I'm in Love with ChatGPT

[jdraw]

Tony,
Regarding chatGPT and your question/thoughts on "analogy", see this article.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

My brother asked me if it was possible to have an internet cable 500 feet long. I decided to ask ChatGPT. After reading up on Chatty's various suggestions, I chose the "coaxial cable" option. I researched it and was surprised at how reliable, robust and cheap it was.

I located all the parts I need, created the order, now waiting for confirmation from my brother on measurements before I go ahead and hit the buy button. It came out at around £75 pounds sterling for a 600 feet installation. I then asked chat GPT to package our conversation into a Blog which I have posted here, I have not fact checked anything, except the coaxial cable option.

Extending Internet to 600 Feet: A Comprehensive Guide​

In today's digital age, having a reliable and extensive internet connection is crucial. Whether you're working from home, streaming your favourite shows, or simply browsing the web, a strong internet connection can make all the difference. But what if you need to extend your internet connection to a distance of 600 feet or more? This blog post will guide you through the various methods available to achieve this, with a particular focus on Ethernet over Coax (EoC) converters.

Methods to Extend Internet Connection​

There are several methods available to extend your internet connection up to 600 feet. These include:

• Ethernet Extender: The most straightforward method involves using an Ethernet cable. However, Ethernet cables (Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6) have a limit of approximately 330 feet (100 meters). To extend this, you can use Ethernet extenders.
• Powerline Adapters: These devices transmit internet over your home's existing electrical circuit. While the theoretical limit can reach up to 984 feet (300 meters), real-world conditions, like the quality of your wiring, can affect this range.
• Wireless Bridges: These devices link networks across considerable distances outdoors. They usually come in pairs, with one device acting as a transmitter and the other as a receiver. Some models can cover distances up to 15 kilometers or more in ideal conditions.
• Mesh Network: A mesh Wi-Fi network involves multiple router-like devices placed around your home that work together to cover your home with a Wi-Fi signal. However, depending on the specific mesh system's range and the number of nodes used, this method can become expensive.
• Point-to-Point Wi-Fi Antennas: This solution involves installing two directional antennas, one at the point where your internet comes in and another at the place you want to extend the signal to. This solution is typically used for long-range outdoor applications.

Regardless of the method you choose, your actual performance will be influenced by environmental factors such as physical obstacles, electrical interference, and the quality of your equipment. It's advisable to consult a professional or do thorough research before making a decision.

Ethernet Over Coax (EoC) Converters: An In-Depth Look​

Ethernet extenders, often referred to as Ethernet over Coax (EoC) converters, are devices that allow you to repurpose existing coaxial cable lines for network connectivity. Coaxial cables are commonly used for cable TV and Internet, satellite dish connections, and closed-circuit television (CCTV).

An Ethernet over Coax converter pair essentially transforms these coaxial lines into a high-speed network cable. The setup typically involves two converters: one at each end of the coaxial cable. One converter receives the Ethernet data and converts it into a signal that can be transmitted over the coax cable. The other converter receives this signal and converts it back into Ethernet data.

The advantages of Ethernet extenders/EoC converters include:

• Distance: They can transmit data over much longer distances than traditional Ethernet cables. Some models can reach distances up to 1-2 kilometers.
• Cost-effectiveness: If you already have existing coaxial cables, there's no need to run new Ethernet cables. This can save on installation costs, especially over long distances or in buildings where running new cables would be difficult.
• High Speeds: Ethernet over Coax converters can offer speeds that are suitable for most residential and many business applications.

Ethernet Over Coax in a Passive System​

Ethernet over Coax (EoC) solutions can vary significantly in the distances they can cover, depending on the specific hardware used, the quality of the coaxial cabling, and the presence of any interference.

In a passive system, which means there are no active powered components boosting the signal along the cable's length, the transmission distance is typically lower. For example, MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) technology, which is a popular standard for Ethernet over Coax, states that its technology can achieve distances up to 300 meters (approximately 985 feet) under optimal conditions.

However, real-world results may vary based on the specifics of the setup. For instance, old or poor-quality cables, or cables with a lot of splits or joins, might reduce the achievable distance.

Remember, while EoC can support these longer distances, the speed and quality of the connection may degrade the further the signal has to travel, especially in a passive system without any repeaters or signal boosters. Always consider both the required distance and the necessary data rate for your specific application when choosing a solution.

