[This article was first published on R Consortium, and kindly contributed to R-bloggers]. (You can report issue about the content on this page here)
Want to share your content on R-bloggers? click here if you have a blog, or here if you don’t.
The Karachi R User Group, Pakistan, hosted its second event, “Unveiling the Power of R Shiny Dashboards,” on December 30, 2023. The R Consortium spoke with Uzair Aslam, the group’s founder, about the challenges of starting an R User Group in a budding R community. He also discussed his data analysis project for studying the health deficiencies experienced by the Pakistani population.
Please share about your background and your involvement in the R Community.
My name is Uzair Aslam, and I did my BSc in Economics and Mathematics from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi. I have a keen interest in data science, statistics, and econometrics. After graduating, I co-founded a consulting firm called StatDevs. I work with two developers to develop R and Shiny applications for our clients.
At StatDevs, we solve complex problems using data science solutions and data analytics. R is a core language for us, and we’re experienced in Python, too. However, we are focused on R because of its strengths in data analysis, data visualization, and the development of Shiny applications.
My motivation for starting this group came from watching online events of R user groups in the USA and Europe. I attended the presentations and listened to what R is capable of and how they are bringing R to their communities. I noticed much R activity on that side of the world, but nothing was happening on the Asian side. That is when I wanted to make people realize that they could use R for their data analysis in academia and industry so they can solve more problems.
R User Group Distribution Around the World, from Ben Ubah’s R Community Explorer repo using the meetupr package to query Meetup API
Currently, regarding R users, there is a lack of community concept in Pakistan. Tech communities are not nurtured properly, not built properly, and they are not contained properly.
I contacted the R consortium and shared my story of wanting to establish an R user group as the organizer to promote the language.
Can you share what the R community is like in Pakistan?
I have observed that R is used in academia, but not to the extent it should be. I have seen a couple of professors at IBA and some in Islamabad who use R but also use Stata and Excel for their academic purposes and data analysis. In terms of industry, Power BI and Excel are used extensively. This is because not many people know R’s data analysis and analytics capabilities. The acceptance of R is not realized due to the lack of awareness. Some academic researchers use R but may need more training to get the most out of what R offers them. Karachi R User Group aims to narrow down this gap.
Are there any particular challenges you have faced in organizing this RUG?
Indeed, getting people to participate in this R user group has been a challenge. I held our first meetup myself last month in November, and only 4 or 5 people attended. I prepared for the meetup for about two weeks because I wanted an excellent introduction and everything, but fewer people showed up. Of those five people, one was my co-founder, and two were participating from the US and Brazil sides. There was only one person from Pakistan. This happens when you introduce something new in a place people are unaware of. My job is to continue this effort and tell people about the possibilities and opportunities of data analysis and consulting using R.
As we approach our second meetup, more people are showing interest, and the number is growing daily. I am not active on Instagram and very less active on Twitter. However, I use LinkedIn as my platform to reach people and Facebook. On Facebook, I have joined multiple groups, so I share information about the meetups in these groups. Lately, I have been realizing that I should use Twitter as well because I have seen more people promoting their R events on Twitter.
Currently, we have 100 members in our user group, and the upcoming meetup is titled “Unveiling the Power of R Shiny Dashboards.” Jehangeer Aswani is the speaker for this event. Jehangeer is a professional freelancer on Upwork and is based in Islamabad. Due to his motivation and my idea, we started this R user group. He is one of the people I look to for motivation. He has a bachelor’s degree in Statistics and provides R Shiny consulting services.
This meetup is about the fundamental concepts of R Shiny. One may wonder why R Shiny is relevant when we have Power BI and Excel. Jehangeer will provide a hands-on experience with R Shiny applications. This will help participants understand why R Shiny is a better tool. In addition, this meetup will unlock the potential to transform data into captivating visualizations. Participants will also learn how to build R Shiny dashboards. They will get hands-on experience with a real-world application that can be used to solve a business case.
Please share about a project you are working on or have worked on using the R language. Goal/reason, result, anything interesting, especially related to your industry?
