Monthly Archives: March 2024

This Simple Boxy Home Conceals Multiple Gardens & A Light-Filled Interior Within

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Dubbed The Lang House, which is Chinese for pretty, this lovely home in suburban Melbourne is designed by Australia’s Austin Maynard Architects. When you first look at it, you may find the home quite simple and unassuming. It features a plain boxy exterior which is certainly no eye-grabber, but as you venture deeper into the home, you are welcomed by an ingenious space-saving layout that includes multiple gardens, filling up the space with warm natural light.

Designer: Austin Maynard Architects

The exterior of the home is clad in equitone cement fiber panels, which can be quite hard-wearing and is intended to be resistant to scratching and graffiti. The interior occupies 2,700 square feet and has loads of clever features that maximize the space available, accommodating concealed guest quarters at the entrance. This space includes a Murphy bed and heavy curtains.

The kitchen is located in the center of the home, and it is connected to two separate gardens, which provide loads of natural lighting and ventilation throughout the home. The cabinetry in the kitchen cleverly hides the appliances, as well as a little study area and a pantry. The upstairs section also accommodates a dedicated laundry and outdoor area, along with three bedrooms, and a bathroom with a neat sunken bathtub inside. The home also includes a multipurpose room which occupies the area located between the bedroom. This space functions as a playroom for the owner’s two young children. The home also contains a garage which can be utilized as a party area as well.

“The owners provided a thorough and well-researched brief; specific in their goals, aware of the site limitations, and encouraging creative solutions and architectural flair,” explained Austin Maynard Architects. “They were determined to live in a home without hallways and corridors, to avoid feeling boxed or compartmentalized, and to circumvent poor ventilation and heat retention in summer. They asked for their home to be highly pragmatic and efficient – in energy, cost, and use of space, but also to show uniqueness and creativity. To make something different.”

The Lang House features a roof-based 7-kW solar power system which is connected to a Huawei battery. and an electric car charging hookup. The home is oriented in such a manner that it makes good use of the winter sun, which warms the home in the cold months with the help of underfloor heating.

The post This Simple Boxy Home Conceals Multiple Gardens & A Light-Filled Interior Within first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dog training clicker has built-in treat storage

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Dog owners who are self training their pets know that clicker training is probably one of the standard practices. It is also known as marker training as you use a clicker to let the dog know that it has fulfilled a task. As you continually use the clicker, it conditions the dog to want to perform what you want it to do based on the theory of operant conditioning. There are a lot of different clickers available for this specific training but of course there’s always room for newer and more innovative versions.

Designer: Zerong Yang

Depending on your dog training regimen, the use of clickers sometimes forego treats as rewards as the click themselves are the rewards for your dog. But there are also those that still use snacks to give to them once they are able to fulfill the task and to associate it with the clicker. The Clink Clicker combines the clicking and the treats in one convenient device so you just have to hold one thing when doing the training.

It looks like a typical clicker but it has a sliding mechanism where you can store the treats you want to use as rewards. So after the dog has finished the task you’re training them to do, you click the clicker and then the dog will probably come to you and you can feed them the treat immediately. The space for the snacks is a desiccant compartment so it will remain fresh even if you’re outside for your training and it may be a bit hot.

It’s a simple solution to a treat management problem that some dog owners may experience. Having the clicker and the treat storage in just one device makes it more convenient and may shave off a few seconds during your training, leaving more time for learning and fun (well for your dogs, at least).

The post Dog training clicker has built-in treat storage first appeared on Yanko Design.

Solar-powered sundial wall clock concept offers a unique way to tell the time

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Today’s clocks and watches seem to be split between mechanical analog and electronic digital designs, but there are more than two ways to tell the time. Of course, some of these methods are regarded to be inaccurate, error-prone, and at the mercy of the elements, but there’s a certain charm and magical feeling to the way our ancient ancestors tried to discern the time of day. The sundial is one of the oldest time-keeping tools, one that works on the presumption that the sun travels the same path every day of the year, which isn’t exactly the case. Still, it’s not an entirely incorrect method and it can easily be fixed with modern technology, like this sustainable wall clock concept that is powered by the sun in more ways than one.

Designer: Begüm Kılınç

A sundial works by simply observing the shadow that a stick or a tall thin object casts on a flat surface, a shadow that moves around and grows or shrinks as the sun makes its way through the sky. The sun doesn’t travel the exact same path all year round, however, and this method definitely doesn’t work at night. Modern technology, however, has a way to shine a light 24/7, and this wall clock uses that to recreate the almost mystical appearance of a sundial while utilizing energy from the very sun that inspired it.

Name after the Egyptian god of the sun, the Ra wall clock utilizes an LED ring light to simulate the sun. But rather than shining from all directions, the light is focused on a single point to recreate the effect of a short stick casting a very long shadow. As time moves, so does the light move around the periphery of the circle, thus mimicking a sundial but with more consistency and accuracy. Plus, it works at night as it does during the day.

