The Ultimate Christmas Gift for the Techie on Your List

The Ultimate Christmas Gift for the Techie on Your List

Each year at Christmas time it seems there are one or two digital “gotta haves.” Over the years gaming systems have taken center stage more than a few times and the iPad and iPhone remain very popular holiday gifts.  And of course drones seem to be taking over the under-the-tree landscape.  While my suggestion for a gift for the techie on your list still has not yet captured the nation’s attention, it soon will.  It is called the Echo.

It is hard to describe Amazon’s Echo since it does so much.  It is a music player, personal assistant, home automation hub, and much more.  It is as close to the computer aboard the Starship Enterprise as you can get for less than 200 bucks.  So far while it can’t make the cup of Earl Gray tea, it does do a great job of understanding your voice commands.

The device measures about 10 inches high or about the size of a large can of juice.  Inside this small package are some amazing electronics and software.  All of the interactions with the Echo are done with voice commands.  A sophisticated microphone array can detect your voice from across the room even if there is music playing or other conversations going on. 

The Echo connects via your home Wi-Fi to the Internet and also to various devices in your home.  It can turn on your lights, adjust your thermostat, keep track of items on your shopping list, remind you to call your mother on her birthday and play your favorite music.  Of course you can ask it to look for information on Google or another search engine.

The audio quality is outstanding for a device with such a small footprint.  Because it is designed to work with many off-the-shelf peripheral devices, anyone interested in automation or voice command technology will have a grand time figuring out new things to do with the Echo.

The Echo is available from Amazon with a listed base price of $179.00.  Various attachments are required to control lights etc., and must be purchased separately. As of this writing I found that you can still have one delivered by Christmas.  If you have a hard core techie on your list you can’t go wrong giving the Echo this year.

Fiat Lux

 New on ramp to Internet 100x faster than Wi-Fi and uses Light Waves

Some very smart engineers in Estonia are developing a new way to wirelessly access the Internet and making that connection about 100x faster than Wi-Fi.   Most of us are very familiar with Wi-Fi.  Many have a Wi-Fi router at home allowing the connection of several devices to the Internet.  Coffee shops, gas stations, fast food joints and even some city parks have Wi-Fi.  

A Wi-Fi router uses radio waves to connect with your iPad or other digital device.  Since the radio transceiver is low power, the signal is only usable over short distances and the speed of the connection is limited by the band width of the radio signal.

The new technology uses light waves instead of radio waves to establish the Internet connection.  At first reading I was confused that this was seen as a “new” technology.  In reality, we have been using light for decades to send data though glass fibers.  Today the lion’s share of Internet traffic passes through fiber optic networks that use light waves.  The light source is usually a high power laser.  A more careful reading of the reports cleared up my confusion.

This new technology, called Li-Fi, does not require a special laser light source, rather it can use lighting already present in the home, office or even a plane or boat.  It does require the light source to be LED based.  

So imagine a large office setting with hundreds of cubicles.  The Internet signal is sent to all the devices in the room using the same LED lighting fixtures that are used to illuminate the room.  Any device that has an unobstructed path to the light source can have access.   The light waves can provide much faster connections than Wi-Fi.  In fact, the engineers have been able to deliver data speeds of 1 gigabyte or more.  That is about 100x faster than most of us have at home.

Since the light waves cannot pass through walls, Li-Fi will not replace radio based Wi-Fi. Also it will not work outside in bright sunlight. But in certain applications it will be revolutionary.  For example, there is a concern that Wi-Fi based connections on an airplane could disrupt some of the flight systems.  Using the cabin lights for the passengers’ Internet connections would remove that concern.

The roll out of this technology is still a few years off.  It will take making devices able to use the light-based connections.  Today’s Wi-Fi connectivity is standard on most every digital device and soon Li-Fi enabled devices might well be as commonplace.

More on Windows 10

A few weeks ago I wrote about Windows 10 and suggested that you may wish to upgrade to this newest operating system from Microsoft.  Over the past few weeks I have received more than a few questions about Windows 10.  Most of the questions are about compatibility.  Will your printer, scanner and other peripherals work with Windows 10?   How about the programs that you regularly use?

If you have a computer that is now running Windows 7 or 8 there should be no problem with compatibility.  In fact, after you do the install for Windows 10, all of your programs should still be on your desktop.  In most cases you will need to do nothing.

There are some printers and scanners that might require a new driver.  A driver is a small mini program that allows your device to send and receive information to and from the computer.   The driver works in the background.  If you have a very old printer, scanner or other peripheral device it may require a new driver written for Windows 10.   The good news is that in most cases this new driver will be retrieved automatically as you install Windows 10.

There may be some readers who have peripheral devices that are very specific to their work.  If you are unsure you can always google the device name and see if there are any Windows 10 issues.  Again, for most home and small office users this should be a non-issue.

I was able to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 with no problem whatsoever and I do have some specialized video and audio editing programs.  They all work fine.

As I said in my previous column, Microsoft seems to have gotten this one right.  After about a year in general use, the Windows 10 operating system seems to be very stable and bug free.  For most users there will be no need to buy new software or devices.  For once having the newest doesn’t require you to spend more money.

Keeping the Holiday Bright

It is that time of year when you may need to make a trip to the hardware store to pick up some batteries.  More than a few of the gifts under the tree will require at least one battery to function.  So it seems like a great time to give some hints on getting the most out of these indispensable power sources.

There are two main types of batteries used in household devices and home electronics.  There are batteries that are used once and thrown away and there are rechargeable batteries.  Among the most popular of the single-use batteries are alkaline batteries.  If fact, they account for about 80% of all manufactured batteries in the US.  Worldwide more than 10 billion individual units are produced annually.  These batteries come in a variety of sizes from the popular AA and AAA cells found in the TV remote to the C or D cells in your flashlight or a kid’s toy fire truck.  You know, the one with those mind-numbing shrill sounds.

