 Innovation is key to sustain SA's global competitiveness by Geoffrey Qhena, IDC
The frailty of the global economy has made innovation an imperative for companies looking to withstand 21st century business challenges. There is no doubt that the ability to innovate in general plays an important role in a country's ability to sustain its global competitiveness... ( more) |
 In conversation with Dave Wilson, National Instruments
by Hans van de Groenendaal, EngineerIT
I recently attended NI Week held annually during the first week in August in Austin, Texas, the USA headquarters of National Instruments. Attended by some 4000 engineers and scientists, the buzz is about engineering and technology. We need to make engineering cool!... ( more) |
Can automation play a role in reducing business risks in mining?
by Annette Thompson, editor
At the recent Automation University Classic 2013, Hein Hiestermann, business manager of Rockwell Automation's Global Solutions division South Africa listed ten top business risks according to Ernst & Young's Business risks facing mining and metals 2012-2013... ( more)
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Q&A: Ask an expert
Answers by Dr. Johannes Auret, Explolabs
Dr. Johannes Auret is an explosion prevention specialist at Explolabs and Certex. He has a PhD in engineering, and worked for the CSIR and SABS before joining Explolabs in 2001. He is active in industry standards development and has convened various working groups. He answers questions on explosion protection... ( more) |
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Sharing infrastructure for optical transmission links
by George Debbo, telecommunication technology consultant
Over the past few years a number of independent companies have been launched with the objective to build both long distance and metropolitan based optical fibre transmission networks, in order to meet the demand for domestic connectivity that has been created in South Africa... ( more) |
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EngineerIT Inbox
Winning letter to the editor
This month's winning letter from Michele Rivarola focuses on the issue of how long it takes to complete the process of professional registration... (more)
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SATNAC 2013 - many new ideas
by Hans van de Groenendaal, features editor
A high note was struck at the start of SATNAC 2013 with the welcoming address by Prof. Brian O'Connnell, vice-chancellor of the UWC. He told delegates that our future lies in connecting and understanding... ( more) |
New 802.11ac technology and what it means for WLANs
by John Anderson, Fluke Networks, USA
802.11ac is the latest IEEE standard for wireless LAN (WLAN) network technology, and is expected to be ratified by end of 2013 or early in 2014. The Wi-Fi Alliance has already begun certification programs. It is expected that certifications and equipment will be rolled out in at least two phases... ( more) |
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Protection of solar-powered, pole-mounted communications system
by Dr. Alan Nelson, Tank Industries
The use of solar-powered cellular communications systems is well established. The protection of the interconnecting cables, operating in a harsh environment, is an imperative. The harsh environment prevalent from Sishen to Saldanha Bay requires a tailored, to specification, reliable cable protection system...
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Satellite technologies for Africa - a user perspective
by Dr. Dawie de Wet, Q-Kon
In today's ever-developing technology environment, characterised by the daily introduction of new technologies and services, users have become accustomed to continued upgrade and replacement programs... ( more)
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Rise of the embedded internet
Information from Intel
The embedded internet: it is estimated that there will be 15-billion connected devices by 2015. Various forces, including political, economic and social, are driving the need to tightly couple embedded devices and sensors with established applications... ( more) |
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Digital manufacturing technology in SA
by Hermias Hendrikse, Esteq South Africa
SA production companies can be more competitive in the global market by utilising the latest digital manufacturing software technologies. The following areas are discussed in this article: assembly planning and validation, robotics and automation planning, and plant design and optimisation... (more) |
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Operator alarms are the first line of defence
by Dr. Robin Brooks, Process Plant Computing, UK
Operator alarms should be the first line of defence in every plant but all too often are more of a nuisance than an aid to the operator, exposing them to more process excursions and an increase in opportunities for failure, thereby detracting from the plant's overall safety capability... ( more) |
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Amplitude level accuracy in new generation spectrum analysers
Information from Anritsu
It has been seen that the total level accuracy of a spectrum analyser is a key parameter to understand the ability of the instrument to measure the power level of signals being captured and analysed... ( more)
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Making conducted and radiated emissions measurements
An Agilent Technologies White Paper overview
Getting a product to market on time and within budget can be bottlenecked by electromagnetic interference (EMI) compliance testing during the product development proceess. To ensure successful EMI compliance testing, pre-compliance testing has been added to the development cycle... ( more) |
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Measuring malt spirit strength
by Neil Moffat, Rototherm Canongate Technology, UK
One of the crucial points in production of malt whisky is ensuring the spirit cuts are done at the correct strength. Since controls were introduced to discourage the production of illicit spirit in 1823, this has been done using a combination of hydrometers and thermometers in a spirit safe... ( more)
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Gaining control of electrostatic precipitator's ash hoppers
Information from Allpronix
Managing the fly ash inside electrostatic precipitator (ESP) hoppers presents significant challenges. While avoiding the risk of pollution is extremely important, operation and maintenance costs must also be managed... ( more)
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| Why should electronic equipment be protected against lightning?
by Jonathan Palmer, PowermanUPS
Lightning strikes of a km or more away can cause damage to sensitive equipment as a result of induced voltages. When lightning strikes a nearby tree, building or pole, the fast-moving high current generates large electromagnetic fields... (more)
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Advanced microcontrollers: low-power advantages for applications
by Donald Schneider, Microchip Technology
Low power is often considered a central tenet of green product, but the nature of the low power is rarely clarified or quantified. The requirements for a low-power microcontroller (MCU) will be dependent upon the application... (more) |
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Amateur radio: The SARL takes 5 MHz propagation study a step further
by Hans van Groenendaal, features editor
Since the Independent Communications Authority of South Afrcia awarded two 5 MHz frequencies to the South African Radio League (SARL), there has been a lot of activity on 5260 kHz showing some interesting propagation patterns around South Africa and with amateur stations in Israel and the UK and USA... (more)
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| Telecoms developments in Africa
Compiled by Matthew White
- African mobile telecom market growing at over 21% pa
- Asian firms develop satellite technology
- Seacom, France-IX to interconnect African internet firms
- Ethiopia signs US $1,6-billon deal with Chinese "spy" firms
- Second phase of Kenyan digital project to start soon
- Simbanet deploys GPON fibre technology in Dar es Salaam
- Zimbabwe regulator slammed for Econet tariff increase
- Satellite link connects to remote parts of South Sudan
- Uganda sets up high-tech unit to fight cyber crime
- Satellite and digital broadcasting boostsNigeria's economy... (more)
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Gadgets4geeks
- Not just another gaming mouse
- Have it all in one place, on the go
- Sonic ear for improved iPad sound
- Get the picture with multiple camera modes... (more)
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