Jay Franze is my guest this week. Jay continues to use ChatGPT and finds it helpful for drafting documents from bullet points. We talk about some limitations of ChatGPT and how prompt engineering could help improve it. The discussion then shifted to failed gadgets of 2023. I regret buying an Oculus VR headset that I rarely use. Jay discussed gadgets like a baby monitor that emails photos when motion is detected. Other topics included car remote start apps disconnecting, solar generators, and a mass air flow sensor. Toward the end, Jay and I debated internal home surveillance cameras. Monitors were also a topic, with Jim sharing his multiple monitor setup. The show concluded with reminders about related websites and social media. Thanks for listening!

Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg593

Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #593 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.

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Links

You can find all things Jay Franze at https://jayfranze.com/

Meta Quest 2 — Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset

AstroAI Digital Clamp Meter Multimeter 2000

https://www.krea.ai/

TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt Security Camera for Baby Monitor

Show Segments

Tech gadgets, affiliate marketing, and taxes. ([0:00])

Jim Collison interviews Jay Franzi, discussing tech gadgets and news.

Jim Collison discusses show notes, Patreon, and affiliate links for upcoming episodes.

Using ChatGPT for writing and time savings. ([2:56])

Jay uses ChatGPT to jazz up their rough scribbles and bullet points, saving time and achieving the same quality level as if they did it themselves.

Jay finds that ChatGPT adds both time and quality to their content creation process, as it would take longer to achieve the same level of quality without its help.

Jay uses Chat GPT to write articles, including a comprehensive guide for three power station reviews, with the same opening sentence in each review.

Solar generators and their features. ([6:41])

Jim discusses using chat GPT for writing articles, highlighting the benefits of partnering with Microsoft for an enterprise account.

Jim Collison wrote the article and linked to his previous reviews, using AI to generate the table and compare the three products.

Jim Collison wanted to leave room for comments and feedback, rather than expressing a definitive opinion.

Jim Collison discusses the decline of blog comments and how he’s experimenting with writing for search engines instead.

Jim Collison uses AI tools to generate tweets from his blog posts, finding it a useful marketing tool.

AI writing capabilities and future advancements. ([13:11])

Jay expresses frustration with AI’s inability to retain changes made to its output, often resulting in completely different versions of the original text.

Jay mentions using Krea.ai, an AI tool. Jim used Chat GPT to generate an adventure story based on their bio, but found that it did not retain the changes made to the original story.

Jay demonstrates how to use AI to create custom images, including incorporating logos, using subtle or prominent designs, and experimenting with different models.

Jim Collison discusses the potential for personalized AI models, including building and processing locally, and the possibility of PCs with AI chips in the near future.

AI-assisted audio editing and its limitations. ([17:58])

Jay likes using AI to edit content, finds it helpful for focus and accuracy.

Jim Collison and Speaker 2 discuss the limitations of current AI technology in audio transcription, particularly when it comes to preserving the speaker’s inflection and tone.

Jay expresses frustration with AI tools that “recreate” the audio file rather than simply altering it, resulting in a loss of the speaker’s unique voice and inflection.

AI-powered audio transcription and its applications. ([21:48])

AI model can regenerate audio with improved clarity, but may not preserve original vocal quality.

Jim Collison and Speaker 2 discuss the potential of AI in simplifying complex topics, with Speaker 2 sharing an example of using chat GPT to summarize long academic articles.

Jim Collison mentions a service called swell.ai for podcasting, which could be useful for creating and editing audio content.

AI tools, regrets, and tech decisions. ([25:44])

Jim Collison discusses the limitations of AI transcription services like Swell, noting that they struggle with multi-topic conversations and often include irrelevant information in the summary.

He highlights the potential of new AI tools like chat.GPT 3.5 and Dali 3.0, which offer unlimited use and better accuracy, respectively.

Jim Collison regrets purchasing the Oculus VR headset, finding it disappointing and underwhelming despite software updates and improved hand motion.

Jim asks Jay for examples of disappointing purchases or experiences in the world of tech, hoping to learn from others’ mistakes.

Audio recording devices and gadgets. ([31:37])

Jay returned a portable recorder due to its awkward shape and lack of portability, opting for a more comfortable and robust handheld recorder with six inputs.

Jay uses the new handheld recorder for mobile interviews, recording high-quality audio with its built-in XLR inputs and x y microphone.

