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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 18 - 23 DECEMBER, 2023
Hello and Welcome,
Welcoming Members to January 2024
Happy 2024
Our Committee hopes you are all still enjoying the festive activities, so we have decided not to hold any meetings during January. This will give members more time with family and friends and recharge their batteries, ready for another busy year.
We will be holding our club's Annual General Meeting very soon; however, it is prompting an urgent call for Committee nominations. Please consider.
—John Lucke
Meetings This Week
NO MEETINGS
Meetings Next Week
NO MEETINGS
Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
First Saturday 13:00-14:00 — Penrith Group
Second Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Programming
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm.
The following meetings are in January, March and May 2024.
ASCCA News:Tech News:
Seven Million Affected By DNA Website Breach
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on December 8, 2023, at 12:12 pm EST.
DNA and ancestry site 23andMe has admitted that a data breach affected nearly seven million customers. The violation and the way the site organizes its data contributed to what could be a legal disaster for the company.
23andMe is named after the number of DNA segments people share with each parent. The service involves a customer submitting a DNA sample to be used either to check for genetic health conditions or to get information about ancestry such as ethnic origin or both. Customers can also agree to be put in touch with other customers when a DNA match suggests a possible family relationship.
The company recently admitted that a data breach meant "threat actors" accessed the personal data of about 0.1 per cent of customers, which would be around 14,000 people. It also said other files were affected but only revealed the scope as "a significant number." (Source: theguardian.com)
Data Limits Breached
It's now admitted that the number affected is 6.9 million. That comprises 5.5 million who agreed to share some data with potential relatives. This includes name, year of birth, location (self-reported), and the percentage of DNA shared with relatives. A further 1.4 million users had information from their "Family Tree" profile revealed. (Source: techcrunch.com)
In other words, the hackers accessed the data of the 14,000 people whose records they found and information shared by other users. Of course, these users agreed to the sharing believing it would only be revealed to potential matches and otherwise kept unavailable.
It's important to note that only the 14,000 breached records contain complete genetic data. The 6.9 million records accessed via the link "merely" contain personal information.
Data For Sale
Some user records have already been published online by the hackers to prove their claim to hold the stolen data. They have offered to sell the data, though they could ask for a ransom to keep it confidential. 23andMe hasn't spoken publicly about any such demands or negotiations.
The breach will likely provoke legal problems and debate about the wisdom of such services. Aside from any legal action customers bring, 23andMe could face regulatory action under multiple privacy laws. These often include enhanced penalties for breaches involving sensitive personal data.
At the same time, more cynical analysts are already suggesting this proves customers were exceptionally unwise to provide genetic material to a private company.
What's Your Opinion?
What consequence should 23andMe face? Do you have sympathy with the affected customers? Does private companies' use of DNA information need tighter regulation or is it a case of buyer beware?
Comments
DNA — Submitted by nospam_5346 on Fri, 12/08/2023 — 15:19.
Though I have to admit I have, at times, been curious, my natural distrust of such things has always won out.
A data breach is just one of the things that keeps me away.
Another is the access law enforcement has, and another is possible future access and use by insurance companies using it to deny coverage.
Their liability rests solely on the user consent form the customers signed. People should know by now that anything stored online is hackable.
Six Things You Can Do With Windows Copilot
See the How-To Geek article by OLUWADEMILADE AFOLABI | PUBLISHED Dec 8, 2023.
See what Microsoft's AI assistant for Windows is capable of.
Windows Copilot is Microsoft's AI-powered assistant that comes integrated into Windows 11, with plans to feature it in Windows 10 at the time of writing. Like a copilot in the cockpit, Windows Copilot can help you with various tasks as you use your computer. Here's what it can do.
TIP: Haven't used Windows Copilot yet? You can summon it by clicking the dedicated Copilot icon on the taskbar or using the Windows+C shortcut key. When launched, Copilot appears as a handy sidebar on the right side of your screen. If it doesn't appear for you, read our guide on how to get Windows Copilot up and running on your computer.
1. Generate Text Content
Generating content with Windows Copilot is straightforward. You only need to describe what you want it to write about in the text box and hit "Enter" on your keyboard. It has three conversation style options you can toggle between: More Precise, More Balanced, and More Creative. More Precise provides short, focused answers. More Creative uses more descriptive language for lengthier responses. More Balanced strikes a middle ground between the two.
The key is giving Copilot clear instructions upfront so the AI chatbot understands the context. The more details, the better. You can ask it to generate text for different purposes–formal letters, poems, birthday or anniversary messages, you name it. Just modify the generated content to suit your needs perfectly.
As someone who deals with a daily truckload of emails, I especially like using this AI assistant to draft emails and memos. I just tell Copilot who I'm writing to and what info needs to be covered, and it proposes thoughtful paragraphs (which I modify), saving me tons of time. Here's a snippet of a memo it generated for me on request:
2. Get Answers from the Web
Let's say you need to look up something that needs browsing on the internet, and you want it fast, without needing to read through several search results; Windows Copilot can instantly pull up relevant information from multiple authoritative websites.