Choosing the Right Coaxial Cable​

You can technically use any type of coaxial cable for Ethernet over Coax (EoC), but not all cables are created equal. The type of coaxial cable you use can have a significant impact on the performance of your network, affecting both the maximum distance and speed that can be achieved.

Here are some common types of coaxial cables and their potential use in EoC applications:

• RG-6: This is a popular type of coax cable for residential and commercial use, often used for cable TV and internet services. RG-6 has better shielding and lower signal loss compared to RG-59, making it a good choice for EoC.
• RG-59: This type of cable is often used for closed-circuit TV (CCTV) and some older cable TV installations. While you can use RG-59 for EoC, its performance may not be as good as RG-6 due to higher signal loss.
• RG-11: This cable has even better performance characteristics than RG-6, but it's also thicker and less flexible, which can make installation more difficult. You might choose RG-11 for very long EoC runs.

Remember that the condition of the cable can also affect your network's performance. Old or damaged cables might not perform as well as new ones. In addition, the specific EoC adapters you're using might be designed for use with certain types of coaxial cables, so always check the manufacturer's recommendations.

In general, if you're planning a new installation and have a choice, RG-6 is often the best choice for EoC due to its balance of performance, cost, and ease of installation. If you're working with existing cabling, use the highest quality cable available to get the best performance from your EoC network.

RG-6 vs. RG-59: Which to Choose?​

While RG-59 is not as high-performing as RG-6, it can still be used for Ethernet over Coax (EoC) applications. The main differences between the two are in the shielding and signal loss.

RG-59 cable is typically thinner and has less shielding against interference, which means it can experience higher signal loss over long distances compared to RG-6. This can potentially lead to slower data speeds or more unreliable connections, especially for longer cable runs.

However, the actual impact on your internet connection can depend on a number of factors including the length of the cable run, the quality of the cable and connectors, the specific EoC equipment you're using, and the speed of your internet connection. If you're not pushing the limits of distance or speed, and the environment doesn't have a lot of potential sources of interference, you might not notice a significant difference when using RG-59.

Is an Internet Speed of 10/100 Serviceable?​

An internet speed of 10/100 Mbps (10 Mbps upload and 100 Mbps download) can certainly be serviceable for many users, depending on their internet needs. Here's what you can typically do with these speeds:

• Browsing and Email: Web browsing and email typically require minimal bandwidth, and even 10 Mbps is more than enough for these activities.
• Video Streaming: For streaming video, Netflix recommends a speed of 5 Mbps for HD quality, and 25 Mbps for 4K quality per stream. With 100 Mbps download speed, you would comfortably support multiple simultaneous HD streams, or a few 4K streams.
• Online Gaming: Online gaming surprisingly doesn't require very high speeds, but it is sensitive to stability and latency of your connection. Even a speed of 10 Mbps can be enough for most online games, but having more bandwidth like your 100 Mbps download speed provides extra headroom for more stable gameplay, especially with multiple devices connected.
• Video Calls: For video calling, platforms like Zoom recommend a speed of 1.8 Mbps for group video calls in 1080p quality. Again, your 10 Mbps upload speed should handle this without issue.
• Downloading/Uploading Large Files: The 100 Mbps download speed should allow for relatively quick downloads of large files. The 10 Mbps upload speed isn't as fast and might be a bit slow if you frequently need to upload large files.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Regarding chatGPT and your question/thoughts on "analogy", see this article.

Extract:-
"Human natural language is replete with analogies; accurately predicting natural language therefore probably requires an ability to appreciate analogies."

I recall watching a video of Richard Feynman explaining something. Richard, a master of analogy. I believe I'm correct in saying that Richard said that if you couldn't explain something to a child then you didn't really understand it yourself.

To put that another way, if you can't construct an analogy of something to simplify it, then you don't understand it yourself. It occurs to me now, stating this, when somebody explains something to you simply, in a manner which a child could understand, they are not talking down to you, they are reassuring themselves that they understand it!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Chat GPT unstoppable?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Update on the differences between ChatGPT4 and Claude.

I am writing a science fiction story and I have just resurrected Scrivener which I purchased nearly 10 years ago to help me build this story! I couldn't get on with it at the time, but I've relented and decided I need to use the structure it provides for my Story. So here we go again with scrivener! I've got several blocks of text, I think it's a bit early to call them chapters! I note that scrivener suggests giving your characters an overview by listing their attributes.

