Tag: AI

Sometimes, but very rarely, “AI” may just work in your favour.

I’m fixing this lens and came across this broken part. But what is it called? Does Chat GPT know the answer? It seems it does.

Please do not for one minute consider this an endorsement for AI, it’s not. I very rarely ever use it, and to be totally honest I keep as far away from it, as i possibly can. The only issue is, is that it gradually sneaks through the back door unannounced in pretty much any application or program that you now use. There is no escaping it really, even here on WP this week I received an invite to start using AI to write my posts and to control their content and SEO compatibility, whatever that is. Straight in the bin it went, no thanks, not interested.

I know my grammar and punctuation leaves a lot to be desired, and sometimes it is very poor, but hey! That’s me and I don’t want to suddenly appear to be a fully functioning and academic genius, as that’s just not me. I’m a Comprehensive educated drop out, that has managed ok thank you, and I don’t need some computer to portray me as something I’m not, or am likely never going to be.

Rant aside, let’s get back to the story that is based around the item in this picture.

What’s that then?

I’m currently carrying out a repair on a Canon EF 28-200 lens from around the year 2000. Whilst dismantling this lens, the above part became the item of interest as this is a piece that controls the zoom of the lens, hence this lens never really worked due to it’s inability to focus or zoom, and the item above appears to be the guilty party.

It’s broken, that is clearly obvious to see, it’s made of an alloy, possibly aluminium, and is not repairable by soldering due to the immense high temperatures that would be required. I can’t achieve such temperatures as I don’t have the equipment available to do such work. I could try forming something from scratch, that is an option but I don’t really have the time or patience to be honest to spend such time on such a tiny piece of metal. The whole piece is no bigger than 2cms long at its longest point. It really is tiny but essential for the smooth operation of this lens.

This is where the AI help comes in.

Having looked at many repair manuals belonging to Canon, I have an immense list of code numbers but nothing at all explaining what this item is or if there are any still available. I’m kind of lost and at odds as to what I should do.

In desperation, I type something similar to this request into Chat GPT:

“Long angular aluminium piece, working the telephoto element of a Canon EF 28-200 lens”

And this came back as an option:

Bingo – Courtest of Barrell Y Store – Ali express

Wow. That looks familiar!

And it is in-fact the part I am looking for, on the Ali Express site, our friends in China have one left in stock – “Click” that’s purchased and is now on its way to me.

I am now also fully aware of what it actually is, apparently it is called a “Zoom guide pillar, zoom lever, electric brush lever for a Canon 28-200 zoom lens”

Well there you go, it appears AI is good at deciphering the ramblings of a frustrated and confused 60 something. And in this case it did very well. When this arrives I’m going to give it to one of the tool makers at work to get him to make a few copies, I’m even going to see if I can get a few printed out 3D wise to see how the plastic version holds out under the demands of the lens. I don’t foresee any real issues as long as the lens isn’t mistreated in any way.

Well. That’s my major frustration of the week, and my first real face to face involvement with AI.

It can only get better, or can it?

Have a super day. Stay real.

Overrun by AI images

Why does almost everyone on WP have the inherent need to use over processed AI images?

Of all the many trillions of photographs already out there, it surprises me that people become reliant on images that look false, are patently over processed and that don’t look the slightest bit realistic.

Technology is a good thing but in my opinion this is a step too far, it’s unreal, it’s not realistic and people are preferring to create a life in photo form that they would like to see, rather than what they do actually see. Life unfortunately isn’t as perfect as the AI gods would have us believe.

I guess my many decades in this particular trade amount to nothing and I just see it as pure laziness to use such techniques. In a few words I can have a perfectly presented representation of a smiling cherub like child in the most perfect sun infused and idilic environment, that in all seriousness is as false as a suspended ceiling in a Victorian property. It’s just not right.

Yep you’re right I don’t like it, condone it and will never use it. My choice, my blog. I’ll never see it differently I’m afraid.

Take the time to either obtain a picture that someone has spent good time composing, and working hard on to get right, or just go out there and do it yourself. But that’s the problem isn’t it? Technology has made us lazy, let’s leave it to someone/thing else.

I know let’s use a faceless blind computer with overactive memory banks.

That’s A.I in my view.

Have a peaceful day.

Thoughts 6/6/24

If you had to change your name, what would your new name be?

It’s hot

It would be…….Betty Swallocks

Use your imagination guys 😂

Have a super day.