Minecraft, the Game - Its History, How to Play, and How to Come out Alive

December 2017 Volume 28, Issue 12 $2.00 Next Meeting, December 5: Minecraft, the Game - Its History, How to Play, and How to Come Out Alive

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU! 88 paid-up members (including 2 new), Directors’ Notes and 11 in-grace, for a total of 99. Membership 40 people attended the l0/3/2017 gen- Information eral meeting, including 9 visitors. David Danbury Area dacs.doc, ISSN 1084-6573, is published Green reported that press releases were monthly by the Danbury Area Computer Computer Society sent out as usual. Board Meeting Minutes Society, 65 Legion Rd, New Milford, CT Websites: 06776. Annual subscription rates: $60 Wednesday, November 8, 2017 to regular members, $40 electronic ac- The meeting was called to order at Richard reported no significant prob- cess (included in dues). 7:03 pm by the DACS President, David lems on the DAC S website. Green. Postmaster ln attendance were Board members Old Business Send address changes to Danbury Area Richard Corzo, Dick Gingras, Andy Woo- Computer Society, Inc., 4 Gregory Street, Danbury, CT 06810-4430. druff and David Green (President). Also Programs: present was Charles Bovaird, who had At the December 2017 meeting Drew agreed to take minutes of the Kwashnak and his son Thomas will speak meeting. about Minecraft Editorial Committee The Minutes of the 10/3/2017 (Octo- Preview - Jim Scheef Managing Editor: Richard Teasdale Production Editor: Allan Ostergren ber) Board Meeting were accepted. Review - Richard Corzo The October Treasurer's report was re- At the January 2018 meeting Andrew Contributors ceived from Bert. Charles Bovaird Richard Corzo Ribeiro, a member of the Danbury Al Drew Kwashnak Lisa Leifels Dues receipts came to $160, enough to Meetup group, will speak about Artifcial Dave Mawdsley Bruce Preston give us a very small gain for the month and Intelligence. Jim Scheef Annette van Ommeren more than October a year ago. The total Preview -Richard Corzo Andy Woodruff Year to date (10 months) dues receipts continue slightly below last year, but only by Review - Andy Woodruff $83.00. Dick has been in contact with the Apple DACS, its officers and directors as- sume no liability for damages arising Expenses continue to be normal and Store about a presentation. Their policy has always been to insist that events be out of the publication or non-publica- the 10 month year to date totals continue tion of any article, advertisement, or similar to 2016, adjusted for John held in the store, but there appears to be a possibility that the policy will change. other item in this newsletter. Patrick's book expenses (that he cov- The editors welcome submissions ered). Our General Fund balance of from DACS members. Contact Richard $2,895 is again slightly above last year's Renovation of the Teasdale ([email protected]). Ad- October balance. Resource Center vertisers, contact Charles Bovaird at (203) 792-7881 ([email protected]) The reserve that we need for pre-paid Dick reported that a donation of used dues now stands at $1,183, well below the carpet may be available from the Matrix Copyright $2895 on hand (does NOT count the Re- Center. He is in conversation with Bruce Copyright source Center Fund). Tuomala about this. Nonprofit groups may request permission The Resource Center Fund continues to reprint articles from dacs.doc or to have a balance of $655. http://www.dacs.org by sending e- New Business mail to [email protected]. Re- The Membership report was received lt was agreed that the December Board printed articles shall credit the by e-mail from Jim Scheef. Meeting will take place on December 6 (1st copyright holder and a copy of the Wednesday of that month). final publication shall be mailed to: IN THIS ISSUE Danbury Area Computer Society, Inc. Election of two new board members 65 Legion Rd, DIRECTORS’ NOTES 2 will take place at the December General New Milford, CT 06776 HELPLINE 3 meeting.

