Meetings

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, Aug 9, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

We will be using an open source software jitsi.org. Please click here to join the meeting. Please join the meeting about 1:00 PM or later.

Members will receive an e mail on the day of the meeting, with the link and any further details and instructions about how to log on to the meeting.

SIG-Computing Topic:  Mesh Wireless Networking

Presented by Jeff Marraccini  

Previously limited to expensive commercial installations, over the past five years, mesh network technologies are now mainstream. Capabilities, pricing, ease of use, and longevity will be discussed along with a sampling of the current offerings, including some that are very open source friendly!

With the growing number of Internet of Things, home automation, shelter in place device growth, and other wireless usage needs, the time has come for mesh networking!  

We will also cover differences between “range extenders” and true mesh network deployments, and unfortunately, the current vendor lock-in with mesh networks. 

Jeff Marraccini is Senior Vice President, Global IT Systems at Altair Engineering, Inc. in Troy, Michigan.  He works with a very talented global team to support VPN services and remote work technologies for 75 sites around the world.  He has been with Altair for 23 years in various IT roles.  He lives in SE Michigan and may be emailed at marraccinijd@semco.org

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Aug 9, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

SIG-Linux Topic: What is new in the world of Linux

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

This will be a round up of major news events in the Linux world (and a bit on the open source frontlines as well) which have taken place in the last 6 months.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Aug 9, 2020, at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, Jul 12, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

We will be using an open source software jitsi.org. Click on this link to be connected to the meeting .

Please join the meeting about 1:00 PM or later.

To join by phone instead, tap this: +1.512.647.1431,,3549237316#

Looking for a different dial-in number?
See meeting dial-in numbers: https://meet.jit.si/static/dialInInfo.html?room=semco20200712

If also dialing-in through a room phone, join without connecting to audio: https://meet.jit.si/semco20200712#config.startSilent=true

Members will receive an e mail on the day of the meeting, with and any further details and instructions about how to log on to the meeting.

SIG-Computing Topic: File Management in the Terabyte Age Part 2 (with recap)

Presented by Mike Rudas

This presentation will integrate a recap of an earlier presentation on file manager software and move into some tips on organizing and backing up your data.

Michael Rudas is a long-time electronic and computer technician with experience with a broad variety of hardware and software. He is a free-software advocate and both a Linux and Microsoft Windows user. He is a member-at-large of the SEMCO board.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Jul 12, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

SIG-Linux Topic: Introduction to IoT

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

The IoT has infiltrated homes all around the country in the form of smart thermostats, smart speakers, and more. There are also a number of innovative IoT applications doing more than just making people’s lives easier or helping them play their favorite songs. In this session, the thrust will be intended to serve as an introduction to IoT, in order to help open up this new field of applications to a wider audience. Of course, Linux is one of the driving factors behind all IoT devices.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Jul 12, 2020, at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, Jun 14, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

We will be using an open source software jitsi.org. Click on this link to be connected to the meeting . The Password is 43$627%& . Please join the meeting about 1:00 PM or later.

Members will receive an e mail on the day of the meeting, with the password and any further details and instructions about how to log on to the meeting.

SIG-Computing Topic:  VPN’s – Virtual Private Networks

Presented by Jeff Marraccini  

Governments, businesses, and other organizations have used VPN clients for years to work remotely, remote control computers, and provide security over public networks like coffee-houses or even competitors. 
For the last few years, the safety and power of these solutions are now available to us as consumers!  There are many options, so we will discuss navigating the paid and free services, risks they have, and some family-friendly options.

Recently, a new VPN technology, WireGuard, has emerged and is now a native part of Linux!  WireGuard is easy to set up and use and will be discussed. We will also cover options to protect you on computers, smartphones, and tablets.

Jeff Marraccini is Senior Vice President, Global IT Systems at Altair Engineering, Inc. in Troy, Michigan.  He works with a very talented global team to support VPN services and remote work technologies for 75 sites around the world.  He has been with Altair for 23 years in various IT roles.  He lives in SE Michigan and may be emailed at marraccinijd@semco.org

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Jun 14, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

SIG-Linux Topic: Open Source Technology battles COVID-19

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

This talk will highlight two major areas, out of many fronts, which are being used to help fight the virus:

•     Open Source Low cost ventilator Design
•     Use of Linux based HPC and open source Machine Learning/AI to figure out, track and learn about this new virus

From health professionals and protective equipment to tests and ventilators, the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching our finite healthcare resources dangerously thin. As a result, this unprecedented test of our healthcare system is forcing us to be agile and adaptable. One of the weapons we have in our arsenal is open source technology.

Other growing areas of technology will also be briefly discussed, time permitting.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Jun 14, 2020, at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice. Click on link shown above.

All meetings suspended until further notice

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 2 PM.

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, May 10, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

We will be using an open source software jitsi. Members will receive an e mail on the day of the meeting, with complete details and instructions about how to log on to the meeting.