When buying alkaline batteries, don’t over think it.  In most cases going with a name brand with the lowest price will serve you well.  Store the unused batteries at room temperature.  When they are spent throw them away in the trash.  Most manufacturers have removed any mercury or other environmentally bad stuff that once made disposal a pain   Placing spent batteries in the kitchen drawer will not bring them back to life.  This was a concept that my kids never seemed to grasp.  Never try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries as only bad things can happen.

Mobile phones, tablets and other digital devices most often use rechargeable batteries.  There are many myths about rechargeable batteries. Many of these myths are a carryover from old technology.  For example, modern batteries do not have a “memory.”  There is no need to ever completely discharge them. You can charge them as often as you like.  You can even keep them attached to the chargers whenever possible and this will not at all diminish the life of the battery.  The chargers have circuits that will prevent overcharging.

Most instruction manuals suggest that you fully charge the battery before first using a new device.  This practice, while a good idea, has nothing to do with the ultimate life of the battery.  Having a fully charged battery will allow you to play with all the functions on the new device and complete all the set up without having to recharge.  It will not, however, have any bearing on how long the battery will last.

Keeping the Creeps Out

In many households the “hearth” at the center of the home has gone from a warm fire to a large screen TV and now to a high-speed internet connection.  Many families have more than a dozen devices connected to their Wi-Fi router.  Desktop computers, smartphones and tablets share the connection with game consoles and telephones.  A robust and reliable internet connection can be as important today as plumbing and electrical power systems.  Some would say even more important.

With the ubiquity of internet access —for many families, especially those with young kids—comes a rising concern of unwanted and inappropriate content coming into the home.  It is unrealistic to personally monitor every second your kid is connected to the internet, and severing the connection with the outside world could deprive you and your family of important and worthwhile information.

Some new internet routers may help to control what content is available to members of your family. A router is a device that connects to the Internet Service Provider’s connection, usually a modem, and distributes the signal around your home wirelessly.  Up until recently these routers were passive devices allowing connection with any site on the internet.  The new “Family Friendly” routers allow you to pick and choose what content comes into your house and even allows you to set up tiers of access.

A young kid may have very tight restrictions placed on his or her access while a teen may need to have more options available.  The router allows you to set parameters for several different users.

Many provide real time monitoring and reporting functions, and can send messages to parents identifying what sites the kids are currently accessing.  Some can also be programmed to limit the number of hours each user is allowed on the internet each day or week.

For some people this may seem like “big brother” and it may not be appropriate for all situations.  Nevertheless, there continues to be some very unsavory material online and keeping it out of your house may be worth the personal limits to privacy.

You can find several router options by going online and searching “family friendly internet.”  Here are two models that PC Magazine scored well that you may wish to research: Linksys EA6900 and Netgear Nighthawk AC1900

A Different Perspective on Election Day

Election Day is here. If this election is like most non-presidential years, the number of people that actually vote will be very low, perhaps as few as one in four.   This statistic has always made me sad.  The right to vote and have a say in how we are governed is at the very bedrock of our country and to know that less than 30% of those who can vote do so is just wrong.

My day job is at the National Voice of America Museum in West Chester.  A recent experience there really made an impression on me as it demonstrated what some people in other countries will do to exercise the freedoms we take for granted.

The Museum has acquired a unique piece of history. A few weeks ago a couple drove up to the Museum and donated a 1960s Soviet Union manufactured shortwave radio that they had used when they lived in Ukraine.

The radio was sold in the Soviet Union during the cold war and was designed so it could not receive VOA broadcasts. Felix and Lola, the couple who made the donation, related to me how they and many others in their village would have their radios modified so that they could pick up VOA programming.

As we talked, the couple related how they would “listen under the blankets” so as not to be discovered by authorities critical of their search for the truth. They noted that many in the village did the same thing even though they would be punished if found out by the local authorities.

In this country we have access to information.  Unfortunately there is so much available it is like drinking from a fire hydrant.  Nevertheless, we can find information and we can use it to make decisions about our country.  Many around the world still cannot.

Maybe next election we can all think about this little under-the-blanket radio and what it symbolizes for millions.

Windows 10…a good move.

A few weeks ago I wrote about making sure that you pay attention to updates when they are released.  Updates allow software and hardware providers to make tweaks to their products and to address bugs that may have slipped through the evaluation process.  Perhaps more important, these updates often plug security holes that some kid living in his parents’ basement likes to find and exploit to your dismay.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 is really not an update, it is a whole new operating system for your computer replacing earlier versions Windows 7 and 8.   After I wrote about updates I got some questions about Windows 10 and if I thought it was a good idea to make the switch. 

I always recommend that you not be the first to try out a new piece of software, especially software like Windows that is the very life blood of your computer.  I can say now that for most people upgrading to Windows 10 is a great idea.  Enough time has lapsed since it was widely released last spring and most of the bugs have been worked out.

I found the Windows 10 installation very user friendly.  It is a multi-step process and Microsoft has developed a set of very clear instructions that guide you through the process.   If you have a computer that now uses either Windows 7 or 8, you most likely have received little reminders on the screen urging you should make the change.

The first step is to actually download the required software from Microsoft.  By clicking on the small Windows 10 upgrade icon located at the bottom right of your computer screen you will get instructions on how to proceed.  The downloading process can take as much as an hour or more depending on the speed of your internet connection.  Once loaded, you can decide when you actually want to activate the new software.   Be sure that you have at least one hour of uninterrupted time for this.  Don’t rush and read all the instructions. 

I found the process very intuitive and clear.  Once it is up and running, you will find that Windows 10 is far better and easier to use than Windows 8.  Many of the conventions found in Windows 7 are back.

I think Microsoft got this one right and I highly recommend that you begin using it as soon as possible.  Even better for most people, it is free.

Google Much More Than You Might Think

For many of us the term “Google” has become a part of our regular vocabulary. Anytime we need some information we “Google” it.  In fact the term has morphed to include any search function. When was the last time you “Binged” or “Yahooed” something?  For sure the folks at Google are delighted that their brand has become synonymous with searching for information. You may be surprised that the search function of Google is really only the tip of the iceberg.

