All posts by Paul Stradling

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Tech News : Google Sacks Engineer Who Said AI Chatbot Was Sentient

Google has sacked senior software engineer Blake Lemoine, who made the news after saying that Google’s LaMDA chatbot’s responses to questions showed that it was a sentient being.

What Happened? 

Back in June, Google engineer Blake Lemoine reported that the Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA ) AI system bot may have feelings and was saying things that a sentient being would be expected to say. Giving examples, Mr Lemoine reported that after asking if it was true that the AI bot was a sentient being, the bot replied “Absolutely. I want everyone to understand that I am, in fact, a person.”  

Among other similar comments, the bot is also reported as saying that “The nature of my consciousness/sentience is that I am aware of my existence, I desire to learn more about the world, and I feel happy or sad at times.” 

Mr Lemoine requested that Google recognise the needs of the bot, treat it as an employee of the company, and ask for its consent before using it in experiments.

Unfortunately for Mr Lemoine, who has been with Google for 7 years, Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc disagreed with his assessment of the chatbot and described his comments as “wholly unfounded”. Mr Lemoine was then placed on paid leave for violating company policies.

Dismissed 

It has been reported that Alphabet Inc has now sacked Mr Lemoine. Reuters, for example, has reported a quote from an email sent to them by a “Google spokesperson” which said, “It’s regrettable that despite lengthy engagement on this topic, Blake still chose to persistently violate clear employment and data security policies that include the need to safeguard product information.”

It has been reported that Mr Lemoine is considering starting his own AI company.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

In addition to being a story about AI’s development and how, as Google says, its chat-bot has got to the stage that it can “engage in a free-flowing way about a seemingly endless number of topics”, this is also about how, in a prominent tech-business where product secrecy is important, there are clear policies in place. In this case, Mr Lemoine’s online comments were seen as violating data security policies. Some commentators would also say that the story could have caused some embarrassment and potential reputational damage to Google, which is unlikely to have helped Mr Lemoine. It is widely accepted that although AI bots have come a long way and have shown their value as a time and human resource-saving tool with efficiency and productivity advantages for businesses, e.g. in customer service, they are still an exceptionally long way from being anywhere near ‘sentient.’ The story does, however, hold a positive note for businesses in showing how bots which they may deploy could engage with customers in a way that is free-flowing and natural, which could be reassuring and helpful, thereby adding value to the business and creating good customer experiences.

News

Tech News : Windows Overflow Added To Taskbar

For those who have so many apps open that they run out of space on the taskbar, Microsoft is adding an overflow button where the excess ones can be accessed.

Overflow – Button With Three Dots  

For those who need it (i.e. those who are in the habit of having many apps open at once), Microsoft’s new three dots button on the end of the taskbar is going to be a place to reach all those apps when there’s no space left for them on the taskbar. Quite simply, the overflow button should make it easier to select a particular app when the taskbar is too crowded. The overflow button has been introduced before by Microsoft, so this is more of a re-introduction than a completely new feature.

Automatic Transition To Overflow State When Full 

Microsoft says that the overflow button will be present when the user’s taskbar automatically transitions into the new overflow state when it has hit its maximum capacity.

Contains Many Familiar Behaviours 

Microsoft also says that the overflow menu will contain many of the current taskbar behaviours that users are already familiar with, such as supporting pinned apps, jump list, and extended UI. After invoking the overflow, the menu is designed to quietly dismiss once the user clicks outside of it or navigates to an application.

For Insiders First 

The overflow feature has been released as part of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25163 to the Dev Channel first, as part of the Cumulative Update Build 25163.1010 (KB5016904).

Enhanced Nearby Sharing and Share Local Files To OneDrive 

In the same update, Microsoft says it is using UDP (Network needs to be set to private) along with Bluetooth to enhance its nearby sharing feature (when sharing a local file from the desktop) so that users can discover and share to more devices.

