Technology can both enhance and detract from our quality of life. A digital detox involves intentionally reducing or avoiding the use of electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, and social media. The goal is not necessarily to eliminate technology entirely but to create healthier boundaries, regain focus, and improve overall well-being.

It turns out the vast majority of headaches, security issues, tech expenditures, and e-waste are preventable. This class will de-mystify and explain the IT industry in plain English. Topics to be explored include: core components of a computer/tablet; why antivirus software is obsolete; why software becomes more complicated every day; the four new threats—legalized spyware, preventing cryptolocker/ransomware/hostageware, update attacks, support scams. Also to be discussed: proper backup; make almost any computer last 15 years; save money on printing; slash Internet and mobile bills; and fake rental WiFi.

This session will explore the remarkable advances made in Artificial Intelligence in the past decade, particularly Deep Learning and Generative Artificial Intelligence. Deep Learning is a method to solve such complicated problems as the shape of medically-important protein molecules (2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry). Generative A.I. creates new text, computer code, and images in response to user prompts (e.g., Chat GPT, Claude, Gemini). Both Deep Learning and Generative A.I. employ specialized computer architectures called Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). This session will explore how an ANN works and a range of successful applications. Additionally, very real practical and philosophical challenges posed by the continued development of Generative A.I. will be highlighted.