EngineerIT e-News
 
Electronics, automation, computer, information and communications technology in engineering
 
Issue number 53
March 2012  

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In this issue...
- How time passes!..
- In conversation with Prof. Basie von Solms
- iPad apps for EE Publishers' magazines
- EngineerIT InBox
- Application of wireless technology
- The database is the heart of the modern business
- In-car communication - how safe is our driving?
- Services in the cloud
- Reinforcing corporate IT security
- Biometrics in the cloud
- Real-time location systems in underground environments
- 21st century enterprise information
- Wireless signalling a change in remote asset monitoring
- Wireless site assessments
- Designing the ultimate PCB.
- Cross-design team interconnect planning
- Electron microscope takes materials science to a new level.
- Amateur Radio: The challenge of building an amateur CubeSat
- Space Technology
- Views and Opinions
- Industry news
- Gadgets 4 Geeks
- Gadgets 4 Geeks
- Product and company news
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john wilsonHow time passes!
by John Wilson, Accreditation and Metrology Services

On average we look at our watches about six times an hour. In some cases, when we get frustrated, this comes down to about six times a minute. Why do we have this fixation about time? In our minds the passing of time is simply a relative function... (more)
prof. basie van solms
In conversation with Prof. Basie von Solms, UJ
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT     

The University of Johannesburg and the International Telecommunications Union recently established the ITU-UJ Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security to act as a central point for cyber security and critical information infrastructure protection in Southern Africa... (more)
iPad apps for EE Publishers' magazines

EE Publishers announces new, state-of-the-art, iPad apps for its magazines, EngineerIT, Energize, Vector and PositionIT. The apps may be downloaded free-of-charge from the Apple iTunes App Store. Every month you will then receive the magazines free-of-charge on your iPad, for easy access at any time and from anywhere... (more)
EngineerIT InBox
Letters to the editor

Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) has welcomed President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address (SONA), but it is disappointing that there continues to be no reference to how the ICT sector can contribute, nor to how broadband communications are an essential component of the country's infrastructure... (more)
energize_win-a-prize_mb_feb2012
Application of wireless technology in measurement and instrumentation 
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

We asked a number of experts in the field of measurement and instrumentation to give us their thoughts on the application of wireless technology in the measurement and instrumentation sector
.
.. (more)
The database is the heart of the modern business - is yours compliant?
by Gerrit-Jan Albers, RDB Consulting

Compliance has become a buzzword of late when considering the increase in legislative acts with which organisations from across all industries and verticals must now comply. However, the concept of compliance reaches so much further than this alphabet soup of regulations... (more)
Cinterion mid banner
In-car communication - how safe is our driving?
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

Visual, mechanical and cognitive distractions while driving are legion. Patrick Tchankue Sielinou, a student at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) presented a paper last year  at  Automotive UI 2011 in Salzburg, Austria, covering the usability and the safety of in-car communication... (more)
Services in the cloud       
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

There are a large number of communication services in the cloud and new ones are being added daily. This article looks at interesting services that operate in the cloud - one of them being printing in the cloud. Epson has expanded its mobile and cloud printing services for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets... (more)
Reinforcing corporate IT security: going back to basics

by Mark Eardley, SuperVision Biometric Systems

 

Managing who can do what within corporate IT systems lies at the very heart of system security. But a widespread reliance on passwords, cards and PINs to control IT access and activity is creating huge vulnerabilities that are routinely exploited by cyber villains... (more)

Biometrics in the cloud

by Delme Hawkins, ERS Biometrics

 

The biometric industry is currently growing in leaps and bounds in SA, providing a variety of solutions and innovative applications. A major breakthrough has been through the introduction of cloud computing, thereby taking time and attendance and access control management into the future and to a whole new level... (more)

Real-time location systems in underground environments 

 by Le Riche Jordaan, MineRP

Most of us are familiar with GPS technology through smart phones or tablets. Many transport and logistics companies rely on this technology to deliver excellent service to their clients. Even car insurance companies offer reduced premiums to their clients based on their driving habits, all monitored by GPS... (more)
 

21st century enterprise information journey 
by Neels van der Walt, Bytes Systems Integration

A number of prominent factors stand out globally that will impact and change how manufacturing concerns conduct their business if they want to stay competitive. These include global economic meltdown and the debt crisis of a number of nations across the globe, and increased demand for energy and natural resources... (more)

Wireless signalling a change in remote asset monitoring   

by Jason Witkowsky, Tabateq Wireless Solutions  

 

The significant growth and impact of wireless in every aspect of our lives is clear. Many mines have started using wireless technology to mitigate problems experienced where traditional cabling is expensive, impractical or simply impossible... (more)

Wireless site assessments 
by Todd Bill, Honeywell, USA

When considering the implementation of an industrial wireless network, manufacturers and other end users must have a clear understanding of their wireless solution requirements, understand issues impacting the success of their installation and the return on technology investments... (more)
Designing the ultimate PCB
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT  

PCB design has comes a long way since the dot and tape era - having moved from PCAD to the latest Altium software. The company has designed boards for the space industry including for SA's own satellite, SumbandilaSat. Altium provides design solutions that break down barriers inherent in electronic designs... (more)

Cross-design team interconnect planning
by John Park, Mentor Graphics, USA

Interconnect and I/O planning between the design teams for IC layout, package substrate design, and PCB layout is critical to driving down costs. Companies that recognise this fact are struggling to accomplish this task today with a combination of MS Excel, white board sketches, emails and internal "glue-ware"... (more)
Electron microscope takes materials science to a new level
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
 
A R126-million Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy has opened at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. This will enable scientists to analyse materials down to atomic level, and puts SA on a par with international peers in terms of cutting-edge research facilities... (more)

Amateur Radio: The challenge of building an amateur CubeSat

by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT

SA AMSAT (Southern African Amateur Radio Satellite Association) announced a CubeSat building project in 2011. I caught up with Hannes Coetzee ZS6BZP to track the progress so far. Designing and building a satellite measuring only 10 x 10 x 10 cm and weighing just over 1 kg is not an easy task... (more)
Space Technology


Views and Opinions  

 

Industry news 

 

Gadgets 4 Geeks 
  • Blackberry goes white
  • Charge while you watch
  • Blackberry playbook OS 2.0 takes your playbook places... (more)   
Telecoms development in Africa 
  • African leaders agree to boost infrastructure spending
  • Repairs underway on TEAMS cable cut by anchor
  • Angolan project to link all provincial capitals
  • US$240-million "needed to bring African bandwidth up to par"
  • Kenya signs MoU with ITU to boost cyber security
  • Mozambique's Movitel connects 205 schools to internet
  • All Uganda telecoms "below quality standards"
  • Nigerian internet use slowed by lack of broadband
  • MTN Rwanda under scrutiny over network disruptions... (more)   
Product and company news

Malicious sites nearly double
Backup power isn't the cheapest

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