EngineerIT e-News, Issue 137, October 2019:

Electronics, measurement, instrumentation, automation, control and ICT

Issue 137, October 2019

Editor's note: Write to me and WIN!

I have had the privilege of running EngineerIT for almost two years now. While I don't always consider myself a journalist (I prefer "content fairy"), I don't think I have done a terrible job at covering some controversial topics. Since taking the wheel, I have embraced issues such as diversity in the workplace, labour issues stemming from 4IR, skills development, policy changes, and government departments' rolling name changes.

I know you, dear readers, are interested and have your own opinions to share regarding these and many other topics. The conversations I had at the recent ICT Infrastructure 2019 Conference and Exhibition proved this, but please PUT YOUR THOUGHTS IN WRITING! I want to hear from you.

Write to me at aimee.clarke@ee.co.za and stand to win a Canon IXUS 180 valued at R1500. The best letter wins, so give me something juicy. Have a look at our articles in this issue (below, ranging from opinion pieces to technical pieces). Tell me what you think, and you could get a visit from yours truly, gift in hand.

Aimee

Editor: EngineerIT

Win a Canon IXUS 180

Small and stylish enough to take everywhere, this versatile 20 Megapixel IXUS with WiFi, 10x optical zoom and Intelligent image stabiliser lets you simply point and shoot for brilliant results every time.

Views and opinion

The importance of a client-led, practical approach to disruptive technology

by Jessica Davies, Nedbank CIB

Having had the opportunity to attend the 2019 Women in Tech Africa conference earlier this year, and the privilege to spend time with more than 300 industry peers in technology across all spheres of industry, this was a reminder of the massive contribution that women are making in what was once undoubtedly...( read more)

Lead editorial: Maybe the WOAN should be given a chance

by Hans van de Groenendaal, EE Publishers

While the communications industry in South Africa has not really bought into the concept of a Wireless Open Access Network (WOAN), there have recently been a few weak voices saying, “Let’s give the WOAN a chance”. These voices sound something like this: “South Africans...( read more)

AI could perpetuate gender inequality through inherent bias

by Saurabh Kumar, In2IT Technologies South Africa

Gender equality is one of the 17 goals identified by the United Nations (UN) as critical in creating a sustainable future. The UN aims for its Sustainable Development Goals to be realised by 2030. The reality, however, is that the world has a long way to go in achieving this goal in particular....( read more)

Technical articles

The complexity of water management in mines

Information from Endress+Hauser

Water in South Africa is a very important, albeit a very scarce resource. In addition to human consumption, all industries are dependent on the...( read more)

Sensors in the IoT environment

by Dave Wibberly, Adroit Technologies

Industry 4.0 benefits are primarily driven by a data-driven strategy, the theory being that the more data you have, the better decisions can be made that positively affect your business. Data, in the traditional industrial sense, is driven mainly by automatic sensors that read “stuff” and is made available to a control system driven by PLCs and people...( read more)

How TSN is revolutionising industrial automation

by Jack Lin, Moxa

The world today is witnessing a new dawn for digital transformation that will require manufacturers to rethink their existing business models and industrial automation infrastructure. To remain relevant and competitive in the age of “Industry 4.0”, manufacturers need to do more than simply adopt digital technologies...( read more)

Intelligence at the edge: The edge node

By Ian Beavers, Analog Devices

The industrial internet of things (IoT) encompasses the broad transformation underway that will make pervasive sensing across connected machines not just a competitive advantage, but an essential fundamental service. The industrial IoT...( read more)

Surge protection for linear DC sources

by Andreas Schamber, Phoenix Contact

In the future, DC sources will play an increasingly important role in the power supply of many electronic devices. The new as well as the old direct voltage systems require new surge protective devices that comply with up-to-date safety requirements. ..( read more )

Lightning and surge protection for cell sites

by Florian Vögerl, DEHN Africa

Today’s cutting-edge frontier in the telecommunications world is coming in the form of 5G technology, the fifth generation of mobile networks, which will bring with it significantly faster data speeds when compared to the existing 3G and 4G cellular data networks. According to a recent statistic...( read more)

Unlocking value in the Sub-Saharan Africa mobile market

by Bertrand Fallon-Kund, John Senior and Stephane Timpano, Bain & Company

Mobile phone operators in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are playing on borrowed time. Robust network investments, cheaper smartphones and data, and a rapidly expanding population of connected youth have fuelled strong growth for the US$60-billion SSA mobile market. But as the market matures, operators risk falling into the “doom scenario” that has plagued their counterparts ...( read more )

Spectrum sharing opportunitiess for 5G and beyond

by Martha Suarez, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

Spectrum sharing is the crucial factor that will support future networks as the industry looks to roll out 5G, the internet of things (IoT) and other next-generation technologies nationwide, and worldwide. There are many different spectrum sharing methods available. This article discusses citizens broadband radio service, WiFi 6 and TV white space as key spectrum sharing technology...( read more)

Long live radio! Digital radio trials ongoing in SA

by Hans van de Groenendaal, EE Publishers

“Radio is dead! Long live radio!” That is how my interview with Dave Cherry started when talking about DAB+, an advanced digital radio technology that is currently being trialled in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The trials are to the delight of many owners of cars fitted with DAB+ receivers, have portable DAB+ radios or who have downloaded the necessary software and have a dongle...( read more)

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