The Fundamentals of the Airtable Platform
By Community Coordinators
On October 19, Hacks/Hackers West Africa had part two of the Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) training session with Joseph Dokhare, Data Analyst at Code for Africa. The second session was a build up from the first session held on August 25, which focused on the various components of a database, the history behind RDBMS, and the difference between a spreadsheet and a database.
In this captivating session, Dokhare delved into the world of the Airtable platform, showcasing its potential for enhancing project management and collaboration. Part two of the training session began with Dokhare guiding the 12 enthusiastic participants through a live demonstration of Airtable. The focus was on demonstrating how teams could efficiently structure their projects and collaborate effectively using this versatile platform.
Dokhare started off with an example of how to plan for a project, using the grid view, one of the many view options available. He took the participants on a step-by-step journey, creating project sections that encompassed elements like project title, names, notes, assignees, and status. What set this demonstration apart was Dokhare’s inclusive approach, involving the participants in the creation of project sections and deciding the type of data to be added. Moreover, he highlighted the convenience of importing data from a computer into the “base,” allowing seamless data sharing among project team members.
Dokhare demonstrated to participants that, much like Asana, Airtable allows the team working on a shared project to create notes, add people and assign tasks to them, as well as to give a status update for everyone who is part of the team to see. From an attendee perspective, it was interesting to see how aspects of Asana and Microsoft Excel were almost married into this single tool called Airtable.
Dokhare also emphasised that Airtable offers more than just project management. Users can explore a myriad of functionalities, such as creating forms, calendars, galleries, timelines, and more. What sets Airtable apart from some other tools is its user-friendliness; Dokhare reassured the audience that it is not intimidating or overly complex. This makes it accessible to a wide range of professionals, from event planners to project managers, and the best part is that anyone can create a free account, which is undoubtedly a significant advantage.
For those dealing with sensitive information, Airtable provides a feature to safeguard your data, ensuring the utmost privacy and security. So, what’s the connection between Airtable and RDBMS? Like RDBMS, Airtable enables users to store and organise data in a spreadsheet-like format. It offers powerful features such as relational databases, collaboration tools, and custom views, enhancing its versatility and utility.
In conclusion, what truly stood out during the demonstration was the remarkable ease of use that Airtable brings to the table. Pair that with the ability to create a free account, and you have a high-value product with minimal costs for the end-user. Airtable’s potential for streamlining project management and enhancing collaboration makes it a valuable asset for teams and professionals across various domains. So, if you’re looking for a powerful tool to simplify project management, Airtable might be your answer.
Developing Early Warning Detection Systems
John Ndung’u, CfA’s Investigative Data Analyst, delivered part two of the ‘Developing Early warning detection systems’ talk, at the October Hacks/Hackers virtual meetup. With seven engaged audience members, Ndung’u embarked on a session that would shed light on the crucial subject of identifying and addressing online hate speech and harmful content.
Ndung’u commenced his session with a brief recap of the first part, taking the audience through the underlying reasons for the early monitoring of online hate speech and harmful content. Building on the foundation laid in the previous session, he delved into the Actor Behavior Content (ABC) method, emphasising the significance of discerning the individuals responsible for spreading harmful content (the actors or trolls). Understanding the motives behind their actions and their role in promoting negative counter-narratives is paramount. Ndung’u stressed the importance of vigilant monitoring of these actors by setting up notifications for specific ‘trigger’ languages. This proactive approach enables the identification and reporting of actors or repeat offenders, effectively allowing for the prediction of future activities and mitigating the risk of the next ‘hate’ campaign.
One striking revelation from his talk was the adeptness of actors who promote harmful content. They often disguise themselves as media representatives, and Ndung’u noted a troubling rise in malign actors in Kenya who impersonate the media on social media platforms. “They present themselves as legitimate sources of news, packaging conspiracy theories, overt propaganda, or disinformation as news articles,” he warned. These actions are nothing more than ‘profit-seeking clickbait initiatives,’ which magnify inflammatory or polarising content.
Another concerning tactic employed by these actors to spread hateful content is through (ro)bot armies. These automated bots are harnessed to amplify coordinated campaigns. Ndung’u disclosed that these bots are instrumental in drowning out rational voices or amplifying narratives that undermine or disrupt public discourse in Kenya. He went on to highlight that the bots had succeeded in making genuine yet divisive political conversations trend on social media, contributing to accelerated polarisation.
Wrapping-up his talk Ndung’u shared a number of social media tools that Code for Africa and participants can use to track hate speech and unmask actors behind harmful and misleading content. Some of these include civic signal, whatsapp monitor ‘to monitor for the dark web’, Maltego and Crowd tangle. Ndung’u emphasised that these tools are indispensable in detecting and neutralising weaponised content and the networks amplifying it. He views these tools as powerful instruments capable of withstanding even AI-driven toxic content disseminated by actors and ‘hate’ networks.
A key takeaway from the session was that there are tools and techniques available to empower online users and civic watchdogs in eradicating hateful behaviour, networks and content. Staying informed about technological advancements related to toxic content is in the best interest of users, enabling them to effectively report and deprive these malicious actors of attention. While freedom of expression is a cherished value, online bullying, and smear campaigns represent negative opinions that should not be tolerated or encouraged in the digital landscape. Ndung’u’s insights serve as a beacon of hope in the quest to foster a safer and more respectful online environment.
The worlds of hackers and journalists are coming together, as reporting goes digital and Internet companies become media empires.Journalists call themselves “hacks,” someone who can churn out words in any situation. Hackers use the digital equivalent of duct tape to whip out code.
Hacker-journalists try to bridge the two worlds. Hacks/Hackers Africa aims to bring all these people together — those who are working to help people make sense of our world. It’s for hackers exploring technologies to filter and visualise information, and for journalists who use technology to find and tell stories. In the age of information overload and collapse of traditional business models for legacy media, their work has become even more crucial.
Code for Africa, the continent’s largest #OpenData and civic technology initiative, recognises this and is spearheading the establishment of a network of HacksHackers chapters across Africa to help bring together pioneers for collaborative projects and new ventures.
Follow Hacks/Hackers Africa on Twitter and Facebook and join the Hacks/Hackers community group today.
