Looming Technology

At some stage during lockdown, the Old Gits Luncheon Club – an ancient and distinguished organisation I am proud to be a member of – decided that a process of continual reinvention was more appropriate to this ever-changing world we live in. It therefore decided to become a different organisation every month and advertise its meetings accordingly. This month we are the Yorkshire Society Of Card Punchers, Changers and Jacquard Loom Operatives, a move that pays homage to Joseph Marie Jacquard who patented a machine in 1804 that simplified the process of weaving complex textile patterns by the use of punched cards laced together into a continuous sequence.

In keeping with this “back to the future” theme, I decided to invite Google’s new Artificial Intelligence chat-bot, Bard, to compose the letter of invitation which will be sent to members of the organisation. Given only the date, time and place of the meeting, it came up with the following email:-

Dear Members

You are cordially invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Yorkshire Society of Card Punchers, Changers and Jacquard Loom Operatives to be held at the Sportsman Beerhouse, Huddersfield on Thursday 30 March 2023 at 12,30pm.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Review of the minutes from the previous meeting
3. Discussion of current issues
4. Presentation on the latest developments in the field
5. Q&A

We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

The Committee

To complete the old and new technological nature of the invitation, it will contain a QR Code which will direct people to this particular page. Life is truly wonderful when you are old and with nothing better to do than occupy yourself with such nonsense. See you at the meeting!