When developing a data-driven application there are a few major concerns. All of these revolve around the data itself (since it is the center of the application/project) and how you utilize it. Below is an image of the stages we will go over today. They include, raw data collection, pre-processing, storage, post-processing, and application. The final item we will discuss, once we have a full understanding of the entire data lifecycle, is the Universal Data Model (UDM as I prefer) which is perhaps the most important of all to ensure long-term application success and stability.

Why I was wrong…

I will keep this article short and sweet. I previously wrote about what should be your first programming language comparing Python and JS. I WAS WRONG. I admit it. And here’s why.

Multi-Purpose JS

One of my benefits for Python was its general-purpose nature. Since writing I have been exposed to MANY JS frameworks to change my mind. Using JS alone you can become a front-end developer (obviously), backend developer (using NodeJS, which generally outperforms Python, although FastAPI is changing this), combine these to be a full-stack developer (most common).

The thing is I KNEW all of this and still chose Python previously because of its simplicity, ease of use, and extensibility. …

To answer this we must ask what it is to be human.

Did you ever notice how when we talk about or visualize AI (Artificial Intelligence) there is always some human component to it? A brain, a face, a person? This is not a mistake. Our search for AI is the journey to create a partner, another intelligent life-form to share this universe with. Today I want to talk about where this journey has fallen short and why we need to exercise caution in our next steps.

Background

In full disclosure, while I am familiar with many types of machine learning and modeling methods, I would by no means call myself an expert. Nonetheless, I feel more qualified than the average person to get this out. And while I am not at the top of the AI field, I have higher degrees in Learning & Cognition and I think this social science background combined with technical knowledge gives me a unique perspective on the issue of AI. …

Today I want to talk about the social impact wearing masks is having on our society.
I specifically want to talk about body language and the role of masks in inhibiting our ability to accurately identify other people’s emotions. In case you didn’t know, social science tells us that over 80% of language is non-verbal meaning facial expressions, body positioning, etc. …

Background

Earlier this year I was offered an entry level position at a large tech company. Around the same time I was offered another job at a small to mid-sized startup. Today I want to examine the three reasons I chose the startup position, how it has been better for me personally, and how it has improved me professionally.

Position Differences

The first thing we need to do is accurately describe the differences in the positions. Starting with similarities. Both positions were in the tech industry. Both positions related to software and data analysis.

Unfortunately, that is where the similarities end. The corporate position was an entry-level rotational position with a two year contract consisting of four 6-month rotations. I would get my choice of working in cyber security, data science, UI/UX, frontend, and more fields over the course of two years. The position was traditional in-person 8–5. The industry interested me, but the direction of the work didn’t so much. Much of the work was not customer facing. It involved improving company internals, managing internal company data, transferring to cloud services, etc. This position was focused on learning/training new developers (i.e. …

JS v Python… the final showdown

*** EDIT: Read about my new revelations on this topic here. ***

At this point there can be no doubt if you are in the tech world you have heard of both of these popular languages. Maybe if you are just starting out you are wondering what the differences are and which one you should learn. My programming journey started three years ago and I remember searching extensively to find which language I should learn first. I was interesting in data analysis and so my choices were R or Python. I chose Python and have written it daily ever since. Your choice may not be so clear. There are hundreds of programming languages to choose from. So today I plan to answer the age-old question of: “What programming language should I learn first? …