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  • Broadcasting in a tough environment

    As a former Head of Engineering at Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster TV Rupavahini, Amal Punchihewa has experience in challenging environments... Brief intro My name is Amal Punchihewa (pronounced 'poonch-i-have'), and I'm currently an advisor and consultant to the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development. It is an intergovernmental organisation formed in 1977 for the Asia Pacific region by the United Nations. Between 1997 and 2001, I was the Head of Engineering at Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster, TV Rupavahini. Ambition I decided I wanted to work at national TV when I graduated from my degree. Unfortunately, when I completed my bachelor's and graduated in 1985, was no vacancy, I had to wait three years. But I patiently waited and began working for an IT company. As IT…

  • The promise of Generative AI for Media and Entertainment

    Just about a year back, the IET’s President’s address was delivered by Dr. Gopichand Katragadda on the topic “The key to delivering a resilient future”. Needless to say, AI and the recent advancements in generative AI were a recurring theme during the engaging session. At this event, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker and I chose to talk about the AI driven transformation of the Media and Entertainment sector. Predictably, as a passionate AI technologist, I painted a particularly optimistic picture of the potential of generative AI for the media industry. A year since then, with my recent visit to IBC, the premier broadcasting, media and technology show, I’ve been mulling over whether generative AI has delivered on its promise. Bear with me, while I walk through my musings! There…

  • Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum for Freeview Television and Telecommunications 5G Mobile

    Originally back in the 1960’s the Ultra High Frequency electromagnetic spectrum for Analogue Television transmitters was 470 to 863 MHz. Since then Digital Terrestrial Television “Freeview”, known as DVB-T, has taken over which is now compressed into 470 to 699 MHz. The remaining 700 to 863 MHz is progressively filling up with Telecommunications 5G receiver-transmitter masts for newer 5G mobile telephones and other fast data services. Near me in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire in England in UK there are new 5G masts built and one existing mast has had its antenna arrays replaced. But there may be a problem that will slowly creep up on us still using Digital Television equipment. I have a Freeview set top box Manhattan T1 and a Freeview recorder Panasonic DMR-BW880. When scanning for channels…

  • The best of IET and IBC 2024

    We’re delighted to announce the publication of The best of IET and IBC 2024 from this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam. After a brief hiatus we’re thrilled to once again showcase the groundbreaking research presented at IBC. These papers have been selected by IBC’s Technical Papers Committee for being novel, but also topical, analytical, well-written and which have the potential to make a significant impact upon the media industry. 327 papers were submitted this year, and after a rigorous selection process this publication features the ten papers deemed by the judges to be the best. We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all authors included in this year’s publication, particularly Joshua Maraval, Nicolas Ramin and Lu Zhang who won IBC’s Best Technical…

  • Musical pamphlets in the Silvanus P. Thompson collection

    Ella Mulliri is our guest blogger this month. She worked with us in the IET Library and Archives over the summer and brings her knowledge of composition and music generally to looking at the pamphlet collection of Silvanus P. Thompson. Ella is a Londoner-adopted Italian with a background in music and the arts. She studied harp, singing and music reading for most of her childhood and later picked up the guitar and keyboard. Her experience at The LSE Women’s Library ignited her love for academic libraries and archives, which has since been a constant in her professional life. “Music resonates in so many parts of the brain that we can’t conceive of it being an isolated thing. It’s whom you were with, how old you were, and what was happening that day.” -David Byrne Both scientists and musicians…

  • From Engineering to Executive: An Engineer’s Journey to the C-Suite

    We meet Philip Clayson BEng(Hons) MBA CEng FIET in the next of our 'My Engineering Career' blog series. Phil tells us about his career in the telecoms and broadcasting industry, the importance of personal networking and some of the large organisations and projects he's worked on... Who I am, where I have been I am Philip Clayson, a Chief Information and Technology Officer, (CIO & CTO) with a career across several interesting sectors,…TV, telecoms, emergency services and energy, with leading companies including News Corporation, Oracle, BT, TalkTalk, SSE and Sky What caught my attention As a child, I used to enjoy experimenting with electronic circuits, writing software, and authoring small games, I was inspired by creating and building with technology. I chose my GCSEs and A levels…