PREVIEW: MINECRAFT 4 Snacks for General Meetings: Richard Corzo will provide snacks for REVIEW: 3D DESIGN 5 the December meeting. and David Green BUCKY MILAM CARTOON 5 will bring the drinks Workshop News & Notes 6 Bert will contact Jim about asking non- LET’S MEET UP 6 renewing members (by e-mail) for feedback concerning why they are leaving DACS. DECEMBER CALENDAR 7 A discussion took place on how Dick Gingras APCUG Liaison GRADUATING TO A SMARTPHONE 8 we can get more visitors to the DACS [email protected] THE HDMI CABLE AND CONNECTORS 9 general meeting. ANNUAL MEETING AND BOARD ELECTIONS 10 The meeting was adjourned at 8: 35 pm. FUTURE EVENTS 12 — Charles Bovaird

2 • Dec 2017 http://www.dacs.org There are Many Ways Officers to Join DACS DACS GENERAL NUMBER: (203) 744-9198 PRESIDENT: David Green [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS: [email protected] SECRETARY: Bert Goff • TREASURER: Bert Goff

Directors [email protected]

Richard Corzo (203) 797-1518 [email protected] Richard Gingras (203) 426-1780 [email protected] Bert Goff (860) 355-8895 [email protected] David Green (203) 797-8682 [email protected] An easy way to join DACS is to at- Andy Woodruff (203) 744-9588 [email protected] tend one of the monthly general meetings. General meetings are normally held on the first Tuesday of each month at Committees Danbury Hospital. Or join right on our Website via the PayPal link, where you NEWSLETTER: Richard Teasdale: [email protected], may also pay by credit card without a PROGRAM: [email protected] PayPal account. WEB MASTERS: Richard Corzo ([email protected]), (203) 797-1518 General meetings are always free to Annette van Ommeren ([email protected]), (914) 232-0149 the public, but only members benefit PRESS RELEASES: Dave Green ([email protected]) fully from DACS’ many other events, activities, and publications. As a APCUG LIAISON: Dick Gingras ([email protected]) member you become part of a dynamic MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR: Jim Scheef ([email protected]) computer group in the Greater Danbury RESOURCE CENTER: (203) 748-4330 • WEB SITE: http://www.dacs.org Area. You will receive a subscription to dacs.doc, our award-winning monthly newsletter, packed with news and HelpLine information pertinent to computer users of all levels. In addition to inter- Our former telephone HelpLine has been replaced by our web-based DACS Com- esting feature stories, the newsletter munity Forum at http://forum.dacs.org. We have topic-specific forums where DACS contains a monthly calendar of events members can post questions. Questions may be answered by Workshop leaders or and a recap of the the previous general other DACS members. If none of the categories fit your question, just post it to the meeting and last month’s workshops. Ask DACS forum. Members may also post questions to the DACS Community Forum. Topic Forum Members may also attend the monthly workshops, where topics Linux Linux Workshop relating to computers, peripherals, Desktop publishing and website design Web Site Design Workshop software, and operating systems are discussed. Workshops meet through- Mac and iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Apple Workshop out the month at our Resource Center in downtown Danbury unless men- Online/small business Online Business tioned otherwise in the calendar. Occa- Single board computers Single Board Computers sionally, special topic sessions are also offered to members. Smartphones & Tablets Mobile Devices Workshop Individual/Family Memberships Social media Social Media Annual membership dues are $40.00 for individuals or for each family living Video capture/processing Video at the same address. Annual memberships which include a printed newslet- Windows Windows Workshop ter are available for $60.00 a year. http://www.dacs.org Dec 2017 • 3 December Meeting Preview

