Category: Notes From The Electronic Cottage

A weekly feature on electronic technology as it affects everyday life with Jim Campbell. Broadcast on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, ME every Thursday at 7:30 AM.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 3/3/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

There is a lot going on centered around encryption these days, and a lot of it misses the real point. While court cases involving the FBI trying to force Apple to essentially write a custom operating system so the government can get into an encrypted iPhone have gotten most of the press coverage, several reports were released in Feb 2016 by people who really understand encryption, both here and in Europe, that didn’t get nearly as much coverage in the press. In this episode, let’s hear what people who actually know what they are talking about have to say about encryption.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 2/25/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Are you celebrating Fair Use week? Didn’t know it is Fair Use week? Aren’t sure what Fair Use even is? Listen up – it’s important to know about for anyone who creates or uses creative materials – in other words, all of us.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 2/18/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

There has been lots in the news about how encryption technology is making it possible for criminals to “go dark” and make law enforcement and intelligence gathering difficult if not impossible. The remedy suggested is to make decrypting messages at the command of government into law. Is that a good idea? A spate of reports issued in February of 2016 don’t think so.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 2/4/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

LAWS – Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, or, as they are more commonly known, killer robots – are technically closer than we may think. But what about legally or morally? Will killer robots be the third great revolution in warfare after gunpowder and nuclear weapons? 20,000 scientists, including 3000 artificial intelligence researchers, think that answer should be “no.” Here’s why.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/28/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

There have been two main streams in the development of artificial intelligence which John Markoff, in his book “Machines of Loving Grace” describes as AI – Artificial Intelligence, and IA – Intelligence Augmentation. The two are very different approaches and have very different implications for the future of humanity. Here’s why.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/21/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Most folks know that technology is having big impacts on our everyday life. But that impact often seems to focus on new apps for smart phones or amazing new medical gizmos. But technology is having a huge impact on which jobs survive and which jobs don’t, and how many jobs disappear and how many jobs are replaced. And we aren’t talking about 20 years from now, or even 10. Technology will be a major driver of the net loss of over 5 million jobs in the next 5 years, and not just any technology: artificial intelligence and robotics will contribute to much of that change. What is that going to mean for how we humans live and support ourselves economically? Let’s start to think about that question.

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/14/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

There were lots of whizbang electronic do-dads at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, from smart cars to smart burglar alarms. One thing that wasn’t there was assurance that these devices and anything having to do with the Web are really secure. There’s a reason for that. Here’s one way of looking at it.