Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • The Day Music Went Mobile: The Engineering Behind the Sony Walkman

    On the 1st July 1979, a small, unassuming device quietly hit the shelves in Japan—and changed the way the world listened to music forever. The Sony Walkman, a portable cassette player no larger than a paperback novel, was launched to a sceptical market. But within months, it had become a cultural phenomenon and a landmark in consumer electronics engineering. The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, the world’s first truly portable stereo cassette player, was a marvel of miniaturised engineering and user-focused design. It wasn’t just a product—it was a revolution in both technology and culture. The Birth of a Sonic Icon The story of the Walkman begins not in a lab, but on a long-haul flight. Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka wanted a way to listen to music on his frequent business trips without lugging around…

  • The Satellite TN at the IET Space and Communications Conference Week

    This annual conference started life as IET MilSatcom. I remember the first time I attended; it was in a room that could’ve hosted a medium sized board meeting and there were probably a few dozen people in the room at most. It got bigger and bigger and over time built to three-figure attendances. In the early 2020s, the potential for a sister conference for commercial Satcom was explored, but it never really took off for various reasons. In 2023 the IET MilSatcom conference expanded to include a commercial stream; this was a success and the feedback was good. It expanded again in 2024 with a concurrent 6G stream added to run alongside the Satcom piece. This year a further expansion included Quantum technology. Over the years, the conferences have been held in many venues, with my first one…

  • From Bees to Base Stations: Highlights from CAWE 2025

    On 11 June 2025, the University of Liverpool played host to the 13th Colloquium on Antennas and Wireless Electromagnetics (CAWE’25), organised by the IET’s Antennas and Propagation Technical Network (APTN). This annual gathering brought together over 45 scientists, engineers, and researchers from academia, industry, and government to explore the latest advancements in antennas and wireless technologies. Meet the Hosts and Key Speakers The event was chaired by Professor Yi Huang, Chair in Wireless Engineering at the University of Liverpool, and co-chaired by Dr Anil Shukla (QinetiQ) and Dr Viktor Doychinov (University of Bradford), both long-standing IET volunteers. Professor Huang opened the event with a keynote on “ Advances in Liquid and Dispersive Antennas ”, highlighting the potential…

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Latest IET EngX News

  • From Stephenson to Cybersecurity: June’s Highlights on IET EngX

    As summer rolled in, June brought a rich mix of innovation, inspiration, and engineering excellence across the IET EngX community. From celebrating pioneers to exploring cutting-edge construction and wireless technologies, here are some of the standout moments from the past month: Featured Community Insights From Bees to Base Stations: CAWE 2025 On 11 June , the University of Liverpool hosted the 13th Colloquium on Antennas and Wireless Electromagnetics (CAWE’25) . Organised by the IET’s Antennas and Propagation Technical Network, the event brought together over 45 experts to explore the latest in antenna design and wireless systems. Highlights included a keynote by Professor Yi Huang on liquid and dispersive antennas , showcasing the future of adaptable wireless tech. Read the event…

  • May Sparks - Engineering Ideas, Insights & Innovation from the EngX Community

    As May wraps up, let’s take a look at some of the most thought-provoking blog posts and discussions that sparked ideas and debate across the IET EngX community. Featured Community Insights Engineering History Meets Modern Curiosity A standout blog post this month from our Archives team revisited The Electric Telegraph Popularised by Dionysius Lardner, a fascinating 1855 publication that helped demystify telegraphy for the Victorian public. Read the full post Celebrating Engineering Milestones May also marked the anniversary of the Rigi Bahnen, Europe’s first rack railway. This post celebrates the innovation of Niklaus Riggenbach and the enduring legacy of mountain rail engineering. Explore the Rigi Bahnen story Beyond the Badge: Ethical AI and the Risks of Hype Hear from Andy…

  • Reconnect and share: IET EngX is back online!