I used R for micro-analysis of the Public Health domain. I collaborated with a consultant in Karachi, Pakistan, named Jaweid Ishaque. We worked on a data analysis project for Indus Hospital and Health Networks, a large network of hospitals. The problem statement of the project was to create a broader understanding of the health deficiencies experienced by the Pakistani population, particularly in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. This was a funded study that we conducted.
I worked as a data analyst on this project. The consultant guided me throughout the study. I summarized and presented the current status of health parameters in terms of mortality, disease, incidence, and prevalence. We also compared these parameters to those of other countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. With the help of R and its packages, I could extract, process, and clean the data sets from multiple sources using dplyr. I used ggplot to visualize the data. Finally, out of the 141 total districts, I identified the most disadvantaged districts in Pakistan in terms of Public Healthcare Delivery (PHC), Social Living Measurements (SLM), and Incidence Of Diseases (IOD). Our rigorous analysis narrowed the list of disadvantaged districts to around 35 districts in Pakistan. There were eighteen districts in lower Balochistan, ten in Sindh, and seven in Punjab. This study helped Indus Hospital And Health Networks deploy mobile health clinics to remote areas of Pakistan.
I wrote and executed all of the analytical scripts for the data cleaning and analysis of the provided surveys in R. This allowed me to gain an overview and insights into the data, which I then reported to the stakeholders. I presented Indus Hospital Health Networks with a comprehensive overview of our seven to eight months of research. I generated Pakistan’s population parameters in these analyses, including birthplaces, provincial distributions, mortality rates, and stillbirth rates by provinces and districts.
In addition to the above, I have also started offering R training. I delivered an online course on R one year ago titled “R for Economics and Finance.” I instructed over 15 students from IBA and all over Pakistan in this online training course, which was solely based on R.
Students were delighted to learn about the practical applications of their economic and financial models, as they had previously only been taught theoretical courses in Universities. I conducted this training last year and will now conduct several R trainings in industry and academia.
I will be conducting one of these trainings in February. This training will be titled “R for Data Science,” and students and industry professionals will attend it. I have begun working on this training to promote R as much as possible through our efforts.
As my commitment to advancing the use of R in data analysis and data science grows, I express gratitude to the R Consortium for their support on this transformative journey. Envisioning a significant impact on Pakistan, I am dedicated to constructing a vibrant open source community. The fruits of my efforts will manifest as I realize my vision: fostering open source data analytics and collaboration throughout Pakistan.
How do I Join?
R Consortium’s R User Group and Small Conference Support Program (RUGS) provides grants to help R groups organize, share information, and support each other worldwide. We have given grants over the past four years, encompassing over 65,000 members in 35 countries. We would like to include you! Cash grants and meetup.com accounts are awarded based on the intended use of the funds and the amount of money available to distribute.
Future Developments and Implications of R Users Group in Karachi, Pakistan
The Karachi R User Group made significant strides during their “Unveiling the Power of R Shiny Dashboards” event. The group, led by founder Uzair Aslam, confronted the challenges of instigating R community growth in a relatively underdeveloped market. Aslam shared his experiences establishing the group, discussing the difficulties he faced and his aspirations for changes in the data analysis landscape of Pakistan.
Potential Growth of R Usage in Pakistan
As it stands, most professors and industry professionals in Pakistan favor using applications like Power BI and Excel for data analysis, with limited recognition of the capabilities of R.
Aslam’s motivation to introduce the R language into these circles could have profound implications for data analysis efficacy in both academic and industry settings in the country. A broader acceptance and understanding of R’s capabilities for data visualization and analytics could enable more complex problem-solving in these spheres.
Overcoming Challenges and Laying Groundwork for Future Growth
The establishment of the R User Group represents a considerable challenge due to lack of awareness about its benefits. The journey thus far has been strenuous, with a small turnout for initial meetup events. However, slow but persistent efforts to popularize the group are yielding results, with increased interest from members within and outside of Pakistan.
To ensure growth, Aslam could consider the wider use of various social media platforms like Twitter to promote events and attract a broader audience. Furthermore, regular events such as the one focused on ‘R Shiny Dashboards’ will continue to boost local interest by showcasing relevant and practical applications of the R language.
