Toronto Electricians and Electrical Contractors

Tell the Copyright Office: Keep Safe Harbors Safe The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) safe harbors are a vital protection for websites and Internet services of all sizes. But thanks to a new Copyright Office rule, website owners could lose safe harbor protections if they don’t register online by December 31. And that’s not all: Hollywood lobbyists are pushing the Copyright Office to create even more hoops for website owners to jump through in order to keep their safe harbor. Under current law, the owners of websites and online services are protected from monetary liability when their users are accused of infringing copyright. Owners must meet many requirements in order to be eligible for that protection, including participating in the notorious notice-and-takedown procedure for allegedly infringing content. They also must register an agent with the Copyright Office, someone who can respond to takedown requests. The DMCA is far from perfect, but it does allow websites and...

Protect Your Right to Repair and Control the Devices in Your Life Have you encountered difficulties repairing or tinkering with your devices because of technology that stops you from figuring out how it works? EFF wants your stories so that we can defend your right to get around those roadblocks. We want to hear about your experiences with anything that has a software component, from the Internet of Things, to vehicles, to Smart TVs, to appliances… anything you can think of. We think you should have the right to repair, inspect, and reprogram the devices you rely on. We’re taking an especially close look at new devices that can listen to what goes on in your home, like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and the Apple HomePod. How the Law Stops You From Tinkering Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA 1201) gives device manufacturers a legal tool to keep you from understanding and modifying the things you buy. While DMCA 1201’s stated goal was to prevent copyright ...

Let’s start with the first question… how much power can my IT space support? Often times, the available power feeds (the input voltage and breaker size) are constraints within the IT space of a data center. These power feeds determine the maximum power capacity provided to each IT pod (a pod is generally defined as 2 rows of racks being fed from a common distribution point). For instance, if I have 208/120V 3-phase power coming into my IT space, and my input breaker is rated at 225A, I can get 65 kW of power out of that breaker. Here’s the math:  Power (kW) = [3-ph voltage x 1.732 x the breaker rating in amps x the derating of the breaker] / 1,000; so [208 x 1.732 x 225 x 0.8] / 1,000 = 65 kW On the other hand, if my input voltage was 415/240V, with the same input breaker size, I can get 130 kW of power.  (415/240V distribution allows you to get twice the power.)     The amount of power you can get from a particular breaker is one of the key outputs of our IT ...

Nominations Now Open for The Foilies 2018 For the fourth year, EFF is naming and shaming government officials and agencies around the country who stand in the way of transparency. We honor these information gatekeepers with The Foilies, our tongue-in-cheek “awards” during Sunshine Week, which runs from March 11-17, 2018. Think of it like “The Golden Raspberries,” but with outrageous responses to public records requests instead of box-office blunders. We’re accepting outside nominations through Dec. 31. So please:  Send us your government secrecy Gigli . Tell us about the Freddy Got Fingered response to your Freedom of Information Act request.  If an agency demanded you pay the equivalent of Battlefield Earth ’s budget before handing over your records, we want to know.  Once again, we’re collaborating with the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and its participating member publications to publish The Foilies and ensure they serve as a warning to agencies far...

It’s a well-known fact that good design is all in the detail. And detail, like electrical switches and outlets, can add depth and character to your interior designs , as well as bring greater home comfort and convenience. Planning a new interior design project?  Looking for inspiration for your new switches and outlets? We’ve come up with a great new user-friendly app that allows you to visualize switch and socket designs that match your tastes. A wealth of designs and functions Mix & Match is designed for smartphone, tablet and PC. Simply select and display your ideal switch or socket range according to shape, color, and material, and give your home that ‘wow factor’! Available for both iOS and Android devices and is simple to use. Find a wide range of practical features including: Programmable lighting scenarios & ambiances Presence detectors USB outlets Thermostats Now you can design your home interior with switches and sockets that perfectly reflect your uniq...

What is your company doing to turn business development into something sustainable? Increasingly, the data shows that organizations taking initiative to address climate change are positioning their business to succeed both in the market and as advocates for social change. Sustainable development isn’t just about improving the world for future generations — it’s a meaningful purpose for today and tomorrow. The New Digital Economy Three trends — decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization — will forge the transformation to the next economy, the Digital Economy. Alongside those trends, energy consumption will increase by 50% in the next 40 years. This means we must cut greenhouse gas emissions in half if we want to keep the global temperature increase under two degrees and manage the pollution of cities at a bearable level. In order to do that, we have to decrease our carbon intensity and improve our efficiency by a factor of three. These realities pose both great challenges a...

By Rachel K. Carson (MarCom Intern for Process Industries) Adapted from IDC Perspective: Mining Industry Transformation written by Emilie Ditton. We have been talking a lot lately about the technology aspect of digital mining transformation and the huge impact that it is making on the overall mining industry transformation. However there are still a lot of unknowns to the process; and most of them come from buying of technology. Which digital systems are best? What options are best for my mine and its entire supply chain? How do I go about implementing these strategies? Consider our advice and “actions to consider” below, such that many of your mining questions may have solutions. Advice for the technology buyer… The mining industry is at very early stages of transformation. As the dynamic of the future of mining shifts, companies that have joined or will join the transformation will realize operational value and increased profitability that it will bring. This comes from holisti...