Linux Accra https://linuxaccra.org en "Mapping Our World". A Practical Intro to OpenStreetMap (OSM) https://linuxaccra.org/blog/mapping-our-world-practical-intro-openstreetmap-osm <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/mapping_prez.png" width="366" height="284" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>    Isaac Mustapha and Leticia Makafui made an informative presentation introducing OpenStreetMap (OSM) at Linux Accra User Group's regular Saturday meeting. The presentation walked through its features, an overview of mapping along with hands-on activities. OpenStreetMap is a community-driven project that actively provides and updates map data. This data is open and is used in numerous devices and applications all over the world. The process of adding or contributing this data is known as mapping. A variety of complementary tools like Mapillary, JOSM, GPS tools were also shown, which applied depending on the context of the mapping activity to be done. The attendees then also explored these tools on their own computers or shared computers where necessary and tried different features of OSM and the JOSM tool.  </p><div class="media media-element-container media-wysiwyg media-float-left media-wysiwyg-align-left"><div id="file-118" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/laugmeeting021120243jpg">laug_meeting_02112024_3.jpg</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="mapping meeting presentation " style="float: left; width: 45%; height: 34%;" class="media-element file-wysiwyg image-style-none" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/laug_meeting_02112024_3.jpg" width="1295" height="971" /> </div> </div> </div><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-float-left media-wysiwyg-align-left"><div id="file-117" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/laugmeeting02112024jpg">laug_meeting_02112024.jpg</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="mapping meeting presentation" style="width: 45%; height: 34%; float: left;" class="media-element file-default image-style-none" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/laug_meeting_02112024.jpg" width="1295" height="971" /> </div> </div> </div>                     Some mapping activities involved identifying buildings in a given municipality by outlining the boundaries of the structure on the map then assigning various labels to that mapped item and submitted. When this is done for a town or city especially with the local knowledge of that town, the updated map presents more information on the given location. In areas where natural disasters such as floods have occurred, various building and roads may have been washed away or covered with water making it difficult to plan rescue efforts. The power of mapping and open data comes into play providing the needed local context ahead of time, to better inform how rescue should be done. Aside Natural Disaster Management, in different parts of Africa some satellite images of certain locations remain outdated. Mapping plays a powerful role in providing an updated view of those locations making it easier to identify where important buildings such as community hospitals, police stations and similar are located for health and security purposes.   After such an immersive experience, attendees were excited about the knowledge sharing and tools introduced and it is likely to inspire further related projects and presentations in the near future. If so, the meeting will be added to our Meetings page on our website and the related blog entry will be published.   Thank you for making the time to read this, enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great week ahead!<div class="media media-element-container media-default media-float-left media-wysiwyg-align-left"><div id="file-119" class="file file-image file-image-png"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/laugmeeting021120244editedpng">laug_meeting_02112024_4_edited.png</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="mapping meeting group picture 1" style="float: left; height: 20%; width: 35%;" class="media-element file-default image-style-none" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/laug_meeting_02112024_4_edited.png" width="1280" height="747" /> </div> </div> </div><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-left"><div id="file-120" class="file file-image file-image-png"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/laugmeeting021120245editedpng">laug_meeting_02112024_5_edited.png</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="mapping meeting group picture 2" style="height: 20%; width: 35%;" class="media-element file-default image-style-none" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/laug_meeting_02112024_5_edited.png" width="1280" height="747" /> </div> </div> </div>      </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/openstreetmap" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">openstreetmap</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/mapping" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mapping</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/osm" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">OSM</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/gps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/geospatial" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">geospatial</a></li></ul></section> Sat, 02 Nov 2024 18:27:30 +0000 laudbentil 785 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/mapping-our-world-practical-intro-openstreetmap-osm#comments Beyond ChatGPT: Exploring Diverse LLMs and Their Ideal Applications https://linuxaccra.org/blog/beyond-chatgpt-exploring-diverse-llms-and-their-ideal-applications <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/beyond_chatgpt.jpeg" width="940" height="470" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Today's exciting meeting was conducted by Bright Morkli. Artificial Intelligence and various applications continue to become centerpiece in the world of technology. He mentioned Artificial Intelligence as an umbrella term for various algorithms about tools that involve some autonomous problem solving capabalities. He explained in more detail what Generative AI and Machine Learning are. One of the popular AI products is the generative AI tool ChatGPT from a company called OpenAI. However other companies are working on other products as well, which is what this presentation explored more about. Some companies mentioned were Meta with their Llama models and Anthropic with Claude models. These respective models address certain challenges better than others in other words they have their strengths and weaknesses. For the same input provided to the various products, the output varies with each model providing more or less detail in its responses. Input provided to these models vary and can be text, audio, images or videos and responses provided in these formats. The next phase of the presentation was a hands-on demo session where Bright asked for various prompts from the audience and fed them into the various AI products and we examined the responses and compared across. The session ended with some resources being shared to these various tools and then a question and answer period which evolved into a discussion on how these could be applied in various work contexts. </p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-float-left"><div