Password Log

Forgotten password…

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Markus: Never keep password lists on your phone. It could malfunction, you could lose it, it could be stolen.

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Cynthia: Hmm. A vulnerable device.

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Markus: And with it your data could fly away as easily as a drone. Keep a record on a secure computer. Better yet on a password protected USB memory stick. Not connected to the internet or a WiFi environment. Portable, secure. And a copy on paper, securely locked up somewhere.

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Cynthia: But passwords have to be changed regularly. Keeping track of those, I mean, I sometimes use an old password by mistake.

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Markus: Keep your password records updated. Like an aircraft has to be maintained. Keep a logbook.

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Voice-over

Aircraft logs are a metaphor, like a desktop, or a folder or a trashcan on a computer. Maybe we don’t need a metaphor here but a model, that is a system or a procedure. A template.

USB flash drive not recognized

Responding to text message…

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Max (entering room): Computer?

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Jeffrey: I put the memory stick into the USB port and nothing comes up on the screen.

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Max: You tried it any other machines?

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Jeffrey: Two others. Same result. It was working fine until yesterday.

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Max: Drives die. It happens. So you backed it up?

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Jeffrey: When would I find time to back up?

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Max: When would you find time to rewrite anything that’s not backed up? Hmm, the connection seems OK. LED is flashing. Let’s check on Disk Utility. The drive shows up there.

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Jeffrey: Is the data there?

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Max: Shows a full disk. Just have to retrieve it. Try restarting the computer leaving the drive still plugged in.

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Jeffrey (after a computer restart): Still no sign on the desktop.

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Max: Stop messing with it. Take it into the IT guy and have him do his magic.

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Voice-over

Tech problems? Rule of thumb. Give yourself half an hour after googling solutions. Ask a friend. No luck? Take it to a techie. Stick to your knitting.
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Password Strength

Try "2 Cats @ Bali"

The principles are easy…

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Jane: Would a password eight letters long be strong enough?

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Sean: Not if it’s on the list of the top 10,000.

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Jane: What if I use a mix of letters and numbers? I heard that adds strength.

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Sean: To be sure it does. But a nonsense sentence would be better. Adds semantic randomicity.

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Jane: How about “surf’s up?”

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Sean: A bit short. Collocationally predictable, but easier to remember. Go for sixteen characters. Upper and lower case and symbols.

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Jane: How about “Surf’s Up @ 0824?”

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Sean: There you go now. Very strong. Would take a botnet years to crack that.

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Voice-over

A good online password checker here.

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Spinal stoop and text neck

Spinal stoop

Naomi reports a pain in her neck…

Fitness Fiend: You use a computer and you text. I’ve seen you. You spend a lot of time squinting at screens. Hunching over a computer, leaning over a mobile phone. Result is the same. Pain in the neck.

Text neck

Naomi: Have to see a chiropractor to straighten things out?

Fitness Fiend: Not always. Take frequent breaks and pull your chin into your neck when at the computer. Rotate shoulders. Sit up straight and hold phone high when texting.

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Voice-over

If you are addicted to the chiropractor twisting your neck to make it go click as a quick fix, go ahead, pay the fee. The lower-key and more economic option is to do the preventive maintenance.

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Computer Assisted Language Learning and Technology Enhanced Language Learning

Programmed learning

Techtalk on CALL and TELL…

Mark: Learning by computer has parallels with learning theories. Warschauer identifies three phases: structured learning of the 1950s and programmed learning by computers; then the community learning movement of the 1970s resulting in communication activities on computer; and an integrative approach since the 2000s incorporating multimedia and the internet.

Integration

Stephen: So CALL is not just computers now. Other technologies too…

Mark: Yes, TELL, or technology enhanced language learning.

Stephen: Computers used to be on the desk. Now a smartphone is a computer, it’s portable.

Mark: There’s still a need for computers, for accessing databases for example. There’s still a place for media rooms like a theater.

Stephen: But a lot can be done on smartphones or tablets. Teachers can run class management systems, communicate with students using social media, students can post work back.

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Voice-over

Device proliferation is understandable. No one size fits all. But the mid-size tablets or laptop computers are surprisingly capable.

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