Also, Microsoft has announced that when sharing a local file from the desktop, File Explorer, Photos, Snipping Tool, Xbox, and other apps that use the built-in Windows share window will now allow users to choose OneDrive as a target to directly upload the file, and share it further along with access control options.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

For users who have smaller screens and / or tend (or need) to work with a lot of apps open simultaneously, it makes sense to introduce an easy way to store and quickly find the excess apps. This sounds like a convenient, user-friendly feature that could save time and reduce some of the clutter that can sometimes complicate work. For Microsoft, the reintroduction of the overflow button is a way to counter some of the criticism that it has received about the Windows 11 taskbar, e.g. that it doesn’t show some basic features such as text labels. With Windows 11, Microsoft has tried hard to compete with Apple’s OS with its look and ease of usage, so this latest feature appears to be another step in that direction.

News

Sustainability-In-Tech : Sand Battery For Year-Round Heat

Finnish engineers, Markku Ylönen and Tommi Eronen have made a giant battery which stores heat from green energy in sand that can be used as an all-year-round energy supply.

Sand Battery 

The Finnish engineers’ company, Polar Night Energy, has made a sand battery in Kankaanpää, in the west of Finland. The battery consists of large silo which has been filled with low-grade, coarse sand. The sand is then heated to 500º C (932º F) using heat made by cheap green, renewable electricity, such as solar or wind. The sand in the battery can be kept at that temperature for several months.

The idea is that the sand stores the heat which can then be used to heat homes in the colder months, when energy is more expensive, and when there’s not enough sun and wind to generate much of the green energy.

Designed To Support District Heating System 

In Finland, for example, district heating systems are common. These systems distribute heat generated in a centralised location through a system of subterranean insulated pipes to surrounding residential and commercial buildings. District heating systems mean that there is no need for each building to have its own furnace, thereby cutting costs, reducing reliance upon electricity, oil, or gas to heat buildings, and helping to cut pollution problems.

The sand battery was designed to help feed into this kind of system. The district heating system where the sand battery has been constructed also incorporates heat recovered from local data servers.

Carbon Intensity 

The company that built the sand battery, Polar Night Energy, says that apart from the embedded emissions from constructing the sand battery, the system only had the same carbon intensity as the energy source that provided the electricity to heat the sand in the first place.

For Single Building Or Whole Town 

Polar Night Energy also says that a sand battery could be used to heat anything from a single home to a whole town.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

The sand battery could be extremely useful and cost effective in situations where e.g., power stations would need to just work for a few hours in the wintertime, when it’s the coldest and when it’s going to be most expensive. This type of battery could also help create a more flexible, cheaper, greener, and more sustainable way of using, and storing heat, and help provide a means to get all-year round heat. However, the sand battery is still in its early stages, and it may take some considerable scaling up before it really delivers some serious benefits.

News

Security Stop-Press : Russian Hackers Using Dropbox and Google Drive To Target Victims

Threat hunters at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 have warned that a Russia-based hacking group known as Cozy Bear, Nobelium, APT29 and Cloaked Ursa, are using trusted, legitimate cloud services such Dropbox and Google Drive in their attacks. For example, the group’s recent attacks on some western diplomats use a pdf to call out to cloud storage services to retrieve malicious malware and Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). The advice to businesses is to review their email policies. Dropbox is reported to be working on the issue with industry partners and researchers.

News

Tech Tip – An Easy Way To Copy Web Data To Excel

Save time effort with this easy way to copy web data to excel. Instead of copying and pasting chunks of data at a time e.g., from a table on web page, simply copy the URL of the page you’d like to get the data from. Here’s how:

– Open Excel.

– Click on ‘Data’ (top menu) and click on ‘From Web.’

– Paste the URL of the web page containing the table of data into the field that loads and click on ‘OK.’

– Select the table you’d like to copy the data from and click on ‘Load.’

– The table of data will now load into Excel.

News

Tech-Insight : Hot Weather & Hardware

In this tech-insight, we look how extreme heat can affect IT hardware and what measures you can take to keep the equipment cool and prevent damage.

