Send help, heavens!

Oh, you're reading. You're enjoying that outburst. I keep getting confused by these buzzwords. A few months ago, it was NFTs and Cryptocurrency, and now it's the 'Metaverse?

I am yet to see the universe entirely, and now I also need to prepare for the Metaverse.

A few months ago, I spent hours trying to understand the concept of NFTs and attempted to share what I understood from my research. I understood that NFTs are 'Overpriced digital assets," and the value of an NFT is based on the value we (humans) place on them. You'll be able to read about it here.

In October 2021, Facebook rebranded and changed its name to Meta, shifting its focus from NFTs to the Metaverse. Funny enough, no one has a clear understanding of the Metaverse. Its implementations have cut across immersive video games, NFTs, Cryptocurrency, holograms, virtual meeting rooms, and Web3.

This article highlights another curious journey into understanding what the Metaverse is and how it affects me as an individual. Let's get some answers.

What is the 'Metaverse'?

A metaverse is a digital world where you can be represented as an avatar with a job, buy and sell stuff, and play games to relax, all from the comfort of your couch.

Wikipedia defines the Metaverse as

a hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, universal, and immersive virtual world that is facilitated by the use of virtual Reality (VR) and augmented Reality (AR) headsets."

Technically, the Metaverse is an advanced virtual reality level with more immersion. Web3 highly drives this concept - Web3 is a kind of Internet built on decentralization.

Fun Fact - The term "metaverse" originated as a unique mix of "meta" and "universe" in the 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

Understanding Metaverse Like I'm 5

The Metaverse sounds like an intense version of gaming or living generally. Because this is how it could work:

You wear a headset and enter a virtual world. You have an office that you can walk into, possibly using your unique ID in this world. After signing in to work, you walk into a board meeting and meet other team members who are already seated.

During your break time, you decide to play a game. You're feeling adventurous, so you play Fortnite or Minecraft. And just at the close of work, you shop for a pair of Nike sneakers to fit your upgraded avatar - all in this new world.

Remember, all of these happen in this virtual world, and an avatar represents you in that world.

An avatar is an icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, internet forum, e.t.c

The image above is my grand effort to create an avatar for my Instagram profile. I think she looks cooler, but you get the point of an avatar now, right?😄

Why should I be interested?

Well, for starters, FOMO. Yes, I said it. I got interested because I couldn't stop feeling I was missing out.

However, if you find this an exciting concept, you can be a creator or consumer.

As a creator, you can learn skills for creating quality graphic designs, animations, virtual Reality, gaming, 3D computer graphics, and content.

As a consumer, you become educated about this new technology and look forward to a time when the internet figures out what the "multiverse" really is, and then you can be a part of it or not.🤷🏾‍♀️

In summary,

The Metaverse is a sophisticated digital, 3-dimensional world that connects users across all aspects of life. Augmented Reality will drive the Metaverse, and each user will be represented by an avatar.

There is no whole picture of what the Metaverse is. However, there is a current wave of creativity and development surrounding NFTs, virtual Reality, and the 3D world, which are the elements believed to make up the new Verse.

Please let me know what you think in the comments section.

Further reading

• Meta's vision on Metaverse by Mark Zuckerberg.

• The Metaverse and what can we do there?

We may all agree that the internet has changed a lot and these changes matter; getting on board is essential, and what better way than getting acquainted with the basic terms associated with this new Web?

So, If you are reading this, then you're a lot like me. You, too, got tired of seeing these fancy words flying around on the internet, and like the curious cat that you are, you stumbled on this article, and you badly can't wait to understand these terms. This article will be the first of a series of articles to explain these technical terms to you in the simplest way possible.

This article is about Web3.0. You will understand if there were any Web 1.0, 2.0, then 3.0 and the differences, if any. This won't be an article to tell you how to get started, there are lots of resources for that already, I will add links to help you get started, but this article will help you get a hang of what Web 3.0 is about.

Let's get to it, then.🚀🚀🚀

Web 3.0 Explained

Before we learn about Web 3, I thought you may want to know if there was ever a web 1, 2, and maybe a Web 0(You get what I did there?🤪).

Yes, there is. There was a Web 1.0 and a Web 2.0. Let's look at these briefly.

• Web. 1(1991-2004): This is understood to be the first days of the internet. In these early days, there were very few creators for the Web and a whole lot of content consumers. These were days when owning a computer was a privilege and managing storage and resources came with its share. The barrier to being a creator was high, and so the Web had very few creators and lots of consumers.

The content on the Web as of that time was static generated content compared to what we have today.