Minecraft the Game - Its History, How to Play, and How to Come Out Alive Preview by Jim Scheef Date: December 5, 2017, 7:30 pm His company, Mojang (Swedish for "gad- Danbury Hospital Creasy Auditorium get") was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. Presenters: Drew and Thomas Kwashnak Game software for all platforms is available on the Minecraft website (minecraft.net). I INECRAFT IS THE MOST found basic information on Wikipedia and popular computer game in by searching on YouTube. initial rules that allows for creativity at all M history, yet the basic game has The play environment is a 3-D levels of the game. no structure, no story, and no objective. "sandbox" world made of blocks. The Drew Kwashnak and son Thomas will And I wonder why I'm not a gamer! What player's view is created on the fly as the team up as our presenters. Thomas is a makes Minecraft cool is that everything the player (or players) moves through the sophomore at Pomperaug High School and player sees on the screen—the environment environment. The speed of game play is was introduced to Minecraft years ago by set at the start along with a degree of a friend. Since then he has created and difficulty. There are several modes of play. maintains his own Minecraft server that he "Survival" is typical where you must find and his friends play on, and posts YouTube (mine) resources which can be "crafted" videos of his Redstone and super-fast into tools. Other resources include food piston doors. He is into gaming, technol- which seems to come raw and is best when ogy, math and art and has taken classes in cooked, which naturally involves other (computer) Game Design, Computer resources, all of which you must find, mine Animation and Computer Design in High and craft into whatever you need. In sur- School. He hopes to go into Game Design vival mode, you are trying not to die. The when he graduates. world alternates between daytime and Drew has been involved with DACS night, which is when the bad creatures previously as Linux Workshop leader and appear. on the Board of Directors. Along the way, Other play modes include "Creative" he has written a number of DACS.doc where you can fly and have unlimited newsletter articles and over the years has resources which would be handy if you participated in several General Meeting (world)—comes from an initial seed (string want to, for example, build a large dwelling. presentations. At home he has set up and of ascii characters) entered when starting the "Hardcore" is played at the most difficult runs a couple of Linux servers, including game, so at the most basic level, game play level and when you die, you're done. the initial setup of the Minecraft server is in a seemingly "random" world. Minecraft If you sense that I'm unfamiliar with Thomas manages, and tinkers with what- was originally developed by Markus all this, you are correct. Multiplayer is ever computers come his way. Persson, a Swedish game designer, in 2009. available through player-hosted or commercial servers. Playing with (or against?) other players seems to be the key to the game's commercial success. The game is available on just about any platform imag- inable, including Linux, Windows, and Mac, plus every current game console. A pocket edition allows play on every "device" from iOS to Windows Phone! Versions for virtual reality platforms are starting to appear. Servers offer a play to build and store "ready to play" worlds (realms) where players can return and continue play where they left off. Shop at In their presentation, Thomas and Drew Amazon Smile Kwashnak will start with some history of and Amazon will the game and then explain and demonstrate make a donation to basic game play for people like me who have the Danbury Area never played. After the break, Thomas will Computer Society, Inc. show us environments on the Mineplex server where he plays with his friends. The more I read and explore Minecraft, the more Markus Persson at GDC 2011 (Photo credit: complex the game becomes. This complex- Wikipedia) ity seems to come from a simple set of