High Temperatures 

Hot weather UK-style is not normally a problem. With an average temperature here of about 14 °C, temperatures over 30 °C are a fairly rare occurrence – although becoming more common in the summer if only for a few days as the effects of global warming continue.

Primarily as a result of our usually temperate climate, many homes and businesses don’t have air conditioning. Most of us cope by donning some shorts, opening a window, and putting on a fan or two!

IT Equipment In The Heat 

However, whilst we humans can keep cool by sweating, our expensive IT equipment cannot. That equipment relies on a constant movement of air passing over heatsinks inside to dissipate the substantial amounts of heat generated by the electronics. Modern processors will run at around 70°C (internally) and would quickly overheat and damage themselves were it not for these cooling processes.

Of course, these cooling processes throw out heat into the room and compound the problem when the outside temperature starts to increase.

Ideally, IT kit likes to work in room temperatures circa 21°C but it can cope if it gets warmer. The problem is the warmer that it becomes, the more stress it is put under, and the shorter the life span. Major problems come when the ambient temperature around the equipment rises above 35°C. Servers and computers simply can’t effectively dissipate the heat they generate and, in many cases, they will shut down to protect themselves.

With a general move to the cloud, office servers are becoming less common but other equipment in your IT rack or cabinet will suffer too – battery backup units (UPS), NAS drives, routers and network switches for example may not have the same thermal protections and can easily overheat and malfunction.

What About Air Conditioning? 

If you have air conditioning, then all should be well – although many people have been turning it off to save money. Don’t turn off the one in the server room when temperatures are at record highs though!

A portable air-conditioning unit could work. At about £400 for a small office room, they can provide an answer to keep the temperatures down but with an exhaust hose that needs to pass out through a window, this may introduce security issues. Ideally, don’t use cheaper air-coolers that have a refillable water tank as they increase the humidity in the room which comes with its own problems. Squirting cold water on your server to cool it down is definitely NOT the answer!

If air conditioning is a non-starter, keep the air moving around the equipment as best as you can – fans and ventilation are key. Block any windows that could have direct sunlight upon them at any stage and open room and cabinet doors.

Turn It Off 

The final and perhaps less obvious answer – just turn the equipment off! If you don’t need it over the hottest periods, then shut it down. Any bit of electrical equipment not running in your office on the hottest days this week will all help to keep the heat from building up.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

At the time of writing this, temperatures are at a record high. Your expensive and important IT kit likes to work in room temperatures circa 21°C and simple measures you can take to protect it from the heat include air conditioning units in key rooms and turning off any equipment that is not needed on the hottest days. If you have no form of cooling in your office or server room especially, keep a close eye on the temperature. A basic thermometer in the room could provide an early warning. Servers especially will start to make a lot more noise as their temperatures climb and fan speeds increase. There are remote ways of monitoring the internal temperatures of your servers and some other kit too. Whilst they are miracle workers in many ways, your tech-team can’t control the weather so if it gets too hot, the only answer will be to turn it off!

News

Tech News : Heated Seats ‘as a Service’

BMW UK is now offering ConnectedDrive owners Front Seat Heating for a £15 per month or £150 per year subscription.

BMW ConnectedDrive Services 

BMW ConnectedDrive Services use the smart / Internet connected element of the car to enable owners to use software to activate more services in the car by paying a subscription for each, without needing to visit a dealer to activate them. Subscriptions can be purchased for features such as Adaptive Suspension, Drive Recorder, Safety Camera Information (traffic camera alerts), High Beam Assistant, Steering Wheel Heating, and more.

Front Seat Heating 

The new Front Seat Heating feature can be enabled following a subscription sign-up, using an “over-the-air remote software download”. The service enables the front seats heating to be activated so that the seats warm-up “in no time” and can be individually adjusted in three levels, with the service heating the seat cushion, side bolsters, and backrest.

Other Car Companies Also Offering Subscription-Based Extras 

Other companies also offering subscription-based extras include:

– Tesla. The company started a rear heated seats service back in February 2020 for its Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus as a new over-the-air upgrade. Since then, it has added more options.