Actionable Steps
To reach more people and increase the effectiveness of the User Group, Aslam should consider extending regular training on the use of R, contributing to a more knowledgeable and skilled user base. Furthermore, seeing the success of the online course “R for Economics and Finance,” Aslam could recreate this model for various domains, demonstrating the applicability of R across numerous professional fields.
Long-Term Implications
The successful establishment of the R User Group in Karachi, if nurtured correctly, may lead to marked changes in the shadows of data analytics in Pakistan’s public sector. An example can be seen from Aslam’s significant contributions in analyzing public health data by using R’s statistical capabilities. By pinpointing the precisely disadvantaged districts in terms of Public Healthcare Delivery, Social Living Measurements, and Incidence of Diseases, data-driven decisions could be made to deploy healthcare clinics in areas where they are most needed.
This large-scale impact represents only a fragment of what can be achieved through broader acceptance and application of R in Pakistan’s data analytics landscape. With continuous efforts such as this, R’s potential in academia and industry is promising.
For those interested in joining the growing R community, the R User Group and Small Conference Support Program offer grants and resources to help similar initiatives organise, share information, and support one another across the globe.
Want to clean your messy data so you can start analyzing it with SQL? Learn how to handle missing values, duplicate records, outliers, and much more.
Dealing with Messy Data for SQL Analysis
Before diving into the world of SQL analysis, one must first wade through the muddy waters of messy data. This often involves things like dealing with missing values, eliminating duplicate records, identifying and handling outliers, and much more. Understanding how to clean and structure your data is a crucial part of transforming it into useful insights. Let’s discuss the long-term implications of handling messy data and possible future advancements in this field.
Long-term Implications
Cleaning data for SQL analysis can be time-consuming, but it’s an investment that pays significant dividends in the long run. Clean, well-structured data is more reliable, leading to more confident decision-making based on that data. Consistent data cleaning practices also save time in the future. By minimizing errors and inaccuracies early on, you ultimately save time by reducing the need for recurrent error correction and reanalysis.
The Future of Data Cleaning
Technological advancements continue to make the data cleaning process more efficient and less prone to error. Intelligent algorithms are being developed that can identify and correct anomalies more quickly than a human. Additionally, machine learning and artificial intelligence are being used to automate the process of finding and removing duplicates and outliers.
Actionable Advice
Always prioritize data cleaning: Before starting any analysis or data project, it’s crucial to ensure that your data is clean and reliable. The accuracy of the results and insights you draw strongly depends on the quality of your data.
Leverage current technologies: Make use of modern technologies that can automate parts of the data cleaning process. There are many platforms out there that can identify and help resolve issues in your dataset, improving your productivity and reducing chances for error.
Consistency is key: Regularly maintaining your database helps to ensure its quality. Don’t just wait until you are initiating a new project or analysis to start the cleanup process. Regular maintenance can prevent major issues from cropping up in your data.
Invest in training: If you’re going to be working extensively with data, it’s worth investing time and resources into training that can help you handle messy data effectively. This might involve learning SQL or other database languages, as well as broader project management and data handling skills.
In conclusion, no matter what specific challenges your data presents, the importance of cleaning and properly maintaining it can’t be overstated. The reliability of your insights depends on the quality of your data, and neglecting to take care of it can have serious consequences for your decision-making and overall success of your projects.
ChatGPT has established itself as a true powerhouse for a broad range of applications, though there are several techniques that you can use to make it indispensable for your workflow. In this article, I will dig into these and hopefully give you ideas about how you can extend its reach and power. Unless otherwise specified,… Read More »Eight Techniques for Powering ChatGPT Content
Unleashing the Potential of ChatGPT in Future Developments
Modern advancements in artificial intelligence have seen the introduction and growth of ChatGPT in a variety of applications. Its flexibility and adaptability have created a powerful tool that could greatly benefit businesses, individuals, and developers. There are several techniques that one can use to further amplify its power and extend its reach, driving its indispensability in different workflow settings.
