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Member Contributions

Want to share something (can be anything - about yourself, a recent trip, an anecdote, an adventure, photos, jokes). We would love to hear from you – email [email protected] with the subject heading Member contribution.

List of Member Contributions as they appear below

Transforming Aged Care with Virtual Reality (VR)

eWaste CONNECTION - builds purpose, helps the environment & creates friendships

Where to go - without leaving home - some comic relief

Brisbane Libraries and Life Long Learning

About the Writers Ink Group

Most expensive Rolls-Royce

Transforming Aged Care with Virtual Reality (VR) - Contributed by David

What is VR? Taken from the website, https://www.marxentlabs.com/what-is-virtual-reality/

  • Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment.
  • Virtual Reality’s most immediately-recognizable component is the head-mounted display (HMD). Human beings are visual creatures, and display technology is often the single biggest difference between immersive Virtual Reality systems and traditional user interfaces.
  • Major players in Virtual Reality include HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR (PSVR)

Immersive experience creation mimics how the eye and brain form visuals. Human eyes are about three inches apart and therefore form two slightly different views. The brain fuses those views to create a sense of depth or stereoscopic display.

VR applications replicate that phenomenon with a pair of exact images from two different perspectives. Instead of a single image covering the entire screen, it shows two identical pictures made to offset the view for each eye. VR technology fools the viewer’s brain into perceiving a sense of depth and accept the illusion of a multi-dimensional image.

To find out more about how VR is used in aged care visit: https://research.qut.edu.au/agedcarevr/

eWaste CONNECTION - builds purpose, helps the environment & creates friendships

Contribution from Patricia and David

Have you got any old technology equipment of any sort such as computers, monitors, phones, accessories etc. DON’T bin it RECYCLE it by donating it the Kenmore eWaste Connection centre.

Their website is: http://ewasteconnection.com/ - check this out for further information.

What can you donate? They accept almost anything that has a cable/cord or battery!

  • Computers / Laptops / Monitors / Printers / Obsolete IT equipment / Cables and cords
  • Televisions / Kitchen appliances (microwaves, small fridges, toasters, etc) / Other unwanted electrical items

Drop off anytime to their premises at 98 Brookfield Rd, Kenmore Hills (Behind Men’s Shed and Bridge Club).

Where to go - without leaving home [contributed by Tricia]

I have been in many places in my life but I've never been in Cahoots.  Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.  I hear no one recognises you there.

I have, however, been in Sane.  They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.  I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends and family.  I live close so it's a short drive.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt.  That is a sad place to go and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense!  It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!  At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

And, sometimes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not.

People keep telling me I'm in Denial but I'm positive I've never been there before!

I have been in Deepshit many times; the older I get, the easier it is to get there. I actually kind of enjoy it there.

So far, I haven't been in Continent, but my travel agent says it is on the list.

Brisbane Libraries and Life Long Learning

Contributed by Chris, with thanks to Tanya at the Kenmore Library.

A healthy body – [learn, diet, exercise and sleep well for life]

For all things libraries in Brisbane visit - https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/council-venues-and-precincts/libraries

How public libraries support the community to grow and learn throughout their lives:

Free workshops are run on most topics mentioned below, simply search for the topic at https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-on-in-brisbane by typing in the What’s on in Brisbane search box, for example, typing in “beekeeping” and then click on the magnifying glass search tool will result in a list of workshops available on beekeeping..

Digital Literacy – includes information on the following topics: Smartphones, TV streaming, Social media, E-books and downloads, Online family history, Computer, internet, email, word processing baiscs, Tablets, Buying and selling online, Simple photo editing, Coding for adults, Trove basics.

Brisbane City Council libraries offer a comprehensive range of free technology workshops and sessions for people of all ages and skill levels. Visit https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/council-venues-and-precincts/libraries/library-programs/free-digital-literacy-training

Gardening and sustainability – Hydroponics; Organic gardening; Vegetable gardening; Subtropical plants; Edible plants; Native plants; Recycling in gardens; Bekeeping. Visit https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/green-home-and-community.

Cooking – Fermenting; Breadmaking; Seasonal cooking; Cheese making; Preserves; Spices.

Writing – Creative writing; Writing for seniors, Travel and lifestyle writing; Socla media for writers; Self publishing; Podcasting; Self editing, Crime writing, Scriptwriting.

Business – Book keeping for creatives; Online photography; Selling your work; Socla media for business; Marketing via social media.

eLibCat – Brisbane Libraries Online Presence – search for titles; nnlne chat function and help centre; Brisbane image archive; and digital membership for 3 months.

To access eLibCat visit the link https://library-brisbane.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/eLibCat. From this website you can see: What’s on – discover what’s offered in libraries for the current month; Ebooks & downloads - your Brisbane City Council Library membership allows free access to a range of digital books, audiobooks, comics, music, films and magazines (All available to download or stream to your device or PC); Reading discovery – search for books; For kids – resources for all ages and very useful information for grandparents;  Computers and Wifi - Brisbane City Council libraries offer free Computer and Internet access for library members, and free Wi-Fi for library members and visitors; Online resources and databases - gives you access to a wide variety of information databases; Community and languages - A collection of books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines in twenty five different languages are available in selected libraries across the city, as well as access to the Mango Language App, a language learning program teaching practical conversation and cultural awareness for the world’s most popular languages, with the free iPhone and Android™ Mango app you can accesses the Mango Languages courses available through your library; Library hours and locations – want to visit an actual library building; Brisbane History – access the Brisbane images and local history.

Online Resources include – Newspapers; Free languages; Technology classes; Encyclopaedia; Choice magazine; History & genealogy; Medline plus; Science sites (Proquest).

The BNELibraries App is now available for use on smartphones. To download the App on the iPhone open the App Store and search for “bnelibraries” and GET the application. Login with your library membership number and PIN and use the App to borrow, look up titles and manage your account; link all your other family member details; it’s easy to see what you have borrowed and renew items, easy to search and place holds.

About the Writers Ink Group – submitted by Kevin

Have you done some family history research?  Do you sometimes think about events of your life?  Do you ever think about something that might be of interest?  Why not write about these things so that you can share them with others?  Writers Ink is a group of people who would like to listen to your stories.  Members meet each month and share their writings with the group.  Pieces are mostly short (up to about 2 typed A4 pages).  Longer pieces are presented in episodes.  Writings can be prose or poetry and the subject can be anything – real or imagined.  The subject matter usually generates a discussion which sometimes actually relates to it.  There is no critique of the writing and the discussion is friendly.  New members are always welcome.  Even if you haven’t written anything yet, come and sit in on one of the sessions and see for yourself.

Most expensive Rolls-Royce [contributed by Jeff]

It was originally bought for $1,000 in 1912 (almost 93,000 in today's money) but has now gone under the hammer for $4,705,500, making it the most expensive Rolls-Royce ever sold at auction.

More coming ...