Apps and technology for fauna and the skies

The gypsy moths are here 🍃Gypsy Moths🐛 <= I'm going to keep track of them. There's not much we can do about it. They have hatched, I noticed them Monday, May 17th. They fling themselves out into the world on gossamer threads, and their 4 mm bodies are spread on the wind.  They are all over the back deck railing, which is unreal. They eat tree leaves. It really is discouraging. 

I've a bucket of soapy water, I keep washing it all down. We cannot spray anything, you need dormant oil prior to the eggs hatching, and now we've gray tree frogs who inhabit the back deck, plus lots of butterflies and moths.

I'm happy to take a break, go indoors, and watch curling with JB. The poor man is fighting allergies, as well as being unable to use his left arm to lift, and his neck pain. Technology has really helped many get through this all with family Facetime and Zoom. 

That said, my son and DIL had their birthday/wedding anniversary yesterday. I kept meaning to phone, knowing Jesse is working from home. I didn't want to interrupt his work day. I kept watching the clock. Then it was 4 p.m., and it was 1 p.m. in Vancouver. Then, our dinnertime, and I was wiping caterpillars off the back deck. Next, I was sleepy, konked out, and went to bed early. I feel so badly! 

This is Jess and Stacie, with her niece and nephew and Isabelle and Josephine, 7 years ago at their Surrey  wedding! It was a lovely backyard wedding, at her mom's place. Jesse is doing so well, with a new job.

Up in the air!

In the meantime, look up to the skies. When my dad was dying, I found it helped to record what happened in a memoire on a daily basis. I've written about my noise issues, that is a symptom of anxiety. (Also, inability to make decisions, trembling, a sense of danger or doom.) JB has to warn me if he's using the dustbuster. I startle so easily. Bless his heart.

What I found helps is to try capture the air traffic (a good challenge), try ID them and spot them on the Flight24 Radar. Some don't show up. Especially the military helicopters📹! They are big and LOUD! Compilation: heads up 📹. 

More air traffic around the hummingbird feeder. Yesterday, the female was watching me📹from the safety of the lilac tree. Wednesday, the female visited, the male came by, and she chased him away! When he left, she went back to the lilac tree to see if the coast was clear! You go, girl! hummingbird battle  

Song Birds

They are back from their winter break. There is an app I heard about on Twitter. BirdNET, by Cornell U. It's not bad. It identified the red-eyed vireo for me, as well as a Cardinal, and blue jay. I was down at the frogpond, and ID'd another red-eyed vireo. It took a couple of tries, as there were noisy dump trucks going by. That was funny: "human made sounds!"

Thursdays are OPP gun days, and the app was mystified. The long green marks show the guns going off. They do recertification for all 500 OPP members in the region 500 m behind our property. Again, when it began we used to go out for a drive, and lunch out.  It sounds like a murderous insurrection, with 12 police, shooting upon command, for 10 seconds. I had a tour of the facility, and that helped calm me.

Are you languishing?

While I am on meds for depression and anxiety, many people are facing life-limiting health issues. Then there are fires in Manitoba, drought, COVID–19 is everywhere, anger and resentment boils over what governments are or are not doing. I have to turn the news off. 

I watched one CTV segment on Languishing, which seems to reflect the challenges of many. Mental health is a spectrum, from depression < = > flourishing. I've many people I follow on Social Media with serious issues that make daily life hard. The impact of the pandemic has been horrible for them. Self-care is truly important for those who are struggling somewhere in between. People can feel joyless, aimless, stagnant and empty, according to experts. 

CTV segment on Languishing

NYTimes wrote: 

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing

The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus — and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021.   

I hope you are all looking after yourselves. We will get through this! 

Election 2015 and modern technology

I've been having fun tracking our local favourite candidate, @JohnFenik, as well as our favourite: our son-in-law, @JeanLucCooke!

It's great hearing and seeing the debates! This election is interesting, this debate was live-streamed. In addition, they took questions through Twitter!



Then, the irony!

It's fun seeing the candidates getting involved in the community.  Jean-Luc has lived and worked here for over ten years. 

Internet use, worldwide trends; KPCB Internet Trends 2013

Here is an interesting study of internet use, worldwide trends, KPCB Internet Trends 2013 by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
May 29, 2013
The latest edition of the annual Internet Trends report finds continued robust online growth. There are now 2.4 billion Internet users around the world, and the total continues to grow apace. Mobile usage is expanding rapidly, while the mobile advertising opportunity remains largely untapped. The report reviews the shifting online landscape, which has become more social and content rich, with expanded use of photos, video and audio.

