Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society

Year: 2013

  • History of Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes) in Trinidad and Tobago

    History of Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes) in Trinidad and Tobago

    This is a historical record of the Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes) which were in operation in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 2000.

    A BBS was a computer system that allowed users to connect to the system (typically via dial up modems). Users logged in could chat, email, download files, post messages in forums for other users to read and respond to. BBSes were a precursor to what many persons do on the Internet today, social networking, downloading files, chat, reading and posting in forums or on email lists.

    Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) in Trinidad and Tobago were a popular means of communications beginning in the late 1980s even though personal computers were expensive and few persons actually had one at home. That scenario began to change by the early 1990s as prices on computer hardware began to decrease and modem speeds increased.

    (more…)

  • “Google Now” application available for iPhone and iPad ; video ad features Port of Spain, #Trinidad

    The “Google Now” application that Google promises to deliver “the right information at just the right time” is now available on the Apple iPhone and iPad.

    Previously, “Google Now” was only available on phones/tablets running Android last year (2012).

    You can read more about what Google Now does on Techcrunch or on Google Now’s website.

    However, when the ad for Google Now for the iPhone and iPad focuses on live flight updates as the time approaches and/or as you approach the airport, the illustrated ticket in the video shows a flight from Houston to Port of Spain, #Trinidad (17 seconds into the ad). Although there is no Gate C26 at the Piarco Airport in Trinidad and Tobago.

    Direct YouTube link to the video ad for Google Now for iPhone and iPad

     

  • Updated Java 7 and Java 6 plugins available April 13 2013 – upgrade if you have Java installed.

    Updated Java 7 and Java 6 plugins available April 13 2013 – upgrade if you have Java installed.

    Oracle released Java 7 Update 21 and Java 6 Update 45 on April 13 2013. Oracle has defined this as a Critical Patch Update, because it patches dozens of security vulnerabilities that could allow for unwanted code or malware to be installed just by visiting a website with such malware.

    If you have older versions of Java, you should remove them as soon as possible. The http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml page has more information and tools on how to remove older versions of Java.

    As a additional security precaution, you can disable the execution of Java content in your browser. 

     

     

     

  • Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player April 9 2013

    Security updates available for Adobe Flash Player April 9 2013

    According to the latest Adobe Security Bulletin dated April 9 2013, Adobe has released an updated version of its Adobe Flash Player on various platforms, specifically:

    • Adobe Flash Player 11.6.602.180 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh
    • Adobe Flash Player 11.2.202.275  and earlier versions for Linux

    The vulnerabilities in versions of Adobe Flash before April 9 2013 could allow for execution of unwanted code (typically malware), without your consent just by visiting a website with malicious Flash applications or video (SWF). Therefore, you should update your Adobe Flash Player to the latest version to close this loophole.

    To determine what version of the Adobe Flash player you have on your system, visit http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

    To download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, visit
    http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html.

    Windows users should note that the Flash Player in their Microsoft Internet Explorer browser and the one in web browsers like Opera, Mozilla Firefox and Safari are separate installs. You should install and update both versions of Adobe Flash.

    Google Chrome browser users has Adobe Flash Player built-in and users should update the Google Chrome browser to the latest version. See http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95414 on how to do so.

     

  • Draft ICANN Latin American and Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan 2013-2016 available for comment

    Dear All,

    ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a private sector, non-profit corporation with technical management responsibilities for the Internet’s domain name and address system. It consists on a number of groups representing various interests.
    See http://www.icann.org/sites/default/files/assets/ecosystem-2500×1622-21mar13-en.png for an illustrated overview.

    A Latin American and Caribbean Steering Committee (LAC Steering Committee) comprised of regional stakeholders in various ICANN groups (https://community.icann.org/x/g4REAg) was created after the ICANN Toronto meeting (http://blog.icann.org/2012/10/latin-america-and-the-caribbean-a-regional-strategy/) to discuss a possible ICANN strategy for the LAC region.

    A draft of this Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Strategic Plan is available for review and comment in English (PDF ; 2MB) and in Spanish (PDF ; 2MB).

    The Draft LAC Regional Strategic Plan identifies

    • a vision for the LAC Regional Strategic Plan (“What are we looking for as a region”)
    • 4 Key Areas of Interest (KAI) : Political Issues, Capacity Building and Outreach, Operations and Economic Issues
    • Strategic Objectives under each KAI. There are
      – 5 Strategic Objectives under “Political Issues”,
      – 9 Strategic Objectives under “Capacity Building and Outreach”,
      – 4 Strategic Objectives under “Operations”,
      – 6 Strategic Objectives under “Economic Issues”
    • some possible indicators to measure progress (or lack thereof) of projects undertaken to support the Strategic Plan.
    • how these LAC Regional Strategic Objectives align with ICANN’s Strategic Plan 2012-2015 

    Your comments are welcomed. The LAC Steering Committee will be meeting during the ICANN meeting in Beijing from April 6-11 2013 and collecting such comments for further work on the LAC Strategic Plan. Comments can be sent to lacralo@ttcsweb.org

    Kind Regards,

    Dev Anand Teelucksingh
    LAC Steering Committee member,
    ALAC (At-Large Advisory Committee) member

  • TTCS / UWI FOE meeting on Raspberry Pi, Saturday March 23 2013

    TTCS / UWI FOE meeting on Raspberry Pi, Saturday March 23 2013

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society, in collaboration with the University of the West Indies, St Augustine (UWI) Faculty of Engineering will be having a meeting on Saturday March 23 2013 at Room 106, Faculty of Engineering (“Circles” building), UWI from 2pm to 4pm.

