Sydney PC User Group Incorporated Members helping Members for over 26 Years Visitors are always welcome
WEEKLY SIG MEETING UPDATE 9 - 14 DECEMBER 2013
1st Floor Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts 280 Pitt Street, Sydney http://www.sydneypc.com Sydney PCUG's Blog UPCOMING SIGs 16 - 21 December 2013 Tuesdays Seniors SIG Genealogy SIG Web Design SIG Kies 3.2 Download... *Lunch on Friday* Members of the Seniors and Communications SIGs will adjourn for lunch to a nearby establishment on Friday. All members are welcome to join them in this short end-of-year luncheon.	Hello and Welcome, There are three excellent meetings for members next week and on Friday members of two groups are joining together for a short luncheon. All the details are below. *Tuesday 10 December - Programming - N. Hoffman - 5:30pm - 8:30pm* At the November meeting we discussed ways of using an iPhone to wirelessly control a Raspberry Pi. They are a natural pair in the world of miniature computing, as the iPhone has a keyboard and screen which the Raspberry Pi lacks. Operate them together and the iPhone can be used to select and run programs that are stored on the Pi. Darwin demonstrated a system for etching names on aluminium and stainless steel, using a microcontroller etching device he designed. Under the control of a PIC, bursts of AC and DC are passed through an electrolyte applied to the metal by a sponge through a stencil. His demo can be seen on his website here. More details can be seen here and here. Andrew discussed the Data Logger he designed around a PIC24. He has used this cheap device to perform several of the functions previously only available from expensive multitasking equipment. Members of the group will demonstrate some new microprocessor applications and programming examples at Tuesday's meeting. - Neville Hoffman *Friday 13 December - Seniors - 9:30am - 12:30pm* Computer users have access to extensive range of free computer programs but most of us do not have the time to evaluate their benefit to us. At this meeting the group will explore some of the TOP freeware programs for 2013 so that those present can decide whether they should try using some of them on their computers. A new highlighted mouse cursor will be downloaded and installed on the club's computer and a question and answer session will be available to help members with any computer problems. *Friday 13 December - Communications - J. Lucke - 12:30pm - 3:30pm* The security of personal, corporate and government communications has become a daily topic in the media recently and many of us are wondering how we might improve the security of our personal electronic communications. At this meeting John Lucke will compare the different wireless network security methods that are currently available. As most of are making greater use of wireless network connected computers, tablets, phones and printers etc. this is a very timely topic for members to consider. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Mathews Please remember if your e-mail address is changed for any reason at all, unless you tell me your new address you will not receive these weekly updates! Any change of address should be notified to changedetails@sydneypc.com
Information for Members and Visitors: Sydney PC User Group's FREE newsletter: Subscribe Send to Friend Un-subscribe Go to Sydney PC User Group's: Website Events Calendar Please note that all Meetings, except where specifically stated, are held on the 1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney. DISCLAIMER: This Newsletter is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind. Each user or reader of this Newsletter assumes complete risk as to the accuracy and subsequent use of its contents.

Tuesday 10 December - Programming - N. Hoffman - 5:30pm - 8:30pm

At the November meeting we discussed ways of using an iPhone to wirelessly control a Raspberry Pi. They are a natural pair in the world of miniature computing, as the iPhone has a keyboard and screen which the Raspberry Pi lacks. Operate them together and the iPhone can be used to select and run programs that are stored on the Pi.

Darwin demonstrated a system for etching names on aluminium and stainless steel, using a microcontroller etching device he designed. Under the control of a PIC, bursts of AC and DC are passed through an electrolyte applied to the metal by a sponge through a stencil. His demo can be seen on his website here.

More details can be seen here and here.

Andrew discussed the Data Logger he designed around a PIC24. He has used this cheap device to perform several of the functions previously only available from expensive multitasking equipment.

Members of the group will demonstrate some new microprocessor applications and programming examples at Tuesday's meeting. - Neville Hoffman

Friday 13 December - Seniors - 9:30am - 12:30pm

Computer users have access to extensive range of free computer programs but most of us do not have the time to evaluate their benefit to us.

At this meeting the group will explore some of the TOP freeware programs for 2013 so that those present can decide whether they should try using some of them on their computers.

A new highlighted mouse cursor will be downloaded and installed on the club's computer and a question and answer session will be available to help members with any computer problems.

Friday 13 December - Communications - J. Lucke - 12:30pm - 3:30pm

The security of personal, corporate and government communications has become a daily topic in the media recently and many of us are wondering how we might improve the security of our personal electronic communications.

At this meeting John Lucke will compare the different wireless network security methods that are currently available.

As most of are making greater use of wireless network connected computers, tablets, phones and printers etc. this is a very timely topic for members to consider.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John Mathews

Please remember if your e-mail address is changed for any reason at all, unless you tell me your new address you will not receive these weekly updates! Any change of address should be notified to changedetails@sydneypc.com