Jim Collison discusses a Netgate sF2100 pF sense device that John Biggs is unhappy with, and a Astro AI digital clamp meter multimeter that Jim purchased for $25 despite not needing the clamp function.

Audio gadgets and brand reliability. ([37:29])

Jay shows a sound machine to Jim, explaining that it has flimsy buttons that keep breaking and falling into the machine.

Jay purchases a new brand, Lectro Fan, which works well and has sturdy buttons.

Jim Collison bought a drill bit on Amazon and found it squeaked excessively, leading him to question the quality of new brands on the platform.

Jim’s Honda Civic from 2006 had engine trouble, causing him to wonder if the proliferation of new brands on Amazon is affecting product quality.

Jim Collison struggled to fix his car’s issue with power and hesitation, eventually replacing a faulty mass air flow sensor for $50.

Jim also purchased a pump up sprayer from Harbor Freight for $10, which worked well despite breaking the handle with a sledgehammer.

Baby monitor security and privacy. ([46:49])

Jim Collison and Speaker 2 discuss a baby monitor that can take pictures of the baby’s room, with Jim finding it amusing that he’s getting pictures of his wife changing.

Jay mentions that the camera works well and takes good pictures, but that it has a feature that takes pictures when movement is detected in the room.

Jim Collison and a guest discuss internal surveillance cameras, with the guest mentioning they have cameras in various areas of their home for safety and baby monitoring, while Jim is unsure if it’s a good idea.

The guest also mentions they have received surprise texts from their baby monitor app, which their wife may not appreciate.

Jim Collison and Speaker 2 discuss the use of internal cameras in the workplace, with Speaker 2 preferring local storage over third-party cloud-based options.

Jim Collison mentions using an Echo Show 5 with Ring integration to monitor his front door in real-time, despite the delay in receiving footage.

Various smart home devices and their quirks. ([55:16])

Jay mentions using a security camera to monitor their office when they’re away, and Speaker 1 agrees that it’s a trade-off between convenience and security.

Jim Collison and Jay discuss various technical issues with their devices and apps, including Trello going down and Amazon devices not connecting.

Monitor arms and their features. ([58:59])

Jay purchases automatic trash cans with hands-free opening and long-lasting batteries, but struggles to keep up with battery replacements.

Jay demonstrates a monitor stand with dual arms, showing how it can be adjusted for optimal viewing angle and stability.

Jay highlights the benefits of the monitor stand, including the ability to move the monitors out of the way when mixing audio without interfering with the display.

Monitor setup and adoption. ([1:02:59])

Jay discusses their multi-monitor setup, including a flat screen on the wall and multiple laptops and desktops for various tasks.

Jay discusses their preference for simplicity in monitor setup while also utilizing adapters to connect multiple monitors.

Monitor setup and multitasking. ([1:06:53])

Jim Collison uses a curved monitor with dual screens, with one screen for his edit window and the other for his mix window.

Jim mentions using a program called “rectangle” to split his screens on his Mac Mini, which he finds useful for podcast editing.

Jim Collison and Speaker 2 discuss their work setup, including multiple monitors and a touchscreen display.

Jay describes using global command centers in the security world, with hundreds of flat screen TVs and the ability to bounce between monitors.

Jay describes using multiple monitors for work and personal use, preferring an organized layout with specific screens for different tasks.

Old tech, including audio gear and vintage TVs. ([1:13:23])

Jay shows off an old decibel reader from RadioShack, still working like a champ ([1:14:28])

Jay and Jim Collison reminisce about old RadioShack memories ([1:15:02])

Jim Collison and a guest discuss their old tech, including a black and white TV inherited from Jim’s father and a 15-inch IBM CRT monitor that Jim cannot get rid of despite its weight.

Jay mentions that they have a new in-box 15-inch IBM CRT, but Jim replies that he has a 24-inch HP monitor that is heavy and difficult to get rid of.

Jim Collison is trying out a new format for his podcast, interviewing guests pre-recorded and playing them live during the show.

Jay is a guest on the show and provides updates on upcoming episodes, including an interview with Christian from Maple Grove Partners.

—

More from Chat GPT

None this week

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Popular Tags: Podcast, Home Gadget Geeks, Jim Collison, Jay Franzi, chat gpt, ai assistants, failed gadgets 2023, oculus vr, baby monitors, solar generators, mass air flow sensors, home surveillance cameras, computer monitors