4 • Dec 2017 http://www.dacs.org ‘

November Meeting Review While the hobbyist/consumer 3D printer suppliers seem to be engaged in a race to the bottom, the need and interest in producing 3D Design: functional parts from engineering materials remain strong. Fortunately, it's easy to take Learn how in one evening the next steps. The hobby printers rely al- By Fred Klingener most exclusively on process that fuses a plas- HE DIRTY SECRET about 3D print tured 3D CAD program, free, hosted tic filament to build up successive layers of ing is that it has been wildly by Autocad and supported by an ac- the object. The selection of materials is lim- Toverhyped. Early adopters are find- tive user community. It runs from the ited, and the dimensional stability, irrelevant ing that consumer printer models are web in any browser that supports in a Storm Trooper, is difficult to achieve. If fussy and slow, and they produce results WebGL (https://get.webgl.org). A cur- you want to explore advanced materials or that often don't match expectations. But mudgeon, such as your reviewer, might processes, first, start calling it "additive manu- overheating and the subsequent cool- be turned off by the Playskool-like user facture", then talk to Mike or visit Danbury ing of the market hasn't changed even a interface until he is reminded that that Hackerspace to sample the array of resident little the conviction that 3D printing is is precisely the point - the notional tar- printers, laser cutters or routers. the future. get user is a school child bent on real- For serious product development, explore For one thing, 3D printer manufac- izing an idea without needing help from websites such as Shapeways (https:// turers are shipping commodity models an adult. It's an immensely powerful www.shapeways.com) or I.materialise (https:/ that Santa can assemble even after three idea, and it will be an immensely im- /i.materialise.com), services that offer estimat- or four beers and can produce a platoon portant result if the notion comes real. ing and production in a wide selection of ma- of Storm Troopers before breakfast on Mike led us through creation and as- terials, using a wide selection of processes. Christmas morning. This has to count for sembly of models of such things as lug- something. gage tags, a barn and a chicken to live in it, If the power of a professional CAD envi- a selection that exercised basic features of ronment is needed, programs such as Onshape "0 to 60 miles per hour the interface. Some of us were able to keep (https://www.onshape.com/cad-pricing) offer in one hour." up, at least one with iOS/Safari on an iPad. free services for hobbyists and educators and will be accessible to Tinkercad users. Mike Kaltschnee, who is co-founder of Danbury Hackerspace (https:// Thingiverse Conclusion danburyhackerspace.com, a non-profit Don't know what to draw in Tinkercad corporation that provides 3D printers first? The internet is stuffed with ideas In the last few months, your reviewer has and other tools for its members) and a and finished models. For instance, attended several technical conferences and familiar face around Danbury computa- Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse. presentations, and all those presentations tion, returned to our DACS November com) is a community assembly that re- ran in the cloud, subject to the whim of the meeting to update the membership on 3D ports almost a million models available Wi-Fi served by the venue. During Mike's printing, its current state, its prospects and for download, modification and print- presentation, even though tests of the local how to climb on board. The experienced ing, most under Creative Commons li- Wi-Fi throughput reported blazing speed, the DACS audience member might have ex- cense. It's probably the first place to response of Tinkercad was sometimes balky. pected to see an array of 3D printers hum- look for those Storm Trooper models. DACS should definitely keep trying. ming away on stage, accompanied by a dis- Next Steps cussion of relative merits. But if he/she had read the meeting preview, they would have brought fully charged laptops, prepared to get up to speed (Mike promised "0 to 60 miles per hour in one hour.") with modern 3D model creation. This interactive, executable tutorial presentation was a first for DACS, en- abled by the emergence of powerful web- based-, OS-agnostic-, run-in-a-browser applications. It was a brave thing to do - to pile the vagaries of auditorium wire- less and diversity of laptop hardware and software on top of the usual hazards of live presentation, but it worked far better that could have been guessed. I'll say more about that later.

Tinkercad The focus of the presentation was a guided tour of Tinkercad (https:// www.tinkercad.com), a capable, full-fea- http://www.dacs.org Dec 2017 • 5 Workshops

Workshop Notes: December 2017 Apple. Focuses on all aspects of the Mac and iPhone Single Board Computers Workshop. Explores small cheap operating systems. computers like Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Netduino, Contact: Richard Corzo ([email protected]). Beaglebone, and more. Meets at 7:00 p.m on the 3rd Meets 2nd Tuesday, 7 p.m. at DACS Resource Center. Thursday at the DACS Resource Center. Next Meeting: Cancelled Contact: Jim Scheef (860-355-0034) Next Meeting: Dec 21 Jobs. Networking and jobs search Video Workshop. Explores all aspects of video capture and Contact: Charles Bovaird, 203-792-7881 (aam@ production, including both inexpensive and professional mags.net). Go to DACS Community Forum (http:// choices for cameras and editing software. forum.dacs.org) for job listings. Meets on the 3rd Thursday of certain months, typically at Linux. Helps in installing and maintaining the Linux 7:00 pm at the Resource Center. Check the Calendar for operating system. Also of interest to Apple owners details. using OS X. Contact: Andy Woodruff ([email protected]) Contact: Dave Mawdsley, [email protected] Next meeting: Check dacs.org Meets 3rd Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the DACS Web Development/Design Web Development/Design This Resource Center. workshop is looking for a new moderator. Being a work- Next Meeting: Dec 20 shop leader is a great way to share information, learn new PC Maintenance. Review of PC hardware and OpSys techniques, promote your business, and interact with like- maintenance and use. minded people. Extensive web knowledge is not required, Contact: Charles Bovaird, 203-792-7881 ([email protected]). but a willingness to open a topic for discussion and enjoy Go to DACS Community Forum (http://forum.dacs.org). the contributions and feedback from the attendees. Meets Online Business Workshop. Informal member gathering every 3rd Tuesday of the month, but repeating date can be sharing ideas on creating an online source of income. changed if needed. Contact: Steve Harkness ([email protected]) Contact [email protected], or [email protected] . Meets second Monday in Brookfield, or by Webinar. Next meeting: TBA–Look for updates Next Meeting: Check dacs.org.