While this would have been enough to create a modern sundial clock, the concept takes the association even further by also following how the sundial of old needed only the sun to function. Rather than relying on batteries, Ra uses solar power to make sure the clock is running 24/7 without the need to charge it or change batteries. The transparent solar panel that makes up the wall clock’s front cover actually harnesses any light around it, so the clock doesn’t need to actually be exposed to the sun and can be used indoors or under low-light environments.

This design helps give the sundial wall clock a sustainable potential, even if it does minimally use some electronics as well as LED lighting. Unlike analog clocks, there are now complex mechanisms that are difficult to repair, and unlike digital clocks, there are no screens or displays to show the time. It uses a very simple method that traces its roots back to ancient times, but one that still has benefits to the people of today.

The post Solar-powered sundial wall clock concept offers a unique way to tell the time first appeared on Yanko Design.

NYC’s business chatbot is reportedly doling out ‘dangerously inaccurate’ information

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An AI chatbot released by the New York City government to help business owners access pertinent information has been spouting falsehoods, at times even misinforming users about actions that are against the law, according to a report from The Markup. The report, which was co-published with the local nonprofit newsrooms Documented and The City, includes numerous examples of inaccuracies in the chatbot’s responses to questions relating to housing policies, workers’ rights and other topics.

Mayor Adams’ administration introduced the chatbot in October as an addition to the MyCity portal, which launched in March 2023 as “a one-stop shop for city services and benefits.” The chatbot, powered by Microsoft’s Azure AI, is aimed at current and aspiring business owners, and was billed as a source of “actionable and trusted information” that comes directly from the city government’s sites. But it is a pilot program, and a disclaimer on the website notes that it “may occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased content.”

In The Markup’s tests, the chatbot repeatedly provided incorrect information. In response to the question, “Can I make my store cashless?”, for example, it replied, “Yes, you can make your store cashless in New York City” — despite the fact that New York City banned cashless stores in 2020. The report shows the chatbot also responded incorrectly about whether employers can take their workers’ tips, whether landlords have to accept section 8 vouchers or tenants on rental assistance, and whether businesses have to inform staff of scheduling changes. A housing policy expert that spoke to The Markup called the chatbot “dangerously inaccurate” at its worst.

The city has indicated that the chatbot is still a work in progress. In a statement to The Markup, Leslie Brown, a spokesperson for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, said the chatbot “has already provided thousands of people with timely, accurate answers,” but added, “We will continue to focus on upgrading this tool so that we can better support small businesses across the city.” 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nycs-business-chatbot-is-reportedly-doling-out-dangerously-inaccurate-information-203926922.html?src=rss

NYC’s business chatbot is reportedly doling out ‘dangerously inaccurate’ information

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An AI chatbot released by the New York City government to help business owners access pertinent information has been spouting falsehoods, at times even misinforming users about actions that are against the law, according to a report from The Markup. The report, which was co-published with the local nonprofit newsrooms Documented and The City, includes numerous examples of inaccuracies in the chatbot’s responses to questions relating to housing policies, workers’ rights and other topics.

Mayor Adams’ administration introduced the chatbot in October as an addition to the MyCity portal, which launched in March 2023 as “a one-stop shop for city services and benefits.” The chatbot, powered by Microsoft’s Azure AI, is aimed at current and aspiring business owners, and was billed as a source of “actionable and trusted information” that comes directly from the city government’s sites. But it is a pilot program, and a disclaimer on the website notes that it “may occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased content.”

In The Markup’s tests, the chatbot repeatedly provided incorrect information. In response to the question, “Can I make my store cashless?”, for example, it replied, “Yes, you can make your store cashless in New York City” — despite the fact that New York City banned cashless stores in 2020. The report shows the chatbot also responded incorrectly about whether employers can take their workers’ tips, whether landlords have to accept section 8 vouchers or tenants on rental assistance, and whether businesses have to inform staff of scheduling changes. A housing policy expert that spoke to The Markup called the chatbot “dangerously inaccurate” at its worst.

The city has indicated that the chatbot is still a work in progress. In a statement to Engadget, Leslie Brown, a spokesperson for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, said, “In line with the city’s key principles of reliability and transparency around AI, the site informs users the clearly marked pilot beta product should only be used for business-related content, tells users there are potential risks, and encourages them via disclaimer to both double-check its responses with the provided links and not use them as a substitute for professional advice.”

“The site has already provided thousands of people with timely, accurate answers and offers a feedback option to help drive continuous improvements of the beta tool,” Brown said. “We will continue to focus on upgrading this tool so that we can better support small businesses across the city.”

Update, March 31 2024, 9:23AM ET: This story has been updated to include a statement from the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nycs-business-chatbot-is-reportedly-doling-out-dangerously-inaccurate-information-203926922.html?src=rss

Vinyl turntable concept uses industrial materials and design

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As much as I love my music streaming services, I’m also a fan of playing analog music. Well, at least in theory. I have several CDs at home already but I don’t have a CD player (still researching about what’s the best one that my wallet can afford). I also want to have a vinyl player soon although that will take more of an investment both for the player itself and the vinyls I’ll buy afterwards. So I am always interested when I see concepts or designs for turntables as it can be references for what I’ll buy in the (hopefully) near future.