In August Google’s parent company got a new name. According to the big wigs at the company it is more reflective of the diversity in services offered.  The name is “Alphabet.”  While one would think that the smart, creative people at Google could have been a bit more creative, Alphabet does offer 25 more letters for new service names if they grow tired of the “G.”

Most people using Google don’t get beyond the search box.  If you do you will find some amazing tools and toys and most of them are free to use.  A good place to start is to adopt Google Chrome as your web browser. Once you do that it is easy to navigate to the other features.

One of my favorites is the Translate application.  You can type a word, phrase, or paragraph in one language and ask Google to translate it into another.  The translation is not perfect but it is getting better all the time.  You would not want to use it for a legal document but it does help you get the sense of what someone has written in an unfamiliar language.

Perhaps the tool that amazes me most is the Image search.  You can paste a picture of a person or place into the search box and it will seek out pictures on the internet that most closely match it. Here again the technology is still developing but it gets better and better each time I use it.

Google Earth also never cease to amaze me.  With its world-spanning satellite images, Google Earth is an encyclopedia, globe, terrain map, and world atlas all in one.

Of course there are several esoteric services that most of us will never use. “Google Scholar” searches papers, learned journals and research findings of the world’s most respected scientists.  “Patent Search” is self-explanatory.

So when you have a few minutes take the time to peel back the many layers of Google (or Alphabet.) You might find something you never knew was there.

Sometimes You Just Need to Unplug

My wife, Judy, and I recently spent a few days camping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  We enjoyed three pristine sunny fall days in some of the most picturesque and remote places in the US.  The UP has awesome beauty but does not have many of the modern conveniences that we have grown so accustomed to.  The campground, tucked into the Southern shore of Lake Superior, had no electricity and as such no artificial lighting to mask the millions of stars and a moon giving enough light to read a book.  We were not used to this remoteness but we both began to cherish it.

Suffice it to say mobile phone reception was spotty and internet access impossible.  Even the GPS in the car could plot our longitude and latitude but became challenged matching our specific location to any of the back woods roads.

The short respite from the incessant beckoning of our digital devices got me to think about how tied many of us have become to these tools and toys.  The slightest beep or ring of our mobile phone causes an almost involuntary response to check and see who is trying to contact us even though we know full well it may be just a text from our neighbor with a picture of her cat staring at a goldfish.

Try as I might to limit my attraction to the siren calls of my mobile phone and iPad, I find that I often check my email or text traffic just out of habit. 

So I have a challenge for all my readers and it is one that I will take as well.   How about we all carve out a portion of everyday that are digital communication free zones.  That means we don’t carry our phone on our person.  Perhaps we turn it off.   This may be around the dinner hour or when we are putting the kids to bed.  During this time we won’t answer the telephone, look at Facebook or immediately respond to a text.  Perhaps we begin with an hour.  Who knows maybe we can go a full day.  Of course, you may need to drive to the UP for motivation.

To Update or Not to Update

Every time there is a new version of an operating system announced or a major update to an old one released, I get the question: should I update or wait?  Most of us are creatures of habit and we get comfortable with our digital tools and toys. A change in how we perform a certain task or how the screen appears can be very disrupting.

In order to answer the question it may be helpful to discuss the different types of software updates. Many are almost automatic. Those with Apple products are used to seeing messages on their devices announcing that there is an update available. These periodic updates are important to accept.  They often fix bugs found in earlier versions of the operating system.You don’t have to install the update immediately but it is a good practice to do it within a week or so of the release. 

The same holds true for updates offered for the various apps you have installed. The developers of these apps are always making improvements.  These can be safely installed.

Recently Microsoft released a new operating system. Windows10 is billed to be more stable and easier to use than previous versions.  Many people are still upset with Windows8 and more than a few have expressed a desire to return to the good old days of XP. Well, it looks like Windows10 is a great improvement over previous versions of Windows and those who have downloaded it are pleased. You can feel confident about loading it but be aware that there will be some older software that might not work.  I would check with your software provider for any compatibility issues or use Google to see if others are having problems.

The need to periodically update software is not going away. You would be surprised at the many devices that regularly get updated without your knowledge it is happening. For example, many Panasonic and LG TV’s regularly “call home” for updates.  Even your car gets periodic software updates. I am sure VW diesel owners will soon learn about that.

Home Automation Getting Easier and Affordable

I have always thought that it would be really cool to have an automated house. A house where all the systems were monitored and controlled by a single control panel. While home automation systems have been around for many years, most were very expensive and you needed multiple systems.  For example the control panel that turned on or dimmed lights could not set the thermostat or unlock the front door.

Recently there have been released a number of systems that use an app on your smartphone, either iPhone or Android, to control a number of different systems and appliances found in most homes. One of the systems is called Wink. Many of the products that are based on Wink and the actual Wink controller can be purchased at your local Home Depot or at Amazon.com.

The neat thing about Wink is that it works with many standard products found around the home. GE appliances, Philips lighting and Schlage locks are just a few of the manufacturers making products that can be controlled and monitored by Wink.

For example, once you purchase the Wink hub, using your smartphone and home Wi-Fi you can take control of setting your heating and air conditioning, lock or unlock your front door, turn on lights, monitor your home security system, and even check if you remembered to close the garage door. This can be done while sitting in your living room or in a hotel half way around the world.

The Wink compatible products vary in price. To get started you need a controller hub that costs about $50.00. A LED light bulb that will interface with Wink costs about $14.00. Many products like the garage door interface costs about $80.00. Unlike older systems that were priced in the thousands of dollars, you can get up and running with several Wink controlled devices for a few hundred dollars.

This Phone Setting Can Save Your Life

One of the first things many people do when they purchase a new mobile phone is set up a code that locks the device preventing unauthorized use.  This is a very good practice since many of us have lots of very personal information stored in our smart phones and some of it would be very attractive to identity thieves or other miscreants.  I recommend that everyone set security codes for most all of their digital accoutrements.