I asked Copilot, "Who is the current CEO of Amazon?" and in five breaths, it gave me key information about Andy Jassy and his background. If you aren't in the mood to type, you can click the microphone icon (right beside the Copilot's text box) to ask your questions through voice commands.
NOTE: When you click the underlined sentences in the generated text, it links you to the web source(s) from which Windows Copilot pulled information.
Windows Copilot also shines when you need additional details on the same topic. The initial answer on Amazon's CEO sparked some curiosity, making me ask a follow-up question — "What companies did he work for before becoming Amazon's CEO?" Copilot again dug into the web and fetched a relevant response!
If you want to change the subject, use the "New Topic" button to start a fresh conversation.
Beyond browsing the internet, suppose you have a webpage you want to digest or get core information from quickly without digging through the text; launch Copilot and type "Summarize this webpage [insert webpage's link]." In this case, I asked it to "summarize this webpage: https://www.howtogeek.com/anker-soundcore-motion-x600-review/".
After some moments, Copilot pulled out the main points of the review into a concise summarization.
TIP: You can customize a summary by specifying the number of sentences or asking for specific formats like bulleted lists.
3. Create Images Using DALL·E 3
Windows Copilot (using Microsoft Bing Image Creator) leverages OpenAI's DALL·E 3 to turn text prompts into vivid visual creations. You can craft prompts to produce original icons, logos, scene illustrations, concept art, and more. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
When inspiration strikes, open Copilot and type a descriptive prompt detailing the image concept you want to generate. Be as specific as possible in describing the subject, style, setting, and other qualities of the image you want generated. For example, my prompt, "generate an oil painting portrait of a tabby cat wearing steampunk goggles and a top hat, set against a background of flying books," tells DALL·E 3 exactly what I'm looking for.
In response, Copilot churned out four images that matched my prompt. I found the results to be surprisingly realistic and creative, with near-perfect adherence to even obscure context provided. You can click any of the generated images to view a larger preview and further refine the image from there. If you see an element you like in one image, describe that to Copilot in another prompt to generate variations focused on that element.
I changed my mind and decided to have the tabby cat against a magical forest background rather than flying books. I simply typed, "Set the background to a lush, magical forest with glowing mushrooms and fairies," and Copilot generated four fresh variations in response to my new specifications.
I clicked on my preferred generated image and was presented with four options. I could click the "Share" button to copy the link to that image. Or I could click "Save" to add it to my Bing Image Collection for later use. I also had the option to "Download" the image directly to my computer or use Microsoft Designer to "Customize" it further.
...
6. Get Coding Assistance
Windows Copilot can be quite helpful if you have a knack for coding. You can describe in plain language what you want your code to do, and Copilot will suggest code snippets that could achieve your goal.
For example, I asked it to "write a code function to convert date format Javascript."
It generated functioning code to do so, which I confirmed by testing it in Visual Studio Code.
However, you should review the generated code, as Copilot may not always produce working or efficient code.
Take Windows Copilot for a Test Drive
Copilot on Windows 11 (and possibly Windows 10) is nothing short of a productivity-enhancing digital assistant. The examples I've outlined illustrate some of its capabilities.
It may not always get things right, but for the most part, it works well. Try prompts beyond what I explored on Windows Copilot and see where it might take you.
Fun Facts:
CSIRO spinout Quasar launches multibeam satellite ground station
See the iTWire article by Kenn Anthony Mendoza | Friday, 08 December 2023 at 09:53 am.
Quasar
Australian startup Quasar has launched its world-first Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities, a fully digital multibeam satellite ground station.
To be unveiled at the SDA's Inaugural Spacepower Conference, Quasar's fully software-defined phased array antennas provide ground stations with many steerable electronic beams to characterise and access data from satellites in low, medium, and geostationary orbit (LEO, MEO and GEO).
It will be used for government space programs, geopolitical risk assessment, national security, intelligence initiatives, and anomaly detection.
Quasar says its technology is unique because it has no moving parts and supports multiple space missions simultaneously on the same antenna, including all-sky SDA and radio spectrum monitoring capabilities.
One Quasar ground station replaces hectares of traditional parabolical dishes, which are mechanically steered and use technology that is decades old in design.
"There are about 8,200 satellites currently in orbit; McKinsey forecasts there could be more than 65,000 by 2030. However, industry figures suggest this number may even reach 100,000. Existing technologies can't meet the scope of this new demand; parabolic dishes can only focus on one satellite at a time, require abundant physical space, and are expensive to operate and maintain," said Quasar CEO Phil Ridley.
A software platform with 24x7 dedicated communications ground station as a service (GSaaS) capability complements Quasar digital antenna technologies.
Quasar guarantees communications missions of all sizes — from all single satellites to prominent constellations — with the capacity offered by the system.
"Through rigorous testing, we have demonstrated our phased array can track multiple satellites in the sky, across multiple orbits, simultaneously. That means government, defence and intelligence agencies can 'hear the whole sky' for active satellite transmissions and provide real-time, actionable radio-frequency information to characterise transmitting objects instantly. There is no other technology today that has this ability," said Ridley.