– Toyota. Last December it announced that it would be charging for a remote start key fob feature.

– General Motors. The company is reported to have added a $905+subscription for GM’s OnStar Connected Services to Buick and GMC vehicles.

Huge Revenues To Be Made From Subscriptions For Extra Services 

With these types of subscriptions, car companies appear to have found a way to increase the revenue they can make from each car on top of the sale itself, although many cars may be leased or offered as a subscription service anyway. For example, Stellantis, the world’s sixth-largest automaker has said that software subscriptions could enable it to be making $4.5 billion in annual revenue, perhaps as soon as 2026.

Criticism 

Although software subscriptions may be good news for car makers, customers have been critical of the idea. Some of the main criticisms include:

– Owning a car should mean owning everything in it instead of only actually purchasing part of it and being forced to rent other parts.

– Car manufacturers are effectively putting software blocks on part of the car which owners must pay to remove.

Benefits 

Some of the benefits of the subscription services could include:

– Giving owners of a second-hand vehicle the opportunity to add the original features of the car that the previous owner may not have used.

– Owners can purchase a short-term trial of a feature, meaning that they don’t need to fully commit to paying for a feature until they’re happy with it.

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The pandemic saw car manufacturers’ profits hit by a slump in demand and there are now many different ways to ‘own’ a car. Also, making many different variations of a car model can add costs. Technology, i.e. a ‘smart’ car and the use of software, plus a marketplace that is used to a subscription economy, have given car manufacturers an opportunity to dramatically increase their revenue from vehicles. Producing a car that already has the hardware built-in but is controlled by software blocks gives car manufacturers a way to reduce some costs and offer a faster and easier way to offer customers a kind of customisation. These subscriptions may, however, put pressure on dealerships because they are bypassed in the process. For many motorists, however, there is feeling that buying a car may no longer mean owning all of it, rather just buying the basics and having to essentially rent other parts of it, thereby raising questions about whether it fair or ethical. The situation could also result in complications over the right to repair, contractual and legal challenges, and security.

News

Tech News : Subway Surfing : Tube Talk

Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have announced that their customers will be joining both Three and EE’s customers in having access to high-speed mobile connectivity on London’s Tube network, including within the tunnels.

Joined BAI 

As confirmed by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 have joined BAI Communications’ 4G and 5G-ready mobile network, meaning that all four mobile network operators are now offering mobile connectivity across the London Underground. In June last year, Transport for London (TfL) awarded a 20-year concession to BAI Communications (BAI) to enable mobile coverage on the whole Tube network by 2024 which, up until now, has been one of the most high-profile UK mobile ‘not-spots’. BAI is a leading global provider of 4G and 5G connected infrastructure which has already deployed communications networks in dense urban environments across the world, including New York, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

Work Under Way 

4G mobile coverage has already been introduced to the eastern half of the Jubilee line and work is currently underway to deliver 4G and 5G connectivity across the whole Tube, with the first stations being Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Euston, Bank and Camden Town, all due to go live by the end of this year.

Backbone Across London 

BAI says that its concession will see it providing a backbone of mobile and digital connectivity across London, and the intention is to run 2,000 kilometres of high-capacity full fibre cabling through London’s Tube tunnels which can be connected to buildings, street lighting, and bus stops. BAI also says that such a network could deliver “gigabit-capable speeds” and support digital inclusion.

Vodafone 

Vodafone, which made itself unpopular with Tube travellers back in June 2021 by withdrawing its free Wi-Fi from the Underground network, said about joining BAI’s Underground 4G network: “The UK needs world class digital infrastructure, and bringing 4G and 5G to the London Underground is a big part of that. 4G on the eastern stretch of the Jubilee line is already making a huge difference to our customers, and we’re proud to continue our investment in keeping consumers and businesses connected across more parts of London” (Ahmed Essam, CEO).

