 The future of the South African electronics industry
To say that business in South Africa relating to the electronics industry is challenging at the moment would be an understatement. The industry is currently trying to work itself out of a recession but with current worldwide component shortages the challenge is huge... (more) |
 In conversation with Hugh Bradlow, CTO,Telstra, Australia
Telstra was Australia's Telkom until regulatory changes there set the company free from government ties. It forged ahead and as the largest telco in Australia is setting the development pace for others, including the government... ( more) |
|
Key thermal design ingredients for industrial-grade computers
by Hunter Lin and Bruce Chen, Moxa, USA
One of the greatest challenges for industrial computing manufacturers is to deliver products that meet industrial standards and operate in harsh environments... ( more) |
The changing face of the ICT industry
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
Recent notable moves in the ICT industry have been HP acquiring 3Com, and Dimension Data's acquisition by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT). It was not so long ago that 3Com announced that through its manufacturing facility in China the company would aggressively enter the South African market... ( more) |
|
Research gone Googlish
by Dr. Gert-Jan van Rooyen and Dr. Herman Engelbrecht, Electronic Media Laboratory, Stellenbosch University
The Electronic Media Laboratory at Stellenbosch University takes a different approach to postgraduate research, by fostering an environment where web and mobile innovation can flourish... ( more) |
|
Fibre to the home - a South African model
Information from Atec Systems and Technologies
All around the world households are embracing the benefits associated with fibre networks by installing a fibre-to-the-home platform in innovative and localised ways... ( more) |
|
Bandwidth from one cable can be risky
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
Reliance on one cable for bandwidth is a risky business and can cause major disruptions and customer dissatisfaction, as was recently experienced with the disruption of the Seacom sub-marine cable...
|
Data integrity - the core of a successful data warehouse
by Sean Longhurst, EnterpriseWorx
If your data is not correct then the information you base your business decisions on may be false, and that can have a severely negative impact on the profitability of the organisation...
( more) |
|
Virus protection - also for the kids
Kaspersky Lab's integrated solution protects home networks and also acts as a cyber nanny for the young ones. A
password management program to manage an entire home network and fine-tune the security settings of the web browser and operating system are all part of the package... ( more) |
|
Micro automation - switching and controlling can be child's play!
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
I had never imagined being able to program a micro automation device, but at the recent Siemens TIA Conference Josef Ploch persuaded me to get some hands-on experience, and I am now convinced that I can install a Siemens Logo at home... ( more) |
|
More manganese for metals markets
Information from Iritron
Assmang, which is jointly managed and controlled by African Rainbow Minerals and Assore, decided in 2008 to increase the mining and processing of manganese ore from the Nchwaning II and III mines... ( more) |
|
PLC and SCADA out at sea
When it comes to SCADA and PLC systems it is interesting to note the extensive applications in industry. During my recent discussion with Keith Gross of Ana Digi Systems, I learned about the use of PLC and SCADA on two South African fishing trawlers... ( more) |
|
A new standard in Ethernet service testing
by Thierno Diallo, EXFO, Canada
As Ethernet continues to evolve as the transport technology of choice, networks have shifted their focus from purely moving data to providing entertainment and new applications. Ethernet-based services need to carry a variety of applications, namely voice, video, e-mail, online trading and others... ( more) |
|
Verifying characteristics of secondary batteries
Information from Agilent Technologies
An electronic load can be used to discharge batteries of various chemistries to determine actual capacity, capacity retention, and internal impedance.s... ( more) |
|
Battery technology
In recent years the focus on batteries has shifted to the development of new technologies to store energy. We may still call them batteries for want of a better word, and in many ways the so-called super-capacitors are like batteries - they store energy... ( more) |
|
Graphene to replace silicon in electronic devices?
A report by Frost & Sullivan and Georgia Institute of Technology
There is ongoing impetus towards tapping the potential of graphene to replace silicon in electronic devices due to the higher electronic mobility it offers. However, the lack of band-gap provided by these materials was a major setback in taking this research... ( more) |
|
Amateur radio satellite to be "pushed" into space
In early 2011, an amateur radio satellite will literally be "pushed" into space by a Russian cosmonaut from the International Space Station (ISS) during an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) planned for February... ( more) |
|
Telecoms developments in Africa
compiled by Matthew White, Iona Press Services
- 2015 deadline for digital broadcasting transition unlikely to be met
-
Gabon invites bids for 3G licence
-
Ethiopia's TPLF banned from satellite service due to illegal jamming
-
Cisco to finance and supply echnology, services for nine East African countries
-
G Mobile wins judicial review over Malawi regulator's US$6,95-million fine
-
MainOne cable to deliver ten-fold speed increase
-
Vodacom in talks with Congo's Kabila
-
Ghana tops African download speed log
-
Uganda parliament investigates alleged internet-project corruption
-
Minister casts doubt on completion of Zambian fibre-optic project... ( more)
|
|
Gadgets for geeks
We bring you the latest in gadgetry: keep your tyres in check with the AVE TPMS; a notebook for entertainment, and a graphics card that enhances cinematic viewing for gaming... ( more) |
Industry and institute news
|
|