 

Setting the code, however, should be followed by an equally important step: the setting up of the “In Case of Emergency” settings and information.  This can easily be done in a few minutes on most iPhones and Android devices.  Unfortunately, many people never get around to it and, in some cases, this can mean the difference between life and death.

For the sake of this article I am going to go through the set up steps for iPhones running iOS 8.0 or higher.  Android phones are very similar and your instruction book will have the details.

If you look at your iPhone’s screen after you turn it on and get to the screen where you enter your code, you will notice at the bottom of the screen the word “Emergency.”  Touching this word with your finger will call up your telephone dial and allow the phone to call only 911without being unlocked.  You will also see the words “Medical ID” at the bottom of the screen.  If you have activated this feature, in an emergency the first responders can get information about you, your medical history, blood type, drug allergies and even a person to call.  But in order for this to be available to life savers you first must enter the information and activate the app.

Your iPhone running iOS 8.0 will have a preinstalled Health App.  It will have a little red heart within a white square as the icon.  Click on that app and, when it launches, look at the bottom of the screen for an asterisk-like symbol and the words ‘Medical ID.  Tap on the words and follow the instructions.

You need to decide how much information you wish to share here but, at a minimum I suggest including an emergency contact, blood type and any condition or allergy that a first responder should know if you are not able to communicate.

After you activate your phone’s medical emergency info, ask a friend if they have activated theirs.  It could save their life.

Virtual Reality in a Cardboard Box

For most of us the term “Virtual Reality” (VR) conjures up images of frenetic computer games, or, in the more sophisticated applications, training for fighter pilots and airline crews.  Or perhaps we remember the “holodeck” from Star Trek.  Far from the quality of VR aboard the Starship Enterprise, the consumer versions of VR players and programs were not very good; while they placed the viewer in the middle of the action, the picture resolution and realism of the video left much to be desired.  Even these less-than-high-quality viewing devices were expensive.

So when a friend asked if I would like to see a demo of his new VR viewer while on vacation recently I was not too excited.  I was even less excited when he showed me this small hand held box made out of cardboard.  Am I glad I tried it.

This particular viewer uses a smartphone, either Android or iPhone, to play the virtual reality content.  By placing the phone in the viewer and holding the viewer to your eyes like a pair of binoculars you are transported into the middle of the action. The experience is enhanced by listening to the sound with good quality headphones.

The really cool thing is that you can look up or down, right or left, even turn 360 degrees and view content as if you were standing in the middle of the action.  I saw a video of a concert featuring Sir Paul McCartney.  I was able to stand on the stage and view the concert or the audience while listening to the music.  It was awesome.  The quality was outstanding and the price unbelievable.  The viewer cost less than $25.00 and many of the VR videos are free. This particular one was from Knox Labs.  You can find them on the web at http://www.knoxlabs.com.   A simple google search for “VR player cardboard” will give you several other inexpensive options.   Most of the VR videos are available, mostly free, at the App Store.

The truly exciting aspect of affordable and effective VR content is how it might enhance news reporting.  Imagine the impact of a VR report from within a refugee camp.  How might this technology change the way we see victims of floods and other disasters?  Far from just another toy, VR technology could well have a monumental impact on changing our consumption of media and the impact of media on the audience.

Don’t let the lowly cardboard wrapper fool you.  It represents something very special.

Dust Bunnies Could Be the Problem

Recently I heard of three people who were having issues with their smartphones and all three were able to fix the problems without a costly repair.  While the issues were different, the root cause of all the malfunctions seemed to be same.  In all three cases, all the phone required was a thorough cleaning and the removal of some debris and dust that had accumulated under the protective case.

Many smartphone owners have wisely invested in cases that protect the phone from breakage when dropped.  Some cases are even water proof, encasing the phone in a sealed compartment that can keep a phone from drowning if it should fall in a swimming pool or some other less sanitary receptacle. (A recent survey found that about ½ of all phones suffering water damage were dropped in toilets.)

Once they attach the case, many people never remove the phone from the case.  I have a case for my iPhone, but, geek that I am, I take it apart monthly and clean out all the gunk that has collected inside the case.  I keep my phone in my pocket and in so doing the phone collects dust and lint, especially around the speakers and microphone. 

Two of the recent issues that I came across had to do with the owner not being able to hear clearly.  A close inspection found a build-up of lint and dust virtually covering the microphone and speakers.  The other problem that was reported was due to a major build-up of dust, lint and dirt surrounding the buttons. Some buttons were so impacted with dust they stuck in the on position.

So the solution for many problems with your mobile phone may not require an expensive trip to the repair shop.  Just give your phone a good cleaning.  It does make you wonder how many people paid a premium getting their phone fixed as the repair person just dusted it off.

Some Digital Help With Everyday Math Problems

There was a new report last week about how a young man who had been trapped under his car while he was fixing it used Siri to call for help.  Siri and other speech recognition devices and software can provide some truly extraordinary things but there are other more mundane tasks that can be made easier with their help.

If you are like me, you often need to use a calculator when working on financial projects.  I began using spreadsheets back in the days of Visicalc and Multiplan so I don’t have any problem with complex math models in Excel.  Where I have problems is using the key pad on the computer to enter simple addition of multiple multi-digit numbers.  A combination of my fat fingers and lack of touch typing skills really slows me down.  So I was delighted to learn that there are several options available that allow me to just speak the numbers.

If you have an iPhone with Siri, you can perform a plethora of math calculations just by speaking the numbers.  Let’s say you have a column of five multi-digit numbers that you want to sum.  Just say “Siri, what is 123 plus 234 plus 567 plus 899 plus 5678?”  Siri will display all the numbers and give you the total.  This saves you from having to enter all the numbers by hand.  This works with whole numbers, fractions, decimals and dollars and cents.

Siri can do simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as well as more complex calculations such as square roots and cosines.  Again, not only will you get the answer, Siri will even show the work.  Siri must have had the same math teacher I had in 8^th Grade.