    I’m happy to announce that EngX is now back online and ready for you to dive back in! Over the past couple of weeks, colleagues have been hard at work on essential updates and improvements to our systems at the IET. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Back to Posting! Now that we're back online, you can again start sharing your questions , projects, and insights with the EngX community. Whether you're looking to seek advice, collaborate on a new project or simply catch up with fellow engineers, our online community is here to support you. Freshen up your profile. When you log back in, take a moment to update your profile information and refresh your profile image. A fresh profile helps others recognise you and understand your expertise. Here's how to do it…

    Lisa Miles
    Lisa Miles

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Latest Partner News

  • Silver Fox and Fluke LinkWare Live: Transforming Cable Labelling

    Silver Fox has partnered with Fluke Networks to integrate its Advanced Labelling Software with Fluke LinkWare Live , bringing a faster, smarter way to manage cable labelling. This powerful integration allows engineers to import test data directly from LinkWare Live, eliminating manual entry and ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance . For network professionals, accuracy is critical. This solution streamlines workflows by automatically matching test results with printed labels , reducing errors and improving documentation. Whether you’re working in data centres, telecoms, or electrical installations, this integration saves time and enhances project efficiency . By bridging cable testing and labelling, Silver Fox and Fluke Networks offer a seamless solution that simplifies large-scale…

  • Apprentice's 5,000-mile trip to become a training master

    An apprentice at the University of Sunderland took a trip of a lifetime to become a training master. Steve Simm, who studies on the Learning and Skills Teacher (LST) Apprenticeship at the University, travelled over 5,500 miles to Japan to be certified as an Overseas Monozukuri Education Master Trainer for Unipres. Receiving this accreditation means that Steve will be able to deliver in-house Japanese-style training in the UK, enhancing the teaching he already delivers through a range of level 2 apprenticeships at the Unipres Training Academy. Steve said: “This trip to Japan was fantastic. Over the four-day training course, I’ve been able to enrich my own professional development which now enables me to incorporate Japanese-style teaching into the training academy here in the UK. “While…

  • Positive impact of apprentices celebrated at awards ceremony

    The achievements of University of Sunderland apprentices have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony to mark the end of National Apprenticeship Week. The University’s annual awards recognise the efforts and contributions that its current and graduate apprentices make in the region and amplifying the organisations that create these opportunities. The apprentices taking home prizes this year are: Steph Capewell, founder and CEO of Sunderland-based baby bank charity Love, Amelia – Community Impact Award ( Senior Leader Apprenticeship ) Yan Cunningham, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust – Impact and Research Award ( Advanced Clinical Practitioner ) Hannah Woodward, Bright Futures NE – Apprentice of the Year ( Community and Youth Work ) Scott Simpson, Kasai UK …

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Heathrow blackout traced to long-standing, unaddressed substation fault

    A fire at a Heathrow airport substation, owned by the National Grid, was caused by a problem first detected seven years ago but never fixed, according to a final report by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). On 20 March, a fire at the North Hyde 275kV substation, which feeds most of Heathrow, resulted in the airport’s closure. Aviation chaos ensued, with more than 1,300 flights cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers affected. More than 70,000 other businesses, homes and services were also affected, including Hillingdon Hospital. Energy watchdog Ofgem commissioned NESO to conduct an investigation, assessing the reasons the fire started in the first place as well as a broader assessment about the UK’s energy resilience and actions that could be taken to prevent similar…

  • Ofgem approves £24bn grid upgrade that could raise bills by £104

    Ofgem has approved an initial £24bn investment in Britain’s energy networks that could see consumer bills rise to cover the cost. The regulator said the funds will be used to make the grid more robust amid an influx of new renewable energy facilities and greater energy demand from data centres and the electrification of industrial processes. Over £15bn will be invested in Britain’s gas transmission networks to ensure ongoing safe and secure supplies to households, while an £8.9bn investment is being committed to Britain’s high-voltage electricity network. A further £1.3bn will go towards expanding the grid. The queue for connecting new projects to the grid is massively oversubscribed and being held up by stalled or speculative projects – some of which are not even at the construction…

  • Beta version of gov.uk app now available for public download

    The gov.uk app can now be downloaded in public beta format, with further development to follow later in the year. The gov.uk website is visited 88 million times every month by people looking for information and completing tasks. With the new gov.uk app, some of these tasks relating to public services can now be completed via a smartphone. Technology secretary Peter Kyle said: “By putting public services in your pocket, we will do away with clunky paper forms and hours spent on hold so you can immediately get the information you need and continue on with the rest of your day.” In January 2025, the government announced that it was to launch the gov.uk app by the summer. While this deadline has been reached with the release of a beta format, the app is incomplete with “new tools and…

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