Open Data Systems January12, 2017

a presentation by Jonathan Brown - How open data is now being used by governments, some successful examples, and visions for the future.
Here is a link, further explaining the concept of Open Data Systems, and why we should care.
http://www.govtech.com/data/Got-Data-Make-it-Open-Data-with-These-Tips.html

Jonathan provided links to resources and examples:

“Open data and content can be freely used, modified and shared by anyone for any purpose.”

http://opendefinition.org/

 

Open Data Charter http://opendatacharter.net/resource-centre/

 

Wikipedia Open data https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_data

 

Ontario’s Open Data Catalogue: An online tool used to disseminate data in accordance with this directive can be viewed at www.ontario.ca/opendata

 

Some Examples of Open Data:

•Niagara Region Immunization

•Wellbeing Toronto

•Physical Health/Wellbeing Clinics

•Patients Like Me  Data for Good and Pill Box

•Ontario Trillium Foundation

•Gridwatch

•ConnexOntario

 

City of Toronto:

•http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=3647e03bb8d1e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

 

Meetups:

•http://civictech.ca/youth-employment-challenge/

•https://www.meetup.com/opentoronto/events/236672890/

 

Community-Based Challenge:

•http://opendatachallenges.org/

•http://communitydata.ca/sites/default/files/CDP%20Program%20Basics%202013-10.pdf

•Open Referrals and Physical Health/Wellbeing Clinics

•Ontario Health Profiles

 

Public Health Ontario: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Reportable_Disease_Trends_in_Ontario_2013.pdf

Algorithms and Weapons of Math Destruction: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (open challenge to Mark Zuckerberg)

Next-generation SMART phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=64&v=CPPfatkXx74

What3words: https://what3words.com/

 

Jonathan Brown

jonabrow@gmail.com

 

 

December 2016 - Solar Electric Powered and Geothermal Heated, Victory Garden Geenhouse

Bob Bell and Joan Kerr, on the successes and failures of this pioneering project in creating an inexpensive, year-round, fresh food source for a variety of climates.

November 2016 - Consumer Council of Canada

Representatives of the Consumer Council of Canada hosted a 'Town Hall Meeting' to discuss "Cyber Security and the Consumer", covering different types of risks - fraud, identity theft, hacking, integrity of on-line reviews, on-line purchases, and warranty issues. The ensuing discussion ranged broadly into many other areas affected by conflicted commercial, government, and public interests.

About the Consumers Council of Canada   http://www.consumerscouncil.com/

The Consumers Council of Canada works collaboratively with consumers, business and government in support of consumers' rights and responsibilities, including:
•    The right to safety.
•    The right to choose.
•    The right to be heard.
•    The right to be informed.
•    The right to consumer education.
•    The right to consumer redress.
•    The right to a healthy environment
•    The right to basic needs.
•    The right to privacy.

The Council seeks to have an efficient, equitable, effective and safe marketplace for consumers. It endeavours to be a voice for consumers across Canada, and works to listen to consumers and develop policy consistent with what it is told. The Council provides leadership in educating and informing consumers about their rights and responsibilities.

October 2016 - Technology Perspective

Bob Gostischa had previously presented his views on technology and security, to the APCUG group, in May 2016. Our October meeting involved a Q&A, after re-showing Bob's highly informative podcast. Bob mentioned his preference for Avast security software, because it offers a free version that works on Windows operating systems back to XP. Avast also protects Android devices with several security apps.

Setpember 2016 - Klaus Stoll - The Internet in the Public Interest

Although Klaus titled his talk, "Maintaining The Digital Value Proposition", his main concern is re-establishing control of the domain name system (and the Internet) to average people and NGOs, preventing further co-opting of the system of governance by private interests.

http://www.pathfindershub.org/
[He appeared to our audience via Skype, over a weak WIND stick connection, after efforts were made to conduct the evening's exchange over the usually very fast Rogers connection. The Rogers modem, unknown to the group, had experienced a power failure. Upon re-boot, the IP of the router had changed to one that was incompatible with other devices.]
Here are some attendees to a Pathfinders meeting.

See much more on our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DurhamComputerClub/

August 2016 - SSD, Hybrid Drives, UEFI - by Canada Computers Oshawa Store

Dan Saywell, Assistant Manager of the Oshawa store, spoke about SSD, Hybrid Drives, UEFI, and drive fragmentation.

Dan's appearance was assisted by store manager, Victor But (wearing glasses).

July 2016 - Windows 10 features and home networking - Lloyd Lindsay

Member Lloyd Lindsay, CPA, CA, LPA, CMC gave a very interesting presentation on the latest Windows 10 features, with a focus on networking computers.

June 2016 - Drones by Paul Dowling

Paul is Master Builder at AutoBotix (FPV Racing Products), a company offering the latest in drone technology.

https://fpvracingproducts.com/

May 2016 - Augmented Reality by Alfredo Calderon

Professor Calderon, of the University of Puerto Rico, presented elements of his educational programs using Augmented Reality to enhance learning (on tablets, phones, and using VR headsets), via Skype.

calderon.alfredo@gmail.com | http://aprendizajedistancia.blogspot.com | Skype: Alfredo_1212

April 2016 - mainly BoxWorks and Lima for bulk storage

John talked about BoxWorks and other online storage. https://www.box.com/

Dan spoke about a new similar product called Lima. https://meetlima.com/

March 2016 - Mikrotik Routers & Extenders from Netwire

 

Mikrotik - broadband devices for providers, businesses, and homes - with solid high-speed wireless performance and a uniquely configurable operating systems... and for a lower cost than competitors. Institutional buyers may attend free training classes in Markham.

https://www.netwire.ca/

Bob Rife died -Sunday, March 20, 2016

Bob Rife d. 2016

Bob Rife, a long time member of the Durham Personal Computer Users' Club, Microsoft early release OS tester, and widely read technology writer (The Rife Report being one of them), will be missed by many.
 http://www.ogdenfuneralhome.com/index.php/services/#death-notice-5064

February Mtg. TOR: anonymous communication

February Meeting Date :

Thurs. Feb. 11, 2016  7:00 pm - 1778 Nash Rd. Courtice

David Goulet will present remotely from Montréal on: ALL ABOUT : TOR

 

Tor is free software for enabling anonymous communication.

Tor directs Internet traffic through a free, worldwide, volunteer network consisting of more than seven thousand relays to conceal a user's location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis. Using Tor makes it more difficult for Internet activity to be traced back.

January 14 Mtg. - Internet of Things

The 24/7 Internet of Everything Everywhere

By  Dr. Sam Lanfranco

Thursday January 14th, 2016
Time 7 to 8 30
LIVESTREAM EVENT - (archived at https://youtu.be/ZpAt55UdHv8)
http://bit.ly/lanfranco

This Talk: The combination of IPv6, technical change and the Internet of Things applications are going to be a tsunami scale disruption impacting every aspect of human existence on the planet, with collateral impacts to the planet’s natural ecosystem.

My work: Capacity building in groups and organizations as they face pervasive technology, market, and policy disruption within the Internet ecosystem.

I am: Prof Emeritus & Senior Scholar, York University. I have lectured in economics in universities and countries around the world for over half a century and worked in ICT for development for 40 years. My work has been guided by two principles: the first is that knowledge (expertise, skills, information and technology) only has meaning in context; and the second is the use of knowledge in the quest for greater social justice.