SIG-Computing Topic:  Tabs, Tables, and Shortcuts made easy, in Microsoft Word

Presented by Mike Wilson  

Watch Mike demonstrate on screen, how to properly use tabs. He will also show how easily tables can be created and used. Finally, Mike will cover many easy and handy shortcuts you can use in Microsoft Word and Windows 10.

Mike is a computer author and instructor, he currently teaches at Schoolcraft College and other institutions. He has taught thousands of students in 40 Michigan cities over a 15-year span. Mike Wilson’s passion is helping seniors learn computers! He is an author of five “senior-tested” computer books. (See tons of Mike’s former senior students in class and their comments at: www.ourseniorhelp.com.)

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, May 10, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

SIG-Linux Topic: Linux in your everyday life

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

This month we will learn all about Linux has now become a fundamental part of our everyday global life. Maybe a few years ago – if you query the average Joe on the street (assuming they were not a geek) about Linux, you may have gotten the following response:  “Yeah, like you know, isn’t it some sort of operating system. I heard of it, but don’t know it personally myself – that it is very difficult to use.” You might be astonished to know just how often you use Linux in your daily life.

This talk is aimed at sharing with our SEMCO members and audience, numerous practical examples for each hour of the day, how Linux is perhaps a regular part of your life, maybe in the background, maybe in the foreground and yet you do not realize it.

No prior knowledge of computing or Linux is assumed or necessary. The talk will be fast paced and full of details.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, May 10, 2020, at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Meetings will be on line until further notice.

We are not meeting this month as our meeting date falls on Easter. This had been decided before we knew about the Coronavirus (Covid 19).

Hopefully we can meet in May. We will update the website as more details become available.

Rick Fink, one of our members will continue discussing XLSX Writer a Python add-on that allows a Python program to create an Excel spread sheet.

All are welcome to attend.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, Mar 21, 2020 at 2 PM.

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, Mar 8, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075.

The university is essentially at the northwest corner of 10 Mile Road and Northwestern Highway https://goo.gl/maps/5Et615QaRCP2. The meeting is in room M213 of the Wayne H. Buell Management Building. For details on entry to the campus, where to park and how to get to the meeting room go to https://www.wordpress.semco.org/?page_id=1638

SIG-Computing Topic:  Internet Browsers: Your Portal to the World Wide Web

Presented by Michael Rudas 

Which browser should I use?—that depends…
This presentation will include a bit of history for context—then we will compare browsers, talk a bit about plugins and extensions, mix in a couple of useful sites, and provide basic techniques for improving browser security.

Michael Rudas is a long-time electronic and computer technician with experience with a broad variety of hardware and software. He is a free-software advocate and both a Linux and Microsoft Windows user. He is a member-at-large of the SEMCO board.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Mar 8, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 (click on links above)

SIG-Linux Topic: Network troubleshooting in the Linux world

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

Last time we met at the SIG-Linux session, we went over the TCP/IP stack and several concepts in how IP packets “travel” on the Internet. In this session, we will take a look at several basic Linux network commands, what they mean, how to interpret their output, in order to figure out existing or potential network issues.
Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Mar 8, 2020, at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 (click on links above)

Free Wi-Fi available. Our thanks to Lawrence Technological University, for providing our meeting space!

Rick Fink, one of our members will continue discussing XLSX Writer a Python add-on that allows a Python program to create an Excel spread sheet.

All are welcome to attend.

Where: Richard Jackson’s home. Call Richard Jackson at 248-546-3694 for directions.

When: Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 at 2 PM.

Sharan Kalwani, president of SEMCO, will start the meeting and make general announcements.

When: Sunday, Feb 9, 2020, at 1:15 P.M.
Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075.

The university is essentially at the northwest corner of 10 Mile Road and Northwestern Highway https://goo.gl/maps/5Et615QaRCP2. The meeting is in room M213 of the Wayne H. Buell Management Building. For details on entry to the campus, where to park and how to get to the meeting room go to https://www.wordpress.semco.org/?page_id=1638

SIG-Computing Topic:  “General Magic” a documentary movie

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

It is a movie about the company that designed the first smartphone.

The ideas that dominate the tech industry and our day to day lives were born at a secretive Silicon Valley start-up called ‘General Magic’, which was spun out of Apple in 1990 to create the first handheld personal communicator (or “smartphone”). The film combines rare archival footage with powerful honesty from the “Magicians” today, reflecting on the most influential Silicon Valley Company no one has ever heard of. Featuring legendary members of the original Macintosh team, along with the creators of the iPod, iPhone, Android, and eBay.

Rated: TV-PG, it runs for 1h 33min and was originally released on 12 July 2019 (USA). We will try to bring some soda pop & popcorn.

Also: Questions and Answers following the presentation.

When: Sunday, Feb 9, 2020 at 1:30 P.M.

Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 (click on links above)

SIG-Linux Topic: Included in topic above

Presented by Sharan Kalwani

When: Sunday, Feb 9, 2020 at 3:00 P.M.

Where: Lawrence Technological University (Southfield Campus) 21000 West 10 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075 (click on links above)

Free Wi-Fi available. Our thanks to Lawrence Technological University, for providing our meeting space!