The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS ; http://ttcs.tt/ ) is a computer user group formed in 1997. We:
are a forum where computers, related technologies and related social issues are discussed so persons can share knowledge and improve their experiences with technology;
keep current with the events in the local Information Technology and telecommunications industries ;
hold membership in several international organisations and advise on technology issues in Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
We have regular meetings, mailing lists, our website and are on Facebook , Twitter and Google+. We also maintain a collection of Free and Open Source Software for Windows called the TTCS OSSWIN.
Anyone interested in computing or the Internet, regardless of the level of their computer experience or the type of hardware or software they use, are welcome to join our announcement mailing list to keep up to date about (and participate in) our activities.
However, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of its formation and the 15th Anniversary of the Caribbean Internet Governance Forum with a week of ICT-related activities from 29th April to 3rd May 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad in Trinidad and Tobago. Included in the week’s activities are a Prime Ministerial Summit and a Ministerial Strategic ICT Seminar, are a Summit and a Ministerial Seminar, a workshop hosted by the International Telecommunication Union and a event called Caribbean FutureScape.
Caribbean FutureScape
Caribbean FutureScape is a simulation of a confederation of 5 Caribbean countries whose governments have collaborated and cooperated to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to accelerate the social and economic development of their countries.
The Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF) is a regional, multi-stakeholder forum initiated by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in 2005 to coordinate a regional approach to Internet Governance (IG), initially focusing on the proceedings of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The forum has since met annually and has delivered significant and pioneering benefits to the region as well as to the global Internet community. Highlights of its work include formulation of a Caribbean Internet Governance Policy Framework; the proliferation of Internet exchange points (IXPs); capacity building in IG Principles and best practices;and growth in Caribbean influence in international IG fora.
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having a lime this Wednesday April 17th, 2019 from 7pm to 9:30 pm at Wendy’s Cafe located upstairs at Wendy’s Restaurant at the corner of Ana Street & Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook, Port of Spain.
Our key topic for this lime is to discuss our upcoming AGM and nominations. We should also be receiving reports from representatives at ICANN and TTMAG. Please come prepared with your comments and contributions to the discussion, especially with regards to our nominations for our AGM.
Anyone interested in computing and ICT are welcome to attend, however please RSVP to [email protected] . See you there!
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN ) will be having its 64th public meeting from Saturday March 9 to March 14 2019 in Kobe, Japan. However, you can listen in and participate remotely.
What is ICANN?
What is ICANN?
As the name implies, ICANN helps coordinate the assignment and management of Internet numbering resources (such as IP addresses) and domain names (forming a system called the Domain Name System or DNS). The DNS maps domain names to IP addresses.
ICANN also defines and implements policies for how the “Names and Numbers” of the Internet are assigned. ICANN coordinates policy development related to the DNS by bringing a variety of stakeholders (ranging from governments, technical, business, civil society) organised in various groups to develop and advise on such DNS policies. This volunteer-based group of diverse stakeholders is called the ICANN community.
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) is an member of the ICANN At-Large Community since 2006, which represents the interests of Internet end users in ICANN policies and activities.
Important links to learn and follow #ICANN64
Some important links to help you learn more and follow the #ICANN64 meeting :
ICANN64 Full Meeting Schedule – this table (you will have to scroll down a lot) shows the various meetings happening in various rooms at the same time. All times listed are local to Kobe, Japan. The time in Kobe Japan is 13 hours ahead of that of Trinidad and Tobago. So when looking at the ICANN64 schedule, you’ll need to subtract 13 hours to get the time of the meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. This means that the meetings on Monday Morning for example will take place on Sunday night in Trinidad and Tobago. If you visit the schedule on your iOS or Android device, you can install the ICANN Meeting App to follow the schedule on your mobile / tablet device. Or search for “ICANN” in your app stores.
Pre-ICANN64 Policy Report (PDF) – This report provides a high-level overview of the planned work and activities of the Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees (including At-Large) at ICANN64.
You will see on the left under the short description are several grey buttons:
Live Video – via Livestream –
Scribe – Closed Captioning – shows the live transcribed text during the meeting – great when you want to scroll back quickly to catch what was said or you can’t listen to audio.
Adobe Connect – a web conferencing tool ICANN uses for its online conference calls and F2F public meetings. Adobe Connect allows participants (either face to face or remotely) to
instant message each other
review the meeting agenda and documents
follow presentations and raise their hands in order to make comments.
English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese – the audio of the meeting – the presence of muliple languages is done by interpreters in the room allowing different language participants to understand each other (and to be understood by other participants)
Note that not all meetings will have so many different language options, but all would have at least the audio stream and the Adobe Connect “room”
Installing the Adobe Connect app
It is recommended to download the standalone Adobe Connect application for Windows or Mac
Download Adobe Connect Meeting Application for Windows : http://www.adobe.com/go/Connectsetup
Download Adobe Connect Meeting Application for MacOS : http://www.adobe.com/go/ConnectSetupMac
Adobe Connect app is also available on mobile / tablet devices running iOS and Android.