If you don’t have Siri you can do many of the same calculations using Google.  You must be sure to turn on the “search by voice” function within Google.  Just like Siri, as you speak the problem, Google will show the numbers being spoken on the screen in the search box enabling you to check to make sure that you have all the correct information before accepting the answer.

Often we look to our smart devices to perform very complex tasks like using a GPS to find the fastest route to our destination. Sometimes just a bit of help balancing our check book is all we need.

Is Big Bird the Modern Canary in the Mine?

Those who have been reading my musings over the years know that I have often opined on the changing electronic media landscape.  The announcement last week that Sesame Street would be moving to HBO may well be the tipping point that will accelerate sweeping changes in what we watch and how and where we watch it.  

If you missed the announcement, it related that new episodes of the iconic children’s TV program would first be released on pay TV, i.e. HBO, and after a period of time be released to PBS for free broadcast.  As one would imagine, many media pundits have been lamenting this development as taking away the birthright of millions of American kids unable to access HBO.  While this observation may be valid, the switch by the producers of Sesame Street is also about a shift in how most of us will consume our daily fix of TV.

A closer look at the TV industry, especially the broadcast TV segment, shows that over the air and cable, once the mainstays of the business, are flagging.  Some of the most watched and critically acclaimed programs never get broadcast.  Rather, they are streamed on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Plus.  Appointment viewing, i.e. waiting for the time the broadcaster decides to show a certain program, runs contrary to having the “what we want, when we want it” mentality.

In the announcement regarding Sesame Street it was made clear that among the reasons that they were moving to HBO was to take advantage of the streaming capabilities.  Children’s programs like Sesame Street are ideal for online on demand delivery as parents look for suitable fare to offer their young children unwilling to wait for the time slot chosen by the local PBS stations  

We are just beginning to see the ramifications of this sea change.  The economic models for local TV stations (both commercial and public TV) have changed.  Once immensely profitable, running a local TV station in the black is now very difficult.   Stations in Ohio and other swing states have been buoyed by political ad spending, but that is not going to be enough to sustain stations in the long term.

So Big Bird may well be that canary in the mine.

Don’t Leave Home Without It!

I think I have found one of the most valuable tech devices ever. It is small, inexpensive, simple to use and can keep you connected.  I recently returned from a bike trip. Each evening we were camping at a different location and sometimes access to electricity was either non-existent or very inconvenient. This could have made keeping my smartphone charged up a real problem if I had not brought along my portable charging device.

There are many brands but all are essentially the same. The device consists of a rechargeable battery, some control circuitry and a variety of plugs. Once charged up the device can recharge most all smartphones and tablets. The one I have can recharge my iPhone twice and my iPad once before it too needs to be recharged. 

I have carried one in my briefcase for years and honestly have not used it much since under normal circumstances I have adequate electrical power to plug in if I find my phone running out of juice. On this trip things were different.  Either was had no access to electricity or several of my friends were in need of charging their phones and often we had more phones than outlets.

I was able to both charge my phone and at the same time keep it on so I could get email, text and even use the clock and alarm function. I just connected the unit to my phone and placed it next to my sleeping bag having no need to connect to an outlet which if it was available was not near my sleeping area.

You can find various models on line from $10 to over a $100. The big difference is in the number of times the device can charge your phone without needing to be recharged.  Unless you have many devices that you need to keep running, I recommend the small pocket size units. They are easy to carry in your pocket or purse and you are more likely to actually bring it with you. The larger high amperage models are nice, but if you are a light packer they may be a bit overkill.

I have seen these for sale in big box stores and on line.  You will often see them sold from kiosks at the mall.  To review several examples just google “portable power chargers.”  It may be the best 10 bucks you spend this summer.

Digital Divide OK Says Local Expert

You know you are getting old when you read an extremely articulate article about educational technology published in a respected British journal and find that it was written by a kid that you once coached on the soccer fields around Harrison.

Justin Beck, once an exceptional soccer goal keeper is now Vice President at Kaltura, an international leader in online education.  He recently authored and published an article that discusses the frustration some of us experience, especially teachers, as we try to keep up with the new technologies.  For teachers, having kids in the classroom who often are more comfortable and knowledgeable about technology can be disconcerting.

In his paper, Beck discusses how some experts thought that this disparity would eventually go away as new teachers entered the classroom.  After all, these teachers were once the kids that were more digitally adroit than their teachers.  They use smartphones, tweet, and participate fully in the digital world.   Beck goes on to say that… “while it is true over the short term that the gap may close, the rapid and continued pace of innovation will consistently ensure a chasm between students’ digital comfort levels and those of their (older) teachers.”  He concludes that it may be the difference in age and maturity than any innate facility with all things new that is the root cause of the differences.

The article concludes by suggesting that educators will always feel less confident, familiar and comfortable with the latest digital technologies than the student. Beck says that he is … “unsure if teachers will ever say they feel confident and comfortable in teaching digital literacy, precisely because technology is always advancing. By accepting that educators will always be behind on the digital literacy curve compared to most students, we can focus instead on using their well-honed teaching skills to inspire students to think out of the box for digital-led assignments.”

You can read the entire article on line at http://edtechnology.co.uk/Article/dont-mind-the-gap  It is a short but interesting read.

Keeping Track of Your Ride

The summer months offer great opportunities to get that bike out of the garage and go for a ride on one of the area’s many bike paths or country roads. While Mother Nature has not been very cooperative in the sun department, there is still ample opportunity to get in some quality pedal time. Many serious cyclists use mobile phone apps to record their rides and workouts. There is one app that is worth a look for even the occasional cyclist.

Map My Ride provides a set of applications designed to help you keep track of your route and your training regimen. The full featured app is a bit pricey, but a free version provides some great tools and fun.

Once loaded onto an iPhone, Android or BlackBerry, the app uses the GPS function to gather a ton of information as you ride. Not only will you get a summary of your bike ride with mileage, average speed and the actual time you rode, you can see a map of your route. The elevation of your ride is reported including the lowest point and highest point on your trip. It will also compute the total number of feet of climb. You will be surprised at the number of feet you climb even in the shortest ride around the Harrison area.