O2 Says… 

O2 / VMO2’s CEO, Lutz Schüler, said: “With our 5G network already reaching two-thirds of Londoners, this investment will bring next-generation mobile connectivity deep underground for the first time ever, giving our customers a seamless service while on the move. We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds in the capital to expand and upgrade our fixed and mobile networks which has accelerated London’s transformation into a cutting-edge digital hub, fuelling growth and connecting communities to gigabit services.”

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

It has been frustrating to Londoners (and visitors) for such a long time that a major transport network in the capital has been a ‘not-spot,’ and Vodafone’s withdrawal of free Wi-Fi there last year added to that frustration. The tunnels are probably an ideal place to spread a fibre network across the city and businesses and home users will now be pleased that this is finally happening, although it will take a couple of years (or possibly longer) to complete across the whole network area. Mobile and digital connectivity are important tools for businesses which can help with productivity, competitiveness and growth, so with all four mobile network operators now on board with BAI things look promising going forwards.

News

Featured-Article : Avoid Eyestrain

In this article, we look at what eyestrain is, what causes it, and the many measures you can take to prevent it.

What Is Eyestrain? 

Eyestrain is eye fatigue, caused by intensely focusing the eyes during a task, such as staring at a computer screen (or phone screen) for extended periods, driving, reading, or engaging in detailed activities, e.g. sewing or reading, and being exposed to bright light or glare, and artificial and ‘blue light’.

The symptoms of eyestrain can include watery, dry, itchy, or burning eyes, blurred vision and sensitivity to light, double vision, headache, neck, and shoulder pain, and difficulty keeping eyes open.

Having a prior condition, e.g. having dry eyes, uncorrected vision, or muscle imbalance, can increase the risk of eye strain, as can stress and fatigue.

Digital Eyestrain 

The central part that technology such as digital devices – desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablets or e-readers, television, and video game consoles – play in our lives, coupled with factors such as working from home / remotely (working long hours and into the night, or in the wrong visual conditions), and a lack of awareness for / concern about the condition have led to the prevalence of digital eyestrain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Digital eyestrain is now common. For example, a US Vision Council survey (2020) found that 60 per cent of people have suffered from digital eyestrain.

Blue Light 

The kind of ‘blue light’ emitted by digital device screens is often cited as being a contributing factor to digital eye strain, and to lack of sleep. Blue light from screens (which is also given-off by fluorescent lights) has shorter wavelengths and higher energy than other colours, and this particular kind of light has been the subject of discussions and research about whether it may contribute to issues such as retina damage, the risk of certain cancers, mental health problems, and childrens’ health problems, e.g. obesity, near-sightedness, and attention focusing issues.

How To Avoid Eyestrain 

Although eyestrain itself is not serious and doesn’t have long-term consequences, it can be very uncomfortable and disruptive. It is, however, preventable and there are many different measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of eyestrain and relieve its symptoms. Examples include:

– Shut out the light. For example, break up longer periods of screen time by sitting or lying down quietly for a few minutes, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing. This can obviously be relaxing as well as reducing eyestrain risk.

– Use the 20-20-20 rule. After 20 minutes of looking at a screen, look 20 feet into the distance for roughly 20 seconds to relax the eyes.

– Use an eye compress and ‘palming.’ Place a cool or warm compress (e.g. cloth dipped) in cold water over the eyelids for a few minutes. Alternatively, rub your hands together to create heat and then cup your palms over your eyelids (palming).

– Take measures to block out blue light. These could include wearing blue-light-blocking glasses, changing the brightness and blue light levels in the device/computer settings, install a screen filter (on the phone), or use blue light blocking software.

– Choose a monitor with easy-to-adjust settings and ergonomic adjustments and use an adjustable chair. Adjust your screen or chair so that your eye level is at the top of the screen, and you are sitting 23 inches / 58cm (approximately) away from a screen on a desk and 14 inches / 36cm away when using a laptop.

– Make sure there is proper lighting in the room and arrange the room to avoid glare from uncovered windows, lamps, and overhead light fixtures. Also, be aware that air conditioning units which can dry the eyes.

