Computing Forum
Hosted by Peter Lord
We meet online every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 3pm for presentations and discussions on computing and internet related technologies. We try to cover “how things work” in preference to “what button to press”.
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Latest Post
- Installing desktop GNU/Linux – followup & discussion
This month we look at installing desktop GNU/Linux. The talk will be demo focused. If you aren’t a member, it’s free to join here https://u3acommunities.org/subscribe-to-computing-forum/. Plenty of time is reserved[…] - Local Generative AI – followup
This month, we discuss some of the options and issues about running your own Generative AI at home. As well as avoiding privacy issues with online Generative AI and reducing[…] - Home electricity – 1 year update
A year or so ago I presented How to reduce your electricity bill to zero talk – it’s now been running for a year, so time to check progress. Unfortunately,[…] - IPv4 and IPv6 addresses followup
Firstly, thank you for your patience as we tried kmeet/jitsi. Whilst a lot of it did work, and it has a number of advantages over zoom, I think we can[…] - How generative AI works – followup
This month we look at Generative AI, including a bit of history, opening the pandoras box, how they work and how they compare. Will include a demo or two. If[…] - Is it time to move to the fediverse – followup
Regular social media has been a source of concern for many years, with specific concerns around data gathering, profiling and hidden algorithms used to sell more ads. In 2016 the[…] - Tuya as a component in my Smart Home – followupIn todays talk, Peter Weston will be taking us through how he uses Tuya devices in his smart home. We will also cover some of the protocols used in home[…]
- Numerical Computing and Computer Algebra follow-upThis month, Tomy Duby showed that a modern computer (including a smartphone) can also do complex scientific and engineering calculations. To achieve this, one needs suitable programs. Using two free[…]
- Backups – follow-up
This month we had a talk about various aspects of backups. We’ll touch on why, different backup schemes and what I do. Included are a couple of videos. Plenty of[…] - immich – the Open Source alternative to Google Photos – followup
This month we have a talk about immich – the open source alternative to Google Photos. We will discuss its features, why we would want to use it, architecture, containers,[…] - Virtual Machines, Containers and related technologies – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we have a talk about virtual machines, containers and related technologies. We will discuss how[…]
- Wokingham council picked up the recent “How to reduce your electricity bill to zero” talk
I noticed that the local council picked up on the recent talk “how to reduce your electricity bill to zero“. See Wokingham climate bulletin. Nice 🙂 - Computing group taking August off
Since its peak festival season, the computing group is taking August off. Next meeting will be September 17th when we will discuss virtual machines, containers and related subjects. If interested,[…] - Moving away from Windows .. to Linux – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month, David Price takes us through how and why we could move away from Windows to[…]
- How to reduce your electricity bill to zero – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we have a talk about reducing your electricity bill. We’ve previously discussed home automation with[…]
- Generating Documents – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month Frank Nicholson took us through Google Slides vs Microsoft PowerPoint. (the planned talk on WYSIWYG[…]
- Email – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we look at Email, including a breakdown of an email message, sending with SMTP, routing[…]
- Generative AI – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we look at generative AI, including a bit of history, opening the pandoras box, how[…]
- Password – followupThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we look at passwords. Areas covered includes early days, local login, remote login, single sign[…]
- Universal Serial Bus – follow-upThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. This month we look at the Universal Serial Bus, or USB. Areas covered include what it is,[…]
- Computing oriented External Seminars January 2024Hi everyone, Many of you may not know that I publish a list of Science and Technology webinars and this is an extraction of those most relevant to Computing. This[…]
- Automating the home with Home Assistant – follow-upThis is the follow-up post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. In last months meeting we touched on using Home Assistant to host AdGuard … as there were[…]
- AI for everyone library
The Artificial Intelligence for everyone library is now available https://u3acommunities.org/interest-groups/computing/ai-for-everyone/ Artificial Intelligence forums are also available for both beginners and enthusiasts. - Why the web is such a mess / DNS, DHCP, trackers and ads – followupThis is the followup post to the on-line meeting containing the materials used. In this meeting we have a video by Tom Scott and a presentation by Peter Lord, both[…]
Previous Meetings
Installing desktop GNU/Linux
17th June 2025 at 3pm UK This month we look at installing desktop GNU/Linux. The talk will be demo focused. Plenty of time is reserved for discussions. Joining details will[...]
Local Generative AI
20th May 2025 at 3pm UK This month, we discuss some of the options and issues about running your own Generative AI at home. As well as avoiding privacy issues[...]
IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
15th April 2025 at 3pm UK This month we look at IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, including both IPv4 and IPv6. The talk includes a brief description of IPv4 addresses, problems[...]
How Generative AI works
18th March 2025 at 3pm UK This month we look at Generative AI, including a bit of history, opening the pandoras box, how they work and how they compare. Will[...]
Is it time to move to the Fediverse ?
Regular social media has been a source of concern for many years, with specific concerns around data gathering, profiling and hidden algorithms used to sell more ads. In 2016 the[...]
Tuya as a component in my Smart Home
In todays talk, Peter Weston will be taking us through how he uses Tuya devices in his smart home. We will also cover some of the protocols used in home[...]
Numerical Computing and Computing Algebra
In today's talk, Tomy Duby will show that a modern computer (including a smartphone) can also do complex scientific and engineering calculations. To achieve this, one needs suitable programs. Using[...]
Backups
This month we have a talk about various aspects of backups. We'll touch on why, different backup schemes and what I do. Included is a couple of videos. Plenty of[...]
immich – the Open Source alternative to Google Photos
This month we have a talk about immich - the open source alternative to Google Photos. We will discuss its features, why we would want to use it, architecture, containers,[...]
Virtual Machines, Containers and related technologies
This month we have a talk about virtual machines, containers and related technologies. We will discuss how different technologies can be used to make better use of server hardware resources. [...]