In summary, the web 1.0 era was a time when information was one-sided or read-only. Only website owners/creators could put things up on the websites, and the consumers just read and couldn't do anything about contributing or sharing their views.

• Web. 2(2004-present): We live in the Web 2.0 era, though slowly progressing into the Web3 space. The Web 2.0 era is a time where we have more creators. And to be a creator, you don't need to be technical; all you had to do was flip open your WhatsApp and upload status in the form of texts or images. Or better still, log in to Twitter and make a tweet.

Web 2.0 gave us an era where we had more creators and lesser barriers to the internet. However, that came with a price. Big tech companies harvest your data and sell it to the highest bidder for ad space. This data is either sold out, customized to an ad and sold to you or be used to monitor you.

Web 2 looked so good till we started seeing that our data wasn't as safe, and in some cases, there were data breaches by these companies, the government, or anyone who decided to get access. And what's worse? These big companies control how information is shared. And when someone says something that these companies don't agree with? They shut your account down, block the content or do whatever they want.

Ok, that wasn't brief, but you must understand where these terms are coming from, so you prepare.

• Web 3 is a group of projects backed by cryptocurrency working together to create decentralized internet services. This new internet solves the security and data problem and gives everyone the right to be a creator.

In web 2.0, you were the product. In web 3.0, you own your content and decide who gets access to your data/content. Usually, you'll create an account on Facebook, upload your photos, share opinions, and when you share something that goes against Facebook ' code of conduct', you get sanctioned. Your post gets taken down, you get blocked, or you lose access to the site's features.

Imagine if this happened to you on a business account.

However, with Web3.0, you can share something on the internet, and no one gets to restrict what anyone sees. This means that anyone can access whatever you share on the internet, and this data is not stored on one big tech company's data farm. Plus, no one is eavesdropping on you.

Does this mean anyone can post anything?

Yes.

uhmmmm, does that make any sense? what if someone shares harmful content, fake news, illegal content, or a leaked video?

via GIPHY

Uhmmmm, yeah, about that, we haven't figured out that part yet. But yeah, people get to post what they want and with no rules as to if it should be out or not. Good thing; people get to have opinions and share their truth. On the other hand, this could be disastrous, but what do I know?

Generally, With the new Web, data isn't owned; it is shared. But there is a hack; for this new internet to work, there is a need for developers or creators to build solutions that are scalable, easy to use, and don't use strange words like WAGMI or LFgggggg.

Hollup, what does that even mean?

• WAGMI means We all Gonna Make it.
• LFgggg means Let's f**king go.

Uhmmmm, don't ask me any more questions. I, too, googled those to share. Thanks😎

Yes, we do not know what the future of the new internet holds because it's still in its early stages, but we are trusting that this is a start towards something that everyone could trust and be a part of.

Getting started with Web3.0

To follow up on Web 3.0, here are links to resources to get started:

• Getting started with Web 3.0 By Ogbonda Chiziaruhoma.
• Why Decentralization matters.
• Youtube channel: By whiteboard Crypto.
• How to get into Crypto| Etherum| as a developer By Nader Dabit.
• Twitter handles to follow: Nader Dabit

PS: As I learn and discover new resources, I will update this article.

In summary, this new Web will allow people to own identities that are not 100% linked to their real identities. With that identity, they can carry out transactions, share things online, and make use of the internet without being traced to their real identity.

This new freedom could be a whole lot of blessing, but the question is: is this not more of a blessing in disguise or a disguise as a blessing. Whichever way this unfolds, you already know the terms, so you'd be ready.

Finally, if you have added resources or links, please do not fail to share. Also if you have questions or ideas to make this series better, do not fail to (write to us)[likeamfive@gmail.com] or shoot us a DM on (twitter.com/Like_am5)[Twitter].

Before my first lecture in college, I had already bought my textbooks and studied, and to be honest, nothing made sense to me.

After the usual introduction by the lecturer, he asked if anyone knew what algorithms were. We had brilliant people that already crammed the word and just spat it out. He laughed and made a statement I can never forget. He said, "One thing you all should bear in mind is that Algorithms are different for different people and different cases, all that matters is you solve the problem correctly and efficiently".

You may not have a background in tech. You may have studied computer science, but then the term- Algorithm didn't make so much sense to you, and that's why you're here to learn the word most simply.

I know you have questions; let's get right to it

Define an Algorithm

Informally, an algorithm is any well-defined computational procedure that takes some value, or set of values, as input and produces some value, or set of values, as output.

By: MIT Introduction to Algorithm

However, algorithms are not just limited to computers. Every day, as humans and even robots, you make use of algorithms. Algorithms are well-defined steps required to complete a task.

