Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society

At least two government websites, immigration.gov.tt and nationalsecurity.gov.tt were defaced earlier today by “VandaTheGod”. Screenshots of the defaced websites were posted under the @VandaTheGod handle on Twitter.

The two websites are no longer reachable as they have (presumably) been taken offline.

(Update : 9.21 : updated headline to be more accurate)

As noted in an article in the July 24 2019 Trinidad Guardian newspaper, The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), in partnership with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), is launching the Subsidised Accessible Devices project for persons with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago.

The project is described as providing mobile handsets to hearing impaired and visually impaired persons (over 18 years) in Trinidad and Tobago that meet certain criteria. According to TATT’s Deputy Chairperson Dr Kim Mal­lalieu, the pi­lot phase of the Subsidised Accessible Devices Project will be from from Sep­tem­ber to De­cem­ber 2019 with a full roll­out from Jan­u­ary 2020 to Sep­tem­ber 2021.

Such subsided handsets will have access to the Caribbean Video Assistance Service (CVAS). CVAS is a collaboration between the CTU and VTCSecure which, according to the CTU :

“…provides a video relay service (VRS) for deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired sign language users, and video assistance for the blind or the visually impaired. This service enables the deaf not only to call each other and communicate directly, but also to speak with agents (sign language interpreters), who relay conversations between them and hearing parties. The agents will also assist blind users, enabling them to resolve issues for which they need the assistance of a sighted person.”

Here’s a 2017 YouTube video by the CTU demonstrating the use of CVAS. In the video, a blind person uses his smartphone to contact an agent who helps the blind person to read his medication labels he is supposed to take and guide him through the building to a specific room.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN )  will be having its 65th public meeting from Monday 24 June 2019 to Thursday March 27 2019 in Marrakech, Morocco. However, you can listen in and participate remotely.

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 multi-stakeholder 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. 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.

Important links to learn and follow #ICANN65

Some important links to help you learn more and follow the #ICANN64 meeting :

• ICANN65 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 Marrakech, Morocco. The time in Marrakech, Morocco Kobe Japan is 5 hours ahead of that of Trinidad and Tobago. So when looking at the ICANN65 schedule, you’ll need to subtract 5 hours to get the time of the meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. This means that a meeting on Monday Morning at 10am for example will take place on early Monday morning at 5am 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 ICANN meeting schedule on your mobile / tablet device and to personalize the schedule of sessions you are interested in. Search for “ICANN Meeting” in your app stores.
• At-Large Meeting Agenda Workspace – lists the very busy schedule and detailed agendas of the meetings of the At-Large Community.
• Pre-ICANN65 Policy Report (PDF) – This report provides a high-level overview of the planned work and activities of the ICANN Multistakeholder Community (including At-Large) at ICANN65.
• Nissaba pre-meeting Report on ICANN65 – this report is aimed at persons who don’t have an in-depth knowledge of ICANN and to more experienced participants, who simply want a very quick overview of the main issues to be discussed, with pointers to which sessions are relevant for each issue.

How to listen and participate online in #ICANN65 meeting

When you select a meeting on the ICANN65 Full Meeting Schedule , you will see something like this :

You will see on the left under the short description are several grey buttons:

• Zoom – a web conferencing tool ICANN uses for its online conference calls and F2F public meetings. Zoom 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. This is replacing Adobe Connect which was used by ICANN in previous meetings.
• English Audio, French Audio, Spanish Audio – 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 English audio stream and the Zoom “room”

You can install Zoom on your computer or mobile device at https://zoom.us/download

Massy Stores in Trinidad and Tobago announced, in collaboration with United Way Trinidad and Tobago’s Day of Caring Initiative and Piranha International that you can bring glass, plastics and certain electronic waste (e-waste) to selected Massy Stores for recycling on Sunday May 26 2019.

What type of e-waste can be recycled on May 26 and where?

According to the Massy Stores poster/ad, E-waste items you may bring to Massy Stores Gulf View and Massy Stores Maraval ONLY

• Mobile Phones
• Remotes
• Tablets
• Game Controllers
• Handheld Games
• Digital Cameras
• MP3 Players
• Phone Chargers
• Head Phones
• Calculators
• Memory Sticks
• Mice

NO large items such as televisions, large monitors or desktops will be collected. Also the Massy Stores ad mentions a maximum of 3 items per person.

Massy Stores where glass can be recycled on May 26 2019

• Gulf View
• Maraval
• Alyce Glen

Massy Stores where plastics can be recycled on May 26 2019

• Gulf View
• Maraval
• Alyce Glen
• Westmoorings
• St Ann’s
• Mandalay

The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) will be hosting its ICT Open Forum titled “Consumer Power in the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors” on Thursday May 23rd from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at TATT Office #5 Eighth Avenue Extension, off Twelfth Street, Barataria.

Quoting from the TATT flyer :

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

• PRICES
• TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON CONTRACTS
• ADVERTISING
• ‘UNLIMITED’ PLANS
• UNWANTED PROMOTIONAL TEXT MESSAGES
• QUALITY OF SERVICE
• YOUR COMPLAINTS

THIS FORUM IS FOR YOU! COME LET’S DISCUSS THE POWER YOU HAVE AS A CONSUMER!

Hear about consumer protection initiatives from:

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC USA)
• The Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry
• TATT

TALK TO YOUR REGULATOR!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES!
MAKE YOUR SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICE THAT YOU RECEIVE AS CONSUMERS!

The event is free to attend but persons wishing to attend this Forum must contact Ms. Mubiyna Abdullah-Muhammad or Mr. Rowle Harvey via e-mail at [email protected] or telephone at 675-8288 Ex 394 or Ext 349

The UWI Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) is hosting its Science and Technology Week (https://www.fstweek2019.com/) from May 20 to 24 2019 at the Teaching and Learning Complex, UWI, St Augustine Campus.

Science and Technology Week will highlight on-going research in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at the Faculty and its contributions to the community. This year’s theme ‘SCIENCE IN COMMUNITIES’ showcases the collaboration amongst departments, the UWI, industry and communities and complements the Faculty’s drive of supporting partnerships, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but also regionally and internationally.

The Science in Communities theme will explore work done at the FST and its contributions in the following key areas:

• Climate Change, Disaster Preparedness and Management, Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Data Application, , Information Technology Management & Security
• Energy, Fuels, Green Tech, Renewables
• Health, Safety, Medicine & Medical Technology, Pharmaceuticals, Wellness

Activities in this week will consist of:

• Research Symposium (Oral, Poster and Video Presentations)
• Outreach & Career Day
• Open Days (Booth Displays & Exposition)

See https://www.fstweek2019.com/schedule for full details of the speakers and presentations for each day.

Attendance to the 5 day event is free but registration is recommended at FST’s Science and Technology Week website at https://www.fstweek2019.com/ .

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having a booth at Science and Technology Week. So, we need volunteers at the Booth! There are morning and afternoon slots for the 5 days. 
Please fill out the TTCS booth signup sheet and let us know when you can be at the booth.