Another neat feature is the “split” calculation. You can see the speed and time you set for each of the miles you ride. A quick glance will show how well you ride both at the beginning and end of a trip.

Using the Facebook feature, you can share your ride info with your friends including a map so they can try your route.

Perhaps the coolest feature is the “Course Fly-By Video.” After your ride, using your computer you can recreate your ride. It plots your bike on a map and from beginning to end shows the roads, relative speed and other neat data about your ride.  It is like watching yourself from a drone overhead.

There are several similar apps for cyclists and runners. Many have more functions and are geared for the serious competitive riders. The free version of Map My Ride is a great starter and perhaps will motivate you to get that old clunker out of the garage and on to the road. 

Keeping You Connected

Many of us will be going on vacation over the next few months.  While I don’t recommend staying 100% connected, I am sure that there are many who will feel that they need to keep up with email, Facebook and other things digital while they travel.  I have collected a few hints that can take the hassle out of staying connected and help keep all those digital devices charged up.

If your vacation plans call for you to be in remote areas, you may have trouble keeping your smartphone battery charged up.  The reason is that in remote areas there might not be robust mobile data service.  As a result, your phone may be constantly trying to search for and connect with a mobile data service that is not there.  This constant searching really saps the battery. 

When traveling in these areas, turn off the cellular data and data roaming function on your phone or tablet.  Same for the GPS.  The actual phone, as in talking to someone, will still work most of the time as well as the camera functions.  At the end of the day or when you need to send email, turn these function back on.  If a data service is available your phone will connect and download any waiting messages and emails.   Of course if you are in a car and have the phone plugged into a charger you need not worry about the battery

Speaking of charging, if you plan to bring along several devices, you may not need to bring all those chargers.  For example, if you have an iPhone and an iPad, take along only the iPad charger.  With the proper cable, the charger can be used to charge both.  Be sure to bring the iPad charger and not the iPhone charger since the iPad charger has more amperage which is required to efficiently charge the iPad.

For some, the availability of electricity can be an issue.  For those backpackers and other back country enthusiasts who want to stay on line, you can purchase a small external battery which, when connected to your device, will charge it.  I have one that will recharge an iPhone twice and an iPad once.  It is about the size of a hot dog and is rechargeable by plugging into any 110v outlet.  I have seen these sold on line and in many big box stores for about 20 bucks.

I must admit that I feel guilty giving out these hints as I am convinced we would all be better off if we left all the digital stuff behind when going on vacation.  Perhaps, instead of leaving them behind which I know most of us (myself included) will not, we agree to keep them turned off most of the time.

Fingers Faster Than Your Brain?

All of us have done it.   Perhaps we are distracted by a phone call.  Perhaps we are upset.  Perhaps we just typed the wrong address.  There is nothing like the sinking feeling of sending an inappropriate or inflammatory email to someone and wanting dearly to take it back.   Last week Gmail announced that it will offer a way to cancel the delivery of an email you sent.  When you send an email within Gmail, a large button with the word “UNSEND” will appear on your screen.  If you click on that button within 30 seconds your email delivery will be cancelled.

While this feature is certainly an improvement it may not solve all the issues of errant emails.   I have a few hints for keeping you from embarrassment or even worse when the wrong or inappropriate missive is sent.

Many of us write the address of the person or persons the email is to be sent before we begin writing the actual content.  This makes perfect sense as the address line is most often the first line that appears on your screen.  I suggest that you leave that line blank and don’t fill it in until you are ready to send.  I know that I am often in a hurry and have sent emails with typos, wrong dates and times and other errors by not paying attention and pressing the wrong key.  If there is no name in the header, the email will not be sent.  So write the email, make your corrections and changes and then, and only then, fill in the email address or addresses of the people who are to get the message.

For those times when you are angry or upset, go ahead and write the email but instead of sending it, file it in your drafts and come back to it in an hour or so and re-read it.  You will be surprised how often you decide not to send it.  Of course be sure also to use my other hint and leave the addressee line blank until you really decide to send it.  These hints go for text messages as well.  Because we are often distracted when texting some really strange messages get sent in error.

Be very careful of the “autofill” and “auto correct” functions that are built into many email programs.  You know what you wanted to write but you may not have written what you wanted once the computer decides to “help.”  Read you email out loud before sending.

Finally, when forwarding an email be sure that all the information in the email is appropriate for all who will get the forwarded message.  The email you received may have been forwarded to you by someone else.  Emails, especially in some business settings, tend to be appended to other emails and often the subject of the current iteration has nothing to do with earlier iterations.

So make sure you enlarge your train before dressing “send.” Damn autocorrect!

Just Say “No” To Telemarketers

Many of us still have a traditional land line telephone in our homes.  I don’t know about you, but every time I pay the monthly bill, I ask myself why I am keeping this service.  More and more of our friends and relatives use our mobile numbers or send a text or even email.   There is no doubt in my mind that 75% or more of the calls that come in on the land line are unwanted solicitations for money, votes or windows.

Dinner time at our house is often punctuated with several calls from telemarketers.  Yes, I have placed our names on the “do not call” list, but that seems to have had little impact on the volume of calls.  In recent months the telemarketers have branched out to the cellular networks.

Perhaps there is hope for a peace in our castles.  Last week federal regulators made it more difficult for telemarketers to interrupt our family dinners or jam our mobile phone with unwanted calls or text messages. The FCC in a 3-2 vote passed new rules that will give consumers more ways to opt out or even block unwanted messages and prerecorded, automated robocalls.

These new rules enable consumers to put a stop to unwanted messages simply by telling companies not to call again. They also allow phone companies to offer blocking of robocalls. It is too early to know if this service will be offered by Cincinnati Bell.

Twenty-four years ago Congress passed the Telephone Protection Act, which was supposed to protect us from these unwanted telephone calls. Nevertheless thousands of consumers still complain they are receive unwanted and annoying messages.  The fact is that while we have been able to sign up for a "Do Not Call List" for more than a decade, the calls continue.