Let’s Meet Up Have you ever wondered who the other members of DACS has been a user of Meetup for several years, DACS are, what their interests are, and whether they to distribute and share information about general meetings have experience and knowledge that could benefit you? and workshops. For this service, we pay fees. Now we Would you like to be able to identify and contact the other would like to leverage the full potential of Meetup, by en- members, sharing information with them, but without hav- couraging its use for individual DACS members as a chan- ing to disclose your e-mail and phone details? nel of communication. Your Board has recognized that one of the benefits of If you are not already a user of Meetup, please go to DACS membership should be the means to communi- www.meetup.com and sign up to become one. There is no charge cate with each other in this way. for individual users. After you have joined Meetup, At the July general meeting, we began with a quick you can join the Danbury Tech Meetup (emphasizing DACS’ series of introductions, giving attendees an opportunity broader technology focus), and see a list of upcoming meetings. to communicate their interests. Meetup gives you an opportunity to create a profile of The Board has discussed at length how to promote your interests. If you wish, you can upload a photo of communication between members, and has looked at the yourself. You will also find that there is a Message func- pros and cons of a number of ways to do this. The gen- tion, which allows you to send private messages to other eral meeting introductions were our first effort in this Meetup users, without using e-mail. We hope that the re- regard; another one we would like to offer is a resource sources of Meetup will prove to be a valuable addition to already in use by DACS: Meetup. DACS membership. Question: What is Meetup? Answer: according to Wikipedia, "Meetup is an online members to find and join groups unified by a common social networking portal that facilitates offline group meet- interest, such as politics, books, games, movies, health, pets, ings in various localities around the world. Meetup allows careers or hobbies."

6 • Dec 2017 http://www.dacs.org December 2017 Danbury Area Computer Society

AI Developer Meetup Danbury Hackerspace Hackerspace 7-9 PM Open House 7:00 PM

General Meeting Board of Directors 7:30 PM 7:00 PM

Danbury Hackerspace Open House 7:00 PM

Apple 7:00 PM Membership Richard Corzo Web & App [email protected] Committee Developer Meetup 7:00 PM Hackerspace Cancelled Jim Scheef 7-9 PM 860-355-0034 Danbury Hackerspace Open House 7:00 PM

Single Board Linux Computers Workshop Danbury Inventors’ 7:30 PM 7:00 PM Meetup Dave Mawdsley Jim Scheef Hackerspace [email protected] 860-355-0034