ChatGPT’s Role in Rising Technological Trends
The inception of ChatGPT has enabled diverse applications, thus, positioning itself as a powerhouse tool for a host of uses. As we delve into the prospect of AI and automation, technology trends hint towards an increased reliance on such tools. The long-term implications could revamp traditional ways of doing business and foster more efficient workflows.
Efficient Task Completion
ChatGPT is designed to enhance productivity by simplifying task completion. With increased dependence on AI tools for task automation, ChatGPT could evolve to incorporate advanced machine learning algorithms to handle more complex tasks.
New Levels Of Customer Interaction
ChatGPT also holds potential for reshaping how businesses interact with their customers. Evolving from simple customer service bots, the system could eventually provide personalized experiences to clients based on previous interactions or data analysis.
Manipulating ChatGPT for Optimal Use
While ChatGPT has proven its efficiency and versatility, there are ways of making it indispensable for your workflow. By taking advantage of its inherent flexibilities, you can optimize the platform for maximal benefit.
Improved Customization
To make the most out of ChatGPT, one could integrate it with personalized systems. Giving the AI platform access to personalized data will enhance its ability to understand and predict user preferences, thus improving personalization.
Extensive Training
Training gives the AI model a broader understanding of various scenarios. For advanced usage, training the ChatGPT using specialized data could help optimize its application in diverse fields.
Actionable Advice for Future Applications
For businesses or individuals looking to fully harness the potential of ChatGPT, here are a few actionable pieces of advice:
Invest in training: To get started with ChatGPT, consider investing time and resources in training the model according to your business or personal needs.
Understand its application: Experiment with different scenarios and tasks to understand how it can be used to fulfill your specific needs.
Start Small: Integrate ChatGPT into your small tasks before gradually moving on to bigger projects. This allows you time to familiarize the tool and make necessary adjustments.
With the right application, ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize work processes and interactions in the near future. As such, it is essential that individuals and businesses alike harness its capabilities to remain at par with the technological trends.
From the given text, we can glean that R-bloggers is a platform that provides daily updates about R news, tutorials for learning R, and other relevant topics. The blog features articles from authors who share their knowledge about R and data science, and allows readers to engage in discussions by leaving comments on the authors’ blogs. It seems that there is an interest in data analysis related to mass shootings, as indicated by the reference to an article titled ‘max spacing between mass shootings [data graphics]’.
Given the information available, there are implications for both future developments and long-term growth. R-bloggers has potential to become a hub for data scientists interested in R, a programming language that is particularly strong for tasks requiring complex data analysis. This could include anything from social issues like gun violence, as hinted at with ‘max spacing between mass shootings’, to purely mathematical or scientific problems.
Possible Future Developments
The reference to a particular analysis of mass shooting data hints at the possibility for development of a more specialized content on R-bloggers. By featuring more in-depth analyses on pressing societal issues, the blog could attract a broader audience beyond just data experts. The platform could also potentially serve as a source of data-driven insights for policy makers, activists, and other stakeholders.
Actionable Advice
Expand Content Selection: Diversifying content to include analysis on timely social issues could generate interest from a larger audience. It might also establish R-bloggers as a trusted source for people interested in understanding complex issues through a data-driven lens.
Promote User Engagement: Encourage more engagement by providing clear and simple methods for readers to leave comments or ask questions. This could generate valuable discussions and increase user retention.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Consider collaborating with influencers or leading experts in data science, machine learning, and other relevant fields. Invite guest postings to diversify content and attract their followers to the site.
Job Posting Section: Expanding the job posting section might help users looking to either hire R professionals or find R-related work, reinforcing the platform’s role in the R community.
Enroll in the free OSSU Computer Science degree program and launch your career in tech today. Learn from high-quality courses from professors from leading universities like MIT, Harvard, and Princeton.
The Future of the OSSU Computer Science Degree Program
The Open Source Society University (OSSU) Computer Science degree program mentioned in the reference text is a free, open-sourced online learning platform that seeks to offer quality educational materials from prestigious institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Princeton. This innovative program provides an excellent opportunity for students worldwide to gain invaluable knowledge and skills from reputable universities at no cost.