Looking ahead, the report finds early signs of growth for wearable computing devices, like glasses, connected wrist bands and watches - and the emergence of connected cars, drones and other new platforms.

Here are some snippets, the full PPT slideshow is below.
 
 

KPCB Internet Trends 2013 from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Boomer, Boomer, what technology will you choose?

Boomer Summit - have you heard of it? They are realizing that we are the ones with the disposal income and the time to play on the Internet, or communicate with family and friends. They are working behind the scenes to make us their target market in the USA.

7.5% of those aged 45-54 use smartphones. Learn how to reach the boomer, senior & caregiver through print, online media & partnerships. http://#BoomerSummit fact: For adults over 60, the top 4 websites are Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and YouTube.

Yes. All Boomers are about to be targets for some products and services! It's all about social media, but all for profit. Otherwise, why would you buy into it? Personally, I've used a Mac since 1988. As the Internet grew, and technology options increase, we have to make decisions about our technology needs vs. our technology wants.

Sure, it would be nice to have a device that texts, takes photos, sends them to your Facebook or Picasa account. But this requires a wireless account 24/7. Are you sure you need to have those photos on hand for immediate uploading? You compromise quality, in some cases, for speed and quantity.

Communication devices or emergency phone?

From simple cell phones to smart phones: iPhone, Blackberry Z10, to a desktop, laptop, iPad, or GPS; how do you choose? Then, you have to decide if you want to take videos. Many new devices have this capability. The quality changes with lower-priced devices, however. You really have to check them out first.

Features

Before you visit a retailer, you must determine your budget, and compare that to your wants vs. your needs. What do you need to do? For example, do you need to text, or do you use your phone just for emergencies? Do you need to take photos with your cell phone, or do you have a perfectly good camera but want to take a few choice shots? This will cost you more when you purchase services and uploading capability for a smartphone. How much talking and texting, and how much uploading will you do? Do you want to immediately upload a few photos, or do you want to upload them to your computer to crop and edit them?

What can smartphones do, and do you NEED one?

Marilyn Dennis show

Take photos, send e-mail, use Skype, include snappy accessories, not all can do typing, or surf the web.

The newest is a phone with Near Field Communication (NFC). You can tap your phone to someone else's and exchange photos, make instant payments at a cash. Certain phones have applications('apps') to help you locate stores or restaurants, the same way a GPS will help you. One free app, called Vail Hike and Bike, will help you navigate.

Some phones can automatically predict familiar words for you as you type text, which speeds up your typing time. You must  shop around to find a phone and a plan that suits your needs. Many Boomers travel. This is a grand way to share you world with others, but you'll need to have roaming access. Smartphones may be a handy device, but you must choose carefully. For an excellent piece, you can watch a Marilyn Dennis show, where they compare three smartphones.

Cameras and video photography

Cameras have improved exponentially over the years. If you want to keep photos for particular purposes, such as an annual family calendar, as I do, you'll need high-resolution images that are better taken by a dedicated camera or a more expensive device. I have sold photos, and for that reason I have a professional quality camera, a Canon T3, which also takes not only high-res photos, but video. Unfortunately, the digital camera does not have an autofocus capability, as does my video camera. You have to make a choice.

Key pad size

An important criteria is size. Do you want a phone with large buttons (my reading glasses help!) or do you want a communication device with the largest screen possible? The sophisticated iPhones are full-screen, most have begun to feature larger buttons. When you flip the device sideways, a vertical photo fills it up automatically.
Some of us are clumsy with our fingers, and it takes time to become comfortable with the keypad. Larger keys make it easier to avoid the 'fat finger delete', as my kids call it.

Desktop, laptop or iPad

She was texting adult kids;
he was taking a photo!

For many, the smaller iPad has been a great investment. The user-friendly applications of Mac products, as well as the lack of viruses, with fewer bugs and glitches, can be easier for a new user.

We often Google a question, and the laptop allows you to move it from room-to-room. If you don't feel the need to be connected to the Internet all day, a desktop computer in your office, with as large a screen as you can afford, is a good idea. It's fun having a grandchild peek over your shoulder, too!

If you travel, you may want to take a smaller iPad or laptop with you. The trick is to find roaming service in your place of accommodation. Check their on-line information. Also, do you want to risk theft, leaving a device around a hotel room? Macs are more expensive, but they are very effective and allow the user to play around with simple applications like iPhoto, in order to touch up photos. They have fewer glitches.