Danbury Hackerspace Open House 7:00 PM

http://www.dacs.org Dec 2017 • 7 or risk stepping out in front of an oncoming Late Term Adoption car because I've tuned out everything but that little device in my hand. Stephen Hawk- ing and Elon Musk are smart guys, and they Educating My Phone - have both expressed concerns about the po- Graduating to a Smartphone tential threat to the human race that artificial intelligence could pose if its development by Greg Skalka continues. In the same way, I fear we are well HOUGH I HAVE BUILT many well. While none of the computers that I on our way to trading away our humanity computers over the years, and used use today (desktop or laptop) cost me more for these addictive little handheld screens. Tand experimented with lots of than $500, this appears to be about the So, what made me change my mind and technology, for the longest time I have median price for smartphones. submit to the dark side of smartphones? Is resisted getting the one tech item that now While the capabilities of smartphones it similar to the argument that "it's not guns seems to be pervasive in our society - a are impressive, the cultural phenomenon that kill people, but people that kill people"? smartphone. I've had mobile phones, but of the smartphone is not (at least to me). I I do hope (and believe) I can ignore their only "dumb" cell phones. I've had flip really would like to be able to access the siren song and not use a smartphone in an phones that could only place voice calls, internet from practically anywhere, and look overtly antisocial manner. and a slide phone that allowed talking and with a bit of envy at those searching the In the end, several factors conspired to texting, but until recently I'd resisted get- web and getting real-time traffic informa- put a smartphone in my hand (unlike my slide ting a phone that provided access to the tion while out and about. To scan a prod- phone, it is too big for my pocket). Though internet. Now at last I am "graduating" to a uct bar code in a store and then search the my slide phone served me well for many true smartphone. web for additional information, alternatives years, it has started to become unreliable. Now I'm not opposed to technology. I and better pricing is very powerful. I don't am an electrical engineer by profession, and feel a great need to have my emails with me currently work for a company designing wherever I go, however; I think being able digital radio systems that may be used to to communicate via text messaging is connect cell phone towers to the phone plenty good. network. I have used computers since be- For all the good that smartphones rep- fore the original IBM PC-XT. I have owned resent, I believe there definitely is a dark and used all manner of computers, laptops, side. It seems almost everyone has a tablets, Chromebooks, music players, GPS smartphone, and many can't seem to put receivers and digital cameras and video them down. Opioid drugs are very useful recorders. I pay for a mobile phone plan in pain treatment, but when abused, they that covers three smartphones (my wife and can be very addictive, and ultimately de- daughter have iPhones, my son has a structive. I see the same things in Google Nexus), but I've never graduated smartphones - a great and useful tool that from my dumb phone. Until now. has the potential for great abuse. Now There are a lot of reasons I've held back maybe great abuse on an individual scale until now. I'm pretty value-conscious (some is uncommon, but I worry what these de- would say cheap) and for a long time I felt vices are doing to our society. I all too of- having a smartphone was not worth the ten see families seated at a table in a res- cost - mainly in the cost of the phone plan. taurant, with each family member devoting When data plans were around $40 a month, their full attention to their own and my home broadband internet service smartphones rather than each other. My was about the same, it made me wonder wife suffers from motion sensitivity and so why I had to pay twice; once to have does the driving whenever we travel to- internet access at home, and again to have gether; this gives me the opportunity to it away from home. The phones themselves observe the drivers in the cars around us. are what I would consider pretty pricey as I've found it is not unusual to see half of those drivers holding their phones while Though its built-in camera is poor by cur- driving, presumably talking, texting or rent digital camera standards, I found it very worse. Unlike laptop computers, handy simply because it was almost always smartphones have had traffic deaths attrib- with me. I became dependent on its ability to uted to their use, and laws enacted to hope- photograph store product tags for items I fully prevent their use in situations like driv- wanted to research, and send photos of what ing, where the distraction could be dan- I'm doing to my kids. Recently, however, it gerous. had started to fail me, more often than not While I was concerned about the added taking photos that look like they were taken cost, part of my reluctance to getting a in Andy Warhol mode (colorful and smartphone was my desire to not risk be- cartoonish). Finally, attempts to use the coming "one of them." those zombie-like phone camera were greeted with the screen people that can't put their phones down. I message "Camera not available." It was not never want to ignore those I am with in the lack of the internet; it was the lack of a deference to these little electronic gizmos, camera that pushed me over the edge.

8 • Dec 2017 http://www.dacs.org At the same time, I found that phone web. I looked on Amazon for unlocked have my contacts and my few feeble pho- plans have changed, with data included in smartphones and found promising candi- tos transferred from my slide phone to my our current T-Mobile family plan for each dates in the $120 to $170 price range, but new smartphone. They took out the 16GB of us, whether we were using it or not. With concerns about being able to use these on micro SD card from my old phone and put extra charges for data overages replaced our plan had me look at the T-Mobile web it in my new phone, but I immediately be- with data throttling when your monthly limit site. The best candidate seemed to be a gan plotting to get a much larger SD card was reached, my concerns over an increas- Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime, which could be for the smartphone. I looked at cases for ing bill were eliminated. I had been reluc- bought outright for $150. my new phone at the T-Mobile store but tant to change to a smartphone as I thought Heading with my wife to the T-Mobile they all seemed expensive. I was able to it would result in a bigger bill due to add- store (the phone account is in her name), I get a nice case with belt clip (my initial ex- ing a data plan for it. As it turned out, I had felt kind of like a vegan heading to In 'N' periment with carrying the phone) for a lot been entitled to use over 2 GB of mobile Out for a Double-Double, or a diabetic less. I didn't take the phone out much until data all along (and had only been using a heading to the candy store. Like the recipi- I'd gotten the case, as I was concerned few MB of data sending photos with my ent of a mail-order bride, I was filled with about damaging it. This caution proved to slide phone). I had the power to have a both excited anticipation and apprehen- be justified, as I've already dropped the smartphone all along; all I had to do was sion. Having a smartphone would allow me smartphone in the Fry's parking lot once click my heels together in the T-Mobile to do many things I had only dreamed of, (but the case protected it). store (so to speak). like get answers to questions myself when Now I've moved into the 21st century, With my slide phone broken and data out, rather than have to ask my wife to look joining the over 3 billion humans that use available in my phone plan, the only re- things up on her phone. I could get apps smartphones. The phones may be smart - maining issue to graduating to a and do fun things like check on traffic and let's hope all the users remain so. smartphone this June was the device. Since control lights at home. Having a GREG SKALKA is president, Under the Computer my needs were modest, I expected the price smartphone might change me, however. I Hood User Group, CA (www.uchug.org; to be modest as well. I consulted with my might become antisocial. I'd have to find a president (at) uchug.org). son, also an electrical engineer, on his way to carry this larger object and avoid choice for a smartphone, but found he had breaking it or losing it. Would I be satisfied This article appeared in the July 2017 is- just copied a more knowledgeable friend with what I had or want more? sue of Drive Light, and is reprinted by when he bought his Google Nexus off the At the T-Mobile store, I was able to permission.