You can think about it this way: if you've ever made a cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, followed the directions by Google Maps, or even a new pancake recipe, then you've used an algorithm.

An algorithm is just a fancy and nerdy name for a recipe or step-by-step guide to accomplish a task.

Let's try an example: How will you make a cup of coffee?

I'll go first :

Step 1: Get a mug from the rack. Step 2: Wash the cup. Step 3: Get a kettle. Step 4: Put water into the kettle. Step 5: Plug in the kettle and bring the water to a boil. Step 6: Switch off the socket and unplug the kettle. Step 7: Put two spoonfuls of coffee into a mug. Step 8: Pour in water to fill ⅔ of the cup. Step 9: Serve your coffee.

Note that you have to also keep in mind if the person has a coffee maker, if the person needs to use coffee beans or if they just had to pour some powder into a cup and make a cup. In this case, your algorithm may have loops because anybody using it may need to repeat some steps or go back to check some steps before continuing.

However, just like mentioned earlier, many things have to be considered before you write an algorithm. Algorithms are more effective when they are chosen specifically for a specific problem.

Ok, that is enough big words; let's break it down.

Algorithms Like I'm 5

When writing algorithms, it is essential to know that you may need additional tools, systems, and other approaches to achieve your goal for different problems. For instance, you will need flour to bake a cake, but what if you used cake flour and didn't specify what kind of flour is to be used in your recipe and a newbie picked up this recipe and used bean flour?

Which is fine, but did it solve the person's problem- bake a tasty birthday cake? No! Yeah, they may end up with something edible, but it's not the cake they wanted.

An algorithm is like a sketched plan. An outlined plan gives you an idea of what your dream apartment should be. It makes the task of drawing the actual plan easier.

Algorithms In Tech

Imagine a world where computers were infinitely fast, and you could use up as much space, and it wouldn't matter. Now, if we had such luxury of time, speed, and space, maybe algorithms wouldn't matter so much. You could pick the most convenient algorithm that you can implement and run with it.

Because after all, it didn't matter which algorithm you used, and memory wasn't an issue.

But we live in a world where computers are fast but not infinitely fast, memory can be inexpensive, but it is not exactly free. Therefore, computing time and space in memory are resources you should use wisely, and Algorithms that are efficient in terms of space and speed time will help you achieve this.

Why are algorithms so important?

Yeah, almost every company wants you to pass some fancy algorithm and Data Structure tests on Turing, hacker noon, or Leetcode before they hire you. Speaking to some recruiters helped me understand why it is essential to them. Understanding Algorithms and Data structures help the developer form an excellent background of good software engineering practices and insight into approaching technical problems.

Let's look at an example: Consider a Digital product like Bolt that determines how to travel from one location to another. Yes, the map shows available routes and sometimes highlights some challenges. However, an algorithm is required for certain operations such as 'finding the shortest route' to your destination (probably using a shortest-path algorithm) and rendering maps based on factors like traffic, e.t.c.

Another example can be when you decide to drive from Lagos Island to the Mainland; you may want to find driving directions from a website or even use a GPS or Google maps to find your shortest route and avoid the Lagos traffic.

The measure for the efficiency of an algorithm is speed, i.e. how long an algorithm takes to produce its result. It is also essential to know that there are some problems for which no efficient solution is known, and in this case, you may want to give it a shot and be the next big name in tech when you find an efficient way.

A list of my favourite resources to learn Algorithms:

There are a couple of resources on the internet to help you get started with Algorithms. However, I am recommending the following resources that I have used.

• Algorithm for Dummies by John Paul Mueller and Luca Massaron

• [CS50 Course on Algorithm] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFPedSR9wNU), and

• Richards substack and weekly newsletter. Richard is a seasoned Software Engineering Lead at SEND Freight. In this weekly newsletter, Richard takes time to explain algorithms and Data structures to his readers like they're five. Yes! it's likeamfive.tech but for algorithms.

In summary, An algorithm can be defined as a step-by-step process of completing a task.

Developers make use of algorithms and Data structures every day of their working lives. And if, like me, you've been curious enough to open this article and try to understand the term, I hope this made it easier for you to understand.

Having a good understanding of algorithms, what they are, and the knowledge of when to apply them and how to apply them is essential to producing software that works accurately and performs efficiently.

Thank you for reading and I hope this made Algorithms easier to understand.

Follow us on Twitter @Like_am5 to request topics and connect with the community.

This article aims to explain to my non-technical friends and, hopefully, to you.

People often say, '*My iCloud storage is full. I need to buy more. And we both know that these people are not referring to the cloud-cloud.

Perhaps 100 years ago, when the term 'Cloud' was mentioned, we all looked up at the sky. But now? Someone could be referring to their mobile phone, PC, or a company server somewhere.