Character Name:-

Role in Story:
Occupation:
Physical Description:
Personality:
Habits/Mannerisms:
Background:
Internal Conflicts:
External Conflicts:
Notes:


So I decided to paste the block of text relating to a particular character into ChatGPT and ask it to list the above character attributes. It did an excellent job! I grabbed a load more text and shoved it into a ChatGPT but this time it failed, stating that the text was too long.

I opened up Claude and posted the same text into Claude and hey presto Claude produced a nice list of character attributes for all of the characters mentioned in the text. One up to Claude!

Claude's ability to handle a big block of text is definitely a major advantage over ChatGPT...

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I have skimped over this article and found it informative.

A Bicycle for the (AI) Mind: GPT-4 + Tools

OpenAI recently introduced GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-4, the latest in its series of language models that also power ChatGPT. Sherwin Wu and Atty Eleti discuss how to use the OpenAI API to integrate these large language models into your application, and extend GPT’s capabilities by connecting it to...

www.infoq.com

Posting here so I remember to read it thoroughly when on my tea break...

 

[Steve R.]

A word of caution for those programming.

ChatGPT gets code questions wrong 52% of the time

But its suggestions are so annoyingly plausible

www.theregister.com

The article has this tidbit:

Nonetheless, Stack Overflow's use seems to have declined, though the amount is disputed. It appears traffic has been down six percent every month since January 2022 and was down 13.9 percent in March, according to an April report from SimilarWeb that suggested usage of ChatGPT may be contributing to the decline.

I stopped using Stack Overflow many many many years ago for the simple reason that you get mercilessly attacked for asking "stupid" questions and getting unceremoniously voted down. So much for the concept that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I can imagine others, after being treated badly, have also stopped using it for that very reason. Fortunately, this website is much more friendly and helpful.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I stopped using Stack Overflow many many many years ago for the simple reason

I can't remember why I stopped using stack overflow, but I do recall I didn't enjoy the experience. The information there is generally good, but like you, I had problems answering questions can't think why but it was just not right in some way...

 

[jdraw]

I think many have dropped or at least reduced use of SO primarily because of their "we know more" snooty attitude.
It seems their strategy is to **piss off people asking questions. I refer to/read their threads when they show up in Google search results, but am not a regular poster.

**to leave or go away; used especially as a rude way of telling someone to go away
(Cambridge Dictionary)

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I found this video helpful, informative and full of new ideas which I want to try out.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

A discussion between Professor Andrew Perkins and Dr know it all (Professor John Gibbs) I watch all of John's videos on YouTube.

In this video the pair discuss the effect of ChatGPT on education, how students will use it, how professors will use it, what effect it will have on the teaching industry. Well worth a listen to!

Will ChatGPT DESTROY EDUCATION or SAVE IT?! With Professor Andrew Perkins​

Extract from the video description:-

4,169 views 11 Aug 2023
Whether you're teacher, a student, or a parent of a student you NEED TO KNOW how ChatGPT will change your life, starting this fall! Join two university professors as we discuss Elon Musk's plans to disrupt education, how OpenAI's ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) are changing the nature of university, high school and even middle school education right now, and the best ways to use this new technology rather than to try to deny it. Just like the advent of calculators and computers in the past, university professors, high school teachers, students and parents of students need to learn how to use these amazing and disruptive new tools!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Keep your eyes open for a van with peculiar looking aerial sticking out at the.....

This one deserved to be caught!

AI cameras catch 297 drivers in three days in Cornwall

Drivers using phones or not wearing seatbelts have been identified by the AI camera system.

www.bbc.com

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

See this fascinating video discussing the latest improvements to ChatGPT-4

ChatGPT Code Interpreter - The Biggest Update EVER! - 2023_08_09​

I ran a Test:
I've tested it on my text snippets, the text snippets I'm referring to are my "speech to text" files recorded with voice notebook. Each "speech to text" snippet is downloaded to my download folder which quickly gets full of text files containing little snippets of text.

History:
One of the first things I did with chat GPT was to write some Python code to concatenate all of the text snippets into one file. To test the capabilities of this new version of Chat GPT-4 I took the text from my 2018 snippets and asked Chat to analyse it with a view to creating a blog.

Chat GPT-4 Analysis:
To perform the analysis Chat GPT-4 wrote Python code to count frequencies of words. ChatGPT didn't think this produced much useful information, I was not surprised because there is no structure - rhyme or reason - to my notes they are just what I happen to be saying, for example what I'm saying "right now" is being recorded and will be saved to a text file for future examination by chat GPT!