Back to Basics on the internet, you will be shocked at the high prices they can charge for these things. Yes, some cables are higher quality The HDMI Cable and Connectors than others and may come with better By Jim Cerny "shielding" to protect the signal, but most prices are much too high for what you get. S TECHNOLOGY changes, hope- this button different input options (that is, My advice would be to shop on-line and fully for the better, more and more what is coming INTO your TV) will be dis- get the cheapest cable that meets your devices are available to us. For most played and allow you to select which one A needs, but make sure you can return it if of us who use technology for personal and you want. One option will be "cable" which you are not happy with it. If it doesn't work home use, we would like to connect some means your TV will show your cable pro- for you, then return it and move up to the devices to our TVs to enjoy the big screen grams - the cable you pay for each month. next higher-priced (and hopefully better video and great sound experience. The lat- But other choices will include one or more quality) cable. est connection cable type that does this HDMI inputs, usually labeled HDMI-1, You can find out more about HDMI for us is HDMI which stands for "High HDMI-2, etc. If you have more than one cables and connectors by asking Google, Definition Media Interface". The cable con- device connected to your TV it is best for of course. But connecting them is easy, nectors (the standard size and a mini size) each device to connect to its own HDMI even for us amateurs. are shown in the photo. They have a shape port on the back of the TV. You select which to them that allows them to be inserted only of the inputs you want to view on your TV JIM CERNY is forum leader, Sarasota one way, so do not force it into the port, try by using the "input" button on your re- Technology User's Group, F (www.thestug.org; turning it over (180 degrees) and try again. mote. Of course, there must be something jimcerny123 (at) gmail.com). The purpose of HDMI is to replace dif- (video and sound) coming into that port to This article was published in the April ferent kinds of connectors and cables with the TV for you to see anything. For ex- 2017 issue, Sarasota Monitor, and is one type that, hopefully, can handle all ample, you may have a DVD player con- reprinted by permission. your device connections. Do you remem- nected to HDMI-1, but if your DVD player ber the old days when there were separate is not on and playing something, you will audio/stereo and video cables? Today al- not see anything on your TV when you most all of the newer devices (laptops, TV's, select that input option. If you have some DVD players, etc.) will come with at least older devices which may not have an one HDMI connector port. The older style HDMI connector, you can purchase a con- connectors may also be present, but if pos- verter device to allow it to connect. sible, HDMI should be your first choice to Lastly, I am always amazed by the cost make those connections. of cables - after all, they are just wires with Your TV remote control will have a but- plugs on the ends, right? If you checkout ton labeled "input", and when you press the prices of cables at stores and the prices http://www.dacs.org Dec 2017 • 9 Candidates