Currently, as the TTCS’ At-Large representative (Dev Anand Teelucksingh), I have continued to be involved in various At-Large activities. I do want to encourage anyone with a interest and a desire to learn more about ICANN policy issues and how to get involved, email me at [email protected] and I’ll try my best to help.
Cultural Factors in the Caribbean affecting Trust & Privacy for Digital Security
Using Technology to Increase Trust in Public Institutions
TTIGF 2019 will also have an open forum session where all stakeholders (including online participants) can share comments, questions, solutions and best practices on internet governance locally, regionally and globally.
If you plan to attend (in person or remotely), please register for TTIGF2019 . Registration is FREE. There is no charge to attend TTIGF 2019, but space is limited!
Cultural Factors in the Caribbean affecting Trust & Privacy for Digital Security
Using Technology to Increase Trust in Public Institutions
TTIGF 2019 will also have an open forum session where all stakeholders (including online participants) can share comments, questions, solutions and best practices on internet governance locally, regionally and globally.
If you plan to attend (in person or remotely), please register for TTIGF2019 . Registration is FREE. There is no charge to attend TTIGF 2019, but space is limited!
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having its end of year Christmas dinner at Paprika Bistro at The Falls at Westmall on Thursday December 13 2018 from 6:30pm.
Space is limited, so please RSVP at [email protected]! The anticipated cost is $200-$250TT per person.
The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has released a Draft E-Money Policy “To Inform a Ministerial Order for the Category of Persons other than Licensed Financial Institutions who can Issue E-money” for comments before December 12 2018.
The Financial Institutions Act 2008 (‘FIA’), defines electronic money (e-money) as “a monetary value represented by a claim on the issuer which is – a) stored on an electronic device; b) issued on receipt of funds of an amount not less in value than the monetary value issued; and c) accepted as a means of payment by persons other than the issuer, so however that the funds referred to in (b) above shall not be treated as a deposit.”
Currently, only financial institutions as defined in the FIA and licensed to conduct ‘business of banking’ or ‘business of a financial nature’ (‘licensees’) can issue e-money. E-money instruments include prepaid cards or stored value accounts, digital wallets etc.
However, given the emergence of Fintechs3 in the financial landscape, non- licensees have expressed interest in being permitted to issue e-money.
The Central Bank is of the view that e-money issuers other than licensees can help promote financial inclusion and development of the domestic payments system which is still heavily cash based.
Consequently, it has developed this E-money Policy that discusses the proposed regulatory framework for e-money issuers other than licensees for consultation with its regulated entities and other interested stakeholders.
The E-money Policy is divided into four parts: • Part I is the Introduction; • Part II discusses E-Money Developments in Trinidad and Tobago; • Part III together with Appendices 1 and 2 examine international and regional precedent, including risks associated with e-money issuance; and • Part IV presents the policy recommendations for Trinidad and Tobago which are detailed in Appendix 3 – the draft E-Money Issuer Order to be made by the Minister of Finance.
The Central Bank advises that the consultation on the draft E-money Policy will be closed on December 12, 2018. Comments on the E-money Policy should be forward by e-mail to [email protected]
the all new TTCS OSSWIN 2.0 featuring a new web UI
The TTCS OSSWIN v2.40, a collection of the latest version of Free and Open Source Software for Microsoft Windows 10/8/7 is available for download. The latest release features several software updates.
Visit the TTCS OSSWIN page at https://www.ttcs.tt/osswin for more details and to download the 4GB collection as an ISO file for extracting to your harddrive or USB storage device or for burning on to a DVD.
Note that you can also browse TTCS OSSWIN online at http://ttcsosswin.ttcs.tt/ which features the web interface to learn about Free and Open Source programs in various categories, including screenshots or videos of the programs and a link to the program’s website where you can download the program. The web based UI is responsive, meaning it should be usable on non-Windows small screen mobile phones and tablets.
Thethirteenth Annual Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be hosted by the Government of France at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris from 12 to 14 November 2018. The IGF is an opportunity for multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy issues related to key elements of Internet governance, such as the Internet’s sustainability, robustness, security, stability, access and development.
Submit comments and questions during the IGF sessions
Hold discussions on internet governance issues.
Please see the IGF 2018 schedule to identify sessions of interest. Note that the times on the IGF 2018 schedule are local to France which is 5 hours ahead of Trinidad and Tobago.
Attendance to the Trinidad and Tobago’s IGF 2018 Remote Hub is free, however please RSVP using this Google Form in order to confirm seating. Light refreshments will be available for participants.
