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”.
Subscribe to email list
Email us for any queries
Feedback form
Follow on u3a.social
View the calendar
Watch past meetings
If you like the talks, why not
Next Online Meeting
Virtual Machines, Containers and related technologies
18th August @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm This month we have a talk about virtual machines, containers and related technologies. We will discuss how different technologies can be used to make[...]
Latest Post
- Remote access – followup
This month we looked at remote access … aside from web browsing, sometimes you need to login or access an application on a remote server. This could be for the[…] - Ask the group anything – followup
Here are the references I took down from todays meeting. Containers Office ISP’s Firmware Backups Social media for under 16 year olds I proposed to my MP – One concrete[…] - Agentic AI – followup
This month we looked at agentic artificial intelligence … large language models are now no-longer contrained to just “chat”, they can now interface to the outside world to perform tasks. […] - April computing meeting cancelledDue to unforseen circumstances, I’m afraid our planned meeting on the u3communities computing group on 21st April has been cancelled. Sorry about that. This means our next meeting will be[…]
- Email delivery – followup
This month we looked at email delivery … what used to be pretty simple, in the age of SPAM its gotten to be more complex. The background to the talk[…] - Open source software – followup
This month we looked at the world of Open Source Software. Included will be what is the source code, major projects, pros & cons and licenses. We’ll also touch on[…] - How to use https://u3a.social followup
20th January @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Social media is now a big part of how we stay connected. While some large platforms, such as Facebook, have concerns around[…] - From 2025 into 2026Its been a long year for the u3acommunities computing group. We managed to cover a wide range of subjects over the year : Not bad huh. I also re-presented some[…]
- Quantum Computing – followup & discussion
This month we are fortunate that Professor Winfried Hensinger, from Sussex University, will be giving us a talk about quantum computers. Prof Winfried Hensinger is a Professor of Quantum Technologies[…] - u3a.social is alive !After many presentations, lots of discussions and one survey the fediverse site u3a.social is now up and running ! Feel free to request your own account on the server or[…]
- 3D Printing – followup & discussion
This month, David Price will be gently taking us through an introduction to a table top scale manufacturing process. As usual, plenty of time is reserved for discussions. Joining details[…] - u3a.social updateOverview In February 2025, I started presented my talk Is it time to move to the Fediverse ? to on-line and local u3a groups. Whilst the main goal of the[…]
- Home networking – followup & discussion
This month we look at home networking. We’ll cover broadband, Wi-Fi, standards, speeds, firewalls, in-bound connections plus some additional options. If you aren’t a member, it’s free to join here[…] - Real time bidding – followup & discussion
This month we look at the Real Time Bidding (RTB) system – this is the mechanism that provides targeted ads to your web pages and devices. We’ll cover the basic[…] - Ask the group anything – followup & discussionsThis month we ran a “ask the group anything” session. Please add any comments you have related to this session below. If there was a subject raised which you think[…]
- 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[…]
Previous Meetings
Remote Access
21st July @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Aside from web browsing, sometimes you need to login or access an application on a remote server. This could be for the purposes of[...]
Ask the group anything
16 June @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm This month we running another ... ask the group anything. So come along with your questions - could be related to a[...]
Agentic Artificial Intelligence
19th May @ 3:00pm – 5:00pm This month we’ll look at agentic artificial intelligence ... large language models are now no-longer contrained to just "chat", they can now interface to[...]
Email delivery
17th March @ 3:00pm – 5:00pm This month we'll look at email delivery ... what used to be pretty simple, in the age of SPAM its gotten to be more[...]
Open Source Software
17th February @ 3:00pm - 5:00pm This month we look at the world of Open Source Software. Included will be what is the source code, major projects, pros & cons[...]
How to use https://u3a.social
20th January @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Social media is now a big part of how we stay connected. While some large platforms, such as Facebook, have concerns around[...]
Quantum Computers
18th November @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm This month we are fortunate that Professor Winfried Hensinger, from Sussex University, will be giving us a talk about quantum computers. Prof[...]
3D Printing
21st October @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm This month, David Price will be gently taking us through an introduction to a table top scale manufacturing process. As usual, plenty[...]
Home networking
16th September @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm This month we look at home networking. We'll cover broadband, Wi-Fi, standards, speeds, firewalls, in-bound connections plus some additional options. As usual,[...]
Real time bidding (how targeted ads work)
19th August @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm This month we look at the Real Time Bidding (RTB) system - this is the mechanism that provides targeted ads to your[...]