  • Engineering our water future

    Can you help our Education partner? Fun Kids are looking for young engineers to help with their Audio and Animated Programmes activity. Read more about Fun Kids and their Programmes in the post below and get in touch with them directly if you’d like to help. Fun Kids is the UK’s multi-media brand that puts children in the driving seat, helping them think, create and play. An award winning children's radio station and a leading children’s podcast and animations producer, Fun Kids engages with over 2m children and parents each month across the UK through our radio stations, podcast network, YouTube channels and online at www.funkidslive.com . Fun Kids has been awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious grant to help children learn about the challenges the world faces with clean water…

    Former Staff Member
    Former Staff Member

  • From AI to Zoom: The Alphabet of MediaTech

    Earlier this year I presented to the IET NorCal Technical network in San Francisco a somewhat light hearted presentation on various current aspects of Media Technology. Have a watch and learn a little something about Adaptive Bit Rate, DRM, and a whole soup of other things for that matter. You will find a little something surprising here... about Adaptive Bit Rate, Broadcast, Codecs, DRM, Encoding of Video, Frame Rate, Gamma, HDR, Interlace, John Logie Baird, KHz, LED, ML, NextGenTV, OLED, Prosumer, QLED, Regulations, Sustainability, TV Everywhere, UHD, Video, WCG, XYZ, YUV, and Zoom If you work or are engaged in Engineering in and around the Bay Area/Northern Californa, do look up the IET NorCal local network https://engx.theiet.org/local-networks/z344 If you are more engaged in the…

  • Howe the world profoundly changed and became better dressed

    On this day in (engineering) history… September 10, 1846 - Elias Howe is granted a patent for the sewing machine. Boston, Massachusetts, 1839. At the famous and highly regarded machine shop belonging to Ari Davis, a young man approaches Davis for advice or encouragement on a project of his, a knitting machine. Davis pointed out that the inventor was wasting his time, that he should be working on a sewing machine instead because there was money in it. The inventor was not convinced, but a witness to that discussion had an idea that was crystalised when he stopped working because of a painful disability. Elizabeth, his wife, took on sewing work to bring in a little money. Watching her work, Elias Howe decided he could make Elizabeth’s job easier by inventing and patenting the sewing machine…

  • Members in Berkshire celebrated for their achievements!

    Hello, I’m Julie Hudson and I am a Local Network Manager for the IET. My role is to guide and support a portfolio of local networks in the UK. Earlier this year I was very pleased to help the Berkshire network organise a professional recognition event. The purpose of this event was to celebrate the achievements of members in Berkshire who had achieved professional registration or fellowship with the IET. What is professional registration and fellowship? Professional registration can not only enhance your career, it also demonstrates that you have reached an internationally recognised standard of competence. There are four categories of Professional Registration; Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, Engineering Technician and ICT Technician and each category follows a variation…

  • Empowering Young Minds Through Technology: The Mission of Technology Books for Children

    In a world increasingly driven by technology, it's crucial to provide children with the tools they need to navigate and understand the digital landscape. The charity Technology Books for Children , founded by Beverly Clarke MBE, is dedicated to this mission. By encouraging reading for pleasure on tech topics, the charity aims to encourage enjoyment of technology and play a part in fostering the next generation of digital citizens. The Inspiration Behind the Charity The idea for Technology Books for Children was born from Beverly’s observations while as a teacher, leading computing education nationally and while writing her tech-themed children’s book series, The Digital Adventures of Ava and Chip . She noticed that many children saw technology as distant and complex, something reserved…

  • Check out this video recap of the IET’s Young Professional Committee recent meeting in Hong Kong!

    Back in May, the IET’s Young Professionals Committee met for their second in person meeting of this current session. The group gathered at the IET’s Hong Kong office, where two days’ worth of meetings took place. They also had the opportunity to visit the facilities for both the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) where they got to see the newly opened Electric Cars workshop and a glimpse of the university’s solar car project, Sophie 6. As well as the Sha Tin Water Treatment Works which supplies 30% of Hong Kong’s clean water. To cap off the trip, a sharing session with the Hong Kong Young Members Section was held, where both groups were able to network and share their insights. Watch the video to see more about their trip: engx.theiet.org/.../7367.2024_2D00_06_2D00_20-Hong…

  • Cyber security in critical industries: challenges, solutions, and the road ahead