Blog Topic - INSERT INTO SQL Statement:
CHAT then analysed the text again and suggested several topics. I also lent a hand by providing a couple of hints based on my favourite subjects. We decided to write a blog about the INSERT INTO SQL Statement which I will post below.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

The following is the essence of a Blog about the "INSERT INTO" SQL statement created by chat GPT. It's not a Blog as such, in the sense that it's something I want to publish. It is here as an example of what can be achieved with chat GPT. It obviously needs polishing, needs checking for errors, and there are substantial sections missing. CHAT has provided a nice framework, a good place to start from in creating a blog post.

Constructing SQL Statements in VBA: Best Practices and Tips

Introduction
SQL statements are the backbone of any database application, including those built with Microsoft Access. They allow for the retrieval, insertion, update, and deletion of data. In many scenarios, especially in VBA, we find ourselves needing to construct these statements dynamically based on various conditions. This article delves into the nuances of building dynamic "INSERT INTO" SQL statements in VBA, ensuring data integrity and efficiency.

The Basics of Dynamic SQL in VBA
Static SQL statements are hardcoded and don't change. While they're straightforward, they're not always practical. Dynamic SQL, on the other hand, is constructed at runtime. This flexibility allows for more responsive and adaptable applications, but it comes with its challenges.

Handling Data Types and Delimiters
Data types in SQL need to be delimited correctly to ensure the database engine interprets them as intended.
- Text: Text values should be wrapped in double quotes. In VBA, we achieve this using

Chr(34)

.

SurName = Chr(34) & SurName & Chr(34)

- Date: Date values are wrapped in hash marks, represented by

Chr(35)

in VBA.

DateOfBirth = Chr(35) & DateOfBirth & Chr(35)

Incorrect delimiters can lead to errors or, worse, unintended data insertions.

Building the INSERT INTO Statement
To illustrate the process of constructing an "INSERT INTO" statement, let's examine the

fAddRec

function:

Private Function fAddRec(SurName As String, OtherNames As String, DateOfBirth As String, PlaceOfBirth As String, Gender As Integer, StateOfOrigin As String, LGA As String, Attachment As String, PreviousSchool As String)
    ' Add Text Delimiters " = Chr(34)
    SurName = Chr(34) & SurName & Chr(34)
    OtherNames = Chr(34) & OtherNames & Chr(34)
    PlaceOfBirth = Chr(34) & PlaceOfBirth & Chr(34)
    StateOfOrigin = Chr(34) & StateOfOrigin & Chr(34)
    LGA = Chr(34) & LGA & Chr(34)
    Attachment = Chr(34) & Attachment & Chr(34)
    PreviousSchool = Chr(34) & PreviousSchool & Chr(34)
    ' Add Date Delimiters # Chr(35)
    DateOfBirth = Chr(35) & DateOfBirth & Chr(35)
    Dim strSQL0 As String
    Dim strSQL1 As String
    Dim strSQL2 As String
    strSQL1 = "INSERT INTO tblChildDetails(SurName, OtherNames, DateOfBirth, PlaceOfBirth, Gender, StateOfOrigin, LGA, AttachmentX, PreviousSchool) "
    strSQL2 = "Values(" & SurName & ", " & OtherNames & ", " & DateOfBirth & ", " & PlaceOfBirth & ", " & Gender & ", " & StateOfOrigin & ", " & LGA & ", " & Attachment & ", " & PreviousSchool & ")"
    strSQL0 = strSQL1 & strSQL2
    CurrentDb.Execute strSQL0
End Function

The function dynamically constructs the fields and values lists and then merges them to form the final SQL statement. By delimiting data correctly, it ensures that the SQL statement is properly formatted.

Executing the SQL Statement
Once the SQL statement is constructed, it's executed using:

CurrentDb.Execute strSQL

It's crucial to handle any errors that might arise, ensuring the application remains stable and provides informative feedback to the user.

Tips for Advanced SQL Construction
- Parameterized Queries: Instead of constructing SQL strings, using parameterized queries can safeguard against SQL injection attacks and ensure data integrity.
- Stored Procedures and Functions: For repetitive tasks, consider encapsulating your SQL logic in stored procedures or functions. This not only improves performance but also modularizes and organizes your codebase.

Conclusion
Building dynamic SQL statements in VBA is a skill that, when mastered, can significantly enhance your MS Access applications. While it offers flexibility, it's essential to remain cautious and adhere to best practices to ensure data integrity and application stability.

