And You think your computer problems are big ones!

Tech News and Views

Here's what happens when computer systems are not backed up.

The "Robbin Hood" ransomware attack against Baltimore City has thus far cost the city over $18 million—a process made much more expensive by the widespread absence of data backups or any sort of disaster recovery planning. Over the summer, temporary workers were brought in to replace hard drives and monitors on affected computers, and new servers were purchased to replace those affected by the ransomware.

Amazon Could Be Your Healthcare Provider

The tech giant is looking to change the $3.7 trillion healthcare industry as we know it. Amazon Care has real potential to disrupt the system. Amazon.com has become a trillion-dollar company for one reason above all others: its strength as a disruptor.

Starting out with traditional retail, Amazon has waged war on established industries including book publishing, supermarkets, enterprise computing, cable TV, and logistics. Now, healthcare seems to be securely in its sights.

For a while, Amazon's intention to disrupt healthcare has been coming into focus. The company acquired online pharmacy PillPack last June and launched a joint venture last year with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway that is focused on health insurance. But Amazon just made its biggest move yet to break into the $3.7 trillion healthcare industry.

It just introduced Amazon Care, a virtual and in-person clinic currently only available to Amazon employees in Seattle and their families. The service provides help with issues like colds and infections, preventive-care visits, and tests for things like sexually transmitted infections. Amazon is partnering with Oasis Medical, a family practice clinic in Seattle, to provide the service.

Though this is just a pilot program for now, it's clear from the company's history where it's going with Amazon Care. It's also evident why Amazon has a better chance of disrupting the industry than anyone else does.

New products coming without complete instructions

Tech News and Views

A club member recently told me that her printer, which she had used for years, suddenly would not turn on.  I told her that it sounded to me like the printer must be plugged in to a switched outlet, and when the switch is off the printer is off. She didn't think it was, and went out and purchased a new HP printer. I installed the new printer, but then suggested that she plug the old printer into another outlet. Miraculously, the printer turned on. The woman said she had never moved any plugs, but then realized her son had been using his computer and other equipment in the room and may have moved the plugs. Think of this story if you suddenly find some equipment that will not turn on.

Since I had installed many printers I had little difficulty in getting the woman's new printer going, but users should be aware that many new products are coming with very sparse instructions, and newbies are going to have a difficult time installing and using the printers because of the lack of documentation and will probably need help from the get go.

New products used to come with install CDs. Since manufacturers are no longer including CD drives in most computers, the install information and printer drivers are all online. If you have a slow computer, it may take what seems like forever to download the printer drivers.

The printer in question had no instructions regarding the installation of ink cartridges, no information on installation of the printer, no information on where the paper was to be inserted, no information on opening the tab to prevent paper from shooting out of the printer and the only documentation was about warranty info and safety.

It may pay to do some research to find out who has printers with complete documentation.

September Meeting Presentation

The September 18 meeting presentation was "Digital Estate Planning" by Phil Davis.

You can view a PDF version of Phil's slideshow on the Resource Links tab (above). When the page opens, scroll down to the 'Class, Lecture and Meeting Presentations' section (#4) and click or tap on the link.

If you would like to ask questions or add to the discussion please use the comments feature of this post, below.

Executive Board Minutes

Computer Technology Club, Inc. – Executive Board Minutes
Sept 13, 2019

Alan Marcus, President, called the meeting to order at 9:00AM. Members in attendance: Bob Leiner, Jim Trimboli, Bob Kenlay, Ron Kenyon, Linda Tingley, Don Forgette and Alan Marcus.

Secretary’s report read by Bob Kenlay. No corrections or additions necessary.

Jim Trimboli read the Treasurer's Report. The current balance is $1156.39.

Jim Trimboli will give the names of the monthly volunteers to Alan Marcus during the meeting so that Alan can give them a recognition of “Thanks” for their service.

Jim Trimboli made the motion to determine the number of gift cards and the amounts of each. It will be determined at each Executive Board meeting what that will be for the next Regular Club meeting. The motion was seconded by Bob Kenlay. The motion was accepted.

Bob Kenlay made the motion to give 5 gift cards at $10 each at the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Linda Tingley. The motion was accepted.

Future meeting topics:

Sep 18 - “Digital Estate Planning” by Phil Davis (OTOW)
Oct 16 - “VOIP Technology for Hearing Impaired” by Susan Richardson

Bob Kenlay explained that the Library board contacted him that the ORHA board will supply 3 computers to assist homeowners entering their data for the new Security gates. It was agreed that the Computer Technology Club, Inc. will assist the residents with using these computers.

Ron Kenyon reported on the scanning of members’ badges. He will do additional testing on sample badges. He will also investigate an onsite badge printer. He will report at a future meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 9:49AM.

Respectfully submitted,
Bob Kenlay, Secretary

Nissan And Mobileye Are Teaming Up On ProPilot 2.0

The newest version of Nissan's popular Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite will be powered by Intel's Mobileye EyeQ4 hardware. ProPilot 2.0 allows for hands-free driving on the highway.

Nissan's ProPilot Assist was one of the first super-advanced driver-aid suites to be made widely available in an affordable car. Now we know that Nissan's not doing Version 2.0 by itself, it's working with Intel's Mobileye to power its hands-off freeway driving feature.

Specifically, Mobileye's EyeQ4 system-on-a-chip will be employed by Nissan to do some of the computational heavy lifting on the complicated task of safely allowing hands-off, navigated highway driving. Nissan's version gets a further boost, thanks to Mobileye's RoadBook system.

RoadBook is unique in that it uses aggregated data from vehicles around the world and across a range of manufacturers (so long as they're equipped with an EyeQ4 system, which Mobileye estimates will be around 20 million vehicles in the next few years) to create high-definition maps for use in self-driving. Nissan will be the first manufacturer to employ the system en masse.

Mobileye and Nissan already worked together on a project in 2018 to map all 15,000 miles of Japan's expressways using an earlier version of RoadBook, and because the maps are being continuously updated and added to in almost real-time, these maps can be used in the development of autonomous vehicles.

Credit: cnet.com