The following DACS members have been nominated for the Board of Directors for 2018-2020. Please show your support by voting at the annual meeting, December 5, or by volunteering to serve on our Board. Bert Goff — has been the DACS Treasurer and a Board member for the past 4 years; and a member for over fourteen years. He is retired from IBM and some independent software development contracting. Computers remain one of his interests and hobbies. With IBM, he was involved in all phases of software development, primarily in operating systems. His PC experience goes back to 1982 with the first IBM PCs (64K, 2 diskette drives, and DOS 1.0). He is also an active volunteer with the Red Cross, doing disaster work and blood drives. He and his wife, Vivian, ran the New Milford Wheels Program, which provides rides to medical appointments for those who cannot drive themselves, from 2011 through 2013. Many years ago, he was Treasurer of his church for 2 years. Bert has a BS degree in Applied Mathematics from Brown University and lots of education from IBM, including in management and leadership. He is a US Navy veteran, having run the Data Processing Department at the Navy Supply Depot on Guam. He and his wife moved to Connecticut (Bethel) in 2000 and now live in New Milford.

David Green — After serving in the U.S. Army for 3 years (1955 - 1958) in the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, NY, Dave taught instrumental music for 6 years. In 1964 he became a computer programmer trainee at Security National Bank in Battle Creek. After working as a computer operator for 4 months in 1966 at the Defense Logistics Service Center in Battle Creek, he entered their programmer training class, which led to a position as Systems Programmer, a position he held until taking a job with General Foods in 1978. That involved a move to work in their headquarters in White Plains, NY. In 1985 Dave became a consultant, working as a systems programmer until 1994, when he became a Systems Analyst for the Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET). After 6 months they outsourced their systems programming staff to Computer Sciences Corporation, for whom he worked until his retirement in 2001. He got his first PC in 1983, teaching himself since then.

DACS Members — Residents of one of our regional towns and members of DACS since joining, are interested in computers, but do not feel they know everything there is to know about them, attend meetings regularly, and feel DACS should have an important role in educating the public on new computer technologies. These members have volunteered for local organizations and community service, but so far think their background is not up to the level of those gurus on the board. Perhaps these persons think that computer clubs are different from other non profit community groups that serve beginners as well as advanced users. If you know anyone fitting this description, or see them when you get up in the morning, say that DACS needs them to serve on the board. And, to think about it - how about YOU?

DACS Elections are coming in December

Be a candidate for the Board

Contact Bert Goff at bgoff@ dacs.org, and say “I want to make a difference for DACS.”

10 • Dec 2017 http://www.dacs.org Ballot

I (we) hereby appoint Dick Gingras or Bert Goff proxies to vote in my (our) stead at the Annual Meeting of the members of the Danbury Area Computer Society, Inc. to be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. as follows:

The election of the following to serve as directors for a term of two years and until successors shall be elected and shall qualify (vote for no more than four):

• Bert Goff • David Green

• ______

Signature(s): ______/ ______

______/ ______/______(Membership in DACS is a family membership. If there are more than one member in your household, all please sign.)

Signed ______Dated ______

Notice of the Annual Meeting of Danbury Area Computer Society, Inc. to be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2017

The Annual Meeting of the members of the Danbury Area Computer Society, Inc. will be held at the Danbury Hospital Auditorium, at 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, Connecticut on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of electing directors. The number of directors is fixed at seven individuals in two alternating classes of three and four. Each class serves for a term of two years and, this year. the individuals named above have agreed to stand for re-election or election to serve until the Annual Meeting of the Members to be held in the year 2019.

If you do not plan to attend the meeting, please return the attached proxy to:

Bert Goff 65 Legion Rd, New Milford, CT 06776 to arrive prior to December 5, 2017 and express your preferences

Your presence in person and participation in the meeting would be appreciated. Come and hear not only what we did this year, but what, with your help, we hope to do in the coming year.

Respectfully, David Green, President

http://www.dacs.org Dec 2017 • 11 dacs.doc Danbury Area Computer Society 65 Legion Rd New Milford, CT 06776

Voice for Joanie Help give the gift of speech Call Frank Ruiz at 203 770-6203 and become a Voice for Joanie When you come to the next DACS meeting, volunteer why not bring a friend? www.voiceforjoanie.org Future Events:

December 5 January 2 Minecraft Artificial Intelligence Drew and Thomas Andrew Ribeiro Kwashnak

February 6 March 6 TBA TBA