So the next time you get an unwanted telemarketing call tell the caller that you do not want to be called again.  According to the new rules, this notification is all you need to do.  Time will tell if these new rules are more effective than the previous ones.  I am hopeful but cautious.

The Sky Didn’t Fall

The internet is back in the news with last week’s Federal Court’s decision not to delay the implementation of the FCC's Net Neutrality rules, which became effective last Friday.  The court was considering the effects of the rule, predicted to be dire by the big cable and telephone companies. Those companies were bridling at the FCC’s decision to regulate internet providers under some of the same regulations currently imposed on telephone companies.

Simply put, Net Neutrality means that internet service providers, or I.S.P.s, can’t give one website an advantage over another, or allow companies to pay extra to have their data placed on a “faster lane” ahead of competitors.

For many internet providers the imposition of regulation on their business is portrayed as nothing short of a disaster.  They maintain that any regulation will stifle competition and innovation.  The proverbial “Digital Clouds” will come crashing to earth.

The arguments seem to dismiss the fact that regulation and innovation seem to coexist in the mobile phone business.  The cell services, options and prices have not been hampered by regulation.  Competition continues among several companies offering different plans, subscription fees and options vying for your business.  Few would contend that the services offered are not getting better all the time.  “Can you hear me now?” is becoming an anachronism.

ISPs may not want you to know that during the previous non-regulated period, the internet speeds that most of us have available at home or at the office are laughable compared to those available in other parts of the world.  Apart from some U.S. communities like Chattanooga, Tennessee; Kansas City; and Ephrata, a tiny burg in Washington State; our internet speeds lag way behind the rest of the world. 

Access to the internet is no longer a luxury.  In many cases open access is more important than having a land line telephone.  Shopping, banking, communicating or just making a living would not be possible in today’s world without the internet.  Because it is so important, it seems to me that some regulation and oversight is a good idea.  Such regulation exists for companies providing electricity and water.  Imagine our interstate highway system without free and open access for all.

The internet service providers are mostly for-profit businesses and I don’t worry that they will cease all innovation and stop improving their networks because of the Net Neutrality rules.  They want to keep us as paying customers and will find ways do so.

Some Tips For Keeping Your Personal Info Secure.

Seems like every day we hear of another security breach opening up millions of bits of private data to miscreants foreign and domestic.  The most recent hack to U.S. federal personnel files is reported to have originated in China, and compromised the social security numbers and employment history of some four million former and current federal workers.  Home Depot, Target, The Gap and several other companies have experienced recent hacks.

The proverbial horse has left the barn.  Today every facet of our lives involves having personal information online.  Some information is stored on our personal computer in our home and some is stored in servers around the globe.  You really can’t opt out.   If you shop, file your taxes, receive social security benefits or just have a bank account, information about you is stored online. The current push to digitize your medical records provides very personal information to both care givers (that’s good) and someone looking to make a quick buck (that’s bad.)

So what are we to do?  Frankly there is little you can do to protect your personal information once it leaves your possession.  We need to strengthen systems used by government and commerce to better safeguard our collective data.  Encouraging our elected officials and leaders to make this a top priority is a good start. The sad truth is that once the data is out of our control it is susceptible to being hacked.  But there are things you can do to keep your personal information stored in your home computer safer.  Here are a few suggestions:

Don’t give out personal information on the phone.  Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and names and birth dates of family members should never be shared on the phone or on line.   If a bank calls and asks for this information it is a scam.  They already have the information they need.  Same for passwords.  Never give your password to anyone. The bank doesn’t need it and the scammer does.

Use credit cards only with a trusted vendor on line or via the telephone.  If you do a lot of online shopping setting up a PayPal account is a good idea.

Don’t use the same password for all your online activity.  If it is compromised all of your accounts from Facebook to your IRA might be open to the world.

Don’t use a default password that came with your account or device.  They are widely known and easy to guess.  A recent study showed that many people never change the password from the one first issued.

Make the password hard to guess.  Your kid’s first name, your birthday or street address area not very hard for someone up to no good to figure out. A password should not be a “word.” but rather a series of letters, numbers and symbols that are random.

Make a habit of looking at your online accounts and regular paper bills.  It is amazing how many people don’t go over line by line their credit card statement or monthly bank statement.  There can be fraudulent items lurking in your phone bill.  The scammers count on the fact that you will not notice small debits on your credit card or mobile phone statement.

At least for now we are not going to stop identity theft completely.  Perhaps with better security systems using voice recognition or finger print sensors, we will be able to better protect our digital lives.  For now just use good common sense and don’t stress over what you can’t change.

Google Photos Worth a Look

Recently I was giving a workshop to a group of middle school science students.  We were discussing magnetism and radio waves.  When we got around to how radio and smartphones are related I asked how many in the group had a smartphone.  Immediately most hands shot up.  I then asked about the most important task for which they used the smartphone.  I was not ready for the answer.  I thought it might be texting or listening to music; everyone knows these kids don’t make phone calls.  Taking pictures was top on the list of smartphone tasks.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised as more people are taking more pictures than ever before. With quality and ease built into even the most basic mobile device, snapping that cute kid next door or that menacing cloud formation on the horizon is (pardon the pun) a snap.  I am sure that we have all watched while a friend scrolls though hundreds or even thousands of shots stored on his iPhone looking for that cat dressed up like a dog.

For most of us these pictures get stored on our phone or iPad and perhaps in some cloud only to be forgotten either by the sheer volume or the lack of organization.  That is where the new Google Photos App hopes to establish a new market.  This mostly free service is platform agnostic running on Android, Apple IOS and even your Widows computer.   Like many services, it provides free cloud based storage for all your photos.

Once your photos are stored in the cloud you can take advantage of two cool features that set Google Photos apart for most others. The first is a neat search tool. Without having to manually tag people or locations in your photos, you can search your collection for “skyline” or “cars” or “Ohio” or “river.” You can search for “specific color” and the app will bring up all photos with that dominant color.  Search can group photos using face recognition even if the photos are of that person at various ages.

