Oliver D. Reithmaier

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HCI Researcher working towards his PhD @uni Hannover in Usable Security & Privacy. Psychologist (Masters @LMU). Research about Social Engineering (#phishing), Knowledge in CyberSec, Methods (IRT in USEC). Loves Stats (Bayes, Mixed Modeling, ML, SEM). Former Infosec Consultant. Student of everything, master of nothing.

For all #diabetics, in case you're dependent on insulin and interested in long-haul travel: I stress tested this device in photos (exact model is https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0FJY2LQSH) on my Japan/Korea trip, including flight times of 12-18 hrs (incl. layovers) as an insulin transporting vessel.

The device is a peltier-cooled mini refrigerator, about as big as a standard thermos, maybe a bit slimmer. It runs on 5V/2A usb-c. It keeps the tube inside at desired temperature, down to 4°C. I found that 8°C was a good setting. Doesn't drain power banks too hard and is sufficiently cool. Temperature is pretty constant with ~1°C max variation. It needs fresh air all the time, but it keeps well in decently made bottle holder satchels of hiking backpacks.

Only issue: No battery is attached, so you need a power bank. I use an Anker Power Core that carries 100 Wh. It can continuously power the device for 6-14 hours depending on outside temperature (the hotter it gets outside, the more power it draws). My reference value for 21°C room temp was 14h 8°C cooling. 25°C outside temp and direct sunlight dropped performance time to 8h. As you can see, it's quite sensitive.

Now the issue is that power banks are a dicey subject on planes. Strictly speaking, using and charging them is illegal on most carriers. But: most planes have on-board power outlets you can use to power the thing during flight, unless you're flying low cost carriers. And by power outlets I mean 100V AC power. The USB ports in planes usually don't provide the amps necessary. I also used an Anker Nano travel adapter (this thing is insanely good as well https://www.anker.com/eu-en/products/a9215?variant=55167866601848In) to conveniently charge the fridge via a USB-C cable and also charge other devices like my phone as well. Granted, the device takes half of the workload the charger can provide, but that's still 10 watts you can use, which usually is enough for a phone to charge steadily. With low cost carriers you often either need to use the power bank and not get caught or write to them in advance (at least a week before flight) that you need continuous power either at your seat or have them power it for you (and they can do this afaik). Don't think a doctor's note spontaneously produced at check-in suffices. I almost was thrown off a flight because I tried being transparent about the whole thing (while providing such a doctor's note).

Using the fridge with a power bank, you should adhere to three rules:
1: If you can power it without the power bank, go for it.
2: Whenever you can charge your power bank without substantive jail risk, go for it.
3: Tell people who complain to you regarding airport outlets ("I need to charge, too") to fuck off (that's medicine!). They always can charge their phones on the plane (esp on long-haul).

About the power bank: Please buy a good one (again, Anker Power Core is reliable good tech, but there's other good brands as well). Don't get a cheap model. Those are usually the ones that spontaneously combust.

Where this device shines is long train rides, bus or car travel. You can take lots of stuff with you in it, I traveled with insulin supply for 5 weeks, but your needs might differ from mine. But it should be enough for most vacations. Even with flights, it's so much better than relying on ice or cooling packs.

If you want to give it a try, I suggest you buy one and test it with thermometers and your power bank to see if it fits your use case and needs. If it doesn't, return it.

#diabetes #insulin #travel

Es wäre keine Japan-Reise, wenn die ÜSTRA nicht zu einem Reisezeitpunkt streiken würde. Letztes mal war's die Hinreise, nun die Rückreise.

Big Taxi macht Gewinn.

UPS: Wir liefern Mittwochs.
Ich: Donnerstag bitte.
UPs: Bestätigt! Wir liefern Mittwochs.

Das erste, was ich am ersten deutschen Bahnhof höre, ist "Wir bitten um Entschuldigung" aus den Lautsprechern.

Eigentlich bräuchte es da nen Jingle.

🎶
Sorry, sind zu spät.
Verspätungsqualität
Haben wir leider nie,
Trotz Verspätungsgarantie.
🎶

Vielleicht wird Tim Apple jetzt Koch??
Kansai International Airport somehow also has Eduroam.

"Why would you do this to me? All I wanna do is one small visit to see my friends off on the platform! Why must you bar me from entering when I just want to hug them a last time before they travel the skies? It's rude, frankly, denying the basic human interaction to people like me, normal hard working members of society. Ever think about what you would do if you were in my case? Have some compassion!"

Japanese ticket vending machine: "Please insert money"

The airport limousine bus has eduroam WiFi. Not sure why but I'm also not complaining.

Jet Fuel Shortage: Imminent.
Worldwide Fertilizer Access: Declining.

The stupidity is starting to show effect.

It's hard to overstate how big this Iran war is for several global supply chains. Yeah, it might not affect one isolated chain too much, like refined oil. But if you combine all chains, the strain becomes apparent. This can have severe downstream effects.

Unfortunately this, as usual, means that the ones with money (aka highly developed nations) will be fine-ish, while the others will get shafted.

I still don't quite see why we (as in: the rest of the world) should ever let Americans do whatever on the global stage again without massive resistance.