedures. The potential benefit to the healthcare organization and the patient from this approach is noteworthy: a 21 per cent reduction in length of hospital stay because robotic-assisted surgery ensures a minimally invasive procedure, thus reducing the patient’s need to stay in the hospital longer.

Surgical complications were found to be dramatically reduced, according to one study into AI-assisted robotic procedures involving 379 orthopedic patients. Robotic surgery has been used for eye surgery and heart surgery. For example, heart surgeons have used a miniature robot, called the Heart Lander, to carry out mapping and treatment over the surface of the heart.

Another valuable use of AI is in virtual nursing assistants. One example is Molly, an AI-enabled virtual nurse that has been designed to help patients manage their chronic illnesses or deal with post-surgery requirements. According to a Harvard Business Review article, assistants like Molly could save the healthcare industry as much as US $20 billion annually.

Diagnosis is another exciting development for AI, with some promising findings on the use of an AI algorithm to detect skin cancers. A Stanford University report found that deep convolutional networks (CNNs) performed as well as dermatologists in classifying skin lesions. Other exciting breakthroughs in AI-assisted diagnosis include a deep-learning program that listens to emergency calls, analyses what is said, tone of voice and background noises to determine whether the patient is having cardiac arrest. Astonishingly, a study from the University of Copenhagen found the AI assistant was right 93% of the time, compared with 73% of the time for human dispatchers.

A fourth potential use for AI lies in digital image analysis, which could help to improve future radiology tools. In one example, a team of researchers from MIT developed an algorithm to rapidly register brain scans and other 3-D images. The result reduces the time to register scans with accuracy comparable to that of state-of-the-art systems.

With so much potential to be gained from AI, healthcare organizations will need to enhance their skills in AI and related capabilities. Decision-makers need to inform themselves about the potential and what is required to achieve those objectives, and then ensure that their teams are properly trained. Culture change in understanding how AI can be used to solve current and future problems is paramount to the future of next-generation healthcare and life sciences organizations.