The other innovative feature, the “Assistant” tab, compiles animated GIFs and collages automatically from photos it senses are related—either from a trip, a group of people, or a string of images captured in a row.

For those who have used other Google photo apps you will find the editing and sharing tools with some new upgrades.  Google Photos is not perfect but it is easy to use, mostly free and might put some organization into that digital shoebox posing as a smartphone in your pocket or purse.  More information at http://www.google.com/photos/about/

Amateur Radio Not Dead Yet

I spent most of the last four days in Dayton, Ohio, helping staff a booth at the Hamvention 2015.  This annual event attracts some 10,000 amateur radio operators, or “hams,” as they are called, from around the world.  Held at the Hara Arena, the convention took up almost every square inch of the indoor space and most of the adjacent parking lot.  My participation was part of a STEM outreach initiative being piloted by the National Voice of America Museum.

While as a kid I was interested in amateur radio and I have done my share of listening to broadcasts from around the world on my short wave radio, I never did take the test to become a Ham.  In fact in recent years I questioned why anyone would be interested in the hobby which enables you to talk to people around the block or around the world.  After all I have a perfectly good iPhone which enables me to do just that without the hassle of all that geeky ham gear.

Two things helped to change my mind during my time at Hamvention. First was the educational aspect of ham radio. As we strive to get kids interested in science and engineering study we first have to get them excited.  What better way than to begin with radio.  For a few bucks a kid can build a radio and begin to understand the fascinating technology behind it.  In our presentation to middle school kids we end our demonstration about electricity, magnetism and radio with two simple questions.  We ask if any of them has a mobile phone.  Even in the early grades many have one and all the kids certainly know about them.  The second question is, how many radios are built into that mobile phone. 

The answers vary widely but very few have any idea that the technology that allows them to text their friend, send a picture to their favorite aunt or find their way home with a gps, is using much the same technology found in the lowly radio on the kitchen counter.  In reality most smart phones have between 7 and 12 different radios built in. (the subject of a column to come)

The second realization that changed my mind is related to the mobile phone.  Our current mobile technology is wonderful when it works.  The fact is that for it to work requires countless devices and circuits.  Even a simple phone call across town will route your conversation in such a way that it will pass hundreds of points of potential failure.  Most of the time all works flawlessly, but in the time of storms or other disasters we have already seen that it can fail.  The simple point to point amateur radio communication is something we just might want to keep around.  The time is certain to come when we will need it.

Energy Vampires

Energy Vampires

I recently read an article about how most homes and businesses waste electricity every day.  The reporter was referring to the plethora of gadgets and devices that have become necessities in our digital age.  The article did a good job of identifying many devices that are energy vampires, but was short on advice to curtail this wasteful situation.  I had to chuckle as one of the few suggestions was to unplug your alarm clock.  I hardly consider using an electric clock an indication of being a spendthrift or energy waster.   There are several things you can do in order to cut down on hidden energy use and still be on time for work each day.

Take a cursory look around your house.  I bet you can find a dozen or more small power supplies plugged into outlets.  The cell phone or iPod charger, the telephone answering machine, the wireless telephone hand set, the electric screw drive charger and stove timer, all consume small amounts of electricity.  When you add them up and figure that most other houses on your street, in your town and in your state all have many of the same appliances, the amount of electricity being used is significant.

It is not practical to turn off some of these devices since doing so may cause memory loss and the need to re-program them.  For those of you without teenagers this can take hours.   In other cases, just unplugging chargers when not in use is a good start.

You can plug all the chargers into a power strip and when not using them you can turn the strip off.   If you are a bit forgetful, the power strip can be connected to a timer.  However, even the timer will use power but not as much as several chargers.

Here are a few other tips:

-         If you are going away for three or more days, turn off your hot water heater.

-         Put motion sensors on lights in hallways, garages etc.

-         Use only the amount of light you need for the task at hand.

-         Open those windows and use a fan instead of A/C.

-         And of course the obvious, use CFLs or LED lamps wherever possible.

The bottom line is that energy conservation is a cumulative thing.  If everyone does a few things, the impact can be significant.

Not your standard AA Battery

Say what you want about the almost clairvoyant faculties of Steve Jobs, I think that in many ways Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, is every bit of Jobs’ equal and he seems to come without all the baggage of the late Apple icon.    Musk is a Canadian American entrepenuer, engineer and inventor.  He is the current CEO and CTO of SpaceX.  CEO of Tesla Motors, and Chairman of SolarCity.  He is founder of Solar City and cofounder of PayPal.  Not a bad resume for a 43 year old.

Last week, Musk announced a new product from Tesla.  Building on the research and design work done for the all-electric car, Tesla has announced a battery that, when coupled with another energy source like wind or solar, can enable the average US household to someday go off the grid.

Dubbed the “Powerwall”, the battery has a depth of only about 7 inches and can be mounted on a garage wall or another surface, indoors or outside. It's roughly 4 feet high and 3 feet wide.  The Powerwall's price ranges from $3,000 for a 7 kilowatt-hour model and $3,500 for the 10 kWh version.  Even with a hefty installation cost, these prices are still far lower than the $20,000 estimate that some analysts had predicted.

For sure this is only the first of many products that will come to market as the industry tries to find ways to more efficiently generate and distribute electricity.  Today’s electricity grid is a complex marvel but is ageing.  Also, transmitting electricity over long distances is costly and inefficient.  As much as 15% of the energy is lost from the time it is generated until the time it gets to your home.  Placing the energy source close to the end user has always been the Holy Grail for large consumers of power. 

This won’t be the last we hear from Mr. Musk who has pioneered products and services thinking out of the box.  For example, in the development of the Tesla automobile he was granted several patents relating to batteries.  He announced last year that he would freely share the technology with any other competing firm in an effort to jump start the battery industry.

Batteries are not the only possible in-house energy source.  Some scientist and engineers are working on fuel cell technology.  A fuel cell about the size of a refrigerator and operating on hydrogen could someday power your entire house.  I bet Musk is already looking into it.