id="file-102" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/brightmorkliprezjpeg-0">bright_morkli_prez.jpeg</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="bright morkli presentation" style="height: 40%; width: 40%; float: left; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 5px;" class="media-element file-default image-style-none" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/bright_morkli_prez_0.jpeg" width="765" height="1020" /> </div> </div> </div><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-float-left"><div id="file-103" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/media/images/brightmorkliprez3jpeg">bright_morkli_prez_3.jpeg</a></h2> <div class="content"> <img alt="bright morkli presentation_2" style="height: 40%; width: 40%; float: left; margin: 2px 5px;" class="media-element file-default image-style-none" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/bright_morkli_prez_3.jpeg" width="1020" height="765" /> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> Sat, 29 Jun 2024 17:45:04 +0000 laudbentil 784 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/beyond-chatgpt-exploring-diverse-llms-and-their-ideal-applications#comments Matrix Continued https://linuxaccra.org/blog/matrix-continued <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/matrix_logo.png" width="180" height="180" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  We earlier explored using matrix as a communication platform and what some of the potential advantages are over other messaging platforms. This week we took a deeper dive into various features of Matrix. In this session we looked into the Matrix specification, re-visited the matrix ecosystem in detail and looked at use cases.  The Matrix spec. which is a set of open APIs, had some interesting features such as Client-to-Server API, Server-to-Server API among others outlined how client applications communicates to servers, how these API requests were made, the nature of the responses and how errors were handled. We then followed up with the matrix ecosystem in detail. The matrix ecosystem has a rich set of community supported software categorised under clients, bridges, servers, integrations, SDKs and hosting. Element is a popular client among others that is used for registering and chatting on the matrix network. Integrations enables ways to extend chats beyond sending messages to include special features such as integrations to trello. Bridges allow connecting with other messaging platforms outside of the Matrix network such as the Slack or Telegram. Servers enable users to run their own homeservers with their own supported features while SDKs allows one to build widgets, bots or bridges. Both of these may be better suited for advanced users. Hosting of homeservers can be done by other providers to simplify managing hosting. We also explored bridging options on other platforms which Beeper provides for free in mobile and desktop options.  This finalised our session for the day. Follow us for further updates and look out for our next meeting!</p> </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/saturdaymeeting" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">saturdaymeeting</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/linuxaccra" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">linuxaccra</a></li></ul></section> Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:45:50 +0000 laudbentil 783 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/matrix-continued#comments MoviePy - Video Editing with Python https://linuxaccra.org/blog/moviepy-video-editing-python <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/moviepy_logo.png" width="431" height="120" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Most movie editing is done using a graphical user interface. As a programmer, there must be another way. You want to save time and work on a number of videos at the same time. The first step is to install MoviePy and you are ready to go. The next step was to get a number of videos. Finally you 'edit' those clips using MoviePy. The 'edit' involves taking making subclips of the original video and joining them. But how did we do it?You need to import the relevant functions to work with. Then we load the video into VideoFileClip and apply it's method .subclip which makes a snippet of a certain length of the original video and we save that result in a variable clip1. We do the same for the second video and save that into another variable, clip2. Then we combine both video snippets, which are clip1 &amp; clip2, using concatenate_videoclips and save that result into a variable called final_clip. To get the result of the video we now call the write_videofile method indicating the filename and location of the resulting video. Then you have your edited video. </p> </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/python-moviepy-linux" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">#python #moviepy #linux</a></li></ul></section> Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:04:34 +0000 laudbentil 782 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/moviepy-video-editing-python#comments Practical Intro to Cloud Computing https://linuxaccra.org/blog/practical-intro-cloud-computing <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/LAUG2402024.jpg" width="1040" height="780" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>   Today at Linux Accra User Group meeting, the exciting event on intro to cloud computing was presented by the speaker, Mohammed Futa who is well qualified with both certifications and work experiences in the field. The meeting was graced by both old and new members of Linux Accra User Group, who were eager to learn something new. Before turning to his slides, he gave the rationale for cloud computing. He more or less interacted with participants expressing the challenges of putting your websites or applications on your own laptop and the potential issues that may occur, like theft, natural disaster, power outage that could disrupt the website. This highlighted the advantages of cloud computing, emphasizing its reliability and redundancy. The presentation broke down cloud services into the following topics: Compute, database, storage, function and access control. Mohammed Futa will follow up next Saturday with a hands-on session on these topics.Hope to see you there!