Designer: Antoine Brieux / NAK Studio

This concept for a high end industrial design linear vinyl turntable will probably not fit into my budget if it ever gets made but it’s still pretty interesting to look at. It will be made up of full machined aluminum and magnesium parts but also uses glass and recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) so you get an industrial but minimalist look. The platter assembly has conical bearings shaft and actually looks like those old 35mm film projectors but placed horizontally.

In keeping with its industrial theme, you get an industrial drive belt driving system but with an air cushion linear arm to make it more interesting. The tonearm is Bluetooth embedded so you can connect it to Bluetooth speakers directly but you can also use the regular plug system if you prefer that. It also has a brushless motor and constant drive controller while it uses capacitive sensors to manage the start and end position of the arms which can use either an automatic or manual lift system.

The product render, including a video sample of what it might look like, makes it really look like a high end kind of vinyl player. But it also looks a bit heavy based on the materials that will be used so if you’re looking for something that can be portable or at least easy to move within your space, this might not be it. As for the quality when you actually play your vinyls on it, that remains to be seen.

The post Vinyl turntable concept uses industrial materials and design first appeared on Yanko Design.

AT&T resets millions of customers’ passcodes after account info was leaked on the dark web

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AT&T says 7.6 million current customers were affected by a recent leak in which sensitive data was released on the dark web, along with 65.4 million former account holders. TechCrunch first reported on Saturday morning that the company has reset the passcodes of all affected active accounts, and AT&T confirmed the move in an update published on its support page. The data set, which AT&T says “appears to be from 2019 or earlier,” includes names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, according to TechCrunch.

TechCrunch reports that it alerted AT&T about the potential for the leaked data to be used to access customers accounts on Monday, after a security researcher discovered that the records included easily decipherable encrypted passcodes. AT&T said today that it’s “launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.” The data appeared on the dark web about two weeks ago, according to AT&T.

It comes three years after a hacker known as ShinyHunters claimed in 2021 that they’d obtained the account data of 73 million AT&T customers. AT&T at the time told BleepingComputer that it had not suffered a breach and that samples of information shared by the hacker online did “not appear to have come from our systems.” The company now says that “it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors.” So far, it “does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set.”

AT&T says it will reach out to both current and former account holders who have been affected by the leak. The company also says it will offer credit monitoring to those customers “where applicable.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-resets-millions-of-customers-passcodes-after-account-info-was-leaked-on-the-dark-web-160842651.html?src=rss

AT&T resets millions of customers’ passcodes after account info was leaked on the dark web

Posted on by

AT&T says 7.6 million current customers were affected by a recent leak in which sensitive data was released on the dark web, along with 65.4 million former account holders. TechCrunch first reported on Saturday morning that the company has reset the passcodes of all affected active accounts, and AT&T confirmed the move in an update published on its support page. The data set, which AT&T says “appears to be from 2019 or earlier,” includes names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, according to TechCrunch.

TechCrunch reports that it alerted AT&T about the potential for the leaked data to be used to access customers accounts on Monday, after a security researcher discovered that the records included easily decipherable encrypted passcodes. AT&T said today that it’s “launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.” The data appeared on the dark web about two weeks ago, according to AT&T.

It comes three years after a hacker known as ShinyHunters claimed in 2021 that they’d obtained the account data of 73 million AT&T customers. AT&T at the time told BleepingComputer that it had not suffered a breach and that samples of information shared by the hacker online did “not appear to have come from our systems.” The company now says that “it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors.” So far, it “does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set.”

AT&T says it will reach out to both current and former account holders who have been affected by the leak. The company also says it will offer credit monitoring to those customers “where applicable.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/att-resets-millions-of-customers-passcodes-after-account-info-was-leaked-on-the-dark-web-160842651.html?src=rss

How to Edit iPhone Video in Cinematic Mode

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With the iPhone Photography School’s latest video tutorial, you’re on the cusp of revolutionizing how you capture and edit videos on your iPhone. This guide dives deep into the nuances of the iPhone’s Cinematic mode, shedding light on how to finesse your videos in post-production, specifically by adjusting depth of field effects. If you’ve marveled […]

The post How to Edit iPhone Video in Cinematic Mode appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Essential Synology NAS settings all owners should setup

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Important Synology NAS settings that should be implemented

As an owner of a Synology storage solution you’re likely aware that the performance and security of your network-attached storage (NAS) are paramount. With DiskStation Manager – DSM7.2 now available, it’s essential to fine-tune your settings to ensure your NAS operates at peak efficiency while safeguarding your data. This guide will walk you through the […]

The post Essential Synology NAS settings all owners should setup appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.