    At this meeting, Anil Ramnanan will demonstrate the Raspberry Pi , a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard.

    Attendance to this event is free, however, space is limited so please RSVP to programmes@ttcsweb.org by Wednesday March 20 2013.

  • TTCS Lime on Wednesday March 13 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having its next lime on Wednesday, 13th March 2013 at Joe’s Pizza, St. Augustine from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

    Come join us as we discuss various topics, including:

    • Data breach : commercial bank credit card records compromised?
    • Dominica finally gets an IXP; still none for TT?
    • TT infrastructure: susceptibility to intrusion and compromise? (general topic)
    • Facebook changes again.
    • Gaming: Sims #epicfail – failed online authentication.
    • Exchequers bill in parliament

    Anyone interested in computing and ICT is welcome to attend.
    A contribution of $50 is expected towards the food bill.

    Address:
    Joe’s Pizza
    #5-6 Emerald Plaza
    Eastern Main Road, St Augustine

    Detailed Directions:
    Heading East on the Eastern Main Road after UWI, just before St. John’s Road (the road with Scotia Bank), look for Emerald Plaza on your right. Take the second entrance on your right.

  • TTCS tech meeting: “Data Breaches, a First-Hand Experience” on Saturday February 2 2013 from 1-3pm

    TTCS tech meeting: “Data Breaches, a First-Hand Experience” on Saturday February 2 2013 from 1-3pm

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society will be having a tech meeting on Saturday February 2nd 2013 at Engineering Consultants at 112A Edward Street (corner of Oxford and Edward Streets), Port of Spain
    from 1pm to 3pm.

    At this meeting, Mr. Kevin Suares, a Systems Administrator at Central Connecticut State University in the United States will discuss his experiences in dealing with two alleged data breaches at the University from technical, procedural and policy viewpoints.

    Attendance to this event is highly encouraged for TTCS members, however space is limited so
    please RSVP to programmes@ttcsweb.org by January 30 2013.

    This event will also be streamed live at the TTCS Ustream Channel at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ttcs

  • New TTCS Executive members for 2013

    Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society Executive Committee 2012-2013

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) held our second official AGM on 24th November, 2012 at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Faculty of Engineering building. There were no elections because the AGM was not quorate. The Directors under Section 7.3 of the TTCS bylaws (http://www.ttcsweb.org/Trinidad-and-Tobago-Computer-Society-Bye-laws.pdf) made the appointments to the executive. The following persons were appointed to the TTCS Executive:

    Chair: Morten Lindstrom
    Vice Chair: Dev Anand Teelucksingh
    Treasurer: Dulcie Furlonge
    Secretary: Michael Tikasingh
    Assistant Secretary: Richard Jobity

    Committees:

    Education and Publicity Committee:
    Publicity: Richard Jobity
    Membership: Jacqueline Morris
    Education: Anil Ramnanan

    Financial Committee:
    Chair: Dulcie Furlonge
    Anil Ramnanan
    Morten Lindstrom
    Dev Anand Teelucksingh
    Michael Tikasingh
    Richard Jobity

    TTCS Directors:
    There was no change to the Directors. They remain:
    Anil Ramnanan
    Dev Anand Teelucksingh
    Jacqueline Morris

    Regards,
    Michael Tikasingh
    Secretary,
    Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society

  • TTCS Pizza Lime on January 9 2013 from 7pm

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having its next lime on Wednesday January 9th, 2013 at Joe’s Pizza, St. Augustine from 7:00pm to 9.30pm.

    Come join us as we discuss:

    • The death of the netbook
    • iTunes music store now available in T&T
    • Trinidad and Tobago votes to open the door for Government control of the Internet at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT)
      http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Documents/final-acts-wcit-12.pdf
    • Sony stops production of PlayStation2

    Anyone interested in computing and ICT is welcome to attend. A contribution of $50 is expected towards the food bill.

    Address:

    Joe’s Pizza

    #5-6 Emerald Plaza

    Eastern Main Road, St Augustine

    Detailed Directions:

    Heading East on the Eastern Main Road after UWI, just before St. John’s Road (the road with Scotia Bank), look for Emerald Plaza on your right. Take the second entrance on your right.