Technical

Computers, Phones, Gaming. Hints and tips for technical things.

Modifying an old webcam, for infrared imaging.

~ Ron Walker ~ 8 Comments

I ran across this infrared project some time ago, and thought I would like to give it a try. All our cameras have filters in them that filter out most of the infrared spectrum. Removing this filter makes for interesting infrared photography.

First, I located an older spare webcam. Then removed the housing, which was really snapped together well.  I needed access to the camera circuit board. If you’ve never had the opportunity, to see how small the image sensor is, this is your chance.  The small black rectangular object in the center, is the sensor chip.  The lens housing, sits over this and focuses the image onto the sensor. This one also has a small microphone, actually large by today’s standards. In the bottom of the lens housing, is glued a small piece of infrared filter glass. You have to remove it to allow the infrared through. It was stubborn, but I donned my magnifying headpiece, and pictured myself as a mad scientist. I was as careful as possible, but I still broke/chipped the glass square. It not being much larger than the sensor chip, and glued in securely.

Glass filter removed

This is an example from Wikipedia of infrared photography.

 

 

 

 

 

This is what my old webcam produces now. The trees across the way are filling out with leaves. This makes them look less leafy. The shrubs and grass are a rich green. I forgot that infrared light causes a slight focus shift. I need to adjust the focus for clearer pictures.

Time to find another project now.

Comments always welcome

Edit: Some how my pictures have been deleted by accident. Sorry.

Stop hiding my password from me! I can’t remember what’s under a zillion *********’s

~ Ron Walker ~ 21 Comments

This has always disturbed me to no end. Devices hiding MY password, from ME!

In the infancy of the computer age, all the way through today. They taught you two basic things. Protect your password from others, don’t use the same password on multiple accounts. In working environments this made sense. In other situations, not so much. The geniuses  thought if they hid the password as it was typed on the screen, then someone behind you, could not see and steal your password. Thus, a “Star” was born (An asterisk actually).

Never mind the fact they could watch you type out your password on the keys. Of course, polite people turn their heads, or turn around as someone is using a password. Or a sneaky key-logger program could capture your passwords as you typed them asterisks or not. It records the keys pressed, not what shows on the screen.  Showing the Asterisk in a workplace environment may be a good idea, not so much in our own privacy. If someone I don’t know is standing behind me, in my house, then they have a bigger problem than just seeing my password.

Password History

  • Passwords were simple, it wasn’t a smart thing, but simple. abcd, 1234, flower, ford, etc. There were far fewer threats in those days.
  • Companies would actually assign passwords like  (first/last name initials and employee number).
  • Computers became more important, and we were told our passwords were too easy to guess. Hacking programs could find the password in milliseconds. We needed letters and numbers.
  • We were told that they needed to be over 8 characters, made of all manner of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
  • We now have evolved into something like  wuGqF3yqA3o*CAu  (randomly generated for an example, not an actual password).

Password managers

People with multiple phones, computers and other devices they own, need to remember these ultra complex passwords. So password Managers were born. What happened to the cardinal rule, “Don’t share your password with anyone”. They will store your password/s for you, and insert them as you visit your websites. Really convenient, but what happens if someone hacks the password manager site. Or hacks a large website you do business with. Then you must start the process over, making new passwords. So we hide them from our own sight, but hand them over to a total stranger to keep for us, and hope they are secure from attacks.
2017 Data Breach of OneLogin. All US customers emails, passwords stolen.

I get way too frustrated trying to remember if I hit the wrong key by accident, little stars staring at me are no help, and some programs, don’t display anything while you type the password. How about giving the user the option, especially in a private setting, of default showing the password as you type it. Turn it on or off if needed. It’s 2018, why are we still hiding passwords from ourselves?

What are your feelings on “Staring at the Stars” (Asterisks) trying to use your password.

Comments always welcome,

My first SSD drive, Incorrect temperature reading.

~ Ron Walker ~ 8 Comments

This is a post of a technical nature. I had difficulty finding information on the extremely high temperature being reported from the drive. So I wanted to post this, in case anyone else were to run into the same problem. This is my first SSD drive. Purchased from New Egg, it was $30 total. I didn’t get a mounting adapter for it, so I used Velcro to hold it in a place where it gets excellent air-flow. Much better than if it was in a bay adapter.

IMG_20180216_132334583.jpg
60GB Patriot Flare 2.5 inch SSD 7mm thick.

I don’t think I will ever go back to HDD for my OS drive. It does load so much faster on boot up, 50% faster than before. Loading programs? Can we say, “Click, BANG!”? Loading of Chrome has gone from about 15 seconds, to 2 seconds. All of my programs load fast. This is a FLARE 60GB SSD this drive, to be used  only for running my main OS.

Freak Out Time!!

I like for things to run smoothly, if possible. So, I decided to check the operating temp of the drive, using a software utility in Linux. Most computer techs go by Celsius, I still think in Fahrenheit. When my eyes stopped on the temperature reading, I noticed 99 C, heart got a bit faster, still thinking in Fahrenheit. Then gazing to the next temp (in Fahrenheit) it read 210 F. At that moment, I thought the drive may try to live up to it’s name. (Flare)

We all know, once you let the smoke out of those components, they tend to stop working.

I nearly killed myself trying to shut down the computer, and unplug the power at the same time. Cautiously touching the drive, it was cool to the touch. At this point, I’m doing my best impression of a police K-9 frantically searching for drugs, only I was expecting the stink of smoldering components. We all know, once you let the smoke out of those components, they tend to stop working. It then struck me, if Michelle had walked in at that moment, she would assume I needed to be committed. After not detecting smoke, or a burning odor, I tried other temperature detection software, it reported a proper 32 C. Just like the other drives in the case.

Not much rattles me, except maybe electronics, running at nearly the temperature of boiling water! I found it humorous also, that the software was reporting “Disk is OK”. Now, that was funny. Perhaps, it should have read, “Please put flames out, hit Enter when ready”.

Selection_001.png

The REAL temperature of the drive displayed below. Apparently, the sensor in the Flare SSD doesn’t jive with the program I have, to read the disks temps.Selection_002.png

 

It’s over and finished now, I can put away the defibrillator paddles! :)

Intro to Gutenberg Editor for WordPress. Adding text and graphic together.

~ Ron Walker ~ 12 Comments

I apologize for the length, it’s much longer than I wanted. That is the beauty of the stop button. Watch what you desire, or slide through the video till you see something that interests you. I nearly put myself to sleep listening to it.

The second video, is for those looking for a way to have text and picture on the same block. Like the wrap-around we have in the present editor. I hope it helps someone that is playing with the Gutenberg beta for WordPress.

Intro

 

Adding text and graphic on same line/block.

Comments, or questions, welcome.