Further Reading/References
- Access World Forums
- Microsoft's official documentation on VBA and SQL

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Here is a new and interesting time wasting opportunity!

"AI Town" lets you build your own GPT-based AI civilization

Venture capitalist a16z is rebuilding a research paper with "AI Town" and publishing the code. The application simulates a Sims-like virtual world via a language model, in which all characters flexibly follow their own motives and make decisions.

the-decoder.com

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Text compression with LLM? Oh, and a thesaurus!

This is an interesting and slightly amusing project. Whether it will be of any use to anyone will remain to be seen!

Text Compression Gets Weirdly Efficient With LLMs

It used to be that memory and storage space were so precious and so limited of a resource that handling nontrivial amounts of text was a serious problem. Text compression was a highly practical app…

hackaday.com

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Here's an article on using ChatGPT to create a browser plugin. The plugin also accesses ChatGPT via an API...

Praising hacking and low-tech solutions. ChatGPT wrote me a personal Javascript browser “plugin.”

Intro ChatGPT “wrote” me this Firefox plugin, summarizing papers and creating fast Markdown snippets to copy to Obsidian. I love unsophisticated solutions with minimal dependencies. The…

bartwronski.com

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I've stepped away from this thread for a while and was surprised to see how much it had moved since my last visit.

The question came up and I didn't answer at the time, but to the best of my understanding, you cannot trademark, copyright, or patent anything that an AI created for you (story, art, a program) because you didn't solely create it. But, you say, it was my idea! True, but without a prior written agreement regarding disposition of ownership of the intellectual property, your claim is unclear. This happened to me many times when I was with the U.S. Navy as a contractor. Essentially, even though I wrote many programs during my 28 1/2 years in that position, I was creating work for hire and there was a clause in our contract to that effect. The Navy owned every line of code I ever wrote in that context. At every contract change, I always had to add a disclaimer to exclude my hobbyist writing AND had to assure that none of my prose EVER hit a Navy computer or storage device (not even a thumb drive) at any time. It is my belief that AI used indiscriminately will "poison" the claim of authorship. Nor are you likely to get the AI owner to sign such a disposition agreement.

Another question came up as a side issue: If I write code using Access or Python or C++, do I own that code? The question boils down to whether there is an AI component of any significance in the development environment. If all it does is translate code directly, you are probably in the clear. Even VBA being pseudo-compiled doesn't muddy the waters THAT much. The Access "Wizard" method of programming something might JUST BARELY squeak this into a VERY SLIGHTLY hazy area, since you didn't program the part that the wizard built. Access supplied that from a predefined library of templates to achieve the given effect. However, most of the time the copyright owner (Microsoft) isn't interested in small-office apps with limited marketing scope and (probably rightly) chooses to not bother pursuing small products for limited production exposure.

SLIGHTLY changing the subject, I used to watch a TV series called Numbers, which was usually a bit far-fetched in the application of sophisticated college-level mathematical analyses of crimes. Most of the time their violations of reality involved straining the low-end boundaries of the Law of Large Numbers - applying large-scale statistics to very small samples. OK, I'm a bit of a snob about that, trying to catch clever shows in not-so-clever errors in math or theory. So sue me for being an intellectual snob selectively.

However, one Numbers episode from 2009, "First Law", involved an AI project being built by DARPA that initially appeared to have created a "true" AI, one that was both sentient and self-aware. Turned out the program involved was more like ChatGPT that used massive prediction algorithms to synthesize the most likely response to whatever was said or suggested. It sounded REMARKABLY like what ChatGPT and other current AI systems actually do, but the show concluded that a "most probable conforming response" algorithm is NOT true AI and is not sentient or self-aware. In retrospect, the episode was both prophetic and accurate.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

If I write code using Access or Python or C++, do I own that code?

I'd say you can't own the code you make with MS Access, 'cause where does it come from? Not from your own mind, like writing a story. You start with something Microsoft gives you, MS Access examples and knowledge base. You learn it, then use it in your own way.

But, it's fair to say that by mixing and tweaking that starting point you can make something new and yours, a bit like writing fiction.

In another sense, with all the blood sweat and tears you put into it you know it's yours!

So I suppose I am sitting on the fence again.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

Turned out the program involved was more like ChatGPT that used massive prediction algorithms to synthesize the most likely response to whatever was said or suggested. It sounded REMARKABLY like what ChatGPT and other current AI systems actually do,

It's hard to gauge, but I often get the impression that ChatGPT is like one of those fancy salesman that tells you what you want to hear.