I am using a new M1 Mac with macOS 12.0.1. I installed software that caused all sorts of problems (I won't mention the name). I suspected it might be problematic, so I used CCC to take a full backup first. Specifically, I used CCC6 which created a snapshot on my internal drive, and then cloned... Continue Reading →
Installation of Backintime on CentOS7
This guide steps you through the process of installing all the necessary CentOS packages, compiles necessary libraries, and installs Back-in-time on CentOS7
Everyone Loves an Old Fox, Right?
Everyone loves an old Fox, right? Well, actually no. Unlike the Michael J. variety, Mozilla Firefox has slipped into almost complete obscurity as a desktop browser. Depending on your source of data, Firefox's marketshare has slumped from a peak in 2009 of just over 30%, to a lowly 7.69% in August, 2016. Although, it has... Continue Reading →
Docear on macOS: Navigating the Apple Java Nightmare
So this blog post will be brief, as I suppress my disdain for Apple's attitude towards Java, now that they no longer need it to survive due to their App Store ecosystem. This blog post documents how I was able to get the Docear Mindmapping software working on OSX El Capitan (10.11). Sadly, many Java... Continue Reading →
The reusability paradox – WTF?
WTF? The reusability paradox. How can reusability be bad? When first presented with this concept last year, I must admit I really did struggle with it. As a techhie, every fibre of my being compels me to focus on reuse. Hence, the paradox. After some weeks of struggling with the reusability paradox, it did start... Continue Reading →
How to Install Backintime Backup Software on CentOS/RHEL/Scientific Linux 7
Introduction Hopefully the title of this post is explanation enough. Backintime is a neat backup solution that mimics in some ways, the abilities of OSX' Timemachine backup system. At predetermined time intervals, Backintime will sweep configured directories on your computer, and only backup the differences since the last sweep. It results in an efficient use... Continue Reading →
The Moodle Activity Viewer (MAV) – Heatmaps of Student Activity
Introduction This blog post introduces an emerging implementation of learning analytics for lecturers that offers a novel approach to the visualisation of learning analytics within the Moodle LMS called the Moodle Activity Viewer (MAV). The motivation for its design was born from the frustration of using the standard analytics reporting functions available in Moodle 2.2... Continue Reading →
McLuhan’s Tetrad
McLuhan's Tetrad comprises 4 laws of media that can be used to analyse the effects of technological change on society, rather than the causes. Timothy Kraft describes the tetrad as: Enhance The technology must enhance some capability of the person. The medium is an extension of the person. Retrieve The result is a retrieval of... Continue Reading →
McLuhan says the medium is the message
McLuhan is probably most popularly known for his theory succinctly posited "The medium is the message". Federman offers a very clear explanation of this concept in his article "What is the meaning of the medium is the message?" Federman explains that McLuhan considers the medium in quite broad terms, more so than perhaps first impressions... Continue Reading →
Arrow key scroll in Mac Excel
Ever been using Microsoft Excel on the Mac and found that when you use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move from one cell to the next, instead the whole worksheet scrolls? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaDxK7JEOUA This is actually a feature of Microsoft Excel carried over from the Windows version on which you press the Scroll lock... Continue Reading →
Damo's World 