Category Archives: #Caribbean

Ideas for a 21st Caribbean – The future

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The future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed.

—–William Gibson, SciFi Author

Today, I saw my mom’s world change.  She had a video chat with her mother in the UK with Skype.  Thanks to this tool, she will now be able to stay in touch with her sisters and mom’s mum’s at a level that would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.  While she and her sisters were FB friends, this type of communication is asynchronous(timeline) and semi-synchronous (realtime chat) at best.  In addition, my Grandma doesn’t have a FB account.  So the idea that that my mom could see and talk with her mother was definitely a major step forward.

Now, many in the First World may say that this is a trivial task and that they have been there, done that.  This is true. However, I think this is just an example of the quote mentioned above.

As more and more members of the Caribbean diaspora start embracing and implementing technology to solve local problems, the future won’t be the luxury of the technology elite, but in addition allow for my mom to strengthen her family ties.

p.s  Auntie Suset…. love the hair !!!

Ideas for the 21st Caribbean

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One of my flaws is that I tend to keep my ideas secret, in the strange notion that only I can pull them of and to share them will negate the future opportunities for fame and fortune.  I won’t get into the excuses that stopped me from sharing what gifts, ideas and dreams that I have been brought here to share.  The only thing to know is that 2015 and forward is when I will “release the Kraken” !

Mobile communications economies in the Antigua – version 0.01

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Visiting folks in Antigua posed a number of problems that  knew I of for along time, but have solved differently based on my need for access to the Interwebs.  On this trip I couldn’t count on Wifi at certain places, since I was relatively on the go.

Solution :  A cheap android with a data plan that I could create I Wifi hotspot(tethering).   It came up to $203 ECD ($180 for device; $20 for voice; $13 for 1GB/24 hours for data).  About $75 USD.

The device is Alcatel Pop C2

 

The service is with LIME.  Since I have  6+ hour layover in Dominica, I can breeth easier that I can still be connected to the Grid.

Assuming I max out my 1GB per day, I am looking at $5 per day.  Rest of my trip will cost me $30 USD.

Was able to skype from my Sprint HTC with it.

More than worth it for the freedom to move around.  Next trip will be less as I will have the device already.

If anyone wants more details, like on FB and Fav on Twitter.

ISP Bandwidth test monitoring

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This allows you to test your internet service and get an regular email with the bandwidth test.

Requirements

 

Install

Python -c:\python
Speedtest_CLI – c:\scripts
SendEmail – c:\scripts\sendEmail
Crontab -(Default)

 

Setup

  1. Create folder c:\scripts
  2. Run and connect to Atlanta Comcast
    1. Hosted by Comcast (Atlanta, GA)  : Server # 1767
    2. c:\python34\python c:\scripts\speedtest_cli.py –server 1767
    3. See Results below for example
  3. Batch File ( c:\scripts\speedtest.bat )
  4. Add to Crontab
    Every hour – 0 * * * * c:\scripts\speedtest.bat

 

c:\scripts\speedtest.bat

date /T > c:\scripts\ga.sp
time /T >> c:\scripts\ga.sp
c:\python\python c:\scripts\speedtest_cli.py –server 1767 >> c:\scripts\ga.sp
c:\scripts\sendemail\sendemail -f %COMPUTERNAME%@%USERDOMAIN% -t stanford@tech.vi -u “SpeedTest %DATE:~4,2%-%DATE:~7,2%-%DATE:~-4%” -o message-file=”C:\scripts\ga.sp” -a “C:\scripts\ga.sp”


Results (e.g) : 

Retrieving speedtest.net configuration…

Retrieving speedtest.net server list…

Testing from Communications Technologies (xx.xx.xx.xx)…

Hosted by Comcast (Atlanta, GA) [2588.72 km]: 126.965 ms

Testing download speed………………………………….

Download: 4.06 Mbits/s

Testing upload speed…………………………………………..

Upload: 4.30 Mbits/s

 

 

Tools of the trade – Mobile professional

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With over 10 years of experience as an IT professional who moves around, I have had my share of tools to allow me to increase my productivity. Here is a snapshot of what I use now. And like everything in my field, it changes.

* Items are sensitive items. Ask me directly if you want to know .

  • Hardware
    • Acer Chromebook
    • HTC M1 Android Mobile
    • AT&t Persnonal wifi Hotspot
    • Macbook Air (in the shop;  Vitamalt and Mac products don’t mix 🙁  )
  • Software
    • Remote Desktop Client
    • Teamviewer
    • SSH
    • Banking Apps*
  • Services
    • Google Apps for Work
      • Gmail
      • Drive
      • Voice
    • Skype
    • Audible
    • Spotify
    • xMarks
    • Password Manager*
    • Evernote

The Carbon War Room

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A great first step.  A bit disappointed that Antigua and the USVI weren’t there. But no worries this is a marathon not a sprint.

St. Lucia, St. Kitts-Nevis, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin islands (BVI), Thursday signed a pact that help islands implement near-term, demonstrative renewable solutions in schools, hospitals, public transport, tourism and utility scale renewable energy.

The agreement was signed during the meeting organised by the Carbon War Room, a nonprofit organization chaired by Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman of the Virgin Group.

Sir Richard said islands in the Caribbean have extremely high electricity costs and the new renewable projects could help reduce those costs.

“What we hope to do is use Necker as a test island to show how it can be done. The only way we’re going to win this war is by creative entrepreneurship, to make the price of clean energy cheaper than that of energy from fossil fuels.”


[via Caribeban360]