Long-term Implications
The OSSU Computer Science degree program embodies the potential to revolutionize the global educational landscape. Traditional geographical and financial barriers that often limit access to high-quality education are being dismantled, giving rise to a more inclusive educational system. This program could lead to increased global literacy rates and generally improve living standards.
Tech companies are likely to see a significant increase in the number of qualified applicants as well, which would bolster technological advancements and foster a more competitive market space. This could eventually result in the creation of more high-value jobs and economic growth.
Possible Future Developments
Given its current trajectory and considering technological advancements, there are potential developments that could further enhance the OSSU program:
Improved user-interface to foster better online learning experiences
More partnerships with renowned universities and professors around the globe
Creation of similar programs for other fields of study
Development of credit-transfer partnerships with tertiary institutions
Actionable Advice
Students interested in a career in tech or seeking to enrich their knowledge in computer science are encouraged to:
Enroll for Free: The OSSU Computer Science degree program is open to everyone, regardless of financial means. It’s a great opportunity to learn from top-rated professors from esteemed institutions.
Stay Motivated: Online learning can be challenging. Students must maintain a high level of discipline and motivation to excel in their studies.
Stay Updated: With the constant technological advancements and likely improvements to the OSSU program, students should ensure they stay updated on recent changes, especially new partnerships and course offerings.
In conclusion, the OSSU Computer Science degree program is not just a remarkable innovation for the field of computer science education, but also serves as a beacon of hope for the democratization of education around the globe. It’s a testament to what’s possible with the power of technology and open-source educational resources.
As I completed this blog series, the European Union (EU) announced its AI Regulation Law. The European Union’s AI Regulation Act seeks to ensure AI’s ethical and safe deployment in the EU. Coming on the heels of the White House’s “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,” we… Read More »Creating a More Fair, Just, and Prosperous Brave New World with AI Summary
The European Union’s AI Regulation Law
The European Union recently announced its new AI Regulation Law, an important step in defining standards and providing guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This law focuses on the ethical and safe application of AI, a groundbreaking move considering the explosive growth of detrimental unregulated AI usage.
Implications of the EU’s AI Regulation Law
The long-term implications of the EU’s AI regulation are multifold. It signifies a global stride in both technology management and digital ethics, affecting numerous sectors like healthcare, transport, and online services. Given the global nature of many tech companies, the law potentially imposes its standards beyond EU borders.
Promotion of Ethical and Safe AI Use
One of the foremost implications is the promotion of ethical and safe AI use. The regulation aims to reduce potential harm by enforcing stringent measures against harmful or biased AI functions.
Protection and Empowerment of Individuals
Another implication of this directive is the protection of individuals’ rights and tool empowerment. It gives individuals direct control over personal data usage, eradicating opaque algorithms’ operations and ensuring transparency.
Possible Future Developments
The introduction of this law may trigger a global wave of new regulations not confined to Europe. Countries around the world query about safer and ethical AI practices. AI’s robust governance may become a leading trend aiding global economies, ensuring rapid yet controlled technological advancement.
Enhanced Global Collaboration
In the future, we may witness enhanced global collaboration on AI ethics and governance, particularly in healthcare industries, where errors can be potentially life-threatening.
Evolution of AI Ethics in Academia
Academia might see an evolution in its course content and research agendas, with AI ethics becoming an integral part of technology and computer science curricula and research pursuits.
Actionable Advice
Embrace Transparency: Companies should be open about their AI algorithms and models to build trust with stakeholders, particularly consumers.
Ethical AI Strategies: Organizations need to develop ethical AI strategies framed within the set guidelines, ensuring AI systems don’t inadvertently harm users or marginalize certain groups.
Collaborate with Governments: Tech organizations should actively collaborate with governments to shape future laws pertaining to AI usage.
Incorporate AI Ethics in Academia: Academic institutions must include AI ethics, safety, and legal concerns in their programs to better prepare future tech leaders.
In conclusion, the EU’s AI Regulation Law holds significant implications for the global technological landscape. It’s a critical step towards safer, ethical, and more transparent AI deployment. This catalytic move may well school other regions into developing similar regulations, ultimately leading to a safer and smarter global tech economy.