This article will explain the term 'Cloud' to you in simple terms, accompanied by an analogy. It will be very conversational. Let's get to it!

What is the Cloud?

A visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground.

Oh nope! Not that one.

Oh, my bad.

Wikipedia defines 'the cloud' as

a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used in the past to represent the telephone network, and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents."

Cloudflare defines it as

servers that are accessed over the Internet, as well as the software and databases that run on those servers. Cloud servers are located in data centers worldwide.

First things first, the Cloud is not in the sky as you might've thought. 😎

The Cloud is a set or network of computers interconnected and stored elsewhere (on land) to hold data. For example, when you save a photo on your mobile phone, it saves to the phone's memory. However, when you save it to Google Cloud, it keeps it on a computer somewhere, run and managed by Google.

Another example is when you download a movie online from YouTube or Telegram channels and save it to your PC's hard drive or mobile phone storage. But when you download a movie using the Netflix application, it doesn't save on your phone or PC. It saves inside the application's cloud storage, which is located on someone else's computer.

In English, please? Explain it to me like I'm 5

You remember when you had to buy CDs to play music or even buy movies in DVD formats, right? Back then, to watch a movie, you'd have to buy it. The same thing applies to listening to a song. To listen to music or watch a movie, you had to go to a store, buy a physical Cassette, CD, or DVD, come back home, slot it into the DVD player to watch a movie, or listen to the latest Rihanna song.

But now, it is different. To watch a movie, all you need to do is look it up on Netflix, Disney, Xbox, or any other video streaming service. The same thing applies to music lovers. To listen to good music, all you need to do is open your favorite music player, such as Spotify, Boomplay, Audiomack, etc., to play your favorite jam.

These companies host the movies on their servers, allowing us to watch as many as possible. Imagine having to download and own every movie or music you have. I'm not sure about you, but I’ll need a bigger house.

Many of us recall having to dust the shelves of DVDs every Saturday, and there were so many to dust and arrange. But now? You rarely buy physical CDs to watch your favorite shows. All you need to do is open Netflix and binge-watch your show like Squid Game.😉

So, it's just storing data over the Internet?

Yes! Now imagine

• You had to buy a CD for every season or episode of Game of Thrones.

• We still used floppy disks to store things. Imagine your shelf filled with floppy disks. 😏

• Your phone memory had to hold everything, including emails, music, and movies?

Being able to save some of your data—videos, photos, projects, articles, etc. — on someone else's computer helps you focus on just a few things saved on your phone. Imagine having access to millions of songs that consume terabytes of storage, but without worrying about storage space because the data is not stored on your phone. All the music is stored on Spotify's computer somewhere in the world.

So, who manages my data in the Cloud?

Companies like

• AWS

• Microsoft, and

• Google's Cloud

• Apple

These are Cloud solution providers offering email cloud solutions, such as Gmail and Outlook. Storage cloud solutions, such as Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and AWS Cloud services.

Does the Cloud have anything to do with Cloud Computing?

Yes! I thought you'd never ask.

Cloud computing is a facet of IT (Information Technology) that manages all the software and hardware used by you. Cloud computing is a system that gives you access to services over the Internet. These services can range from external storage and databases to software and even servers.

For individuals, this can mean using cloud storage services like iCloud, Cloudinary, Amazon Cloud Drive, or Google Photos to save your pictures, so you don't use up your phone's memory.

For companies that cannot afford to build and maintain their internal infrastructure, adopting cloud computing means they may not need to update their servers, as the cloud vendor they're using will handle all of that.

The Cloud is beneficial for the current world we live in because having the resource in some server somewhere makes it possible for a team to work remotely and still access files together. For example, Google Docs allows you to collaborate and pick up from where you left off as long as you have access to the file and the Internet.

How to get started with Cloud computing?

I got you!😉 There are a couple of resources available to get started. However, this article assumes that you are five, so I will recommend beginner-friendly resources to help you get started.

• Adaora just published a book- 'Cloud engineering for beginners'.

• Kodekloud

• This article by JavaRevisited on Medium points you to 10 different resources to learn about Cloud computing.

Good luck!✋

In summary, the 'Cloud' enables us to access data, files, and databases from almost any device connected to the Internet.

However, as much as this seems excellent, and cloud companies put security measures in place to ensure the safety of everything entrusted to them, it is still advisable to exercise caution when sharing information.

I hope this article was able to answer your basic questions. If you have any other questions, concerns, or suggestions that you think should be addressed, please reach out by leaving a comment or sending an email to likeamfive@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @Like_iam5.

Thanks for reading!