On Computers

A reader named Karl sent me a newspaper column that raged against data centers and artificial intelligence. He hoped I’d give him a different point of view. We sure need one. In April, Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, the company that makes ChatGPT, was targeted in an attempted firebombing with a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco home. Apparently, the suspect thinks AI poses grave risks to humanity. But so far, technological progress is the reason that we’re all still here. Thanks to technology, in the past 100 years, the average human lifespan has doubled, and the average per capita income worldwide has tripled, adjusted for inflation. Child mortality has come down by a factor of ten. There’s less […]

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Filed under: AI, gadgets, games, Internuts, inventions, kids, numbers | Comments Off on DATA CENTER BLUES

Some lawyers abuse AI, by allowing it to cite fake cases. But BrentWorks has a solution.  Unlike AI, its “CiteSentinel” tool doesn’t guess if a case is real, then lie about it when confronted. It cross references cases against verified legal databases, by scanning a legal brief and identifying every string of text.  Here’s one it would have caught before it ever went to court. In 2023, a man sued an airline after a metal cart struck his knee. His legal team used ChatGPT to generate arguments. The result was six fake citations. Even so, the team couldn’t resist turning to AI again when the judge asked for verification. Later, they had to pay a $5000 fine and send a […]

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Filed under: AI, Internuts, kids, news, passwords, photos, trends, wearables | Comments Off on AI AND THE LAW

“Hi, Joy,” a reader wrote. “My brother is not computer savvy but needs something to access the internet, mostly for research and online purchases. What have you found that is easy and not expensive?” I like HP computers. My only mistake was buying their cheapest version, a laptop with the “Windows S” operating system. It didn’t last two years. But my HP desktop is still going strong eight years later.  For traveling, I got an HP 17 laptop for $380 from HP.com last June. I love its big roomy keyboard and 17-inch screen. But it also has a fast-enough processor, (the Intel i5), enough RAM (eight gigabytes) and a 256 gigabyte solid state drive. If you don’t need to carry […]

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Filed under: computers, education, gadgets, health, kids, passwords, security, virus | Comments Off on GETTING A NEW COMPUTER

Little kids love to pretend they’re on a phone call, even on a landline that isn’t plugged in. Now they can have their own landlines. It all started when a bunch of parents decided to surprise their kids with a “Tin Can” phone at Christmas. The kids, who had been told they had to wait to get cellphones until they were at least 13, were ecstatic, especially the girls. Through landlines, they discovered the joy of the mysterious ring. Was it Grandma or a friend from school? They knew it had to be someone on their parents’ approved list, but it was thrilling nonetheless, especially if the caller left a voice message. The landline taught them to communicate without screens […]

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Filed under: apps, environment, government, kids, phones | Comments Off on LANDLINE PHONES FOR KIDS

Microsoft Copilot is a great shopping buddy.  With its AI “vision,” it looked at the websites I had open and analyzed the options. Not only did it save me money on a satin blouse, it picked out the right shoes. To start, I launched the Microsoft Edge web browser on my computer, then clicked the colorful icon in the upper right of my screen, though I could have just gone to Copilot.Microsoft.com in another browser such as Chrome. From there, I typed questions into the chatbox.  That’s how I found out which MBT running and walking shoes had roomy toeboxes but less structural support, and which ones were narrow but more supportive. Copilot also helped me choose an outfit for […]

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Filed under: AI, Amazon, apps, batteries, gadgets, kids, photos | Comments Off on SHOPPING WITH AI

I’m terrible at programming. But with artificially intelligent help, I can hack it.  At the website Claude.AI, I learned how to make a text-based adventure, the kind familiar to those who remember when DOS was king. Though Claude did nearly all of the work, I was able to add my own story line.  First Claude explained that it was crucial to check off a certain box when downloading Python, the free programming language available at python.org. Naturally, I forgot to check that box. But then the Microsoft Store app in Windows popped up, with the word “get” next to Python 3.13. Claude said this version would make installation even easier. Then he gave me everything I needed to know to […]

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Filed under: AI, apps, computers, Internuts, kids, science | Comments Off on CLAUDE CODE

When I tested a smart watch for kids, it made me feel dumb.  The X6Play watch from Xplora Technologies, $170, couldn’t connect to my 5G WiFi because it’s 4G. So I couldn’t do the required update until I set up a WiFi hotspot on my phone. Naturally, I wasted a lot of time before contacting tech support. The soul of a kid watch is its ability to stop strangers and bullies from harassing your child, while keeping parents in the loop. But I couldn’t set up a “Trusted Contact” list because I couldn’t find “Contacts” in the app settings. Tech support wasn’t any help either, but a techy friend found it after a couple of false starts.  The X6Play has […]

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Filed under: Internuts, kids, robots, security, Windows | Comments Off on SMART WATCHES FOR KIDS KEEP PARENTS IN THE LOOP

When my Pixel 8 phone died in a pool of salad dressing, I sold it to Gazelle. They gave me $52, though it wouldn’t turn on. Besides iPhones, Gazelle also buys used iPads, Macbooks and phones made by Samsung, Google and Motorola. Whatever you send them, it will be carefully repaired, inspected and certified before being sold on their site. I got an instant quote, good for 30 days, and a swift payment. They even sent me a box with a free shipping label. All I had to do was check off options to describe it. I was glad I didn’t have to check the one that said “cracked screen,” though I did check off “won’t turn on.” The company […]

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Filed under: 3D Printing, AI, books, business, gadgets, Internuts, kids, printer, trends, Windows | Comments Off on CASH FOR YOUR STUFF

The Tick Talk 5, a $150 kid watch, makes me feel like Dick Tracey every time I tap my wrist. It’s a blast. Children will love the Mom icon. Tap it to ring her up immediately. Another icon launches a video call. There’s also a calculator, stopwatch, calendar and a wildly generous step counter. With the Tick Talk app, parents can send holiday e-cards to the watch wearer. For the watch face, I chose a cheery blue elephant in a jaunty hat and sunglasses. He nods and smiles, then shows his eyes.  I love the podcasts and music, though they cause the battery to drain quickly. I don’t mind popping the watch on its wireless charger, as often as necessary, […]

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Filed under: analytics, Apple, apps, art, gadgets, health, Internuts, kids | Comments Off on KID WATCH

After printing out eight placemats for my sister’s birthday, I laminated them with the Scotch “Thermal Laminator,” $31 at Target. The placemats include photos of my six-month-old niece, a “Happy Birthday” greeting and a cartoonish cake. I know my sister will like them because she’s still using the holiday placemats I made years ago. To start, I used “Hallmark Card Studio,” $31 on Amazon, which can be downloaded to multiple machines. After finishing a variety of designs– which was as easy as choosing images and text to plop onto paper– I turned to YouTube for a demo of the laminator. I’m all thumbs when it comes to hardware. Here’s how it works: To start, choose one of two settings, depending […]

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Filed under: AI, art, cheap calls, Internuts, kids, video | Comments Off on MAKE YOUR OWN PHOTO PLACEMATS AND LAMINATE THEM