Events

Lynda Buske (OPCUG) will show us how free software (PhotoScape X) and AI can restore digital versions of old family photos that we can then display and share online.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have exploded over the last few years. They can: supercharge your web searches & help you find the most relevant information; generate images & videos from text prompts; summarize web pages, YouTube videos, & PDF files; help you accomplish tasks in your programs; assist with creative writing; and more. Chris Taylor from the Ottawa PC Users' Group will show you how easily it can be done and how to avoid dreaded "AI hallucinations". And you can do it all for free.

So, you are still running Windows 10 and receiving security patches after enrolling in Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) programme. But, do you know that the ESU programme is scheduled to end on October 13, 2026, just one year after it began? After this date there will be no further security updates and Windows 10 will have truly reached end of life. So, what are your options going forward? Your computer is still working fine. It’s the decision by Microsoft to longer provide operating system support that is the problem and, this time, there may be no extension! In this presentation, Alan German, a member of the Ottawa PC Users’ Group (OPCUG), will show how to easily switch to using the Linux operating system for daily tasks while maintaining the ability to boot into Windows 10 for operations that still require using Microsoft’s OS.

E-mail systems are used by almost everybody but not necessarily well understood by all. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users’ Group will cover the basics of webmail and E-mail clients, POP/IMAP, and settings required to access mail servers. We will discuss the evils of spam, spoofing & phishing and how to detect & deal with them. We’ll look at mail folders and filters for organization. Find out how portable and disposable addresses can be used to make it easier to change Internet Service Provider and safeguard your privacy when giving your email address to those you don’t entirely trust.

Learn various ways to organize photos on your computer, phone or on the cloud. Understand how to create backups so your photos are protected against theft, fire, or other disasters. Learn how to create on-line photo albums and how to make a video from a PowerPoint presentation to showcase a trip or a collection of family photos even with music! Presented by Lynda Buske from the Ottawa PC Users' Group and the Orleans Photo Club.

E-mail systems are used by almost everybody but not necessarily well understood by all. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users’ Group will cover the basics of webmail and E-mail clients, POP/IMAP, and settings required to access mail servers. We will discuss the evils of spam, spoofing & phishing and how to detect & deal with them. We’ll look at mail folders and filters for organization. Find out how portable and disposable addresses can be used to make it easier to change Internet Service Provider and safeguard your privacy when giving your email address to those you don’t entirely trust.

Enjoy photos and narration of an Icelandic cruise that included magnificent waterfalls, lava fields, geysers and stunning fjords. Presented by Lynda Buske from the Ottawa PC Users’ Group and the Orleans Photo Club.

We are told: don't write down passwords; don't reuse passwords; make passwords long and complex. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users' Group will show how to use free software that stores all your usernames and passwords along with related information and protects them with a single, very strong password. Don't let your online accounts get compromised. It's easy and free.

The average time it takes for an unprotected computer to be compromised after connecting to the Internet is under 15 minutes. Don't let it be yours. Chris Taylor, President of the Ottawa PC Users' Group will show you the simple steps you need to take to keep your PC from being hacked. And best of all, it can be done for free.

Get up close and personal with your photographic subjects such as flowers, insects, water droplets, or detailed parts of larger subjects or scenes. Learn how to isolate your subject from the background, and control how much of the image is in sharp focus. You can shoot up close with regular lenses and cell phones but Lynda will also include a discussion about using dedicated macro lenses. Presented by Lynda Buske from the Ottawa PC Users' Group and the Orleans Photo Club.

When buying a digital camera, you are faced with a bewildering array of choices. Chris Taylor, Ottawa PC Users’ Group President and Orleans Photo Club Vice-president will help focus your search for the ideal digital camera to fit your budget and suit the style of photography that interests you.