    In an era of rapid digital transformation, cyber security has emerged as a paramount concern, particularly for critical industries such as energy, healthcare, and transportation. As we approach the IET’s Cyber Security for Critical Industries 2024 conference, it is essential to delve into the latest cyber security challenges and explore how building resilient and responsive systems can help mitigate these risks. The evolving cyber security landscape The cyber security landscape is in a constant state of flux, with new threats emerging and existing ones becoming more sophisticated. Ransomware attacks, third-party vulnerabilities, mobile malware, and zero-day vulnerabilities in supply chains are among the significant challenges companies face today. Moreover, the relentless growth in cloud…

  • The dawn of the jet age - The day that began with a flight into the future

    On this day in (engineering) history… August 27, 1939 - First flight of the Heinkel He. 178 An odd sight would have greeted anyone seeing today’s routine test flight at the Heinkel aircraft company’s Marienehe airfield in Rostock, Germany. The aircraft made a noise resembling a whistling howl. It had a strange opening at its nose and no visible means of propulsion. What the gathered company designers and engineers were studying closely, was the first flight of a turbojet-powered aircraft – the jet age has just arrived. Take off Replica of Heinkel He. 178 in the arrival hall of Rostock-Laage airport. Source: Wikimedia Commons The pilot was Erich Warsitz , who had already test-flown an experimental rocket-powered plane, the Heinkel He. 176 two months earlier. He wrote: “…As the aircraft…

  • Electric Vehicles and the Evolution of Automotive Manufacturing Processes

    Electric Vehicles and the Evolution of Automotive Manufacturing Processes The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid advancement and adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This shift not only signifies a move toward sustainable transportation but also necessitates significant changes in manufacturing processes. As the world pivots to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change, the rise of EVs has catalysed an evolution in how vehicles are designed, produced, and assembled. This article explores the implications of this evolution, focusing on the technological, economic, and environmental aspects of automotive manufacturing in the era of electric vehicles. Technological Innovations in EV Manufacturing Electric vehicles are fundamentally different…

  • Supporting Foothold – The Benevolent Fund of the IET

    Foothold is the Institution of Engineering and Technology Benevolent Fund . It is an independent charity that has been supporting engineers for over 130 years. I am asking for help today to raise awareness of Foothold and the fantastic work it does to support the most vulnerable members of our engineering community. Originally founded in 1890 as the benevolent fund of the IEE, s ince the formation of the IET from the IEE and IIE in 2006 it has continued to provide support to IET members as their benevolent fund. What does Foothold do? As an IET member, Foothold is your charity. Foothold’s mission is to support engineers and their families around the world to thrive, so they never have to face life’s challenges alone. It does this by providing a multitude of services to IET members and…

  • Unlocking the Power of Predictive Maintenance - Part 2: Navigating Data Challenges in Predictive Maintenance

    In our previous post, we unveiled the exciting world of Predictive Maintenance, exploring its potential and practical applications. If you didn’t read it already, the link is here (Unlocking the Power of Predictive Maintenance - Part 1: The Promise and Challenges of Predictive Maintenance). In this post, we dive deeper into the data itself. We will uncover the intricacies of the data involved, the challenges it presents, and the crucial steps needed to begin building predictive models. The Collected Data Once we’ve gathered the data, we need to start processing it. Whilst pre-processing to clean the data is essential, here we will just focus on the additional key aspects critical to Predictive Maintenance. Often, we need to reduce the data volume whilst preserving quality and features…

  • Gray’s Anatomy of a Payphone

    On this day in (engineering) history… August 13, 1889 - William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut patents the payphone You're having a bad day. Your spouse is seriously ill, and you need to get help. You need a phone, but don't have one. Ask a neighbour…they won't let you use theirs. You go out searching for a phone, any phone to use. But nobody has one, and those that do refuse your pleas to call a doctor. What do you do? If you're William Gray, you invent and patent the payphone. Everyone's nightmare William Gray's father, Neil, thought his son needed a respectable job, so he sent him to work at a drug store. The druggist told Mr Gray the young man spent his time in the basement tinkering with anything he could get his hands on and should try something else. Next, this son of Scottish…

  • Hitting the top...unaided!