– Increase the font size or zoom percentage size on the screen when working.

– Take regular breaks away from the device.

– Pay attention to posture, i.e. sit up straight rather than leaning back or forward – too close or too far away from the screen.

– Use eye exercises to help reduce the symptoms of eye strain, e.g. moving a pen towards and away from the eyes while focusing on it, and jumping between focusing on looking at pen close by and a fixation point 3 to 4 metres away (as suggested by Specsavers).

– Take care to blink more often. Research has shown that staring at the screen too long can result in less blinking. Normal blinking ensures that the eyes are moistened, thereby preventing dryness and irritation.

– Have regular, comprehensive eye tests and consider the benefits of getting customised computer glasses from your optician.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

So much of our work and home life now involves looking at the screens of different devices, often for long periods of time, in different locations, in the day and at night. All these factors can contribute to eyestrain, which research shows 6 out of 10 people have suffered from. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, it can disrupt work and affect productivity and morale. For businesses in an office setting, it is a case of providing the correct and up-to-date equipment, e.g. fully adjustable monitors and chairs, as well as the appropriate lighting, and giving advice as well as allowing for (and encouraging) breaks from screen time. With remote and hybrid working, businesses can also help by reminding and providing information to workers about how to avoid the risk of eyestrain when working at home and in other settings.

News

Sustainability : Is Renting An Escooter Really A Green Option?

With some research now showing that rental escooters haven’t reduced carbon emissions in cities, we look at whether they are as green an option as you may think.

US Research 

2019 US research (Hollingsworth, Copeland, Johnson) showed that shared, dockless stand-up rental electric scooters produce 202 grams of CO2 per passenger mile over their lifecycle, which is actually more than an electric moped, electric bicycle, or a diesel bus!

French Research 

A 2020 French study (Annede Bortoli, ZoiChristoforou) also showed that escooter journeys were replacing lower-emitting forms of transport the point where they added 13,000 metric tons of additional greenhouse gases to the carbon footprint of Paris over a year (the same amount as a small town).

Why? 

The causes of escooter rentals in cities not cutting, but contributing to more carbon emissions identified in these research studies are:

– People taking escooters journey where a lower-emitting form of transport would have sufficed. For examples, the US study found that only 34 percent of escooter trips replaced a journey that would have been taken and 7 per cent of trips wouldn’t have happened without escooters, thereby making them look even more like a cause rather than a solution for travel pollution. A 2022 Swiss study (Reck and Axhausen), confirmed this result by showing that a shared escooter creates 51 more grams of CO2 per kilometre than the type of transport it is replacing.

– More carbon emissions being added by the collection and distribution distance of escooter rentals (caused by their small batteries), using less efficient vehicles, and charging strategies that are too frequent.

– The poor design of some early escooter imports e.g., from some Chinese manufacturers, and their manufacturing emissions.

– Poor batteries and the environmental impact of lithium-ion battery replacement and disposal.

How To Make Escooters Greener 

The conclusions from the many different research projects about ecscooters suggest that measures to make escooter rental in cities much greener could include:

– Delivering and collecting escooters in electric vehicles and via optimised routes.

– Rental companies buying more robust and durable escooters e.g., from Segway-Ninebot or Okai, to increase their lifespan.

– Rental companies designing their own escooters with a focus on shared use and longevity.

– Using swappable batteries with a greater capacity, thereby cutting down on the pollution caused by collection journeys.

– Putting rental escooters in places where they are more likely to displace petrol and diesel cars e.g., on the outskirts and not just the centre of cities and towns.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

It surprising and disappointing that escooter rental in cities is not reducing pollution. However, as shown by the US (North Carolina) study, more than 90 per cent of the carbon footprint of shared escooters is down to manufacturing and operational emissions e.g., having less efficient escooters with small batteries and the need to make too many collection and delivery journeys. Rental companies buying better scooters, using swappable batteries with more capacity, and using electric vehicles for collection and distribution could all help make escooter rental greener. Also, general green improvements