What do you think about it all?

Seniors and computers - did you know we're delayed?

Morning coffee and newspaper
–digital delay?

Digital delay for the elderly

Digital delay for the elderly - National Post 

Ottawa Citizen - Mon., Feb. 5, 2013 Like many young Canadians, Denis O'Keefe is rarely more than an arm's length away from an Internet-connected. 

The difference is that O’Keefe is 96 years old.

Josie and I play some iMovies!

Basically, the article bemoans the Statcan data that says we oldsters are out of touch with the times, don't download music, TV shows and movies. Why would we?! A lot of it is crap!

Yes, so they say. I sit down to read my morning paper, yes, I know, but it is tradition. But I can fondly recall sitting with my paper and my coffee as I changed hats from single mom to teacher and working mom.

More evidence of ageism in the young person's world. Anyone who knows me, though, knows I am pretty active on the Internet. I don't have an iPhone, I'm not needed that much, nor do I need to contact friends or family that quickly!

Computer presentation to staff 2004

Like the rest of the folks in their 50s and 60s, and even their 70s and 80s, we learned to use computers and integrate them into our jobs. My late mother learned how to use a computer when she was 50 years old, in order to process their weekly Rotary Club newsletter. Yet, I have to read again how backward we oldsters are. They lovingly cite a man, Denis O'Keefe, who is his 90s and manages the struggle to use a computer! As if he is the only one!

When I went on-line to read the article, and cite it, I found that it has disappeared from the Citizen. Good thing.
A further search found that Misty Harris, self-proclaimed pop-culture queen (Twitter.com/popcultini) who wrote the article, claims that:

"The bad news is that seniors’ online cultural consumption – think digital downloads of music, TV and movies – is dismally lagging. And as more and more services go digital, the risk of alienation is significant."

It's young people who need to be taught manners!

How frightening, 'dismally lagging',
we are 'risking alienation' if we don't download music! "Digital media expert Alfred Hermida says people simply prefer to use the media they grew up with." Seriously? My mom grew up with radio. She used an electric typewriter and a computer when she retired at age 66 in 1991. Alfred, of uBC, knows not whereof he speaks!

What this is proof of, is that another journalist didn't do who homework.

What these staisticians do not realize is that we don't want to download music, never mind do we need to. We like popping our CDs into the car when we drive. Most movies are NOT geared to our demographic. Who want to watch sissy young people in love (teenagers + 20-somethings), scantily clad women, or blood and guts warriors (18 - 20-somethings)?

Wii user in long-term care

We like drama and a plot, as well as character development. While we're the ones with the larger disposable income, we choose not to spend it on this less than artful medium. We are choosy with our music. We support artists by buying their CDs.

We cannot stand being in a theatre, either, with people talking, flashing their iPhones, and behaving as if they are in their living rooms. Culture, indeed!

Consumption of culture by older Canadians on the Internet

by Mary K. Allen (STATCAN)

[Release from The Daily] [Full article in PDF]

A new report by the agency notes that in 2000, less than 10 per cent of seniors had been online in the month prior to being surveyed, whereas by 2010, fully 60 per cent of Canadians 65 to 74, and 29 per cent of those 75 and older, had done so.

Westport trip to The Cove

It was another hot day. Hubby suggested we go to The Cove for lunch. They have music on a Sunday afternoon. It was delightful.

The view is amazing.

Happy to support the local economy, musicians and The Cove, also a great supporter of local charities.




What I love to see are people of my generation using technology. The young people mock us, but we've managed to get ourselves out of our rocking chairs, and getting out in the world. Here is a timely news item:

 Revera, UofT collaborating on technology for seniors
Aim is to identify issues that technology can solve
Monday, July 9, 2012 -- Deron Hamel
Ninety-year-old Adrienne Dawson says she can’t imagine how she managed living so long without the Internet.
Dawson isn’t alone. Today, she is among the 27 per cent of Canadians aged 75 and older who are online. And it’s residents like Dawson that Revera will be connecting with through a partnership with the University of Toronto’s Technologies for Aging Gradually Lab (TAGlab) to discover new innovations in technology for senior citizens.

Everyone loves technology!
 It was this gentleman's birthday soon. I wasn't brave enough to ask him his age! Again, belies the myth of us retirees being a burden on the system!