    Rock Engineering and Nick Wilson are breaking down barriers to help make life better for people with disabilities. Disabled Adventurer, Nick Wilson, became the first to reach the highest point accessible on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) ‘unaided’ in an engineered powerchair - the RockClimber on Friday, July 12, 2024. After a three-hour hike from Llanberis car park, he reached one thousand metres of the 1085-metre route. A pinch-point on the final ridge blocked progress when the chair proved too big to move through the narrowing. After a team discussion, Nick and Rock Engineering co-owners Elliot Dason-Barber and Andrew Miller, agreed they had achieved their goal. Nick Wilson with Elliot Dason-Barber and Andrew Miller of Rock Engineering at the top of Yr Wyddfa, 12 July, 2024. Source: Rock Engineering…

  • Where there’s wheels, there’s a way

    Wheelchair user takes on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) 'unaided' thanks to engineering team's first-of-its-kind power mobility chair. Wednesday, 5 June, Llanberis, north Wales: It is a damp, rain-threatened grey morning in the north Wales village of Llanberis, at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon), the highest peak in England and Wales. Mental health campaigner and disabled adventurer Nick Wilson is about to attempt the arduous climb to the summit - using a unique, tailor-made powered mobility chair - the RockClimber . He is determined to become the first disabled person to reach the top of Yr Wyddfa unaided. The importance of this word, 'unaided,' will become clear later on. Climbing, the Rock Engineering way The team at Rock Engineering has boosted Nick's attempt on Yr Wyddfa. Their extensive…

  • Reflections on an ‘Electrical Age’

    Guest blog by Madeleine Smith, Emily Raynor, and Isabella Fletcher from the University of Leeds. This is the final in a series of blogs written by Liberal Arts students at the University of Leeds to celebrate the centenary of the Electrical Association for Women (EAW) in 2024. In our previous blogposts on the EAW , our key research resource was the fully digitized EAW journal, The Electrical Age, known initially (1926-1932) as The Electrical Age for Women . Our final post in the project will look at how others can use the fully digitised Electrical Age journal in their research. Unlocking potential We have all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to read through The Electrical Age to gather and examine information on women’s changing roles and expertise at the dawn of Britain’s mass electrification…

  • The steel and rubber soul of motoring – the VW Beetle

    On This Day in Engineering History July 30, 2003 - The last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the production line July 30, 2003. It is a Wednesday afternoon, another sweltering summer day in the Mexican city of Puebla. In the Hall of Sorrows, a traditional mariachi band is playing 'La Golondrina' (The Swallow), an 1862 song written by Mexican physician Narciso Serradell Sevilla, while he was exiled in France. It tells the story of a migrating swallow, lost and battered by the winds, of how, when The Swallow returns, the singer will make a safe space for the bird to nest beside him on his bed. 'La Golondrina' is sung by Mexicans when they say goodbye to a loved one. This is fitting because the Hall of Sorrows, within the Volkswagen de Mexico plant, is where the very last Volkswagen…

  • Rare books: Geometria and Opera philosophica by René Descartes

    This is a guest blog on René Descartes and some of his works we hold by A-Level student Phoebe Carnell who joined us for her work experience in the IET Library and Archives. Opera philosophica , 1685. A collection of 3 of his most influential works – Mediations on first philosophy , Principles of philosophy and Discourse on the method . All explore the idea of searching for truth in reality using philosophical inquiry and innate ideas (an a priori approach). His work consists of specific rules, such as ‘accept nothing as true that is not self-evident’ which links to his advocation of the scientific method. Most famously, Meditations on first philosophy . This work of his is one that I am most intrigued by, as it contains Descartes explaining what is categorised as having certainty in a…

  • Where next? GenAI's evolution in knowledge, understanding, reasoning and scaling

    Introduction The global economy is fuelled by knowledge and information, the digital sector growing 6x faster than the economy as a whole. AI will act as a further accelerant in boosting the economy and has the potential of being transformative across many sectors. Figure 1 GenAI has wide application However, in realising this promise, GenAI faces a number of challenges: 1) foundational LLMs have a great set of skills and generalist knowledge, but know nothing about individual companies’ products & services; 2) whilst LLMs are great at providing an instant answer, they often misunderstand the question or simply hallucinate in their response; equally, 3) LLMs need to improve in their reasoning capabilities to understand and solve complex problems; and finally, 4) LLMs are compute intensive…

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