Notes from the Electronic Cottage 2/7/19

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Facial Recognition Update 2019

“Imagine a government tracking everywhere you walked over the past month without your permission or knowledge. Imagine a database of everyone who attended a political rally that constitutes the very essence of free speech…” Words of some tin-hat wearing technophobe? Nope, the words of Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, talking about the potential of uncontrolled use of facial recognition technology, a technology whose uses he and many others feel requires government oversight. Here’s why.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/24/19

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Location, location, location

in real estate the most valuable thing is said to be “location, location, location.” digital service providers would agree which is why so many try to wring location data about us from everything we do online. so who is collecting data on where we are all the time and why should it matter to us? Hear are some very good reasons.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/17/19

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Bits & Bytes

One of the things that the Electronic Cottage hopes to do is to offer listeners a bit more information about the digital world we all inhabit these days. Every now and then, we figure it’s a good idea to go back to basics for a few minutes – back to really basis basics, so here, once again, is a discussion of what a “bit” is and what a “byte” is. They are, after all, the basic basis for every computer, smart watch, digital assistant, or any other electronic device that we use.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 12/27/18

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Digital Tune-up

Well, the New Year is right around the corner, and that offers the perfect opportunity for a Digital Tune-up for all of our digital devices. Huh? Yup, There are ways to make our computers, smart phones, smart speakers, and the increasingly web connected devices in our homes work better and safer and better reflect our values and desires instead of those of the companies that sold us the devices and apps we use every day. Let’s start.