Notes From The Electronic Cottage

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Here’s another edition from the Electronic Cottage archives that might be worth another listen, this one from September of 2019.

What do you think might be a good way to address the problem of mass shootings in this country? Some folks might say making it more difficult to get automatic weapons. Others might say it isn’t guns that are the problem, it’s the people firing them – they must have mental health problems. Folks who think along those lines have proposed a new federal agency to be names HARPA which would use all sorts of monitoring technology to supposedly identify people with mental illness who might have a tendency to violence so they can be stopped before the next mass murder. Makes perfect sense to some people, including some in Washington. But, as you might imagine, there are a few problems…

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

It’s time for some summer reruns. This one is, unfortunately, even more relevant today with a big election coming up than it was when it was first broadcast. Deep Fakes, anyone?

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a lot going on in the digital world that doesn’t always make it through the headlines about the very real-life drama we are all living through. Here are two very vital topics that we all should be aware of because they are making a big difference today and potentially a bigger difference tomorrow. Give a listen.

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

We’re all trying to adapt to living safely with Covid-19, and that includes all sorts of industries. One way to see how different businesses and industries are adapting is to take a look at publications aimed at folks in those business sectors. Today let’s look at some articles from some of those specialty publications to see how technology is affecting them, and through them, all of us.

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Two different but very important topics today: one, recommendations on suspending the use of facial recognition software from the largest association of computing professionals in the world, and a reminder that there is a very important question on the ballot in Maine’s upcoming election about the expansion of hi-speed Internet access in the state.

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Had your fill of Covid-19 news, at least for the moment? How about if today we look at a few things in the digital world that may not have made the headlines recently but are still pretty interesting – from new exoskeletons help workers lifting heavy loads to hacking new refrigerators so that a 13 buck water filter can be used instead of the manufacturer’s 50 buck variety. Give a listen.

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

On a recent edition of the Electronic Cottage, we mentioned that those who wished to exercise their rights to petition the government for redress of grievances might be wise to consider dressing pretty blandly if they value anonymity. This recent story from a protest in Philadelphia offers a very good illustration of why that might be a wise fashion choice.

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Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Covid-19 and George Floyd protests are, of course, taking up most of the headlines these days, and rightly so, but there are other things going on in the digital world as well. Here are a few, including a couple of “are you kidding!?!” items.

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