</p> </div></div></div> Sat, 24 Feb 2024 19:00:46 +0000 habib 781 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/practical-intro-cloud-computing#comments The Fundamentals of Social Media Marketing in the Digital Age https://linuxaccra.org/blog/fundamentals-social-media-marketing-digital-age <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/2_4.png" width="1414" height="2000" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The importance of social media marketing cannot be emphasized in an era dominated by digital connections. Whether you are a small business owner, a freelancer, or an aspiring influencer, leveraging the power of social media can help you take your brand to new heights.But it is not simply about setting up company accounts and posting whenever you want. Social media marketing necessitates a changing plan with measurable objectives, which includes:Keeping and improving your profiles.Posting images, movies, tales, and live videos that define your brand and appeal to a certain audience.Monitoring your reputation and responding to comments, shares, and likes.Following and connecting with followers, customers, and influencers to create a brand community.Social media marketing is no more a passing fad; it is an essential component of today's corporate landscape. Navigating this volatile landscape necessitates a planned strategy, a thorough grasp of your target audience, and a dedication to providing quality content. Remember that authenticity and interaction are the keys to developing a dynamic online presence as you embark on your social media marketing journey. Keep an open mind, accept the ever-changing digital landscape, and watch your brand thrive in the realm of social media.Join us on on SATURDAY, 25th NOVEMBER, 2023 at 2:00PM.VENUE :AITI-KACE, RIDGE-ACCRA</p> </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/linuxaccra-socialmediamarketing-opensoftware" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">#linuxaccra #socialmediamarketing #opensoftware</a></li></ul></section> Sat, 11 Nov 2023 17:09:14 +0000 Rashida 780 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/fundamentals-social-media-marketing-digital-age#comments Unleashing the Power of Drupal https://linuxaccra.org/blog/unleashing-power-drupal <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/2_1.png" width="1080" height="1080" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>Unleashing the Power of Drupal: Meet Miss Rashidatu Ibrahim                                                           </strong><strong>Introduction                                                       </strong>In today’s digital age, having the ability to manage and update website content is crucial for individuals and businesses alike. While Drupal, a powerful content management system, is often associated with technical expertise, it’s important to recognize that its potential extends far beyond the realm of developers. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of Drupal and a one-on-one practical application of Drupal in website creation.<strong>Drupal: A Gateway to Web Excellence                                </strong>Drupal is a flexible and robust software that enables users to create highly customizable websites. With its vast array of modules, themes, and extensions, Drupal provides the tools to bring your digital vision to life whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer. <strong>My</strong> <strong>Journey</strong> <strong>with Drupal                                                    </strong>I have been fortunate to embark on a captivating journey with Drupal, which has shaped my professional growth and passion for web development as a newbie in the tech world. From the moment I discovered Drupal, I was captivated by its immense potential. As I delved deeper, I realized the power it holds for creating exceptional web experiences and managing content seamlessly.<strong>Unveiling</strong> <strong>the Possibilities                                             </strong>In my journey with Drupal, I have witnessed its transformative impact on businesses and organizations. From e-commerce platforms to educational institutions. Drupal has proven to be a game-changer, allowing users to build robust and customized websites that cater to their unique requirements. I am thrilled to share my knowledge and insights about Drupal with you.<strong>Conclusion                                                                        </strong>Drupal offers an exciting world of possibilities for web development and content management. With its flexibility and security, it empowers individuals and organizations to create stunning and excellent websites tailored to their specific needs. Join me at Linux Accra, every Saturday at 2pm as we dive into the realm of Drupal and unlock the endless possibilities it holds. I am honored to share my expertise with you.<strong>                                                                 With love, </strong><strong>                                                                  xoxo</strong> </p> </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/linuxaccra-osm-womenintech" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">#LinuxAccra #OSM #womenintech</a></li></ul></section> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:25:39 +0000 Rashida 778 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/unleashing-power-drupal#comments 3 Months Free Python Programming Training https://linuxaccra.org/blog/3-months-free-python-programming-training <div class="field field-name-field-blog-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-none" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/IMG_20220528_164349.jpg" width="4160" height="3120" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>If you are looking to gain and develop skills in computer programming, learn to develop websites, develop mobile applications and learn to use open source software, then the free 3 months programming course is right for you.Training begins on the 21st of May 2022 and every other Saturdays @ 2:00 PM.Venue: The Ghana-India Kofi Annan centre of excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), Accra.Kindly complete the registration form below. </p> </div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/python" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">python</a></li></ul></section> Sat, 28 May 2022 18:01:42 +0000 habib 777 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/blog/3-months-free-python-programming-training#comments 3 Months Free Python Programming Training https://linuxaccra.org/articles/3-months-free-python-programming-training <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-large" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/IMG_20220528_164349_0.jpg?itok=1-b5AE4_" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>If you are looking to gain and develop skills in computer programming, learn to develop websites, develop mobile applications and learn to use open source software, then the free 3 months programming course is right for you.Training begins on the 21st of May 2022 and every other Saturdays @ 2:00 PM.Venue: The Ghana-India Kofi Annan centre of excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), Accra.Kindly complete the registration form below. </p> </div></div></div> Sat, 28 May 2022 17:56:58 +0000 habib 776 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/articles/3-months-free-python-programming-training#comments Free 3 months Python training programming https://linuxaccra.org/articles/free-3-months-python-training-programming <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-large" src="https://linuxaccra.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/IMG_20220528_164349.jpg?itok=DpJmCe6s" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>If you are looking to gain and develop skills in computer programming, learn to develop websites, develop mobile applications and learn to use open source software, then the free 3 months programming course is right for you.Training begins on the 21st of May 2022 and every other Saturdays @ 2:00 PM.Venue: The Ghana-India Kofi Annan centre of excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE), Accra.Kindly complete the registration form below.</p> </div></div></div> Sat, 28 May 2022 17:46:22 +0000 habib 775 at https://linuxaccra.org https://linuxaccra.org/articles/free-3-months-python-training-programming#comments