"There is an increasing push for SDA from civil, commercial and government defence and intelligence agencies, so we expect to work closely with those parties shortly," said Ridley.
"The ability to understand all transmitting objects and their associated signal characterisation data is crucial in the space game — military and intelligence teams are yearning to understand what has happened, what is happening and what might happen in the future. That includes whether satellites have moved or had their transmissions changed, where those transmissions originate, instances of deliberate disruptive activity or interference, electronic warfare, and more."
Quasar's technology will be available to Five Eyes and Quad nations and their allies.
The company's primary target market is the US, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, South Korea, Japan, and New Zealand. Quasar has already received a purchase request, with demonstrations scheduled for additional government and commercial entities.
"This represents a remarkable opportunity for Australia that benefits not only government agencies and businesses but also every citizen. Satellites are crucial for many aspects of modern life, including monitoring and assessing the impact of natural disasters, better understanding our environment, bolstering agriculture and farming, and much more. The data unlocked by seeing satellites in orbit drives opportunities in all of these instances. As an Australian product, there are also immense export perks to boost the economy as international demand soars while bolstering our nation's space credentials," Ridley concluded.
Quasar launched in 2021 with $8.7 million seed funding from Main Sequence, CSIRO and four industry partners.
The company also received $1.9 million from the NSW Physical Sciences Fund and a $5.3 million Defence Innovation Hub contract to develop its Generation 2 systems.
Quasar was born in partnership with CSIRO. It combines material science, radio frequency (RF) physics, cryogenics, and digital platform development.
In addition to its SDA technology, Quasar continues testing its world-first satellite communications capabilities, which are scheduled for launch in 2024.
The environmental impacts of artificial turf are worth considering before rolling it out in your backyard
See the MSN article by Penny Travers, ABC NEWS | 05/07/2023 at 6:35:32 am.
Artificial turf may be green all year round
and require little maintenance,
but that's where the upsides end.
(ABC News: Penny Travers)
© Provided by ABC News (AU)
With your lawn turning brown from the winter frost and an El Niño weather event on the horizon, you may consider artificial turf to keep your lawn or front verge looking green.
It's an increasingly popular choice, particularly in newer suburbs with smaller block sizes.
Synthetic grass offers an even, green surface that requires little maintenance but comes with a hefty environmental price tag.
Here are some of the environmental impacts of artificial turf worth considering before you roll it out in your backyard.
Burning hot in summer
In summer, fake turf gets hot. Very hot. It is so hot that Sebastian Pfautsch, an associate professor in urban management and planning at Western Sydney University, warns the surface can give babies and young children "second or third-degree burns".
Associate Professor Pfautsch was one of more than 30 experts who contributed to an independent review of the impacts of synthetic turf in public open spaces by the New South Wales chief scientist and engineer.
"This material, on a sunny day, with, let's say 30 degrees Celsius in the sun unshaded, will be about 80 to 90 degrees hot," he said.
"Compare that to natural turf, which will be just slightly above the temperature, meaning slightly above 30 degrees.
"At 80 to 90 degrees, it becomes a touch burn hazard."
Not only can it be burning hot to the touch, but fake turf also radiates heat, making you and your home hotter.
"You get radiant heat, so your thermal comfort is impacted negatively, and then you also have, from the combination of the sensible heat flux and the warmer air temperatures, warmer air around your home," Associate Professor Pfautsch said.
"That means your whole house is warmer, your walls are warmer, your windows are warmer, everything is warmer, the air intake for your air conditioning system is warmer — you need more energy to cool that down.
"You have a house that warms quicker, which, again, you need more air conditioning to cool it down."
The heat impact goes beyond just having a warmer microclimate around your home.
"You may think it's only me having a bit of synthetic turf, but it's now 20 other neighbours, and then, of course, when you add this, it has a collective impact on your suburb microclimate where it gets warmer," Associate Professor Pfautsch said.
"Collectively, the whole suburb will be warmer, which impacts night-time temperatures, but also on the environment where certain critters just need certain temperatures and certain plants need certain evolutions of day-night temperatures.
"You're taking all that away by changing so much of the surface area into these materials.
"It's not just your little patch. It's what happens elsewhere as well."
...
Unsustainable life cycle
Microplastics in waterways
Lack of biodiversity
...
Lawn alternatives
The good news is some natural alternatives to artificial turf don't necessarily require the time and effort of a well-manicured traditional lawn and still look pleasant during dry times.
"Native Australian grasses make wonderful turfs. You can even let that flower before you mow it, which comes with biodiversity benefits," Associate Professor Pfautsch said.
"There will be insects that will be attracted to that, that also when you look at food chains, attract birds, attract this and attract that."
Professor Howden suggests planting ground covers and shrubs, or growing a cottage garden for those who don't want to maintain a natural lawn.
"Increasingly, there are some great options. Walk around your suburbs and see where people have made those choices and how attractive they can be," he said.
And if native grass and shrubs don't work for your backyard, you could always lay down some bark or wood chip.
"You can just have bark chips like mulch over your earth, and that doesn't heat up as much as artificial turf and does keep the ground healthy," Assistant Professor Ting said.
Meeting Location & Disclaimer
Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
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